&width=75&fastscale=false)
Pick a car – any car. Well, pick from a BMW M3, M5, 330i, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Aristo or a Honda Accord R. Tough decision, right? Luckily, the Best Motoring series (where Japanese racers drive new cars flat-out together) has made the decision for us, 20 years ago when the above models were fresh out the box. But you’ll have to watch the video to find out the victor – and does it match our modern perception?
Video: M3 vs. M5 vs. JDM heroes
From the then-$114,000 E39 M5 with its 5.0-litre 400PS V8 to the 3.0-litre 280PS Turbo L6 Aristo, which at $38,000 is a mere fraction of its competitor, this video pits expensive German engineering against its more affordable Japanese counterparts. The $66,000 343PS straight-six-powered E46 M3 lines up against the $23,000 2.0-litre, 280PS Legacy B4RSK, while a regular E46 330i and the Accord EURO-R are the affordable options of their respective families.
On a wet Japanese circuit, the drivers let loose, putting the cars through their paces in a brilliant battle. We’re not going to spoil the fun for you, so set aside 10 minutes this morning and live your noughties sports car dreams.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: McRae flat‑out in testing
