I need the M3 owner perspective... 2 cars, vs. 1?

vbb · 06-12-2011, 09:59 AM

I know I'm posting in an M3 forum, so I have expectations as to what the replies will be, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

I'm not a complete BMW stranger. I had an S2000 for many years, then sold it and bought a 335i in early 2007. I drove the 335 for almost 3 years, but got a little tired of the HPFP failure issues, and also missed the S2000 as it was a little more fun to drive. So I got rid of the 335, and picked up another S2000, then got a TSX to daily drive as well. That's what I have now.

I like having two cars for two totally different purposes, but like probably everyone here, I've always been a huge M3 fan. Now I'm considering finally taking the plunge and getting one. The plan would be to sell both my "toy" and my daily, and just have the M3 as my only car (for that reason, I'm leaning towards the E90 so the car seat can fit in the back

). I'm thinking the E90 M3 will provide all of the fun factor that the S2000 has, with the convenience and luxury of the TSX.

One glaring issue is that I've never driven one of the new M3s, so I definitely have to do that before making any real decision, but if it is all that I'm reading about, it is worth going from two cars down to just one, right?

SamS · 06-12-2011, 10:11 AM

I will be in the minority here, but I vote keep the two cars. I have an E92 M3 on order for Oct. delivery, but I'll be keeping my daily driver Accord.

If the TSX is reliable and you like it, why bother with selling? This is assuming you don't need the money from the sale of the TSX to purchase the M3.

We've got lots of suspect roads in Dallas. Just this month I ran over a shredded tire during my commute. If I would have done that in the M3, there would have been major damage, and grief.

Yes, you can't mitigate all risks, but if you have a car to drive when you know the chances of extreme wear 'n tear are higher, why not keep a daily driver?

I also have a little one, and the Honda is 4 door, so no problem fitting a car seat back there, or worrying about puke, food, etc. like I would in the M3.

If it turns out I never end up driving the Honda after I get the M3, then I can sell it. But if I sell it too soon in favor of a single car, going back to two would be tougher financially. I like my Honda, that thing starts every time, has 70K miles, drives and looks brand new. You could not ask for a more reliable daily driver. It has Nav, iPhone connection, leather etc. It is certainly not lacking any amenities for commuting (although I won't compare it to driving a BMW

). I'm sure your TSX is the same.

PKL · 06-12-2011, 10:13 AM

Sell the cheap cars and get a new E90, you won't regret it.

kcdude24 · 06-12-2011, 10:14 AM

You will find a lot of s2k owners here. I had 2 of them and a z4m vert with a few e46 m3 in the middle.....always had to have a second car. My issue was that there are not enough top down days in my area to justify the play car. So my s2k ended up sitting a bunch. It was fun but practicality was the key and it was a buzz saw driving with the top up. So I sold both and switched to a 911 C2S for a while and it definitely gave me the s2k feel but still with a daily driver sacrifice...so after a brief stint with a M5 I came right back to the m3. Day in day out it is by far the most fun to drive practical car you'll find IMO and worth going down to a single car..... ....the only other option in my mind is to pick up a NSX garage queen and stay with the two car set up.....that should tie you over for a while.

trick000 · 06-12-2011, 10:15 AM

I had a 335 sedan and an AP1 s2000. I sold the 335 for an e93 but kept the AP1. In my opinion, the s2000 handles better and shifts better which I guess means it's more fun to drive. Not bad for a 10-11 year old car. I keep it because it is cheap to maintain, cheap to mod and will probably run circles around most M3s when modded. (flame suite on)

Crazy Bimmer · 06-12-2011, 10:24 AM

Funny, I sold my 94 and 08 328i for an e90 m3. No regrets at all.

It's almost like combining those two cars into one and out comes the m3.

Main reason I did it that I never really drove the nsx to enjoy it and kept getting bored driving the 328i daily. So I figured why not get something that I can enjoy everyday.

KIS · 06-12-2011, 10:25 AM

The M3 is a wonderful compromise. It's a blast to drive, reliable, has a trunk (albeit small), and with dct, no problem in heavy traffic. Also, I only drive 6-7,000 miles a year, so 2 cars would be silly for me.

