E36 M3 vs Trans am WS6.

Which of these would you guys rather have?

I want to use the car as a daily driver, but I also want to mod it, AutoX, little bit of drag, an all around performer.

The TA has the sex on wheels shape, but the reliability isn't so great and it doesn't handle as well as the E36.

The Bimmer has the uper level name, better handling, and a little bit better interior.

(not comparing the actual cars in the pics)
http://motorcarspontiac.net/Ebay/2002_Trans_AM_Red_WS6_Auto/16.jpg
http://motorcarspontiac.net/Ebay/2002_Trans_AM_Red_WS6_Auto/18.jpg
http://motorcarspontiac.net/Ebay/2002_Trans_AM_Red_WS6_Auto/27.jpg
http://motorcarspontiac.net/Ebay/2002_Trans_AM_Red_WS6_Auto/14.jpg

http://carad.ebayimg.com/i6/02/a/03/32/a5/33_4.JPG
http://carad.ebayimg.com/i11/02/a/03/32/64/5f_4.JPG
http://carad.ebayimg.com/i10/02/a/03/31/84/a4_4.JPG
http://carad.ebayimg.com/i4/02/a/03/32/4b/b6_4.JPG

i voted for the M3. the ws6 would be a better drag car and it's easier and cheaper to modify - and you'd be surprised how little work you need to do to get more power out of these V8's. looks are subjective and i don't care for the WS6 styling. plus the WS6 is an automatic so that automatically makes it a loser in this comparo without even mentioning the advantages the M3 has. :p

then i noticed that these aren't the actual cars your considering so if the WS6 you are considering is manual, it scores more points in my book. nonehtless, the M3 would still get my vote.

Personaly I would go m3 do to their great handling. BUT if you are planning on modifying the car the Ws6 may be the way to go. The after market for those cars is big and parts are cheap. Same applies to maintence and repair for each car. The ws6/ss's actualy handled quite well for a car of their weight. I drove my freinds 2000 camaro SS T-Top and it wasnt acting like the big rino I would have though it would be...
Honestly, for me its a hard choise. I absolutely love both cars.

M3 for track day/road racing, autoX, pimping da ho's/slapping da bitches, hauling the groceries, and overall daily work

WS6 for the straight line drag racing both on the track and off (ie ISR)

I'd take the M3...read Active Autowerks!

WS6, so beautiful...:ylsuper:

In my opinion you can't beat the Firebird's styling or V8 power.

WS6, so beautiful...:ylsuper:

In my opinion you can't beat the Firebird's styling

Bahhahahahahahahahahahahaahahhaahahahahahahahaahah aha

OMG that's a good one...have you seen the interior? I mean I am not going to argue the power or the outside...b/c I liked the outside at one point and time in my childhood...but then I sat inside when I was like 15 and was completely turned off by the car...I am sure it's something you can live w/but after being in such cars like the LS400, SC400, 300ZX, even my dad's 4Runner...I expect a bit more out of interiors...hell it's what you have to live w/and stare at 90% your w/the car

And please dont make this an import vs. domestic thing...it's just a crap interior...

Of all the pictures of E36's there are, you just had to find the purple one :shakehead: . I despise the color purple from any car. But anyways, I would rather drive the E36 daily, but for fun in the sun, I'll take the T/A with a 6 speed. :evillol:

I love the macho style of the T/A's as much as I do the seemless lines of the BMW.

The V8 plays the better tune in my book than the E36. Although very smooth, the E36 doesn't have near the power band that you get from the big V8.

I find the backseats of both the TA and E36 coupe rather useless since I am somewhat tall (6'1"). Haven't been in the 4dr, but I'm sure its a bit roomier.

Once again I must ask.....WHY purple!! :lol:

M3 for track day/road racing, autoX, pimping da ho's/slapping da bitches, hauling the groceries, and overall daily work

WS6 for the straight line drag racing both on the track and off (ie ISR)

I'd take the M3...read Active Autowerks!
:1:

Oh, and the M3 doesnt have a slightly better interior. From that pic the WS6's interior looks absolutely hideous.

