Should I? 2011 E90 M3 12k km Straight Trade -> New 2011 CTS-V Wagon 6MT

[SamS]

Originally Posted by Kasé Zomé

Using that logic then you would also consider the M5 a bus as it is actually 1.4" longer than the CTS-V wagon. BTW, both the M5 and CTS-V wagon have nearly identical weight distribution percentages (with the nod going to Caddy by 0.5%).

The "bus" analogy comes more from the touring configuration than the outside length. When you look behind you, it feels like there's 8 feet of cabin behind your head, very unlike what it feels when you're in an M3.

Originally Posted by Kasé Zomé

Not trying to argue with you but I am trying to give the OP both sides of the coin so he can make an intelligent decision.

He can make an intelligent decision when actually takes the car for a drive

[Kasé Zomé]

Originally Posted by adc

The M5 *is* a bus, what's your point?

You can't be serious... it's only 12" longer than our E90 M3s! 12" is a foot, not a bus.

[Kasé Zomé]

Originally Posted by SamS

The "bus" analogy comes more from the touring configuration that the outside length. When you look behind you, it feels like there's 8 feet of cabin behind your head, very unlike what it feels when you're in an M3.



He can make an intelligent decision when actually takes the car for a drive

Now I get it and agree. It was a little disconcerting when I looked in the rear view mirror and see all that space behind me. I didn't have any trouble changing lanes though.

To be honest, I didn't bother to read closely all the posts in this thread.

Are you serious that the OP hasn't driven the bloody thing yet???

[adc]

Originally Posted by Kasé Zomé

You can't be serious... it's only 12" longer than our E90 M3s! 12" is a foot, not a bus.

It's a foot longer and 700lbs heavier.

A foot is a lot for a car, are you kidding me? Go drive one - heck , any 5 series these days, and tell me you don't think it's big.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by Kasé Zomé

Now I get it and agree. It was a little disconcerting when I looked in the rear view mirror and see all that space behind me. I didn't have any trouble changing lanes though.

To be honest, I didn't bother to read closely all the posts in this thread.

Are you serious that the OP hasn't driven the bloody thing yet???

He's already worked out the payments, trade-in, paperwork etc.

Pretty serious activity for something you may hate after 10 minutes in the driver's seat! If you're coming from the last-gen CTS-V, you might think this newer V wagon is the best thing since sliced bread. Hell, you might think it's awesome, no matter what. However, if one really appreciates what makes an M3 an M3, I just can't imagine you'd get all that much joy out of a fast Caddy wagon.

[Kasé Zomé]

Originally Posted by adc

It's a foot longer and 700lbs heavier.

A foot is a lot for a car, are you kidding me? Go drive one - heck , any 5 series these days, and tell me you don't think it's big.

Haven't driven the M5 but did spend 5hrs with the CTS-V wagon. It is big but it doesn't feel like a bus. There just isn't enough of a delta in my opinion to say that comparatively the M5 (or CTS-V wagon) is bus to our M3. It's not like getting out of an Exige S240 and into our M3 kinda eye opening difference.

Just my $0.02.

[Kasé Zomé]

Originally Posted by SamS

He's already worked out the payments, trade-in, paperwork etc.

Pretty serious activity for something you may hate after 10 minutes in the driver's seat! If you're coming from the last-gen CTS-V, you might think this newer V wagon is the best thing since sliced bread. Hell, you might think it's awesome, no matter what. However, if one really appreciates what makes an M3 an M3, I just can't imagine you'd get all that much joy out of a fast Caddy wagon.

Wow, that's an interesting approach... he's got none of the typical male commitment issues I guess...

At the end of the day I just knew I wouldn't be able to hustle the Caddy up and down my favorite local mountain every weekend the way I can with the M3. It's just too tight for something that heavy and powerful.

[Veritable]

Originally Posted by Kasé Zomé

Are you serious that the OP hasn't driven the bloody thing yet???

It's the only available 6MT in my country within 700 miles. The next closest one is in another province.

