Great widescreen backup camera, and yes, it’s really zippy for its size. It’s quicker than I expected and the electric torque is always fun to feel.

That is exactly what I’m trying to figure out.

Anyways, it’s possibly not the fastest German car for under $15,000, but it is most definitely the best...

My E39 M5 has the Jailbreak tuning reflash, and it has reached just shy of 180mph. Mine cost $19,000CAD a little over 3 years ago, which is just under $15,000, not including depreciation...(or appreciation if you’re optimistic)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-M3-Bas…

I agree with this, and I think this car should sell for around $13,000. These things are amazing for the money, and perfect for a detail oriented owner with aptitude and time to do their own work. There is a huge amount of information online regarding basically any repair/issue and you can buy these things cheap from…

These cars are incredible. Drove 1200 miles in one in a weekend.

If it rocks your boat I’m cool but I’d go just for the delimiter. Modding an already hot car seems to me like overkill. A bonafide stock E39 w/o limiter can and does 186, I wonder if it is really worth it throwing money at Dinan for the few extra mph.

How long will it be ‘reliable’ for if you do that?

Or...here’s a 2004 BMW 760Li. The pre-LCI E65 has a face only a mother could love and who the hell knows how it survived past $100K miles, but whatever. It’s got a big V12, so it should be reasonably fast, and...yeah. That’s about all I can say for this one...

If we are talking about more balanced speed, answer is still obvious to me. You cannot beat a JB4 335i Steptronic.

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…

The only problem I see is that it’s a Chrysler Crossfire.

BMW 135i 2008

maintenance costs and time < avg. new car payment

After driving this for a whole weekend, no car has ever sounded as good. Many have come close, but WOT with open velocity stacks is a visceral experience you can’t reproduce in any factory car, nevertheless after adding a proper free-flowing exhaust to it:

Porsche Cayman GT4

Autojournalist cliche incoming, but, steering feel. With a rear-engine and no weight over the front axle, this thing feels so alive in your hands.

Alfa Romeo GTV6, magically engine, lots of torque and beautiful exhaust note. Also superb handling. As Jeremy Clarkson said, it’s the only car he regrets selling.