Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Tuesday-Cars I covet

BMW M3

       So, most people have dreams cars. A certain vehicle that they've wanted for a long time, be it a high performance sports car, an expensive SUV, or maybe an old muscle car. But these vehicles are extremely out of reach on a typical middle class budget, hence the car's "dream car" status.
       I have dream cars, sure, but what I have more of are cars I covet, which are typicaly cars I could afford, but cannot justify owning one. Today, the car I covet, is a BMW M3. Now, the 3 series has been around since 1975, The "M" is the cars performance version. These cars are equipped with a high performance V6. I know what you're thinking, "An American, wanting a V6?" People tend to forget that V6's from Europe are completely different animals from those in America, where the V6 is known as "standard equipment." Other performance upgrades were stiffer suspension and better brakes. But this isn't why I want a BMW M3.
       Lets be honest here, the 4th generation M3 is quite possibly one of the best looking sports coupes of all time. It isn't brash, it doesn't hurt your eyes if you stare at it too long, and honestly, in lower options listings, the 3 series just looks kind of "meh". So when a buyer checked the box for the "M" upgrades, its mind blowing that a new set of wheels, some ground effects, and a pretty interior could take that "meh" and turn it into "mehhhnnnn I wish I had a better paying job". The subtlety of this car, for some reason it just oozes class.
     But the saddest part of this story is that I cannot afford a 4th generation M3. This is a man realizing he cannot afford even an old BMW. However,  I do not fret, because I CAN afford a 3rd generation M3. Sure, the 3rd gens are going to be a little out of date. Sure, they might not be as quick. But the third generation 3 series was the stepping stone for what is, in my mind, one of the best looking BMW's ever, the 4th generation 3 series. But lets not downplay the 3rd generation either. They may not be quite as good looking as the 4th gens, but you can't blame the 3rd gens, they grew up in the 90's. Yet, they still maintain that mostly subtle look, they still keep that "I'm a lot faster than you think I am" mentality. Let's face it, every man, no matter how much he denies it, wishes he had a sleeper. A car no one would see coming, until it was too late. The 3rd generation M3? Well it's just fine by me, it gets the job done, it still looks good, and at the end of the day, it's still a BMW.

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