Crazy Bimmer · 06-12-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Bimmer

Funny, I sold my 94 and 08 328i for an e90 m3. No regrets at all.

It's almost like combining those two cars into one and out comes the m3.

Main reason I did it that I never really drove the nsx to enjoy it and kept getting bored driving the 328i daily. So I figured why not get something that I can enjoy everyday.

94 nsx.

mact3333 · 06-12-2011, 10:27 AM

I was in exact same situation as you 3 months ago. I had a 997 C4S for weekends and a Honda Accord for DD...but it became such a habit to get into the Honda that I only put 1K miles on the C4S over the past year.

What i realized was that I was essentially a Honda Accord driver(no offense to Accord drivers) and making big payments for a car I never drove.

Thats when I decided to go to one car and enjoy my car everyday...hence M3 was my only choice(my 4th M)...I have the coupe and it works fine for my 2 kids...no regrets.

Its kinda funny but the two things that I love about my new car is comfort access and bluetooth, as I have never had those features before. But once you have them, hard to go without. Also cant live without DCT...just love DCT, so much better than SMG II and 6MT for me anyway.

klammer · 06-12-2011, 10:28 AM

E90 FTW!

TailHappyM3 · 06-12-2011, 12:48 PM

I've struggled with this issue for years. I've always had nice cars and tried to preserve them but after a while it would drive me crazy having a car just sit there and wasting my money. I often would also make the mistake of eventually selling the nice cars and just keep the normal daily drivers but would come to regret this later. My first E92 M3 was partially sold for this reason. I promised myself if I ever got back into another M3 (my 4th) I would daily drive it all year round. Having done this now for a little while, I am enjoying it a lot and am much more comfortable with the way I feel about getting value out of it. It's just a freakn car afterall and as the wife also says why preserve a car for the next owner one day?-Enjoy it! I am now.

vbb · 06-12-2011, 01:34 PM

I appreciate all of the insight. I drive a max of 12K miles per year total, putting about 4K on my S2000 and about 8K on my TSX. The TSX has all the things I've come to expect in a daily... bluetooth, one touch windows, heated power seats, iPod connection, etc... the things that have nothing to do with driving, but everything to do with comfort. The S2000 is raw. It's a blast to drive around twisties and feels like you're in a high-powered go kart most of the time. What could be more fun than that?

My thoughts are that an M3 would combine the two, and be something I'd enjoy every day. One thing I'm concerned about though is getting bored... because I only drive the S000 4K miles in a year, I never really get bored of it. I'm wondering if 2 years down the road after driving the M3 for mostly my daily commute, will it just get to be another car. I ripped around in my S2K earlier today and it is still a blast to drive.

KIS · 06-12-2011, 02:18 PM

Imagine enjoying the drive every time you're driving. That's an M3.

bsiciliano · 06-12-2011, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIS

Imagine enjoying the drive every time you're driving. That's an M3.

1

donovan · 06-12-2011, 02:59 PM

You will need a daily driver, its very simple, gas mileage

heart_doctor · 06-12-2011, 03:15 PM

I have a 2011 E92 6MT, and a toyota corolla, the corolla is my winter beater, I would drive the e92 year round if I could .... Winters are tough up here. I love it as a daily driver. I drive country roads mostly, in car 90 minutes a day.

TW0929 · 06-12-2011, 03:19 PM

just do it. An E90 M3 is all you need

Crazy Bimmer · 06-12-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbb

My thoughts are that an M3 would combine the two, and be something I'd enjoy every day. One thing I'm concerned about though is getting bored... because I only drive the S000 4K miles in a year, I never really get bored of it. I'm wondering if 2 years down the road after driving the M3 for mostly my daily commute, will it just get to be another car. I ripped around in my S2K earlier today and it is still a blast to drive.

I never really kept any car past 6 months until I bought the M3. I also had an S2k for a few months. Had my M3 now for exactly 2 years now.

My thoughts on why i dont get bored? Its mostly because the M3 has so many different personalities. During my commute i just leave it in normal settings, which alone isnt that boring for me. Yet if i ever have any hint of boredom with the car, i remember I have that magic M button. Press it.. and the car changes completely to your liking.

M3 as so many different settings that you can change it on the fly depending on your mood.