And Kurtdg19, I happen to like that purple.. Techno Violet, i think it's called. Ok so it sounds a little gay but looks good imo :p

Hmmm the T/A outside looks/sound is awesome but the M3 will be the better of the 2. The bmw would i think stay close the the T/A in a drag. Trust me when BMW,Porsche say German engineering they mean somthing. How many cars do u know could last 20+years on the autobahn. *the road with no speed limit*

Bahhahahahahahahahahahahaahahhaahahahahahahahaahah aha

OMG that's a good one...have you seen the interior? I mean I am not going to argue the power or the outside...b/c I liked the outside at one point and time in my childhood...but then I sat inside when I was like 15 and was completely turned off by the car...I am sure it's something you can live w/but after being in such cars like the LS400, SC400, 300ZX, even my dad's 4Runner...I expect a bit more out of interiors...hell it's what you have to live w/and stare at 90% your w/the car

And please dont make this an import vs. domestic thing...it's just a crap interior...


By styling I believe he was saying exterior.

The only reason anybody should buy a Trans Am over an E36 M3 would be for the straight line capability. The BMW...

a) looks better, although you may want to repaint a purple one...
b) has a better interior
c) handles better, much better (hell, it supposedly handles better then the NSX and F355)
d) is a better daily driver
e) can seat 4
f) is much more reliable

IMO this is an easy choice.

You're forgetting a few things. The Trans Am...

a. is considerably cheaper.
b. gets better gas mileage.
c. has a fatter, more usable powerband that makes it a joy to cruise in.
d. has a tremendous aftermarket, probably even bigger than the E36 M3's.

I don't appreciate luxury and refinement very much at my age, so I'd go with the Trans Am.

:1:

Oh, and the M3 doesnt have a slightly better interior. From that pic the WS6's interior looks absolutely hideous.

And Kurtdg19, I happen to like that purple.. Techno Violet, i think it's called. Ok so it sounds a little gay but looks good imo :p

:lol: hahah! Crazyjay likes purple cars! Now I have somthing to pick on you about :grinno:

Back on topic: I did forget to mention interior, which the E36 wins hands down. Their isn't any Chevy branded vehicle to date that is as refined as any BMW I've been in. But if you were to drive with you eyes closed, then you wouldn't know the difference. :lol2:

Hmmm idk i admit the t/a does have a huge aftermarket and is dead sexy. **IDC bout interior to me i'd rather have a stripped interior save for 2 15s and my HU** He said autox and alittle drag. For auto x the M3 hands down, the m3 could hold its own for alittle drag. But if he wants to drag defintly go with the T/A the 350in is designe that has been profected for along time and will go. And the only chevy i know could hold interior with bmw is the new vette but still thats not a good comparsion just my :2cents: on that part.

The WS6 easy. Everyone so far has seriously underestimated the WS6 at the track. It will kill the M3 in a straight line, and at least match it at the track. Also I haven't heard about any reliability problems with these cars.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=155&page_number=1
Here is a link to a Road & Track article where they have some tracks times for a Camaro SS. If you look at the times for the other cars as well you will see that the Camaro lapped faster than a BMW M roadster, a Boxster S, an SLK320, and a Honda S2000. Steve Millen was the driver for all the cars, and it was done at Thunderhill Park in CA.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=155&page_number=1
Here is a link to a Road & Track article where they have some tracks times for a Camaro SS. If you look at the times for the other cars as well you will see that the Camaro lapped faster than a BMW M roadster, a Boxster S, an SLK320, and a Honda S2000.

Yea all the cars the SS beat were convertibles and they arent known for their rigidity...it didnt beat one coupe...

Bahhahahahahahahahahahahaahahhaahahahahahahahaahah aha

OMG that's a good one...have you seen the interior? I mean I am not going to argue the power or the outside...b/c I liked the outside at one point and time in my childhood...but then I sat inside when I was like 15 and was completely turned off by the car...I am sure it's something you can live w/but after being in such cars like the LS400, SC400, 300ZX, even my dad's 4Runner...I expect a bit more out of interiors...hell it's what you have to live w/and stare at 90% your w/the car

And please dont make this an import vs. domestic thing...it's just a crap interior...


