6-Speed Sedan: 2008 BMW M3 E90

This next car comes from tipper Art C who writes: M3/4/6. Has a few miles on it... hmmm, how reliable are these?  Reliable?  Who cares?  This is V8 equipped M3 sedan that puts 414 horsepower and 295 ft-lbs of torque into a 6-speed manual box that'll light up the rear tires before you can say farfegnugen. This isn't just the ultimate driving machine, this is the ultimate ///Motorsports machine and I CANNOT BELIEVE IT HAS DEPRECIATED about $45,000 in the past 10 years. Find this 2008 BMW M3 offered for $15,500 in Rhode Island via craigslist.

Manual Gearbox, Two Turbos: 2007 BMW 335i Coupe

Eighty five hundred bones isn't a large amount of money...in fact more than 25% of the American households have more than $8500 socked away in their savings accounts...which is a miserably low percentage for the wealthiest country on earth...anyway...if you are one of the lucky few, you could turn your life savings into this 2007 BMW 335i Coupe offered for $8500 in Northridge, CA via craigslist.

When Did These Get Cheap? 2008 BMW M3 E90

BMW ditched their traditional inline-6 when they introduced the 4th generation of BMW's M3 -- code named the E90 (sedan) and E92 (coupe).  The purists might have missed the silky smooth balanced BMW 6-cylinder, but the new V8 put out more torque and horsepower than the outgoing model...and the best part is that they re-introduced a 4-door version. The only question I have is...when did the E90 M3 become affordable? Find this 2008 BMW M3 offered for $17,900 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.

15k: 2Good 2B True? 2011 BMW 335d Sedan

 The discount bin on your local craigslist is a scary place.  Behind every great deal lurks a Nigerian prince looking for his next victim, but sometimes a good deal on a car might actually be a good deal.  Like this 2011 BMW 335d Sedan offered for $15,900 in SF Valley, CA via craigslist.

Mid Week Match-Up: Sensible Speed

It is Wednesday so that means another time for a Mid Week Match-Up (TM)! Last week we tried to find a cheap truck for a guy named Joe, but today we look for a fast family sedan that makes sense.  It is easy to get into a decent EVO/STi for $15k, but you end up overweight with all the energy drinks you have to consume, and there is the ever present danger of cranial distress due to flat brimitis (several real internet doctors have confirmed this is a real thing).  You could also buy a used Audi S8, but you'll probably end up spending more on maintenance then Lewis Hamilton does on earrings. What we are looking for today is a speed and sensible sedan for about $15k out the door.

10k: 2 Turbos & 6 Speeds: 2008 BMW 335i E90

 When the N54 powered E90 generation BMW 335i was released in 2007, I said to myself: "Self, you are going to buy one of these cars when they get cheaper."  Around 2010 prices for '07 models were looking good in the $20k range, but I thought they should drop a bit more before being seriously considered.  But a weird thing happened, the plummeting prices stabilized and the 335i didn't drop much in price from 2011, 2012 or 2013.  Only recently have you been able to get a 335i with manual transmission in the teens, but the E46 M3 has been a better buy all things considered (speed, exclusivity, limited slip diff, MMMMMM badging. etc) especially when you look at used prices of a E46 328i.  Finally, in the past year or so, I've seen E90 335i start the inevitable plunge toward appropriately cheap prices.  And it's about damn time.  Find this 2008 BMW 335i 6-speed here on eBay currently bidding for $6,300 with 2 days to go, located in Thomaston, CT.

1k: Bluegrass Rules: 1991 Toyota Corolla All-Trac ST205 Swap

The E90 generation (1987-1992) Toyota Corolla All-Trac Wagon is a cool piece of equipment, but with stock power, its acceleration could be best described as soothing.  Today's next feature is an All-Trac wagon that has had a full drivetrain swap from a Celica GT-Four and is now properly mad.  Find this 1991 Toyota Corolla All-Trac ST205 Swap currently bidding for $1,136 with a few hours to go, located in Hendersonville, NC via ebay.

15k Flash: Bavarian Military Wedesday: 2007 BMW 328xi E90

The BMW 328xi is the winter flavor of BMW's best selling sedan, with all-wheel-drive and a basic i-6 to get you around town.  Take one, paint it matte-green and put some huge wheels on it...and you've got about the closest thing to a military spec 3-series we've ever seen.  This Wasteland Wednesday entry is a 2007 BMW 328iX is for sale in Houston, TX for the sequester-safe budget price of $12,895 via ebay. (Another thanks to tip from Kaibeezy!)

15k: 2007 BMW 335i E90 6-spd Sedan

For folks looking for a newer daily driver with sporty intentions you really can't go wrong with the newest BMW 3-series.  BMW has been cranking out these benchmark sporty sedans in huge numbers since 1975 and the next generation is always faster than the previous (albeit uglier and heavier.)  This 2007 BMW 335i sedan with 6 speed manual trans is for sale in Framingham, MA for $17,5000 via ebay buy-it-now.