Had My 2003 M3 Coupe For 18 Months, What Will I Get Next?
Hey guys. I've had my E46 M3 coupe for about 18 months now, and while it's been a really great and exciting car in some respects, it's time for a change now.
I've decided I want a more modern newer car, I'd probably prefer to stick to BMW, as I love the styling etc, but would consider something else.
When I bought the M3, I was doing a much lower mileage (about 16k a year), now a change in circumstances has meant I'm now doing about 25k a year. I can still afford the fuel (just), but I feel that I'm really grudging filling it up every time, which I kind of resent. I'm filling up twice a week now. I would like something that would give a better combined figure than the 27mpg that I get currently.
I would never go back to a FWD car again, so this has to be either RWD or 4WD (preferably RWD). It's got to be as fast / almost as fast / or faster than the M3.
The two weak spots of the M3 from my point of view are the terrible clunky manual box/drivetrain, and the lack of low down torque. I would like a car with either a DCT dual clutch setup, or an auto box. Whatever it has must have paddle shift for sportiness, but comfort for commuter traffic. Also, it's got to have better mid-range pick up, as the M3 really only feels quick to me if you're thrasing the hell out of it high up the revs.
I'd like a 4-door saloon next, as I just like the proportions of them, and would like a bit more space for family.
I need something that looks good, sounds good, and is good to drive. A lot of my driving is now done on cruise control on a motorway, so I want something comfy and relaxing, but I also love wringing the M3 out at full chat over a country road, so I really want the best of both worlds.
Ideally I would like something as nearly new as possible, I want toys like Sat Nav, Premium Audio, maybe TV if poss. I've got a budget of about £25k, but it's not set in stone.
I've had a few ideas so far, so I obviously need to get a few test drives, but I don't want to mention my ideas so far, I really want to see what suggestions you guys have!
well you're in the wrong forum then. Maybe a prius or Toyota chat is the place you want to be. Anyone coming to an M5 forum looking for MPGs is barking up the wrong tree.
E60 M5 SMG III is smoother than E46 M5 SMG II but still has a bit of clunky/jerkiness at times. Its still a manual box.
E60 M5's torque is relatively low and comes in after 3500 RPMs so you're not looking at much off the line pickup unless you gun it and the revs build very fast and you'd be in the power band 4500-8000k. This is an F1 derived engine with a race like tranny. Not for the faint of heart of anyone looking to get lots of mileage.
The E60 M5 tank is relatively small compared to the the MPGs it gets. So you're looking at fillups after 200-240 miles of fwy and 150-170 of city. Yeah.
All kidding aside, you're better off in a 335i b/c it has tons of low end torque and gets like 32mpg on the fwy if you're nice to it. You can't beat that!
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However, I can say that after driving both of them back to back there's no way in hell I'd get a 335 over an E46 M3. If for nothing else then I'd keep the M3 just for the LSD.
When I bought the M3, I was doing a much lower mileage (about 16k a year), now a change in circumstances has meant I'm now doing about 25k a year. I can still afford the fuel (just), but I feel that I'm really grudging filling it up every time, which I kind of resent. I'm filling up twice a week now. I would like something that would give a better combined figure than the 27mpg that I get currently.
I would never go back to a FWD car again, so this has to be either RWD or 4WD (preferably RWD). It's got to be as fast / almost as fast / or faster than the M3.
27mpg is very good for the car you have. You will be hard pressed to get anything as fast/faster or comparable which will return 27mpg.
The usual Jap suspects will return 20-25mpg on a good day. A 335i or 335d sounds like the only reasonable choice but they are not an M car. I think you may end up being disappointed with either of these as a replacement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Voodooking
The two weak spots of the M3 from my point of view are the terrible clunky manual box/drivetrain, and the lack of low down torque. I would like a car with either a DCT dual clutch setup, or an auto box. Whatever it has must have paddle shift for sportiness, but comfort for commuter traffic. Also, it's got to have better mid-range pick up, as the M3 really only feels quick to me if you're thrasing the hell out of it high up the revs.
I'd like a 4-door saloon next, as I just like the proportions of them, and would like a bit more space for family.
