Rs250 cup or E46 M3

Tough call.

I discussed this briefly with Jamie at the weekend, whilst hooning around Rockingham in his modified 250, just before we overtook an E46 M3 funnily enough.

As much as I would love an E46 M3, I can't (yet) justify selling up the 250 to buy an older BMW. I would have both. Lol.

 

Megane every time. The cult following on the e46 boggles my mind.. it makes a HORRENDOUS noise

 

You can't go wrong with either, very different cars tbh.

Personally, I find boosted cars better for the the road, and N/A for the track.

M3-
In the right conditions, driven in anger, they're amazing! The throttle repsponce, the ITBs screaming at you all the way to the redline, all coupled with a sorted chassis and RWD.
As an all round car they're fantastic, they do everything well, but it does all come at a cost. These cars come with high running costs and they're falling into the hands of those that can't afford to run them properly. The subframe is obviously an issue that'd need checking out.
The M3 can be caught out in the wrong gear by modern diesel rep barges, and exploiting the full performance in the UK often isn't possible. I actually don't think they're a very good road car if you're after fun. The gearing is too tall, the power delivery is very linear so the speed is almost deceptive, and the gearbox is like a truck when cold.

Meg -
If you put an average driver in both cars, the megane would be faster in 80% of situations IMO. The power is so much more accessible, and the way they go round corners feels as though you're cheating! And they're not just capable, they're fun to match. Meganes seem to be fairly bullet proof, and if it goes wrong it's not going to cost the world. The running costs will be cheaper all round, obviously. The megane makes for a good, honest fun road car, but will also hang with cars it really shouldn't on a track.

I owned an M3 a few years back and now have a 250 cup (with stage 1 mods).

 

250 remapped, more torque than the e90 m3

 

Meg all day long ! so much easier to tune and cheaper to run etc

 

i'd say Meg as well, but I'm biased, having a previous RS250 then into an E92 M3, now getting into an RS275 trophy next week and cannot wait. M3's are stunning cars, but if you want proper fun the RS takes it all day long.

My favourite past-time is B road blasts and found the M3 too much of a hand full that it was not enjoyable unless the roads were sweeping and smooth. On a back road the M3 cannot live with an RS. Diehard M owners will disagree, but from my perspective and experience I prefer the RS every time.

 

Id say go with the Meg , just sold my E46 m3 to get my rs250. M3 are great cars but problems with subframe replacement (a must)and very high running costs , these cars are getting on now. Megan's are newer and cross county pace the m3 would struggle to match.

 

Having had a 300bhp meg & a e92 m3 at the same time I have to say the bmw was quicker on the roads but the meg was loads quicker on track. The bm doesn't have the corner speed of the meg but is quicker all day in a straight line & on mild B roads. I know the op is looking at e46's but unfortunately I only had a 330 in the e46 & that was back in 2004 so not really comparable but I had the meg & the e92 at the same time.
Lee