At the risk of sounding like your grandpa, the auto industry isn't what it once was. The world changes these days quickly, and with it, that humble four-wheeled invention we call the car. But we aren't talking half a century ago, the changes in the last decade or two have been seismic, and look unlikely to ever be reversed. In 2026, you can go out and buy an MG4 XPOWER in Europe, which is a fairly ordinary-looking electric urban hatchback, and this is what you'll get: 50:50 weight distribution, rear-wheel drive, 435 horsepower, 3.8 seconds to 60 mph. That's the kind of specs a supercar would flaunt a generation ago.This is Gen Z motoring — more power and performance at your fingertips than you will likely ever need, all while playing your favorite Spotify playlist. Which leads us to the performance legend that Gen Z won't get to experience. This car is the very antithesis of modern performance car motoring, with woefully low power and slow acceleration, but the experience is priceless. Oh, and it's got a tape deck too. The E30 M3 Is The Performance Legend Gen Z Won't Get Their Hands On Bring A TrailerDo you like to post YouTube videos of your EV "humiliating" hypercars at a drag strip, honeydew boba tea securely fastened in the cupholder? Then the E30 BMW M3 is not for you. Launched in '86, this small Bimmer harks back to a time when drivers had to do everything themselves, and the computer aids stopped at the trip computer. The OG M3 was based on the series-produced two-door 3 Series, and wasn't designed to be a fancy flagship for the range. It was designed as an entry for Group A production touring cars, with homologation regs stating that 5,000 road-legal units had to be sold within 12 months. The E30 M3 Is A Race Car For The Road Before Nannying Safety Systems Bring A TrailerA four-pot S14 was chosen for its lightness over a six-cylinder, with displacement increased from 2.0 liters to 2.3 liters, with some design inspiration and engineering carried over from BMW’s M1 powertrain for good measure — the result being 195 horsepower for Europe and a bit less for America. The E30 was put on a diet, with front and rear bumpers, side skirts, boot lid, and spoiler made of plastic, resulting in a curbweight of 2,645 lbs. BMW Motorsport also tweaked the car’s aerodynamics, with the C-pillar of the M3 following a slightly shallower angle, allowing airflow to the spoiler more effectively. The E30 M3 Is Largely Unattainable Now To Gen Z Bring A TrailerAdmittedly slipping back into grandpa mode for a second, I remember a time in the '90s when E30 M3s could be sourced from Germany for less than $7,000 (a lot less than the new price of $35,000). Those times are long gone. But savvy Gen Y gearheads did have a chance to get in on the action. In 2014, a 1990 BMW M3 E30 roller project sold for just $4,600, with very respectable road-worthy examples selling for less than $30,000.In 2026, it is a different story. An '88 to '91 BMW M3 will cost $68,300 in good condition these days, according to Hagerty's Valuation Tool, making this rare slice of motorsport history a prohibitively expensive weekend toy for anyone but wealthy middle-aged folk. But it doesn't stop there. Look for one of the special editions available in Europe that includes the Evo I, Evo II, and Lightweight cars, and you will need to start looking at classic Ferrari money.The M3 Sport Evolution (the one with the red stripe) was limited to 600 examples, with substantial changes made to reduce weight by 55 lbs, as well as an increase in displacement to 2.5 liters, bumping power to 238 horsepower. The E30 M3 Is Not A Gen Z Car Bring A TrailerThe BMW E30 M3 is a 40-year-old car, but to some people it may seem prehistoric. There are no driver aids to rely on, such as Traction Control (TCS) or Electronic Stability Program (ESP), although you do get ABS and ventilated discs. The driving experience is characterized by a stiff shell and flat handling, although there is only one suspension setting rather than multiple to play with like in most modern cars. The manners of the M3 will be the same whether you are on a circuit or driving down to Blockbusters. In the modern world, we are used to choices, whether that is our favorite streaming platform or Dynamic Chassis Control — the M3 is one-dimensional in that respect. It is also slow and terribly underpowered by Gen Z standards. The M3 Is Too Slow For Gen Z Bring A Trailer The M3 will reach 60 mph in a shade under seven seconds, and top speed is 141 mph. A modern 2.0-liter Mini Cooper S (also with around 200 horsepower) would destroy an E30 M3 in a straight line, hitting 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, and a top speed of 150 mph. The Mini is also a car that caters to every whim of the modern world, with options such as an interior camera for selfies (yes, really), active driving assistant, adaptive cruise control, Harman Kardon surround-sound system, and a handy voice-activated MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant. The M3 came with power windows and an AM/FM cassette player. Where The BMW M3 Is Today BMW The BMW M3 is still hanging in there as an old-school-ish sports sedan and "Touring" wagon — you'll need an M4 if you want two doors — although it may not be the dying breed we once thought. The 2026 model has a twin-turbo inline-six with up to 523 horsepower in peak form. There is a choice of standard rear-wheel drive and six-speed manual, with the Competition xDrive trim adding all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic.Gen Z EV fans will be getting the M car they have been waiting for in 2027. BMW is readying the M Neue Klasse, an all-electric sedan that promises the BMW M driving experience for the AI generation. Two electric drive units are fitted to the front and rear axles, each with one electric motor per wheel, combining the advantages of rear-wheel and all-wheel drive. The good news is that BMW is readying a new S58 twin-turbo G84 M3 for 2028 alongside the EV version. There Are Older M3s That Aren't Silly Money via Bring A TrailerIf a brand new M3 isn't for you, or you just like getting your hands dirty at the weekends, there are older M3s available that are more attainable than the E30 model. The iconic E36 M3, the true genesis of the bloodline, hasn't succumbed to market frenzy just yet, and good-condition examples of the six-cylinder, 240-horsepower coupe go for $28,100, according to Hagerty Valuation Tools.The legendary E46 M3, with 333 horsepower from its 3.2-liter six, is also a stone-cold classic in waiting, with prices sitting at $29,200 for a 2001 hardtop, and just $22,900 for the drop top version. The V8-powered E90 M3, with 414 horsepower, is wild (and the only 3 to get an eight-pot), and you can expect to pay $33,200 for a coupe. The sedan version is slightly cheaper (and, arguably cooler), coming in at $30,600, and the drop top costs $27,300. With many cars, and even the M badge itself, going electric or hybrid right now, there couldn't be a better time to grab a Bavarian slice of ICE magic.Sources: BMW, Hagerty.com