The BMW M3 combines screaming performance with luxury in an attractive package.

The BMW M3 has begun to feel dated, now nearly five model years into the current generation, but its high-performance driving dynamics and stature in the automotive world mean that it’s nowhere near time to write it off.

The car can be ordered as a coupe or convertible and is known affectionately by car geeks as the E46 generation. It competes with the Audi S4 and more than one Mercedes-AMG product, most closely the C55 sedan. Some people may even cross-shop the M3 with the Porsche Boxster or 911.

A more performance-focused upgrade is available in the Competition Package, a $4,000 option that brings the bigger brakes and steering from the M3 CSL, as well as 19-inch wheels and a host of other performance upgrades. It’s a stout upcharge, but one that makes the M3 even more of a riot on the track and on the road.