E36 BMW M3: 1992-1999

It may bear the M3 name, but compared to the E30 M3, the E36 is an almost entirely different car. For starters, BMW dropped the lighter four cylinder engine in favor of a three liter straight six engine that pumps out 240 horsepower. It packed on a few pounds, too — nearly 800 of them. But don’t go thinking for a second that the E36 M3 went the way of Val Kilmer; it reaches 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, which is quicker than the old M3 by nearly a full second. Gone is the ethos of a lightweight road racer; the M3 is a refined, powerful sports saloon — you can even get it with an automatic transmission. If the current prices for E63 M3s are any indication, it’s perhaps the least desirable M3 out there (which is like saying Christie Turlington is the least desirable supermodel) — but we consider it under-appreciated. If you can find one that hasn’t been neglected, poorly modified or hooned to death, a used E36 M3 is a veritable performance bargain, and is only likely to go up in price.