Any opinions on which one is the better track value, in terms of comparing fun, performance, and $? I've heard great things about both, and seen them both perform well on the track, but never driven one.

 

The m3 would be the better value. Its a great car for the track, and theres a ton of guys running them so you would have plenty of resources on setups etc. There is also a huge aftermarket for the e36 so you could add power to bring it up to the horsepower of the m coupe.

The 2002 mcoupes have the s54 engine, so off the bat you'd have the extra 90hp (240 vs 333). I'm not sure on anything related to chassis rigidity so I don't know which benefits in that area.

Weight isn't so important in deciding since you can strip the car and lighten it to you desires.

I can't say that I've heard that one has supperior brakes to the other.

I would do a e36+ mods, and with the amount saved over an s54 mcoupe you could ahve a very good track dedicated setup. An e36 with the euro s5030 or s50b32 engine would be fanatastic, especially when combined with the six speed transmission.

Will this be track only? Or street driven with some trips to the track? I imagine it must be street legal since you can't tow a car with the gt2 or rs4.

 

2002 M coupe have the same S52 as the E36 M3.

 

No it doesn't. The 2002 M coupe have the S54. The 98-00 have S52.

 

The 2002 M coupe has the S54B32 engine from the E46 M3 that makes 333Hp. Also, the M coupe was what happens when engineers, not auto designers, make a car. The M coupe is said to be the best handling BMW ever built for the street. It will be more expensive to run, but can be setup as a great track car. There is a thread somewhere with a bunch of M coupes. Search for the shoebox thread.

 

The old e30 rear suspension makes it a bit tricky in slippery conditions (the mshoe)

 

whoops i didnt realize the S54 M coupe went back to 2002. i thought it started in 04?? But the coupe is deffinatly a good track car. Actually it belongs on the track. But it would be more expensive than a e36 to mod