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[Babyboii4Llife]

M3 or 330CI VS Mustang 2 ---- Manual and Auto

Hey guys, sorry haven't been postng lately, schools been coming down hard on me, but I'm passing almost every class mid to high 90s.

A couple weeks ago as I was telling my father about my grades he said "You're really putting the B in MW aren't you?" Heh, I took that one to heart.

I don't know what to do, of course everyone warns me of not getting the M3, and even of not getting the 330I.

This is really not my PROBLEM, but a friend of mine has a Mustang 2003 I believe. It's a V6 probably around 190BHP. Now as we all know the 330I (atleast the one I was going to get) has 225BHP. If someone were to ask me..."Who's car is faster?" would I be able to answer "Mine."? This is also saying my friend and I both have the same amount of skill in driving.

I am still contemplating getting the M3. My Dad has a "discussion" with a couple days ago, and pretty much said that I shouldn't be 100% sure I'm going to get an M3, because he still has to really do some major research on it and his finances etc etc. I'm not 100% sure though, just 99%

If I were to get a 330I, I would not mod it like you guys think, obviously you underestimate me or overestimate the amount of modding I am going to do to it. I plan on modding it so it'll still be a BMW, just an individual, eye candy and ear candy.

Many of you seem "surprised" that kids get cars like this, I am...somewhat surprised but, not very. I know kids with Supra's that have 830HP...I mean come on now. I know more with sport cars up the wazoo, and a good majority of my school has high quality BMWs or Benz. My school is small, some 620 kids, give or take 20-25. We're a break off of a larger district Arlington, that has thousands. A good sum of "rich boys" go to my school, many of which live in the nearby "King Wood Park"...pretty much millionaires. I for one, don't live there, but still want a nice BMW.

As for manual and auto, my dad seems to have put his foot down on me getting an auto though, I still am somewhat pushing for the manual, I don't know if it's out of his ignorance of my learning capabilities, or just because he doesn't want to deal with teaching me how to use one.

I live in the Town of Poughkeepsie not the city, the town is urban, but not so urban that manuals become annoying. My dad is acting like we live in NYC, or some super urban city area. But, whatever if I am forced to get an auto, it's all good, as long as it's an M3 or 330I. Well, guys hope you can help...thank you so much for the responses.

-Ari

 

[codex57]

Ahahahaha, if you get a 330, you won't have to worry about your buddy's V6 Mustang. Hell, I have a 325 and I'm not afraid of them. Plus, give your buddy another year or two, and then look at teh condition of his car.

Another thing is you can't compare horsepower numbers to figure out who's car is faster. Stuff like parasitic drivetrain losses can create huge differences. BMWs are famous for going much faster than their numbers would suggest they could. As a wild guess, 225 BMW horses is prolly equal to about 260 Mustang horses.

 

[jrt67ss350]

IMO, the whole high-horsepower in the hands of a young driver thing and its consequences all depends on the individual. My first car (still have it, but no longer my daily driver) was my 1967 Camaro SS350 that has a 5.7 liter small block V-8, heavily modified automatic transmission (built by a local guy who builds pro drag racing transmissions) and some other good go-fast goodies on it. I realistically estimate that my Camaro has somewhere between 300 and 330 hp. It's all about how you approach driving the vehicle, how responsible you are, and how mature you are. Could I have gotten into trouble with my high-powered Camaro? Easily. Did I? No, because I treated the car with respect and understood the potential the power had to hurt me.

If you are a mature person and can respect the car and learn how to handle it well, the biggest and most difficult thing that you would have to deal with a powerful car as a young driver is peer pressure. When you have a car like I did or like a newer M3, you will always have friends and other people pressuring you to act crazy in it and doing things like burnouts and donuts and all kinds of crap. I know I did. And believe me, there are many times that it is very hard to resist the temptation. I never got into trouble, but in hindsight, I probably didn't resist enough. It always seems to be when you are showing off for your friends that bad things happen, either to your car, to yourself, or to other people and their cars. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you are a reasonable person and have a firmly affixed level head on your shoulders, I don't think you have to worry so much about your getting into trouble because of your own abilities. It's the affect that your friends have on you that you have to worry about. That's where you'll get into trouble.

If you can be respectful and cognisant of the power the car has AND you can manage to rise above all of the peer pressure you will receive (and I think you'd be very surprised how much you'll receive with a nice, powerful car), then go for it. But, you really do need to give it some serious thought - and only you and your parents really know you well enough to be able to make the decision if you can handle a powerful car like an M3. Having a powerful car is definitely fun, but it can become a nightmare quicker than the blink of an eye if you can't ignore the pleas of your friends. I've seen it happen.

 

[Chesty Bonds]

Nawww, the real risk is friends like me who will floor it when you're not looking... or even when you are.

haha sooo true!!!

