Impreza vs E46 M3

[jmcc42uk]

Hi Guys,

Don't want to open a can of worms on my first post but.....

After having a 450bhp Supra twin turbo, I'm hankering after that kick in the back that only boost can provide.

My M3 is the standard 340bhp at the min a while it's not slow, it dosen't blow you away. Also the running costs are mental. £700-£800 for discs and pads for example!

I would have about £10k to spend on an Impreza so I want something modern and tuneable.

[harvey05]

Hi mate ive gone from a 2005 sti with 287bhp at the wheels around 340-360 at the fly proven and it was quick , a wrx ra, legacy tt and a evo 2 amoung others but some times i think my e46 m3 seems slow as its not got the kick that a turbo car gives but when you look at the speed your going it is quick the m3 is so much more of a drivers car . Dont get me wrong i love rice rockets but m3 are the best allrounder drive it to the shops or track it and the just keep going

[j2000]

Originally Posted by jmcc42uk

Hi Guys,

Don't want to open a can of worms on my first post but.....

After having a 450bhp Supra twin turbo, I'm hankering after that kick in the back that only boost can provide.

My M3 is the standard 340bhp at the min a while it's not slow, it dosen't blow you away. Also the running costs are mental. £700-£800 for discs and pads for example!

I would have about £10k to spend on an Impreza so I want something modern and tuneable.

Shame your budget does not stretch have been considering selling my 485bhp p1 at the right price and that thing makes m3s feel like there going backwards.

[harvey05]

that it may till it gose pop and it will

[j2000]

dout that with cdb and rcm internals plenty left in her yet..

[ScoobyStu]

Originally Posted by jmcc42uk

Hi Guys,

Don't want to open a can of worms on my first post but.....

After having a 450bhp Supra twin turbo, I'm hankering after that kick in the back that only boost can provide.

My M3 is the standard 340bhp at the min a while it's not slow, it dosen't blow you away. Also the running costs are mental. £700-£800 for discs and pads for example!

I would have about £10k to spend on an Impreza so I want something modern and tuneable.

I don't think you can really compare the two as they're totally different cars. I love M3's and often think about getting rid of my blob for one but for the reasons you state, I would miss the power delivery too much I feel.

Anyway, for £10k I would look for a blobeye that had already been modified. Can pick them up in vgc with plenty done for that sort of money. There's a white one currently up for sale. I don't like the lights or the front bumper but it's a well sorted 2.1 running circa 550 for £11k. If you look in the for sale section on here and find Angers post and look at the spec of his which he sold for £9k. That gives you a rough idea of what can be had for around your budget.


As for them 'going pop', other than a ****e build or map, there's no real reason that should happen. A lot less likely than the Vanos going wrong on an M3 or the arches rotting away on one anyway

[Ginola]

You could strip 150kg of weight out of your M3 that might make it more interesting

As others have said both very different cars,
I've often thought about an E46 M3 and it would be safe to say I have a soft spot for the Bavarian mark but the "wet track day UK" means blasting round in the wet and humiliating lots of far more expensive equipment would no longer be a reality with an E46. This stops me thinking about it any further, that coupled with the expensive running costs you mention.

As for it being more of a drivers car.. I would say it all depends how you have your Subaru or M3 setup. Out of the box I would expect the M3 is a bit better and more refined but fettled with some decent mods is a different story. All said and told pound for pound you will be travelling a lot quicker in the scoob for your money than you will in an M3 for the same budget.

[AC223]

Dunno if i'm allowed to do this, but my very nice blobeye STI with Prodrive Pack is for sale in the classifieds. You could buy that and then spend £1500 on modding it to your taste, or just leave it standard and spend the £1500 on track days, hookers and cocaine instead? It's nice to have options. It's the perfect place to start and you'll have a lot more fun in it over winter than you will in your M3.

[RobEvo5]

I've had both probably at least twice, and both cracking cars but as said also both offer something different.

Running a E46 M3 does require deep pockets, and even more so now with the SMG boxes failing costing 4-5K, the Vanos even on the E46 go now, and the rear chassis are all going costing big bucks to sort properly, rear springs that snap often, as well as disks pads etc, and all other consumables which demand a premium for what was a 55K super saloon at the time.. But in return you do get a very well built, solid car with fantastic grunt, handling and all round performance that driven in anger with experience could keep up with the most exotic and powerful cars.

The M3 doesn't have the punch of the turbo, but they just sing when you start pushing them over 5.5K up to 7.5K+. Drop at least 2 cogs when you want to press on and it comes alive. A bit like a Vtec they are at the best being ragged... but still lively in the lower enough in the ranges as well. I didn't like the manual version as they were a bit agricultural with a long throw, heavy clutch. But the SMG version working as it should is superb bit of kit.. A M3 would be happy blasting down the Autobarn at 150+mph, or round a track and won't overheat, blown a turbo, piston ring, etc,etc and be able to do it all day long..

The STI can make the worst of drivers look good, and is probably the best point to point UK road car money can buy, with relatively cheap running costs, and reliable if left more or less standard, and will tend to keep most average drivers out of the ditch when pressing on hard.

The M3 is more understated, less shouty and carries less of the stereotypical image that the scoob gives. But they are both 'hooligans' cars now and within reach of most people.

Both great cars, and based on them both being out of the box standard, and if overall running costs were not a factor then I personally think the SMG M3 is the much better car for the more discerning person.