How do I talk someone out of getting an m3 competition as a first car..

I decided to stop trying to steer him away from the m. I told him about maintenance costs, insurance, gas, and recommended some driving schools. I wonder how this will pan out but hopefully he won't be too stupid..

Originally Posted by DimitriGregorio

I decided to stop trying to steer him away from the m. I told him about maintenance costs, insurance, gas, and recommended some driving schools. I wonder how this will pan out but hopefully he won't be too stupid..

Well, at least you care enough to try to warn him. It may work out fine for him. Probably won't work out well for the car, though.

This is how a 12-14k M3 is made. Kid gets car, doesn't understand or can't afford the maintenance that has to be done. Car start to run like crap after it's been mechanically neglected. Kid goes to the dealer and gets a repair quote that makes his heart stop. Car goes on craigslist for $13k.

But hey, maybe they'll live happily ever after. At least you can pester him about doing maintenance.

Originally Posted by choxor

Well, at least you care enough to try to warn him. It may work out fine for him. Probably won't work out well for the car, though.

This is how a 12-14k M3 is made. Kid gets car, doesn't understand or can't afford the maintenance that has to be done. Car start to run like crap after it's been mechanically neglected. Kid goes to the dealer and gets a repair quote that makes his heart stop. Car goes on craigslist for $13k.

But hey, maybe they'll live happily ever after. At least you can pester him about doing maintenance.

At least I get to drive it to teach him stick ! Haha

Maybe he's shooting for a Porsche and is using the M3 as a decoy? My sister graduated as an RN at age 20. She saved enough $$$ to buy a new '74 'Vette. My father, whose insurance she was under, said no way in heck. Sis says "Daddy, can I buy a Firebird?" Dad: "Now that's more like it." She came home the next day in a white '74 Trans Am with the 455 engine. My father nearly $hit himself.

You've told him. You can't save people from stupidity. If the father isn't smart enough by now to know this, you'll never convince the son.

Originally Posted by vandyboy

Maybe he's shooting for a Porsche and is using the M3 as a decoy? My sister graduated as an RN at age 20. She saved enough $$$ to buy a new '74 'Vette. My father, whose insurance she was under, said no way in heck. Sis says "Daddy, can I buy a Firebird?" Dad: "Now that's more like it." She came home the next day in a white '74 Trans Am with the 455 engine. My father nearly $hit himself.

Soooooooooooo,

Sister married?

Originally Posted by vandyboy

Maybe he's shooting for a Porsche and is using the M3 as a decoy? My sister graduated as an RN at age 20. She saved enough $$$ to buy a new '74 'Vette. My father, whose insurance she was under, said no way in heck. Sis says "Daddy, can I buy a Firebird?" Dad: "Now that's more like it." She came home the next day in a white '74 Trans Am with the 455 engine. My father nearly $hit himself.

Hahahaha ! In all honesty id rather have a zcp then a Porsche. Well... Depends what Porsche..

Originally Posted by DimitriGregorio

It would teach him a lesson.. Ill just feel bad if he gets hurt and I didn't do anything to stop when I could have

Well you told him already, if he still wants to go for it let him. No other way to learn.

Originally Posted by Solidjake

Well you told him already, if he still wants to go for it let him. No other way to learn.

Yep. I'm gonna let him make his decision now. Ill tell him to check out the forum and read up on a bunch of stuff before he purchases it.. If he does.

Originally Posted by DimitriGregorio

Actually that's a good point! I did that at first. I was really excited for him so I recommended to go to a racing course at limerock racetrack. He somehow took this as offense to his "driving skills" and told me he doesn't need any lessons. He then begins telling me he wants my help teaching him to drive a manual. That's when I knew he wasn't ready for the car. He thinks he's a pro driver. Cockiness + m3 zcp = crash.

What "driving skills" does a kid who has never owned a car possess??

The reality is you can't stop him. Thankfully the E46 is an extremely safe chassis that will protect him from his own stupidity if he ever does get in an accident.

It's worth mentioning that plenty of kids have had faster cars and less safe cars than an E46 M3 as a first car, and contrary to what you think based on reading the news, they do escape with their life. It's not that your friend won't do something stupid, because he probably will, but chances are the consequences will not be dire.

I don't have kids, but if I did, I'd rather have them driving an E46 M3 than an E30 325is. The safety of the two is nowhere close.

He really should track it though if he buys it, exercise some of those teenage hormones in a safe way.

^+1 I had a faster and less safe car than an e46 M3 as my first car... A new driver who wants to speed will do it whether they're in an e46 M3 or a Geo Metro.

Originally Posted by Shaban

^+1 I had a faster and less safe car than an e46 M3 as my first car... A new driver who wants to speed will do it whether they're in an e46 M3 or a Geo Metro.

But it's easier to control a slower car than one with power once things start to get dicey.

Originally Posted by cowmoo32

But it's easier to control a slower car than one with power once things start to get dicey.

Easier to control an e46 M3 at 80mph than it is to control a Geo Metro at 80mph.

Originally Posted by Shaban

Easier to control an e46 M3 at 80mph than it is to control a Geo Metro at 80mph.

Well that's because a Geo Metro doing 80mph is dropping straight down out of an airplane.

Originally Posted by Shaban

Easier to control an e46 M3 at 80mph than it is to control a Geo Metro at 80mph.

Yes, but if we're talking (roughly) the same chassis then it's another story. I had a few close calls in my 325 and I know that had it been an M3 I would have totaled it. I eventually learned proper car control at autox and track days and looking back I was lucky considering how wrong I had reacted when things went south.

Let nature take its course. Hopefully it is a single car accident and he doesn't harm anyone.



Oh, and you jelly.

Originally Posted by DimitriGregorio

Woah good catch! I didn't even think of that. But he sent me pics and everything! It was interlagos blue and had the rims.. I assumed it was a zcp. He told me it was as well. Maybe he was just trying to get me jealous ? Hahaha

Then he must have the year wrong.

Originally Posted by M3Inline6

Then he must have the year wrong.

Yeah probably. That just shows how little he knows about the car he's about to obtain..

Originally Posted by choxor

Soooooooooooo,

Sister married?

If she was 20 and looking at a new '74 Corvette, she's right around 60 now.