JonH  
2002 BMW M3 Convertible 2dr Convertible (3.2L 6cyl 6M)
The M3 made me a new BMW fan
 The BMW M3 is a true BMW enthusiast's must-have.  I bought this car at 90k miles and have driven it 30k more without many major issues - just one dead gas pedal which cost me ($120, 5 mins to replace), four oil changes ($70 each), air filter, and a few other small repairs (window regulator $200, convertible top sensor $300).  If you can even remotely work on cars, you can SIGNIFICANTLY reduce the cost of ownership and heighten its reliability.  I commute with this car everyday and it's fast, fun, practical, and great in stock form.