Why did you get (Coupe/Sedan) and what (Can/Can't) you do with it?

[pmeloche]

Get rid of the dogs then the question of practicality becomes moot. After that, buy the coupé or sedan depending on your needs and taste.

[MJC///M3]

Coupe

-i'm 25..single...looking for that special someone..so dont have any little mjc's running around...
-I dont care about the back seat.
-I think its sexier.

[johninaustin]

I got the coupe. I prefer the looks of the coupe - especially the rear end.

I have a 5.5 month old labrador retriever @ 50 lbs (so far). I just push the passenger seat up a little & she hops in the back. It's no biggie.

I wish the E92 coupe seats were more like the E46 coupe seats though - they were on a hinge so you didn't have to move the seat forward for folks to get in the back.

It's worth noting she can't go in front because of the iDrive. She rests her head on the controls dropping calls or changing nav settings...

[getalot681]

Thanks for all the replies. Here's what I gather so far:

1) Appearance is obviously subjective (I tend to think coupe is sexier, especially from the rear), but you don't really lose anything in the way of what makes the car an M by going with the sedan over the coupe.
2) Getting a 3-4k 'crap' car for those times when the M3 isn't practical has crossed my mind, but it seems somewhat foolish when 97-99% of the time those tasks are handled by the Highlander. I only took my Maxima to Mt Hood twice last year (one time when my girl wrecked the Highlander and it was being fixed and another time when she was being a !@#$% and I had to go throw myself off some cliffs to relieve some stress). Sounds like the slight additional clearance of the sedan could be a good thing on those rare occasions of driving through the snow.
3) Like I said, dogs aren't really a problem as long as they (or rather just the one) can stick their heads out the window and I wouldn't want her sitting in the front seat in the coupe.

I do feel like I'm compromising somewhat by choosing the sedan, but I think I'd rather have the sedan than no M3 at all. Guess I should probably go for the lease in that scenario.

[adc]

I went for the sedan for several reasons (in order of importance):
- cost savings (no sunroof)
- extra practicality
- easier ingress in tight parking spaces
- (subjectively) like the looks better

Performance difference didn't even enter my mind. Driver limitation will be a factor well before any objective performance difference.

[ching]

Sedan here. More practical while offering the same performance level - easy decision.

It's strange that the coupe doesn't offer more HP or better handling.

[330CIZHP]

Why should it?? Just because someone wants more practicality does not mean he should have to make a sacrifice. They are almost the same identical car meant for two different demographics so that no one loses out on the fun of performance and handling (ofcourse, unless it is the Convertible sadly). It is completely understandable that some people hate 4-door cars and do not associate with sportiness and thus would prefer the coupe. It is purely a matter of choice.

It is a beautiful concept. I wish more car makers start treating coupe and sedan equally so that people with families do not have to compromise on the fun people with the coupe fully enjoy.

Originally Posted by ching

Sedan here. More practical while offering the same performance level - easy decision.

It's strange that the coupe doesn't offer more HP or better handling.

[fpblue]

Originally Posted by Alias

I bought a sedan cause I have a 6 month old, but he has yet to ride in it

Haha. I got the sedan for the same reason, yet my 2 yr old daughter has yet to ride in it. I also have 3 dogs and they have not seen the inside of the car either. Thank god for my 4Runner!

[MrHarris]

I went for the coupe, as I don't need the backseats unless they are emergencies which the coupes back seats are more than adequate.

I also prefer the side profile of the coupe, and I feel the rear bumper of the coupe is more aggressive.

I drove the sedan and honestly it felt a bit more "solid" or "one piece." Also the sedan I felt I was sitting much higher and wasn't really sold on that feeling.

The question is, if you need 4 doors or 2, everything else has a negligible difference.

One thing though, I would never get a sunroof on a coupe, but I most definitely would on a sedan which in theory would affect performance a little bit (something like 40 or 50lbs at the highest point of the car) but then again I'm sure even that isn't that big of a deal.

[DaFool]

I got the coupe because to me, it looked much, much better.

I also didn't need 4 doors, and the rare times I have 3 other people in the car with me, they fit in the back quite easily. And as someone else stated, it's really quite spacious.