I learned how to drive in a 97 grand prix(drive a 12 year old pickup though the Ls interior is better then the gp), Im used to crappy interiors. Pluss I dont like luxury cars. And like chevydrummer said, Im talking about the exterior. Oh and im starting a import vs domestic thing b/c I said I like its v8 and styling?! :eek7:

wow this was a hard one to vote for because on the one hand I own one of these:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/501/144075Formula_LT1-med.jpg
And on the other hand I own one of these:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/501/144075Bmwing.jpg
And while its not a M3 I love both my cars but I voted for the WS6 only because I love the price,muscle car feel and ease of making gobs of power for cheap. On the other hand though if I had to do any commuting or was looking for the all around perfect car you can't get a better handling ,fast, all the toys rip up the road with style car than the M3. This one was a real hard one but why not take one of each if you can?.

John

While the US Market got shafted on the power front with thier M3's, the E36 still offers more comfort, superior build quality, tasteful and understated styling, superior road-holding/handling over all surdaces (I mean Steve Millen races Toyota utes*, is it any wonder he was more used to the Camaro? It'd have suited his driving style better, I'd imagine) and a level of engineering that eclipses that of the F-Body.


And try telling someone that bought a VT Series II Holden Commodore V8 that the LS1 doesn't have reliability issues (Excessive oil consumption in about 5-10% of the engines, even at low milages). Chances are they'll laugh at you or clout you. Though in all fairness this was on earlier engines and the problem was rectified.

So I'll take the M3, I don't really care if it's slower in a straight line or more expensive to maintain.




*I may be getting mixed up with Rod Millen, common thing for me

Yea all the cars the SS beat were convertibles and they arent known for their rigidity...it didnt beat one coupe...
Of course it didn't beat any of the coupes, were talking about a 911 Turbo, a Z06, and Ferraris. The M3 wouldn't stand a chance against those cars either.

Jimster, oil consumption is not a reliability issue, all SBCs consume oil, more so than your average engine. The only thing you have to do is look under the hood every so often and check the dipstick and add oil if necessary, problem solved.

Sorry about the pics guys, heres some better ones. Although, Techno violet can look pretty good sometimes.

http://swyyyguy.com/m3/m3wall_3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/jonnyg/DSC00016.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/benjamin_/My%20M3/foggym3.jpg
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/143/143525/folders/187349/1421834wax3.JPG

The only real reason I'm looking at the WS6 is the potential,the fact that everything is cheaper, and I had a 84 TA.

after posting the red e36, how can you say no to such a pretty face :p. you can definately feel the muscle in the pontiac, there's no question and it can be quite exhilerating. and while i can certainly appreciate american muscle, there's more to a fine sports car than brute balls under the hood.

umm http SuperHighOutput the the bmw was a roadster not the m3 he is looking at. the m3 has 343.0 bhp @ 7900 rpm
269.0 ft lbs @ 4900 rpm compared to the roadsters Horsepower 240 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque 236 lb-ft @ 3800 rpm
so i think that comparsion would be alittle unfair to make with that magazine article. I still say the WS6 is dead sexy but if he is going autox the m3 still the better choice. Don't get me wrong i love the t/a i would defintly buy one if i had the money i'd get one raw hp/tr,350 v8. But if he has the funds and wants autox with alttle drag.

Sorry about the pics guys, heres some better ones. Although, Techno violet can look pretty good sometimes.


:thumbsup: Much Much better looking! That is what you call sex on wheels :naughty:

And Dreamspawn, I believe the numbers you are referring to are for the E46 M3, not the E36 M3 which is exclusive to this comparo. The E36's output is 240hp I believe, which is still quite peppy IMO.

whoopsie

is this a serious comparison?

The M3 has it over the TA in every way except straight line.

no stupid comparisons.

is this a serious comparison?

