Decisions decisions - F80 M3, W205 C63, or Giulia QV?

[zuschnell]

I've always loved the advice and comments of the posters of this forum. I haven't been very active on this forum in awhile mostly because I've been enjoying my e90 m3 for the last 6 yrs without incident. I love my car but I've recently gotten the itch to get something new and I really don't know what to get. It might be easier to just state the requirements and let you all weigh in. By the way, I'm keeping the e90 because I just can't let it go. Plus I try to get my wife to come to the track every once in awhile and it would be nice to have two cars capable of handling track duties.

1. Four doors. I have three small kids.
2. I go to the track a few times a year and want to be able to track without needing to do anything excessive to the car except brake fluid and pads.
3. Faster than my e90. Because why not?!?!

That basically narrows it down to the f80 m3, c63 amg, and the new Alfa. I don't know if I have the patience to wait for the reviews of the Alfa plus the possibility of reliability issues with any Alfa product. I was concerned about some of the comments earlier about the handling of the f8x stating it was a little less forgiving than the e9x. It seems the comp package has fixed some of those issues though.

As I write this, it does dawn on me that I have probably made my decision since I am posting on the f80 forum, but maybe I just need you all to validate my decisions. I had been toying with getting a used 911 in the sub100k range, a used gran turismo, ftype, the new vette, and a couple of others but ultimately felt 4 doors would be better for the family. 1st world problems...

Please help!! Thanks everyone!

[nicknaz]

If you are keeping the e90 m3 i think you should reconsider and get a pure spots car. If budget is sub 100k that means slugging it out for a gt4 allocation or getting c7 z06 or viper are on the table.

Love my f80 but if i was upgrading from an e90 m3 i would gave gone in a different direction

[pikkagtr]

2 questions for you
Can you live with Italian iffy reliability
Can you live with Mercedes autotragic minivan style collum shifter

[Never Convicted]

Before you get answers, you have to make a solemn, unbreakable promise that whichever of the 3 choices you've given the board is most recommended, is the one you SWEAR to buy.

Enough of this imparting wisdom for free. We want commitment!!!

[F80Dreamer]

Love the exotic nature of the Alfa
Love the exhaust note/power from the C63
But hands down, go F80...the overall champ across many categories makes it the true class leader

[RobbyMack]

As a man in a similar situation the wife talked me into selling the e90 and getting the f80. In retrospect it was the right thing to do. The f80 is better in just about every measurable way other than the nostalgia factor of the v8 and exhaust. I contemplated keeping the e90 and getting a used 911 but selling that idea to my wife didn't sound appealing especially knowing she'd eventually break out the car seats one day and ask where they were going to fit. C63 is a very good option but frankly I'm just not ready to commit to the retirement home with the other merc drivers.

[CSanto]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

If you are keeping the e90 m3 i think you should reconsider and get a pure spots car. If budget is sub 100k that means slugging it out for a gt4 allocation or getting c7 z06 or viper are on the table.

Love my f80 but if i was upgrading from an e90 m3 i would gave gone in a different direction

So much this!
I should have kept my e92 and added something more focused.

[damnitBobby]

If you're set on keeping the E90 then this really is a no brainer. Skip the sedan.

Be selfish and get a track toy for yourself. Life is too short.

[PunjabiM3]

I don't think you can really go wrong with any of them. I have been a long time M owner and never owned a MB before. But this go around I decided on the C63S over the M3/M4. I think part of it was never having an AMG before, but mostly I just love the sound and power of the biturbo V8.

Pros of C63S: biturbo V8, exhaust note worlds better than M3/M4, adaptive cruise, nicer interior, bit more luxury
Negatives of C63S: M3 looks better overall, especially the rear end. I prefer Idrive over the MB Command system. Weighs about 300 lbs more than M3/M4.

I agree with others that if you are going to keep the e90 look at something more dedicated. If you are set on getting another sedan, and you plan on tracking, then the M3 may be the better choice, though both cars seem equally capable based on track times I have seen. I have my R8 for my weekend car so for me having that extra bit of luxury, nicer interior and features, etc makes sense for my daily driver. Good luck with your decision!

[zuschnell]

Little surprised that most of you are telling me to just get a dedicated sports car. I thought pretty hard about that but the reality is that it would be a little bit of a tough sell with the wife. Also I would almost never end up driving the car because a full on sports car would be a little flashy side for my job. My kids are all in car seats and on my days off they are usually tagging along.

[Blksnowflake]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

2 questions for you
Can you live with Italian iffy reliability
Can you live with Mercedes autotragic minivan style collum shifter

This....that damn shifter is a deal breaker...I use the traditional style shifter in my M3 way too much during mid apex turning.
Gambling with reliability on a first generation vehicle, new to the country which has already shown to have QC issues during development....nah bruh.

Originally Posted by F80Dreamer

Love the exotic nature of the Alfa
Love the exhaust note/power from the C63
But hands down, go F80...the overall champ across many categories makes it the true class leader

I test drove a C63s, the interior really is special but some of the menu organisation makes no sense and then F150 column shifter that literally looks like it came off a 1980s Ford Sable....it's hollow and plastic. Double nah bruh.
Wait until you see a C63 in the street....is it or is it just a standard C Class or an E Class...wtf is it....