That car in question has also never been driven. As I've mentioned before, I need to have an intent to buy (which is, to get the contract drawn up and financing squared away, just not signed) before they will let me take it out. Which is perfectly reasonable... except that my intent is not quite at that stage yet, because I am trying to build a rapport with my friends and family regarding the switch, and I've not been able to have much success.

Soooo.... Did it fit into your garage? I have a similar problem myself

[Kasé Zomé]

Originally Posted by Veritable

It's the only available 6MT in my country within 700 miles. The next closest one is in another province.

That car in question has also never been driven. As I've mentioned before, I need to have an intent to buy (which is, to get the contract drawn up and financing squared away, just not signed) before they will let me take it out. Which is perfectly reasonable... except that my intent is not quite at that stage yet, because I am trying to build a rapport with my friends and family regarding the switch, and I've not been able to have much success.

Soooo.... Did it fit into your garage? I have a similar problem myself

Yep, it's only 1" wider than the M3 but it is almost 12" longer. As I'm sure everyone has already told ya, go drive it. I didn't have to do any paper work but they did run my credit to make sure I could afford it. Then I signed a BCA and took the car with a half tank of gas. It was the only 6sp manual in Diamond Black within 500+ miles. I'm not sure a short test drive will give you what you need but a longer one surely will.

Best of luck in your decision and in my opinion, you can't go wrong with either car. If you're not hammering the canyons every weekend and doing track days on a regular basis, I think it's a better daily driver.

On a side note, CTS-V wagon is 4392/lbs and the E90 M3 is 3726/lbs.

That's a difference of 666/lbs...

[Darth One]

Originally Posted by Veritable

That car in question has also never been driven. As I've mentioned before, I need to have an intent to buy (which is, to get the contract drawn up and financing squared away, just not signed) before they will let me take it out. Which is perfectly reasonable...

that's actually not that reasonable to me at all. i do understand the need to weed out joyriders and people who are not serious buyers, but that's excessive. but maybe they do things differently in Canada

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by adc

It's a foot longer and 700lbs heavier.

A foot is a lot for a car, are you kidding me? Go drive one - heck , any 5 series these days, and tell me you don't think it's big.

To be fair the M3 is kind of a bus or tank as well. Every time I'm on the track I am close to the heaviest car out there. I often wish I could drop 500. Then again I'm far far from the slowest.

[Veritable]

Originally Posted by Darth One

that's actually not that reasonable to me at all. i do understand the need to weed out joyriders and people who are not serious buyers, but that's excessive. but maybe they do things differently in Canada

To be perfectly honest, if that car was ever test-driven, I won't be interested in it. By the same token, then, I wouldn't want to put miles onto it myself unless I'm almost certain I want to go for it. I wouldn't want to do onto others that I wouldn't want to have done onto myself

As for the garage.... I happen to have that exact 12in in length leftover after parking my M3 in there. Yeah, that might cause an issue....

[Kasé Zomé]

Originally Posted by Veritable

To be perfectly honest, if that car was ever test-driven, I won't be interested in it. By the same token, then, I wouldn't want to put miles onto it myself unless I'm almost certain I want to go for it. I wouldn't want to do onto others that I wouldn't want to have done onto myself

As for the garage.... I happen to have that exact 12in in length leftover after parking my M3 in there. Yeah, that might cause an issue....

Meh... I don't care if it was test driven and flogged or not because the LS engines are pretty much bulletproof. I'd simply change the oil @ 200 miles and continue to flog the hell of that car. I don't believe in babying a motor. Every motor I babied made low HP numbers while the ones I flogged from the get go made good HP numbers (granted these were motorcycles - but still internal combustion petrol engines). Cars are tools to be used and abused IMO. Chances are that I'll be harder on the car than pretty much anyone else who will test drive it.

[graider]

the look of the CTS just doens't do it for me. I would say no hands down.

[mmm def]

do it

[mxa121]

op
your m3 is awesome, a great example of the last na or v8 sedan m3...

I dont like the v wagon, coupe or sedan is ok though.