The M3 has it over the TA in every way except straight line.

no stupid comparisons.
Leave the moderating to me, thanks :rolleyes:

Leave the moderating to me, thanks :rolleyes:
:owned:

a third rate american sports car Vs an evolved German touring car. please, that's a ridiculous comparison.

i wonder if anybody has ever bothered to put the TA round N'burg, betting they have with Z06's even camaro's probably... what exactly was the design brief on the trans am anyway? look tough and sound mean and be able to move as much iron as a mining truck with about the same handling? The M3 was built, successfully, to obliterate everything in it's class, and it did so as a giant killer, the E36 is more refined, more powerfull and has even better build quality, it's also more comfortable than the original M3. it only came off the pinnicle when the R32 came on the scene... with the same aspirations.

TRD2000, the Z28/Trans Am duo have been dominating in their Solo II class for a long time. Yes, they have a brash muscle car personality and plenty of horsepower, but they have a highly competent chassis and suspension to back it up. Do some research before you spout off your narrow-minded, anti-American innuendo around here.

a third rate american sports car Vs an evolved German touring car. please, that's a ridiculous comparison.

i wonder if anybody has ever bothered to put the TA round N'burg, betting they have with Z06's even camaro's probably... what exactly was the design brief on the trans am anyway? look tough and sound mean and be able to move as much iron as a mining truck with about the same handling? The M3 was built, successfully, to obliterate everything in it's class, and it did so as a giant killer, the E36 is more refined, more powerfull and has even better build quality, it's also more comfortable than the original M3. it only came off the pinnicle when the R32 came on the scene... with the same aspirations.What exactly is made of Iron in those cars again?. You may not like or even respect the American muscle car but they appeal to a great many people. I happen to agree that the M3 is a all around better choice however I am all for the market the F-body's were made for its a tribute to back in the day when cars were all about brute force and while they might not be as nimble as say a M3 they car handle turns just fine. The Z06 on the other hand should not be thrown in on this, its a all around performance machine that can handle with the best of them. Also this is the car comparison forum people should feel free to compare whatever auto's they like without it turning into a flame war. As crazyjay has already said its not your job to police the forum telling people what they can and can not compare..

and the morris minor scored wins in it's class to! but i'm hardly going to compare it with a C5.

I don't know what you mean by soloII, is it like the "world" series baseball? anyway i wasn't being anti-american or narrow minded, the fact is that I can't think of an american car that is similar to a euro/jap touring car. there just doesn't seem to be a market for them in the US, well not for US manufacturers (in the US). if you would like to argue that the TA is superioe to the Z06 or the viper, which i would consider as 2nd, maybe 1st rate americaan sports cars then great, but if it's not superior then it must therefore be 3rd rate. Similarly the M3 doesn't compete with a Porsche GT2... if the TA is such a great and competent car then why is it not demanded and sold in more markets?

What exactly is made of Iron in those cars again?. You may not like or even respect the American muscle car but they appeal to a great many people. I happen to agree that the M3 is a all around better choice however I am all for the market the F-body's were made for its a tribute to back in the day when cars were all about brute force and while they might not be as nimble as say a M3 they car handle turns just fine. The Z06 on the other hand should not be thrown in on this, its a all around performance machine that can handle with the best of them. Also this is the car comparison forum people should feel free to compare whatever auto's they like without it turning into a flame war. As crazyjay has already said its not your job to police the forum telling people what they can and can not compare..


i was including the z06 as an example because i had said the ta is a third rate sports car, i said american because thats it's market and manufacture. I also see the TA as more of a tribute car than a sports car, but that's why i see this as a fairly silly comparison. and while you are saying people should feel free to compare what they like, i'm pretty sure i read in the forum rules "no stupid comparisons". which as i have pointed out, in my opinion, this is.

The reason I posted this comparo is because, I am actually considering these two cars, they are IMO, the best two cars for me under 20,000 dollars. The TA being the premier American sport coupe, and the M3 being the Premier German sport coupe.

