[MADLUV4VW]

Once I pay off my Passat I wanted to get a sporty/sports car. I love the look of the E36 M3 and I was thinking of getting a 95 M3. The only problem is I want to drive the car often but I don't want to spend a lot of money on maintenance. I decided to do some research on the 330Ci and I found that this car is not that much slower than the E36 M3. I have also read about the upcoming Jetta GLI. I think the GLI would be a nice alternative to the 330Ci. I am not going race the car but I would love to have something sporty and fun to drive. In the looks department I rank the 3 cars this way:
1)E36 M3
2)330Ci
3)Jetta GLI
Of course in the practicality/bang for the buck department I rank the 3 cars this way:
1)Jetta GLI
2)330Ci (New or 1 year old with a warranty)
3)E36 M3
I have read the 0-60 times for the E36 M3 (5.5-6.0 seconds) and the 330Ci (6.1-6.4 seconds) which is not a huge seat of the pants margin. I have test driven the new Jetta GLX with the 200 hp VR6. Although it was an automatic, it felt pretty fast. I was thinking that the Jetta GLI's 0-60 time would probably be between 6.5-7.0 seconds stock. I would like to get you dubbers/dubbettes thoughts on this matter. I would appreciate any opinions you could give me.

 

[schwein]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (MADLUV4VW)

well if i had to make a choice it would be the E36 M3... i wouldnt get a 330 Ci just because i would never buy a newer car if i could get a little bit older car that was far better for the same or less money... the jetta is a very good solid car thats fast handles good but wont have nearly as many interior creature comforts as either of the BMW's. it really comes down to what you want. this is how i rate them
E36 M3: Fast, fun, looks killer stock and modded, status, kinda expensive to mantain and insure!
330 Ci: a bit slower, very fun to drive, looks great a bit more watterd down than the M3 but still classic, newer so cheeper to mantain, a bit more to insure
Jetta GLI: alot slower than either, fun to drive, looks are just like the basic Jettas will require some body mods to compete with the BMW's in the looks department, but will cost nearly nothing to mantain, and will cost little to insure! would be a great car to turn into a lill auto cross car though!!

 

[VR_Zoom]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (MADLUV4VW)

The M3 and the 330CI are VERY different. The m3 does the 0-60 in under 5 seconds(I have heard as low as 4.7 and as high as 4.9) and the 330Ci does it in around 6.5 - 6.8 seconds. Thats a huge difference IMO. The jetta GLI will most likely be doing the 0-60 in 6.3 - 6.5 I think so it will be about as fast as the 330Ci but nowhere close to the M3. If you got the cash the M3 is the hands down winner. If you don't the 330Ci or the Jetta are both excellent but I would pick the 330Ci just because its a RWD car.

 

[jaydub]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (VR_Zoom)

The M3 is totally in a class by itself when compared to those other cars.
Personally I'd get an E36 M3 sedan.

 

[boraIV]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (MADLUV4VW)

my dad has the 330Ci, although its an automatic... it is quuuick and it is bone stock, i think they look much much better than the e36 m3s. with a few mods, my dads car could be damn fast... intake, exhaust, cams... its a damn sweet car. his has the sport package. he is probably upset now that my car can almost take him!!!

ry

 

[10"jetta]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (MADLUV4VW)

If you have the cash go for the bmw 330i. If you have the cash and don't mine the really stiff ride go for the M3. If you don't have the cash (as I don't ) get the GLX. That's what I did.

 

[VTECH-this]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (boraIV)

i'm a bimmer freak...so i'd definately say one of them.
personally, i'd do the M3...the new 3-series is just way too big for me. if i could find a *MINT* condition E30 M3, thats where my cash would be spent.

 

[Frenchtimothy]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (VTECH-this)

Dude,
There is a HUGE difference in 0-60 times between the 330 and M3 as much as 1 second!!! 5.5 seconds is rippin, plus the M3 is setup, you won't have to mess with suspension or exhaust. When you buy it, it's all there.
M3 all the way!!! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

 

[OLD GTI GUY]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (Frenchtimothy)

I've seen many nice M3's in the mid to high 20K range... really makes me regret getting the Jetta. I love my car and all but an M3's an M3 no matter how you put it.

 

[amead]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (jaydub)

quote:[HR][/HR]The M3 is totally in a class by itself when compared to those other cars.
Personally I'd get an E36 M3 sedan.