 

[Dave8812]

Whatever you do get a standard transmission.

 

[nadroj]

i dont even want to post

 

[xLibelle]

IMO, the whole high-horsepower in the hands of a young driver thing and its consequences all depends on the individual. My first car (still have it, but no longer my daily driver) was my 1967 Camaro SS350 that has a 5.7 liter small block V-8, heavily modified automatic transmission (built by a local guy who builds pro drag racing transmissions) and some other good go-fast goodies on it. I realistically estimate that my Camaro has somewhere between 300 and 330 hp. It's all about how you approach driving the vehicle, how responsible you are, and how mature you are. Could I have gotten into trouble with my high-powered Camaro? Easily. Did I? No, because I treated the car with respect and understood the potential the power had to hurt me.

If you are a mature person and can respect the car and learn how to handle it well, the biggest and most difficult thing that you would have to deal with a powerful car as a young driver is peer pressure. When you have a car like I did or like a newer M3, you will always have friends and other people pressuring you to act crazy in it and doing things like burnouts and donuts and all kinds of crap. I know I did. And believe me, there are many times that it is very hard to resist the temptation. I never got into trouble, but in hindsight, I probably didn't resist enough. It always seems to be when you are showing off for your friends that bad things happen, either to your car, to yourself, or to other people and their cars. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you are a reasonable person and have a firmly affixed level head on your shoulders, I don't think you have to worry so much about your getting into trouble because of your own abilities. It's the affect that your friends have on you that you have to worry about. That's where you'll get into trouble.

If you can be respectful and cognisant of the power the car has AND you can manage to rise above all of the peer pressure you will receive (and I think you'd be very surprised how much you'll receive with a nice, powerful car), then go for it. But, you really do need to give it some serious thought - and only you and your parents really know you well enough to be able to make the decision if you can handle a powerful car like an M3. Having a powerful car is definitely fun, but it can become a nightmare quicker than the blink of an eye if you can't ignore the pleas of your friends. I've seen it happen.

This post should be stickied in this forum.

babyboii, you know what parasitic drivetrain losses are?

 

[MrElussive]

I agree with others how you being 16 and having an M3 as your first car is not a good idea, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to enjoy yourself. Get the 330Ci for a few years and then once you feel you are mature enough and know enough about driving [safely] and the way an RWD car handles and drives, step up to the M3. You're only young once and if you really love cars and you have the means for an M3, definitely go for it.

 

[Chesty Bonds]

I agree with others how you being 16 and having an M3 as your first car is not a good idea, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to enjoy yourself. Get the 330Ci for a few years and then once you feel you are mature enough and know enough about driving [safely] and the way an RWD car handles and drives, step up to the M3. You're only young once and if you really love cars and you have the means for an M3, definitely go for it.

Start with a 330i!? You must be kidding. The thing is a very powerful car and, in real terms, isn't much slower than an M3. I don't see how you can cut your teeth in a 330i but not in an M3... He should get something waaay less powerful to learn in first and then step up to a 330i and then, after that, an M3. A 16yo and a 330i is a seriously bad combination IMO.

 

[codex57]

a 16 year old in any car is a bad combo. I don't think a 330 is too much. A 6 second 0-60 range car is a bit fast for a beginner, but it's better than a V8 Mustang or something. Drag racing is usually the most tempting thing for a teenage driver. The 330 is just slow enough to not try and race everything in site if the person cares about winning (not always with teenagers. I didn't care at that age and I drove a Jeep). There's not enough power to break traction easily like an M3 or some muscle car. I think that's an important difference. When a teenager screws up, if the car can easily lose traction, that's a bad combo.

 

[HornyHornet]

How about a 325i? Great handling and plenty of power to learn from.

 

[MrElussive]

Call me a bastard, but I think the 325 is just too slow to do anything. I figure our new member here is going to prefer an automatic and whenever I drive my friend's 325i Sport Auto it is just way too winded to have any real fun. The car is peppy in its own right, but nothing more than that.

I completely agree with codex. The 330Ci paired with an automatic does 0-60 in 6.9 seconds and that is perfect! Not fast enough for street racing or to do anything wreckless, but still quick enough to have a great time for those once-in-a-while enthusiastic drives!

To defend my first paragrpah of this post for those who might have taken offense to that: I don't see the 325i as a "slow car". I just see it as a BMW 3-series for people who simply don't care at all for raw power. The buttery smoothness and fluid power delivery of the 2.5L I6 is excellent for daily driving but the car simply isn't fast enough for me to enjoy it.

Btw, I'd also like to add that my opinion is based on the 325i Auto. I think it's the automatic that single-handedly holds the 325 back so much. The manual version does 0-60 in 7.1 seconds (versus the auto's 8.1 seconds) and that is just a whole world of difference (but even still, the only 3-Series fast enough for my taste is the ZHP models). What can I say, I've gotten used to my car's acceleration (0-60 in 5.5 - 5.8 seconds) so my preference is different.

