I can mostly get behind this. I won a trip to be one of the first civilians to drive the new M2 for a couple of days, at the Thermal Club in CA. Coming from an e30 M3, I loved everything about the M2 (except the DCT, it is good, but not as good as all these publications had led me to believe, I will stick with a…

I would have to disagree to an extent. I own an e30 m3. When you compare it to to a base model 84 318i, the M3 weighs in ~400lbs more. It came with leather, sound deadening, bigger wheels, bigger arches, more electronics, a sunroof, and all around beefier components. Sure, today it is lacking, but in its day it was…

Some people have bad allergies that require them to wear masks everywhere they go.

I would like to lie and say I would just do a few tasteful mods to my existing collection. But I know that is not realistically true. I quite want to drive a Ferrari F40. And BMW M1. And a Singer 911 and Carrera RS. Maybe an i8 while I am at.

Too high strung to be fun? I must be missing something.

I don’t think the point of this list was to point out the vehicle that is the most fun to pilot, but the most enjoyable. Sometimes fun has to take a back seat to enjoyment. Enjoyment can be driving with 3 or 4 friends in the car, turning the radio way up while cruising cross country, driving a favorite back-road…

The M3 is just more hardcore from the factory, but a standard e30 can be made to feel just as hardcore with some aftermarket parts. Just put in some firmer aftermarket suspension with adjustable camber plates, some bigger brakes and/or better brake pads, and a LSD and you are probably 90% there. The M3 offers a little…

I have owned my e30 M3 for just over 3 years and ~10k miles, and I still have the exact same response as you every time I get out of it. I can’t help but look back at it, and try to think of just one more errand that I could run just to drive it a little more.

Reliable is always subjective. I currently own an e30 M3 and an e91 328i, while both need their scheduled maintenance, I have never had either fail catastrophically and leave me stranded. I have had the M3 for just over 3 years, and the 328i for just under 3 years. I can’t say the same for my old 83 Corolla SR-5 that…

Keep it up! I have a recommendation, that might help not just now, but also when you try in real life. Don’t try to race around the track as fast as possible. Slow way way WAY down. In real life most of your driving will be in stop/go or town traffic/lights under 50mph, where you will need to change gear fairly often,…

Dinan backs BMWs factory warranty 50k mile, 4 year warranty, so it should remain pretty reliable. That said, if you don’t need or want the extra power than don’t waste the money building something you won’t exploit.

Yeah, I wouldn’t either. I think Dinan makes quality products worth the price though, so if I had money to burn and wanted it to be a bit more of everything that is where I would look. I would seriously consider their suspension tweaks.

With 120k miles I think it will sell close to $15k since it has a clean title. A similar salvage title car goes for ~$10-12k, and to get ~$18-20k it would need to have under 100k miles.

Well I think there is really only one answer. The e39 M5. Pick it up and grab a $400 Dinan flash to remove the top speed limiter, and it should be good for ~180mph. Once you have it paid off you can slowly build it up to a reliable 600hp+ if you stick with Dinan. http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-M5-Bas…

You might notice from Clarkson’s and Harris’ twitter posts that Harris, Needell, and Franchitti are at the same track with the same cars as Clarkson, Hammond, and May this week.

For me it is my mostly stock e30 m3. After owning it for 3 years I still tremble with excitement every time I drive it.

The i3 seems like it could make the list

Oh never mind, it is RWD. Wish it was more original and complete, but that is probably a hell of a fun car to drive. I had no problem getting sideways in mine back in the day, simply because they are so light. And because I was in high school and couldn’t afford to replace the nearly bald tires.

Is that FWD? My first car was a 5-speed ‘83 Corolla SR-5 Fastback and it was RWD.

“but at higher highway speeds it does the opposite making the vehicle feel as if it’s handling more smoothly as you jerk the wheel around.”