Actually, I like the M3 BMW's best. They have a low profile and they're nice cars. The new one is supposed to have a v8 and it doesn't look like they let Chris Bangle anywhere near it style wise! The new hard top roadsters rock too.
I'm looking for an R230 SL600 but the prices are still in the stratosphere, I'll let someone else eat the depreciation.
My biggest beef with BMW's (and Porsche's) is that they attract the kind of jealous looser who'll key your car while people think Mercedes are old people's cars and tend to leave them alone.