Stop being a pain. The guidelines state "refrain from making stupid comparos like Viper vs. Geo Metro".

Not quite the same as this, i.e. two (admittedly different) takes on what makes a sports car. Just because the decision is easy for you (it is for me too), it doesn't mean the comparison is stupid. Look at the votes. More people (8) have gone for the TA. Are you calling them stupid?

I may not be a big fan of cars like the TA but i respect other peoples' opinions. I suggest you do the same, at least on these boards.

I agree with Crayzayjay on this one, even though I don't like the TA, and love the M3, this is still a fair comparo. Now, I want to post more cool E36s.

Dakar Yellow
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/156513Dakar_E36-med.JPG

Black
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/156513BlackE36-med.JPG

God I love M3's

TRD2000, SoloII is a form of autocross. You know, autocross, amateur level time attack road racing with more or less street stock cars?

There's also Touring II competition in SCCA, where Camaros and Firebirds have dominated over cars like the Porsche Boxster S and BMW M coupe.

And there's the Grand Am Cup/Motorola Cup endurance racing series for street stock cars. In that series, a pair of Trans-Ams regularly handed Porsche 911 Carreras (996 generation), BMW M3's (E36), and Nissan 350Z's their ass.

Of course, when Trans Am production ceased, the team turned to running a hardtop Vette for a season, then went to the Caddy CTS-V.

lol @ all you girls so concerned about your foofy interiors. F that, Face the facts. These cars have nearly identical HP and the T/A murders the M3 in torque. They also weigh nearly the same. give an edge to the M3 in handling, but to me, this is a freaking drivers race, and imho, you're pretty sad if you're gonna pay 2 times ($20,000) as much for your M3 just for a foofy interior that will impress your wife...lol Ok, have at me....:)

well, the multilink rear suspension is infinity times more superior to the solid rear axle, and everyone knows solid rear axles suck, im just playing. im sure it handles fine, it was a joke, so please dont take it seriously. if i had to choose between these two, i would probably pick the m3. i havent driven either cars, but just from looking at it, i like the m3 better. also, im pretty sure it has more room, and i ll probalby like the way it handles better. the power is not bad either.

That is the dumbest question I've ever heard.

If you chose the Foreign clunker you obviously are a momma's boy.
Who gives a rip about interior? Are you going to cry because your butt is cold and you don't have seat warmers?
By the way when is the last time you've heard of an 800hp to the wheels BMW? When have you seen a BMW win a burnout contest? Have you ever heard of a cheap BMW shop bill?
The list goes on.

By the way this guy I know has a M3 I have the American car below. Guess who gets the booty? That's right ladies and gentlemen the M3 does not stop traffic but t/A's, Z06 vettes, vipers and all other American muscle does. Half the people out there have no idea what M3 stands for or means. They only know a good looking car when they see one.

Real men drive muscle cars. Girlie men drive luxury cars. Enough said.

P.S. DreamSpawn dude why do you own an Fbod if you don't like them?

Looks like the TA is winning. I would gladly own either car, but the TA is more my style.

Its funny so many people say Camaros, transams, etc handle like shit.... i bet 90% havent even driven one.

Ya those damn ricers will tell you our F-bodies handle like pickups until they are blue in the face....lol For how much they love "high tech shit", they sure are stuck in the past about F-body handling. OMG, SOLID REAL AXLE OMFG ITS SO BAD, PLEASE, IM TOO FRAGILE TO FEEL ANY BUMPS FROM THE ROAD!!!

Looks like the TA is winning. I would gladly own either car, but the TA is more my style.

Its funny so many people say Camaros, transams, etc handle like shit.... i bet 90% havent even driven one.

actually 2001Z28LS1 went from driving a Z28 to a EVO back to a WS6, and when he went back from the EVO to the WS6, the WS6 handled liek crap compared to the EVO. however almost every car in our price range will handle like crap compared to a EVO.