I happily own an M3.

[zuschnell]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

This....that damn shifter is a deal breaker...I use the traditional style shifter in my M3 way too much during mid apex turning.
Gambling with reliability on a first generation vehicle, new to the country which has already shown to have QC issues during development....nah bruh.

I test drove a C63s, the interior really is special but some of the menu organisation makes no sense and then F150 column shifter that literally looks like it came off a 1980s Ford Sable....it's hollow and plastic. Double nah brush.
Wait until you see a C63 in the street....is it or is it just a standard C Class or an E Class...wtf is it....

I happily own an M3.

I have dct in my e90 but miss having a manual. I really do enjoy this transmission because it is so fast and pretty forgiving at the track but I think I am leaning towards having a proper 6 speed again. I really don't think I can deal with having an F150 hand me down Sable column shifter!

[Apollo_1092]

I would seriously consider the Alfa if I had another car I could rely upon and if I lived close to the dealership. I think it looks amazing and should be hell-of-a drive. But if you don't live near one or if it's going to be your DD I'd honestly go with the F8X. The Merc is amazing, and I was looking at those heavily but BMW just calls my name personally. Have you looked at the Lexus GS-F? It's not lightning fast but it's a nice looking car that is fully loaded and still an NA V8.

[CSanto]

Originally Posted by zuschnell

Little surprised that most of you are telling me to just get a dedicated sports car. I thought pretty hard about that but the reality is that it would be a little bit of a tough sell with the wife. Also I would almost never end up driving the car because a full on sports car would be a little flashy side for my job. My kids are all in car seats and on my days off they are usually tagging along.

I get that. I guess then do the M3 or C63s but theres no point to keeping your E90 as well.

At least I don't feel like theres any point to that.

Regardless of which you choose, compared to the E90 M3 they are two cars of like motive.

[zuschnell]

Originally Posted by CSanto

I get that. I guess then do the M3 or C63s but theres no point to keeping your E90 as well.

At least I don't feel like theres any point to that.

Regardless of which you choose, compared to the E90 M3 they are two cars of like motive.

It is probably nostalgia more than anything that is keeping me from getting rid of the e90. I wanted an m3 since I was 14 yrs old and finally got one at the age of 33. I could have swung an e46 earlier but I did the responsible thing and waited till I could comfortably afford it. I still get goose bumps driving my car. I fully realize that anything new I buy will likely be a better car in just about every metric, but it won't be the same as my first m3. Trust me, my wife doesn't really get it either, but she loves me, and is willing to humor me. She's even letting me buy a lift so I can fit the e90 and the new ride in the garage.

[zuschnell]

So for about 8.5k plus installation, you can get a dinan s1 signature package that gives you 530hp, a new exhaust, and a new coil over adjustable suspension while keeping edc. This could meet all the requirements and stay comfortably in budget.

I realize that you over pay with dinan, but I'm probably the demographic they are looking for: someone who really doesn't have the time to properly research every tuner and read every review, someone who wants a system that is all tuned by the same company for the sake of simplicity, someone who wants a full warranty as good as what bmw already offers, and someone looking for a car that is a little closer to a bespoke sports/track car that can still pull daily driver duties. I don't think I would ever have considered any dinan product before, but it's probably just that I'm getting older and have much less time on my hands to tinker around.

While I'd be spending more than I would for the Alfa, I'd be getting something that is likely more reliable. The Alfa is exotic and beautiful, but I'm still very apprehensive about a first model year car from a company not known for its reliability.

[OhioRiderAaron]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

This....that damn shifter is a deal breaker...I use the traditional style shifter in my M3 way too much during mid apex turning.
Gambling with reliability on a first generation vehicle, new to the country which has already shown to have QC issues during development....nah bruh.


I test drove a C63s, the interior really is special but some of the menu organisation makes no sense and then F150 column shifter that literally looks like it came off a 1980s Ford Sable....it's hollow and plastic. Double nah bruh.
Wait until you see a C63 in the street....is it or is it just a standard C Class or an E Class...wtf is it....

I happily own an M3.

Get outta here man! The MB shifter is completely fine and works more fluidly than the BMW units. Plus it opens up the center console area more. You can change P/D/N/R very quickly and effortlessly since your hands are already around the steering wheel. You must be biased tho

[Xtabi]

I'd like to register a vote for you to purchase a M3.

[brad850csi]

The column shifter isn't a huge issue for me, what is an issue is the gearbox still being an auto and changing much slower than a DCT.

If you're keeping the E90 M3 anyway, why not an M4, M6 Coupe or something a lot smaller such as a Cayman GT4 as others have suggested?

Or could an M6 GC be the perfect car for everything?

[ridin135]

For me it depends if it's a lease or buy. If it were a lease I would go with the alfa and if it was a buy I would go with the f80. Alfa reliability is pretty shitty and I personally wouldn't want to worry about the headaches post warranty.