 

[HornyHornet]

I figure since a lot of folks still consider a 330 too much for the tyke, a 325 would be next. I initially suggested a 330ci but hey Im only trying to help.

 

[codex57]

To defend my first paragrpah of this post for those who might have taken offense to that: I don't see the 325i as a "slow car". I just see it as a BMW 3-series for people who simply don't care at all for raw power. The buttery smoothness and fluid power delivery of the 2.5L I6 is excellent for daily driving but the car simply isn't fast enough for me to enjoy it.

Btw, I'd also like to add that my opinion is based on the 325i Auto. I think it's the automatic that single-handedly holds the 325 back so much. The manual version does 0-60 in 7.1 seconds (versus the auto's 8.1 seconds) and that is just a whole world of difference (but even still, the only 3-Series fast enough for my taste is the ZHP models). What can I say, I've gotten used to my car's acceleration (0-60 in 5.5 - 5.8 seconds) so my preference is different.

as a 325 owner with auto, you're completely right. I got the 2.5L engine in part to save money, but also to keep my butt out of trouble with Johnny law. Cops have an unnerving habit of checkign me out. Dunno why. Maybe I look like a trouble maker or something. With my admitted lead foot, I figured a 330 was a recipe for trouble. I've accepted the fact that my car is kinda slow. As such, I can enjoy all the other aspects of the car's driving experience. There's no way I could have made that choice at age 16 though. That's why I say a 330 is good for the OP. Good compromise.

And yeah, that auto is annoying. Well, great for traffic, but really robs a lot of the fun. My only consolation is that I'm in West LA near the 405 and 10 freeway. That's pretty much the worst traffic spot in the US so I wouldn't even be able to enjoy a stick if I had one.

 

[MrElussive]

as a 325 owner with auto, you're completely right. I got the 2.5L engine in part to save money, but also to keep my butt out of trouble with Johnny law. Cops have an unnerving habit of checkign me out. Dunno why. Maybe I look like a trouble maker or something. With my admitted lead foot, I figured a 330 was a recipe for trouble. I've accepted the fact that my car is kinda slow. As such, I can enjoy all the other aspects of the car's driving experience. There's no way I could have made that choice at age 16 though. That's why I say a 330 is good for the OP. Good compromise.

And yeah, that auto is annoying. Well, great for traffic, but really robs a lot of the fun. My only consolation is that I'm in West LA near the 405 and 10 freeway. That's pretty much the worst traffic spot in the US so I wouldn't even be able to enjoy a stick if I had one.

Yeah. I can tell you that personally, in my car, most of the time I really do agreat job of following the speed limit, but there are times where I just can't help but put the pedal to the metal....I mean, that's what the car is for anyways, right? I've often thought, on my next car, to just put myself in a slow car so at least I'm not encouraged to whip the crap out of it.

 

[HornyHornet]

When I had my 325i I would always have the urge to floor it. I would love how smooth it would pull and the sweet sound eminating through. Man it was sweet. Back then I thought I had enough oompf. Switching my gears at 3.4K-4.5K, perfect so the next one would be right at the powerband. Now remember this was my first ever BMW. Right from the start, I felt the difference these beauties give; pure pleasure. Now that I have the 530i with the bigger engine...what can I say, even better. MAN!!, I love these cars. Just wish I could still row my gears.

 

[MrElussive]

Yup. The 540i (E39) is also a really great engine, really nice sophisticated V8 tone. All the BMW engine sounds make me cream my pants.

 

[HornyHornet]

Yup. The 540i (E39) is also a really great engine, really nice sophisticated V8 tone. All the BMW engine sounds make me cream my pants.

Cream my pants.... Good expression. Ditto

 

[Chesty Bonds]

Yup. The 540i (E39) is also a really great engine, really nice sophisticated V8 tone. All the BMW engine sounds make me cream my pants.

hahahahaha! How true that is. Yeah my dad's 740il has an awesome soundtrack, as does my mum's E46 325i manual. Actually, i can't decide which engine i prefer in terms of sound... Even my E30 318is sounds pretty mean when it's stoked up. Oh, and lets not forget the M3... [headbang]

 

[MrElussive]

You know what else is cool? The sound of the engine varies from car to car. For example, compare a 330Ci to a 530i. Two different cars with the same engine. The 330 has more of like a "purring" (like a cat) sound to it and is more high-pitched to produce a sportier, edgier tone. In the 530i, the engine tone is deeper and you can hear the cylinders pumping to produce a deeper, more sophisticated tone. I'm guessing the sound differences are due to different exhaust setups but it's interesting how the sound of each engine is taylored to the intentions of the car.