Not too many years ago, the idea of owning a BMW had become something of a joke. Yuppies had taken to "Beemers" in a big way,
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The 2011 BMW 335i Coupe remains the yardstick to compare all other sports coupes to. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)
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transforming the brand into just another fad, like Tommy Hilfiger clothes or certain brands of vodka or cologne. If this year it was "in," next year for sure it would be "out" as the status seeking crowd moved on to the Next Big Thing.
BMW, to their credit, didn't let the Yupsters have undue influence on the course of the car company. The folks in Munich kept turning out better automobiles with appeal that went far beyond the famous blue-and-white "Roundel" emblem on the hood and the prestige that accompanies it.
BMWs perennially make nearly all the "Top Ten" lists of most desirable cars. They do it, not by bribery or extortion, but by constantly improving and refining their products. If it's not actually
The Ultimate Driving Machine, one at least gets the feeling
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If you've never had the pleasure of piloting an M3 through a twisting, undulating roadway, you've been missing out on one of life's
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| The first M3 was a radical little sport sedan, with a deep air dam, bulging fenders, fat wheels and tires, a big rear wing and performance to match. (Photo: BMW) |
greater pleasures. Now an auto enthusiast icon, the BMW is celebrating 25 years of production.
The sportiest version of BMW's already sporty compact model, previously only available as a two-door Coupe and Convertible, the 1986 M3 sported a peaky 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine good for close to 200-hp, plus a Getrag five-speed manual gearbox and unique final drive. It featured some 5 Series parts swapping for the suspension and brakes too, as well as a totally upgraded and stiffer body structure with totally new aero enhancements and new panels such as a deep front air dam, a massive rear wing, and "box flared" wheel-arches to integrate a wider track and meatier wheel and tire package; only the hood and sunroof were shared with the standard E30 3 Series. The look was radical, and the car is now a collectors' item.
M3s
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