I need something that looks good, sounds good, and is good to drive. A lot of my driving is now done on cruise control on a motorway, so I want something comfy and relaxing, but I also love wringing the M3 out at full chat over a country road, so I really want the best of both worlds.
Ideally I would like something as nearly new as possible, I want toys like Sat Nav, Premium Audio, maybe TV if poss. I've got a budget of about £25k, but it's not set in stone.
I've had a few ideas so far, so I obviously need to get a few test drives, but I don't want to mention my ideas so far, I really want to see what suggestions you guys have!
Naturally aspirated M cars are all about high revs and thrashing the proverbial nuts off them.
For your budget a very lightly used EVO X FQ-300 can be had, 0-60 in 4.7sec etc. And in GSR trim they are well specced. Beware of JDM models because these don't come with all the luxuries of the UK models.
That being said you will not get anywhere near 27mpg.
I'd keep the M3 until you can afford an E60 M5 or M6. IMO they are the perfect next car for an E46 M3. They offer everything that the E46 does, only everything is brought to the next level. Keep the M3 around for now, because it will be worth the wait.
I would skip the 335i. Its a great car, but when I have driven them, they have left me seriously underwhelmed coming out of an M3. The only other cars I'd consider are a Cayman S, which is small but has great fuel efficiency. You could get one with nav, Sport Chrono, and Bose sound, which would fulfill your desire for technology. Maybe also look into a 2005 or 2006 997 Carrera. It will be a bit faster than the M3. However, I would recommend a warranty for the Carrera.
Well folks, I had a test drive in a 535d last week. I just preferred the look of the 535d over the 335d. I knew I had to test drive the 35d engine before I went any further in my search for a car. Chose a 2 yr old one, so it had the most recent engine with 286bhp, and new gearbox etc.
I really wanted to like it, and it was a very nice, smooth, quiet, pleasant car to drive in general, but when I put the foot down it didn't feel like it had any go about it... I was so disappointed. I expected it to have a low down shove about it, but it just felt really underpowered compared to my E46 M3. I know people said it was amazing with a remap, but I can't really buy a car on the basis of what it might turn into if I tuned it. It just didn't grip the road half as well either, and seemed far too keen to spin the back wheels, where my M3 just feels planted even in the wet.
So I got back in my M3 to drive home, and even just pulling away to go down the road, thought about what a great car it was, despite it's faults. With this, I went back to the dealer, who had an E92 M3 manual coupe, which I asked to test drive. Getting in it, I realised immediately the clutch was a lot lighter, and the gearbox more precise, although it still had that sticky/notchy feel going into first that I dislike. Pulling out of the dealer's yard, i felt the steering lighter too, and more user friendly. Overall, it was an improvement on the E46, it just felt like everything about the car was that little bit better, and the growl from that V8... Oh My God!!!
I was still not 100% convinced, so I went home and scoured the net for a DCT dual clutch auto E92/E90, and found one at a garage not too far away. It was 1 year old car, with about 8k miles on it. The salesman was excellent, and let me take the £45k car out on my own. (Always a much better way to get a feel for the car). I felt a little hesitancy pulling away in D from the 'box, however I did get used to this, and think it could be improved by fiddling with the shift speed settings. Once on the move this gearbox was sublime. It is so smooth and quick that it absolutely transforms the car. The ratios are so close that you barely feel the changes, and it makes the absolute best use of the torque of the engine without turning it into a drama. Normal cruising and driving in traffic were effortless. I then took it onto a twisty country road in order to have some fun, and played around with the shift speeds a little for the manual function paddle shift programme. This was excellent. I have driven an E60 M5 with SMG III, and the M3 was far better. Quick, lightning fast shifts when you need it, and the throttle blip rev matching on downshifts was even better than the M5. The car felt so composed, and was really incredible that a car can be so versatile, and so good at every driving requirement across the board.
Upon returning to the salesman, I said: "I really don't know how anyone could EVER make a car that is any better than that... It is simply incredible"
So I have now made up my mind that my next car will be an E90 M3 DCT in Interlagos Blue, with black leather interior. However the cheapest I have seen these available for is approx £35k, so it looks like I'll need to think about a change of job in order to be able to afford one!
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