With that said, you will never really enjoy the M3 with just a simple test drive. Ask most here, the M3 gets better with each mile you put on it.

e1000 · 06-12-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIS

Imagine enjoying the drive every time you're driving. That's an M3.

When the BMW M engineers keep calling the car "dynamic" they're not kidding.

I've been on quite a few business trips lately and the best part is coming back home from driving a rental car for a week and getting back into my M3.

mb1 · 06-12-2011, 05:21 PM

This is an interesting post. I had a 335 but found it boring. I've had my 2004 S2000 since new. I've almost sold it twice (buyer ready) but can't bring myself to do it. I just love it. I now added an e46 M3 since I needed a four seater to pick up my now 6 month old son. Its a good family car.

I've been struggling with whether I should consolidate or not. The S is dirt cheap to maintain, never breaks, gets great gas mileage, has a wonderful shifter not found in any other car, has a fast steering rack, and is lightweight and fun.

I like the E46 better than the 335 and I've driven the e92 M3 many times. I know I'm on a e9x forum but there's no way I'd give up my S for an e9x M3. My S2000 is slow but more fun and cheaper to keep.

I've come to the conclusion that the only way I'm consolidating is if I buy a 911S/GT3 or a Lotus Evora. The e9x M3 has a marvelous engine but the car as a whole is more disconnected (thats the trend these days to make them more marketable).

Only Porsche and Lotus give a true enthusiast the feel (forget 0-60 times) that are like none other.

I would like an e90 for the wife though ;-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbb

I know I'm posting in an M3 forum, so I have expectations as to what the replies will be, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

I'm not a complete BMW stranger. I had an S2000 for many years, then sold it and bought a 335i in early 2007. I drove the 335 for almost 3 years, but got a little tired of the HPFP failure issues, and also missed the S2000 as it was a little more fun to drive. So I got rid of the 335, and picked up another S2000, then got a TSX to daily drive as well. That's what I have now.

I like having two cars for two totally different purposes, but like probably everyone here, I've always been a huge M3 fan. Now I'm considering finally taking the plunge and getting one. The plan would be to sell both my "toy" and my daily, and just have the M3 as my only car (for that reason, I'm leaning towards the E90 so the car seat can fit in the back

). I'm thinking the E90 M3 will provide all of the fun factor that the S2000 has, with the convenience and luxury of the TSX.

One glaring issue is that I've never driven one of the new M3s, so I definitely have to do that before making any real decision, but if it is all that I'm reading about, it is worth going from two cars down to just one, right?

08E92M3 · 06-12-2011, 05:37 PM

Rules of thumb, always keep a second car. You'll never know when you need it, my E92 M3 doesn't go everywhere, that's why I keep it around for that reason!

Money2536 · 06-12-2011, 05:47 PM

I have an S2000 as my daily driver and just got my E92 three weeks ago. I also have a 5 month old son. My original plan was to sell my S2000 when I ordered an S4. My wife made the choice to quit working and Audi was having production issues (9 month build time), so I decided to cancel the S4 and order the car I really wanted, an E92.

Since I have some experience, here is why I did this. Racking up miles on the M3 would be too painful and my S2000 is so cheap to maintain. I drive about 25,000 miles a year and the S2000 has cheaper tires, oil, diff/tranny oil, and gets 27 MPG. Oh, and it has 103,000 miles on it and has never seen the dealer. It's bulletproof. My wife has a four door A4 to cart around my son, and we take that when we go out as a family. To my surprise the baby seat easily fits in the E92, so we can take him in the M3 when we want.

The only problem driving the S2000 everyday is that it makes the M3 "feel" much less connected. The transmission is world's better and the clutch engagement is less sloppy. Other than that the M3 is better in every other way. The M3 is the logical, practical upgrade for an S2000 guy.

If I were to drive 12,000 miles a year like you, I would really consider having just the M3. That being said, the M3 is a nice enough car to treat it like a garage queen. I love having to ability to leave it in the garage when it is raining.

I think having the E90 and keeping the S2000 in your situation would be pretty sweet. If you really want an E92, I wouldn't rule it out. The baby seat fits back there just fine.

