Coming from a 99 M3...great car. However, the GTI is almost as much fun, much more practical, and actually better in many ways. Cars before the M3 included an 01 S4 (nice when it was not in the shop), 03 350 Z (fast but somewhat uninspiring) and an 06 TL (suprisingly powerful but still boring). The GTI may be my favorite as a complete package.