Micah - You bring up about a million points in your post, but my advice would be: Get an M3 and pay for the insurance yourself (you have plenty of disposable income, remember?), and then you won't have to put your soon to be crazy, lawless driving record on your Dad's policy. Seriously, the M3 is a fantastic car, bulletproof and very relaiable when properly cared for - and the only advantage in 'practicality' the Maxima has is two extra doors. If your Dad is worried that an E30 M3 is 'too fast' of a car for such a young kid, remind him that a '97 Maxima is most likely faster -- in a straight line -- but you can leave that last part out.