06-12-2011, 09:59 AM	#1
vbb Captain 1864 Rep 935 Posts Drives: 2022 M4 manual Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: present iTrader: (4)	I need the M3 owner perspective... 2 cars, vs. 1? I know I'm posting in an M3 forum, so I have expectations as to what the replies will be, but I figured I'd ask anyway. I'm not a complete BMW stranger. I had an S2000 for many years, then sold it and bought a 335i in early 2007. I drove the 335 for almost 3 years, but got a little tired of the HPFP failure issues, and also missed the S2000 as it was a little more fun to drive. So I got rid of the 335, and picked up another S2000, then got a TSX to daily drive as well. That's what I have now. I like having two cars for two totally different purposes, but like probably everyone here, I've always been a huge M3 fan. Now I'm considering finally taking the plunge and getting one. The plan would be to sell both my "toy" and my daily, and just have the M3 as my only car (for that reason, I'm leaning towards the E90 so the car seat can fit in the back ). I'm thinking the E90 M3 will provide all of the fun factor that the S2000 has, with the convenience and luxury of the TSX. One glaring issue is that I've never driven one of the new M3s, so I definitely have to do that before making any real decision, but if it is all that I'm reading about, it is worth going from two cars down to just one, right?
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06-12-2011, 10:11 AM	#2
SamS Banned 867 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	I will be in the minority here, but I vote keep the two cars. I have an E92 M3 on order for Oct. delivery, but I'll be keeping my daily driver Accord. If the TSX is reliable and you like it, why bother with selling? This is assuming you don't need the money from the sale of the TSX to purchase the M3. We've got lots of suspect roads in Dallas. Just this month I ran over a shredded tire during my commute. If I would have done that in the M3, there would have been major damage, and grief. Yes, you can't mitigate all risks, but if you have a car to drive when you know the chances of extreme wear 'n tear are higher, why not keep a daily driver? I also have a little one, and the Honda is 4 door, so no problem fitting a car seat back there, or worrying about puke, food, etc. like I would in the M3. If it turns out I never end up driving the Honda after I get the M3, then I can sell it. But if I sell it too soon in favor of a single car, going back to two would be tougher financially. I like my Honda, that thing starts every time, has 70K miles, drives and looks brand new. You could not ask for a more reliable daily driver. It has Nav, iPhone connection, leather etc. It is certainly not lacking any amenities for commuting (although I won't compare it to driving a BMW ). I'm sure your TSX is the same.
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06-12-2011, 10:13 AM	#3
PKL Brigadier General 848 Rep 3,274 Posts Drives: 2020 M4, 2022 X6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Fernando Valley iTrader: (1)	Sell the cheap cars and get a new E90, you won't regret it. __________________
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06-12-2011, 10:14 AM	#4
kcdude24 First Lieutenant 6 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (2)	You will find a lot of s2k owners here. I had 2 of them and a z4m vert with a few e46 m3 in the middle.....always had to have a second car. My issue was that there are not enough top down days in my area to justify the play car. So my s2k ended up sitting a bunch. It was fun but practicality was the key and it was a buzz saw driving with the top up. So I sold both and switched to a 911 C2S for a while and it definitely gave me the s2k feel but still with a daily driver sacrifice...so after a brief stint with a M5 I came right back to the m3. Day in day out it is by far the most fun to drive practical car you'll find IMO and worth going down to a single car..... ....the only other option in my mind is to pick up a NSX garage queen and stay with the two car set up.....that should tie you over for a while. Last edited by kcdude24; 06-12-2011 at 12:39 PM..
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06-12-2011, 10:15 AM	#5
trick000 Private 1 Rep 53 Posts Drives: e93 M3/AP1 s2000 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	I had a 335 sedan and an AP1 s2000. I sold the 335 for an e93 but kept the AP1. In my opinion, the s2000 handles better and shifts better which I guess means it's more fun to drive. Not bad for a 10-11 year old car. I keep it because it is cheap to maintain, cheap to mod and will probably run circles around most M3s when modded. (flame suite on)
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06-12-2011, 10:24 AM	#6
