i used to own a 92 325i and no matter what i did to it (chip, intake, exhaust), i couldn't get teh 0-60 time under 8 secs. that model really does have an incredibly slow start. (talking from experience here...). i totalled it a year ago oct. 3rd and purchased a 96 328i for 12k. let me tell you something about difference in overall performance...!!! it was night and day. this car did 0-60 in like 7.8 secs i believe and it's auto. now since my aa intake, aa exhaust, and conforti chip i've gotten time of 7 secs and less. once again, it's an auto!!! so if you're looking for the best bang for your buck, get a manual 328. sure if you have 17k you should go with a really used m3, but i say get teh 328. you'll be utterly speechless!!! (once again, talking from experience) comrade1 recently got a 328 after he traded in his 318 and was literally ecstatic!!
by the way,... those 325i #'s are impossible. time is best measured on the road if you asked me. don't all those magazines test their vehicles on the road? if not, i wouldn't believe any of their articles when they talk about how well a vehicle performs if all their tests were done inside.