[HR][/HR]​

Totally? an E36 M3 and E46 330ci are very similar performance wise.
Why BMW? Consider a used S4 also...

 

[jaydub]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (VR_Zoom)

quote:[HR][/HR]The m3 does the 0-60 in under 5 seconds(I have heard as low as 4.7 and as high as 4.9) and the 330Ci does it in around 6.5 - 6.8 seconds.[HR][/HR]​

quote:[HR][/HR]an E36 M3 and E46 330ci are very similar performance wise.
[HR][/HR]​

doesn't seem to similar to me!

 

[adityaax]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (VR_Zoom)

quote:[HR][/HR]The M3 and the 330CI are VERY different. The m3 does the 0-60 in under 5 seconds(I have heard as low as 4.7 and as high as 4.9) and the 330Ci does it in around 6.5 - 6.8 seconds. Thats a huge difference IMO. [HR][/HR]​

He is talking about E36 M3 not E46 M3

E36 M3 0-60 times (5 speed): I've seen between 5.4-5.9 sec.
E46 M3 0-60 times (6 speed): 4.7-5.2 sec.
330 Ci 0-60 times (5 speed): 6.3-6.7 sec.
The 330 Ci is pretty close to E36 M3 powerwise (M3 240 hp, 330Ci 225 hp).
Now the new E46 M3 is a class on its own 333 hp, 262 lb-ft of torque from 3.2 L I-6 NA engine, how's that for imppressive?

I need one

 

[jaydub]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (adityaax)

don't forget that a current 330Ci will cost quite a chunk of change more than the used E36 M3 will, with similar performance (sorry, i was just taking his numbers above for granted).

 

[Kevin Rowley]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (OLD GTI GUY)

quote:[HR][/HR]I've seen many nice M3's in the mid to high 20K range... really makes me regret getting the Jetta. I love my car and all but an M3's an M3 no matter how you put it.

[HR][/HR]​

In September 2000, I had to pass on a '95 M3 with 48K miles at $19,500 because I was unemployed at the time. The car only needed tires and a thorough detailing.

As they say, life is all about timing...
Back to the thread topic: if it was me, I'd go for the M3. But it's not me so do what your heart tells you.

 

[Sunil]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (MADLUV4VW)

quote:[HR][/HR]1)E36 M3
2)330Ci
3)Jetta GLI
[HR][/HR]​

This is a bizarre comparison. The price differential between the used E36 M3/Jetta GLI and the 330 Ci is like $20,000! In the $40,000 range, you have a lot of choices.
Also, if you make of habit of buying new cars as soon as you pay off the old one, why aren't you leasing? Why carry all the extra cash in a depreciating asset? Just pay for the depreciation costs and get a new car every 4 years. Just my $.02.

 

[DubberNix]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (MADLUV4VW)

Okay, here's my 2 cents. One of the guys in my office has a '01 330, my friend has an E36 M3 and I haven't driven the GLi (no one has). That being said, the M3 is the complete package. Sure, everyone wants an E46 M3, but very few can afford that. The 330 is fast enough and handles well, but the M3 has more road feel and just begs for more speed on every turn. The only downside is that my buddy and I took his M3 to SD (from LA) and the seats felt uncomfortable on the long drive.

 

[Max Rebo]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (jaydub)

quote:[HR][/HR]don't forget that a current 330Ci will cost quite a chunk of change more than the used E36 M3 will, with similar performance (sorry, i was just taking his numbers above for granted).[HR][/HR]​

I dunno . . . I've seen used E36 M3's (1996-1997models) stickered at $35k at some dealers. Also remeber that while the hp/tq figures for the 330 and E36 M3 are close, the M3 has much shorter gearing, hence much better performance.

 

[jaydub]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (Max Rebo)

i just did some searching on classifieds2000, and a 96-97 could be had for under 30k.

 

[vr6z3]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (RazorR)

I had a 2001 330i which I sold to my mother in order to buy a z3 and the jetta GLX VR6. If you have the money the 330i is the total package. The M3 is great but as a daily driver it wil depreciate alot faster (check the bimmer.org boards). Although it is an awesome car, for regular driving the 330i is alot of power and more practical. As far as price I personally like my jetta with mods. But you have to remember I do have a Z3 for the true sports car feel. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Max Rebo]

Re: BMW E36 M3 vs. BMW 330Ci vs. Jetta GLI (jaydub)

Hmm....I guess the dealer I saw this other car at was waaaay overpriced? Possibly. It's all good. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif