M3 a day to day car?
- Thread starter moonjunction
- Start date
Just picked up an '03 M3 coupe as an every day driver. I only drive about 7K per year, however. No surprise that the ride is harsher than my previous 528i. Got tiered of the 4-doors, B-pilar in my left ear and the boring 4-speed automatic. The harsher ride is a small compromise given the car's sheer performance. No lookin' back now. The M3 is awesome and sophisicated. I can putt around town, or take it to 7,500 rpm in 2nd, going about 30 MPH, and feel the rear end slide side-to-side looking for traction while the engine just screams! This car is a total sleeper. Love it! Did I say I really like this car??
Well the M3 is a much bigger investment, but it also has much better resale value than the 330Ci. The M3 is definitely a great daily driver, but it all depends on how you look at it. I think what you need to ask yourself is, at the end of a long day at the office, do you just wanna get home or do you look forward to the drive ahead?
I was just going to post about the weather factor. I think it depends a little on the climate you live in, as well as the traffic in your city, and the distance you have to drive every day... the worse in each, the more carefully I would consider buying an M3 as a daily-driver. I know a lot of mine friends spend about 45min-to an 1 hour in rush-hour traffic nearly every daily going in and out of Chicago. I know they would think it a waste to cruise along at 15mph most of the time. But if you have a nice drive back and forth to work, go for it--you know better than anyone else.
One guy at my work swears by driving a little Civic back and forth everyday between his office downtown and his home in the 'burbs--where he's a got a four car garage staffed with a Cayenne Turbo, S500 Sport, and XC90 (for his wife). He gets great mileage on the Honda, its easy (even fun, he says) to drive, and doesn't have to worry about beating up his "babies" too much on crappy roads. He doesn't care what people think on the roads when he's cruising in his Brioni--he knows what he's got in the garage, and he doesn't feel the need to show off during his commute. Sometimes he does take his nicer cars into the city though, if he has meetings or lunch/dinners with clients.
OTAHAND, you plan on driving that bad boy everyday in Chicago? I guess I would too if I could, but I know the stick would be a pain in the ass after a while (I know mine is, and I don't even drive every day) due to perenially crappy traffic in our area. Also, my thing with the M3 is that I'd want to keep summer tires on all year round if I could, but that's obviously not possible in Chicago. I guess you could use all seasons, but not sure how well those would work on a low-pro 18" or 19" wheel? And then you gotta swap twice a year, but hey, if you got it, flaunt it....I'm jealous.
One guy at my work swears by driving a little Civic back and forth everyday between his office downtown and his home in the 'burbs--where he's a got a four car garage staffed with a Cayenne Turbo, S500 Sport, and XC90 (for his wife). He gets great mileage on the Honda, its easy (even fun, he says) to drive, and doesn't have to worry about beating up his "babies" too much on crappy roads. He doesn't care what people think on the roads when he's cruising in his Brioni--he knows what he's got in the garage, and he doesn't feel the need to show off during his commute. Sometimes he does take his nicer cars into the city though, if he has meetings or lunch/dinners with clients.
OTAHAND, you plan on driving that bad boy everyday in Chicago? I guess I would too if I could, but I know the stick would be a pain in the ass after a while (I know mine is, and I don't even drive every day) due to perenially crappy traffic in our area. Also, my thing with the M3 is that I'd want to keep summer tires on all year round if I could, but that's obviously not possible in Chicago. I guess you could use all seasons, but not sure how well those would work on a low-pro 18" or 19" wheel? And then you gotta swap twice a year, but hey, if you got it, flaunt it....I'm jealous.
the M3 and a 330 are completely different animals... drive one and you'll feel the difference, it beckons you to stomp the throttle, take turns a little faster... in addition to the looks you get in the M vs. a 330. (no disrespect at all) but the M is just sexier. i get thumbs up, catcalls and lustful looks from gearheads and "that car is hot!!!" from chicks..... (just a perk)