99onI95, he didn't ask which one can hold 800 horsepower, he asked which one would be the best all-around daily driver, autocrosser, and drag racer. Yes, the T/A has it easily in drag racing, but the other two depend on the driver. And who cares which car gets more girls? That has absolutely nothing to do with the car, it has to do with what kind of girls you hang around. In fact, most classier women would greatly prefer the refined and polished M3 to the aggressive and rowdy Trans Am. Now, if you just wanna pick up as many hos as possible (as most adolescent street racers do), the T/A will work just fine. Please, feel free to give us your opinions on why the Trans Am is better than the M3, but if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. And please try to give us some more valid and relevant information to support your opinions than "My car has 800 horsepower and girls suck my dick while I do burnouts in it". That doesn't make you look cool, it makes you look like a narrow-minded, stupid-ass meathead.

That is the dumbest question I've ever heard.

If you chose the Foreign clunker you obviously are a momma's boy.
Who gives a rip about interior? Are you going to cry because your butt is cold and you don't have seat warmers?
By the way when is the last time you've heard of an 800hp to the wheels BMW? When have you seen a BMW win a burnout contest? Have you ever heard of a cheap BMW shop bill?
The list goes on.

By the way this guy I know has a M3 I have the American car below. Guess who gets the booty? That's right ladies and gentlemen the M3 does not stop traffic but t/A's, Z06 vettes, vipers and all other American muscle does. Half the people out there have no idea what M3 stands for or means. They only know a good looking car when they see one.

Real men drive muscle cars. Girlie men drive luxury cars. Enough said.

P.S. DreamSpawn dude why do you own an Fbod if you don't like them?



NOOO i love my fbody. I love pulling up to ppl who think they ride is pimp or sick in my aera and ripping them a new a**hole. But if he wants to go solo comp i just think the bmw would be better for that. if he wants to drag go with the t/a. Looks wise the T/A again like most f-bodys it sits still and grabs attention. Sound T/A nothing sounds like a 350 v8 espically with a flowmater 80 series. He said solo x with alittle drag. So i'm thinking he wants to go solo xing with stop light to stop light drag,hince i said the bmw. But then again for 20K he can get the T/A and rework the suspension and engine to rip the M a new a hole. But stock vs stock at auto x bmw.

i mean i love the E36 M3's, but the reason why i choose the T/A is becasue its soo much cheaper to mod. damn bimmer parts will cost almost as much as the car ( the first thing i would do is turbo it ). so of course if money was not an issue then i would choose refined speed over raw crappy interior speed. and yes interior does matter cuase my car's interior sucks and makes my car feel alot older then it really is. everytime i sit in a new bimmer or acura ( not so much benz ) i envy the modern interior and features. i wish i can afford to have both.

Well this is rather a tough choice. A part of me wants the WS6 to act as a hooligan while another part respects the sensible and balanced choice of the E36 M3.


Also for the thread starter, please put 10 day expiration dates on polls.

That is the dumbest question I've ever heard.

If you chose the Foreign clunker you obviously are a momma's boy.
Who gives a rip about interior? Are you going to cry because your butt is cold and you don't have seat warmers?
By the way when is the last time you've heard of an 800hp to the wheels BMW? When have you seen a BMW win a burnout contest? Have you ever heard of a cheap BMW shop bill?
The list goes on.

By the way this guy I know has a M3 I have the American car below. Guess who gets the booty? That's right ladies and gentlemen the M3 does not stop traffic but t/A's, Z06 vettes, vipers and all other American muscle does. Half the people out there have no idea what M3 stands for or means. They only know a good looking car when they see one.

Real men drive muscle cars. Girlie men drive luxury cars. Enough said.


Ya those damn ricers will tell you our F-bodies handle like pickups until they are blue in the face....lol For how much they love "high tech shit", they sure are stuck in the past about F-body handling. OMG, SOLID REAL AXLE OMFG ITS SO BAD, PLEASE, IM TOO FRAGILE TO FEEL ANY BUMPS FROM THE ROAD!!!

If you clowns are incapable of making reasoned arguments stay out of this forum. This thread's had its day.