So, get what you want. Just remember to get the cold weather package for the board

[muzeon]

I was in the same situation (coupe or sedan) until I got the sedan last week. I was flip-flopping on the idea. Coupe - looks better, Sedan - more practical. At the end the performance specs are so close, didn't really matter. Ended up with Sedan because it was cheaper and practical (so chances of me owning the car longer is higher), without sacrificing performance much. Plus (I know this doesn't apply to most of the folks here) got the sedan because not that many people at my work drives such nice cars, so to the regular eye looks like a regular BMW 3 series, but in fact is a hidden beast.

I felt I was sitting/driving lower in a Coupe, but I think it was an illusion because the coupe's roof line is lower than the sedan.

BTW same here, if I were to get the coupe, I'd go no moonroof (CF top), but opted for the moonroof for my Sedan.

[earlyapex]

i've got three kids and a dog, sedan is perfect and easy with the dog with backseats folded. This really is an amazing all arounder.

Sedan will do anything the coupe can do plus carry three kids, easy choice.

[sgar0777]

Coupe
- Only my wife and I, if I wanted to haul people around I would have bought a bigger car. Let's face it, the 3 isn't that big. Adequate, but not roomy
- Love the looks. The rear end looks better, and I love my carbon roof.
- It seemed more, well, sporty.
- The dealer had lots of sedans with sunroofs, but no coupes with carbon roofs. You've heard what they say about wanting what you can't have...

[dolby]

I am getting the sedan for several reasons.

- clients
- dogs
- less cost than the e92
- insurance is less
- a little less conspicuous on the road.

I would however like to have a CF roof on the sedan.

dolby

[ta152]

I have two kids - both well over 50 lbs. Got the sedan - love it.

Best car out there. Drove everthing from AMG, CTS-V, IS-F. Nothing matches the all around feel of the M3 - and if you have frequent back seat passangers - the back doors are the way to go.

[mikeyr0x]

My reason for getting the e90 of the e92 in no particular order. Not married yet without any kids, etc..

-I like the looks of the sedan over the coupe, maybe i'm just into sport sedans right now
-clients
-cost savings
-practicality of having 4 doors
-subtlety and rareness of the e90 m3

Couldn't be happier..
I have a ton of respect for the e92 and e93 and think they are damn sexy but the e90 works for me right now.

[smmmurf]

I went sedan. I think its shape looks more muscular than the coupe with its wider rear fenders. It's cheaper yet has the same performance as the coupe. It's also 1.4" shorter (and thus marginally easier to park) yet still has more interior and trunk space. It was a no brainer, really. The CF roof would have been nice, but I almost like the inconspicuousness of having a body-colored roof like 99% of the other cars out there.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by smmmurf

I went sedan. I think its shape looks more muscular than the coupe with its wider rear fenders. It's cheaper yet has the same performance as the coupe. It's also 1.4" shorter (and thus marginally easier to park) yet still has more interior and trunk space. It was a no brainer, really. The CF roof would have been nice, but I almost like the inconspicuousness of having a body-colored roof like 99% of the other cars out there.

+1 on the sedan looking more aggressive than the coupe.

[fpblue]

Another plus of the sedan is that it is rarer than both the coupe and vert. Not that there are many M3s in SE Wisconsin, but I have only seen copes and vert. Even on Long Island I see many more coupes than sedans.

[Ken37.73]

Wow - sedan lovers thread !!!!

Dude, it doesn't sound to me like your problems are curable by a coupe vs sedan decision as frankly the addition of dogs or snow compromise the M3. I think your choice is whether you want a sports car enough to compromise on the 3% of occasions when the car will be unsuitable.

PS: if you do go for an M3 get the coupe, you'll at least save yourself from having to leap to the defence of the sedan on only semi-relevant threads every 5 minutes ....... (LOL) !

[mixja]

Originally Posted by Nawaaz

+1 on the sedan looking more aggressive than the coupe.

+2 - the sedan is definitely more aggressive - LCI shape is reminiscent of the E46 rear end...

Also I don't like the lines on the rear bumper of the Coupe...too busy and don't really flow like the Sedan does...



vs

[MrHarris]

Both are beautiful.