2004 M3 or GOLF R?

[REXman]

Would you buy a
-Brand New Golf R with the works (but no Recaros)

or a

-2004 MY04 M3 coupe with DSG type box and everything on it (TV Sat Nav etc), 40000kms on it.

Same money.

[Bboy_Sparx]

M3 in manual. SMG, no thanks...

Or buy it, try it, then sell it. Resale is good for the //M

[REXman]

SMG no good?

[Blitzen]

Manual or don't bother... SMG was a semi/automatic put on a manual gearbox (basically)...

[Jace]

Why is there no "take the bus" option?

[Dyldo]

SMG is an awesome paperweight. Take a M3 manual. Oh, and go for the 2004.5 revision. Easy way to tell (i think, but am no expert) is LED tails - though thats easily faked. Even the SMG got better in that revision. But amazing car nonetheless.

[REXman]

SMG is an awesome paperweight. Take a M3 manual. Oh, and go for the 2004.5 revision. Easy way to tell (i think, but am no expert) is LED tails - though thats easily faked. Even the SMG got better in that revision. But amazing car nonetheless.

Any other news about why the 4.5 is better than the tail lights? (which, do look good)

[team_v]

M3 FTW
However i would also say go manual.

More prestigous, great engine, great sound, very tunable.

[Sharkie]

Even an old M3 is better than a new R .....

Having owned a 2002 E46 M3, I can with confidence say it is a far better car than the R ....

I had a SMG and would not recommend that to anybody..... get the manual. It is by far the better option and since it is scarce these days also more expensive with much better resale value .... pretty much what the R manuals will be like one day .... out of warranty DSGs face $15K gearbox replacements when they get old ....

As an example .... A lightly tuned E46 M3 recently was quicker than both the Stg3 APR Golfs (including the R!!!!) around a track and we know the APR R is about 6s a lap quicker than a MRT STI .... see Ozvolks forum for pics and times .....

Never confuse being faster in straight line with being better though .... it is the total package to consider .... same as R v STI .... except the M3 takes it to yet another level that the wannabe's cannot even attempt to play at....

Bottom line is ... a R is just a hot Golf ... a M3 is special ...

[REXman]

Having owned a 2002 E46 M3, I can with confidence say it is a far better car than the R ....

I had a SMG and would not recommend that to anybody..... get the manual. It is by far the better option and since it is scarce these days also more expensive with much better resale value .... pretty much what the R manuals will be like one day .... out of warranty DSGs face $15K gearbox replacements when they get old ....

As an example .... A lightly tuned E46 M3 recently was quicker than both the Stg3 APR Golfs (including the R!!!!) around a track and we know the APR R is about 6s a lap quicker than a MRT STI .... see Ozvolks forum for pics and times .....

Never confuse being faster in straight line with being better though .... it is the total package to consider .... same as R v STI .... except the M3 takes it to yet another level that the wannabe's cannot even attempt to play at....

Bottom line is ... a R is just a hot Golf ... a M3 is special ...

I agree with everything you said. An R is always going to be a hot Golf ( a nice one though), where as the M3 is based on 3 series, where anyone who has driven one can attest, is an awesome handling and refined car. Then they make that already amazing base car spastic good and you get an M3.

Just one problem guys.. I just checked insurance for my possible M3 purchase.

As a person with no recorded accidents, 29 y.o., my MY09 WRX was $1238 with NRMA.

They quoted me $1650 for a new STI (insured for $66000).

An Audi S4 (2004 model is around $2150 p/year - around $1900 IF I pay $1000 excess)

Oh and the M3 is $3341 a year. OUCH.

I feel like im 17 again trying to insure a 200sx.

Cant do it.

The Golf R, $978!!! Man it must be in the library club big time

[drewr]

Cant do it.

The Golf R, $978!!! Man it must be in the library club big time

Holy, wow!! That's amazing! Wouldn't cost too much to register either being a 4 cyl would it? Compared to the 800 odd it would for the M3, jeessh, it'd be about 4.5k every year just to have it on the road! Big off put as an E46 M3 was my plan for next year, i really don't know if i will anymore, might stick with my mk4 32 for a little longer.

[Sharkie]

Just quoted both a 2005 M3 E46 Manual and a 2010 R through Suncorp Insurance ....

Both around $900 per year for me ..... M3 is actually $30 cheaper ....

[REXman]

I almost dont believe you man! Why so cheap!? Anyone else get the same thing as Sharkie

[AusScare]

I'd get the M3 if it was my money, because I want something to modify and be different and I know I'm going to mess with it so there's no point having warranty.

[gareth_oau]

the BMW SMG box was universally bagged by all the motor critics, so thats the only thing that would prevent me from chosing the M3 - change the survey to manual and its an easy winner.

The only disadvantage of the M3 is the age and lack of warranty, I would expect you to be budgeting a lot of money for repairs over the next 3 yeras that would would otherwiese be (not broken or) covered under the R's warranty.

did that M3 come with the variable vanos(?) ive heard many a story about them failing and needing repairs