Mention BMW’s M3 to anyone with even a modicum of superunleaded running through their veins and the first thing that will come to mind is the iconic, motorsport-inspired E30. It isn’t fast by today’s standards, but its rev-hungry 16-valve S14 engine is one of the very best, and when combined with the gloriously tactile chassis ensures the E30 remains highly desirable 30 years after its debut, with the very best examples attracting six-figure price tags.
For those of us with more modest means the E30 M3 boat has well and truly sailed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an M3 parked on your driveway for a reasonable sum. And while, to the uninitiated, subsequent generations could be deemed more tarted-up repmobiles than motorsport icons, that would be selling the M3 dynasty seriously short.
The joy of an M3, no matter which generation, is its versatility. One minute a rampant and entertaining performance car with 911-rivalling straight-line go, the next a suitable family holdall and an accomplished mini GT car. It’s a rare blend that’s won the M3 a strong following over the years, and while the limited edition and collectable versions – the aforementioned E30, the CSL, the GTS – are heading towards the stratosphere, the three examples we have here can still be bought for less than the price of a new 320d M Sport. In the case of the E46 and E92 generations you could even hedge your bets and have one of each…
Bu hikaye Evo dergisinin November 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Evo dergisinin November 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
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BEST BUYS BMW M CARS
THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
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