I had the chance today to drive a friend's 2002 M3 today. My god. Incredible sound, unbelievable power, art-like looks...and BMW quality. He paid around $40,000...it has a 100,000 mile warranty...

I am planning on getting a titanium RX-8 in Spring, and with the options (everything) it will be around $36,000. I love the 8. Unique styling, excellent quality, rotary charm, comfort, and loads of fun to drive.

So the question is, for about the same price (a few thousand att his level is not a big deal), which car would you vote for?

I know that this is a subjective question. You really can't go wrong with either car...just looking for opinions.

Anyone traded an M3 in for the 8?

i would like to meet the guy who trades a 2002 M3 for an 8. The 8 is wonderful, but the M3 is a fantastic car, i don't see anyone giving one up for a mazda.

Holy crap!!! I also was looking at 2001 or 2002 M3's, still priced in the mid $40's. That was until I drove the 8. The M3 is bad ass, is a lot faster, but overall, the 8 just flat out imptressed me more, the feel, interior, styling, etc. Not too mention 10 G's less and I don't even want to mention insurrance.

Anyone who takes an RX8 over an E46 BMW M3 is smokin crack.
Its a no brainer , take the slightly used M3

It just seems like there is a M3 at every stop light in Orange County, and smoking crack isn't on my resume jackass...

good point dugless
I'm not a fan of crack either

I had a 99 m3 which i loved to death.I did drive a new one and an 02 used before i bought the 8 and no doubt the new m3s are kickass.I decided on the 8 for overall value and the 4 door aspect was a big deciding factor as well,but if i was single again the m3 would be in the driveway.

Originally posted by h0rde
i would like to meet the guy who trades a 2002 M3 for an 8. The 8 is wonderful, but the M3 is a fantastic car, i don't see anyone giving one up for a mazda.

h0rde,

Nice to meet you. Oh, and it was fully load, steel grey, red leather, convertible, SMG, Nav, and 19" wheels.

If money was no object M3 hands down.. but I'm not sure about the "BMW quality", long term reliability, maintenance costs or even resale value.

Originally posted by Quick_lude
I'm not sure about the "BMW quality", long term reliability, maintenance costs or even resale value.

BMW consistantly ranks higher than Mazda on JD Power VDS list.

M3 > RX-8
I don't think anyone objects to that.

I dont object
m3 would be a dream car

An M3 is a nice car. But where I live, you can just about throw a rock in any direction and hit a 3 series.

Originally posted by Dugless
Holy crap!!! I also was looking at 2001 or 2002 M3's, still priced in the mid $40's. That was until I drove the 8. The M3 is bad ass, is a lot faster, but overall, the 8 just flat out imptressed me more, the feel, interior, styling, etc. Not too mention 10 G's less and I don't even want to mention insurrance.

Bought my RX-8 for 29,900. I could not find a used 2002 M3 below 43K.
13 K plus sales tax is a big difference. They are not in the same ballpark:
" It ain't no ballpark either. Look maybe your method of massage
differs from mine, but touchin' his lady's feet, and stickin' your
tongue in her holyiest of holyies, ain't the same ballpark, ain't the
same league, ain't even the same fu***n' sport. "

good one
pulp fiction rocks