Crazy Bimmer The Jesal 391 Rep 5,859 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago IL iTrader: (20) Garage List 2009 BMW M3 [0.00]	Funny, I sold my 94 and 08 328i for an e90 m3. No regrets at all. It's almost like combining those two cars into one and out comes the m3. Main reason I did it that I never really drove the nsx to enjoy it and kept getting bored driving the 328i daily. So I figured why not get something that I can enjoy everyday. __________________ 2009 E90 M3 - SOLD
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06-12-2011, 10:25 AM	#7
KIS Lieutenant 38 Rep 543 Posts Drives: 2015 Jaguar F Type R Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (0)	The M3 is a wonderful compromise. It's a blast to drive, reliable, has a trunk (albeit small), and with dct, no problem in heavy traffic. Also, I only drive 6-7,000 miles a year, so 2 cars would be silly for me.
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06-12-2011, 10:27 AM	#9
mact3333 Captain 121 Rep 876 Posts Drives: 16' YMB/Blk F82 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Portland Area iTrader: (1)	I was in exact same situation as you 3 months ago. I had a 997 C4S for weekends and a Honda Accord for DD...but it became such a habit to get into the Honda that I only put 1K miles on the C4S over the past year. What i realized was that I was essentially a Honda Accord driver(no offense to Accord drivers) and making big payments for a car I never drove. Thats when I decided to go to one car and enjoy my car everyday...hence M3 was my only choice(my 4th M)...I have the coupe and it works fine for my 2 kids...no regrets. Its kinda funny but the two things that I love about my new car is comfort access and bluetooth, as I have never had those features before. But once you have them, hard to go without. Also cant live without DCT...just love DCT, so much better than SMG II and 6MT for me anyway.
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06-12-2011, 10:28 AM	#10
klammer Brigadier General 97 Rep 3,246 Posts Drives: 11 spc gry m3 e90, 19 X5 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: chicago iTrader: (0)	E90 FTW! __________________ mods: track ready stuff
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06-12-2011, 12:48 PM	#11
TailHappyM3 Lieutenant 43 Rep 534 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	I've struggled with this issue for years. I've always had nice cars and tried to preserve them but after a while it would drive me crazy having a car just sit there and wasting my money. I often would also make the mistake of eventually selling the nice cars and just keep the normal daily drivers but would come to regret this later. My first E92 M3 was partially sold for this reason. I promised myself if I ever got back into another M3 (my 4th) I would daily drive it all year round. Having done this now for a little while, I am enjoying it a lot and am much more comfortable with the way I feel about getting value out of it. It's just a freakn car afterall and as the wife also says why preserve a car for the next owner one day?-Enjoy it! I am now.
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06-12-2011, 01:34 PM	#12
vbb Captain 1864 Rep 935 Posts Drives: 2022 M4 manual Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: present iTrader: (4)	I appreciate all of the insight. I drive a max of 12K miles per year total, putting about 4K on my S2000 and about 8K on my TSX. The TSX has all the things I've come to expect in a daily... bluetooth, one touch windows, heated power seats, iPod connection, etc... the things that have nothing to do with driving, but everything to do with comfort. The S2000 is raw. It's a blast to drive around twisties and feels like you're in a high-powered go kart most of the time. What could be more fun than that? My thoughts are that an M3 would combine the two, and be something I'd enjoy every day. One thing I'm concerned about though is getting bored... because I only drive the S000 4K miles in a year, I never really get bored of it. I'm wondering if 2 years down the road after driving the M3 for mostly my daily commute, will it just get to be another car. I ripped around in my S2K earlier today and it is still a blast to drive.
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06-12-2011, 02:18 PM	#13
KIS Lieutenant 38 Rep 543 Posts Drives: 2015 Jaguar F Type R Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (0)	Imagine enjoying the drive every time you're driving. That's an M3.
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06-12-2011, 02:59 PM	#15
donovan Brigadier General 371 Rep 4,167 Posts Drives: R8 - Ford Raptor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: National iTrader: (17)	You will need a daily driver, its very simple, gas mileage __________________ Audi R8 v10 Ford Raptor m3e46freak@yahoo.comfor all euro parts!! ebay/craigslist verified/ m3post/e46fanantics/m3forum/zpost/bimmerforum
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06-12-2011, 03:15 PM	#16
heart_doctor Lieutenant 320 Rep 581 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 Join Date: May 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I have a 2011 E92 6MT, and a toyota corolla, the corolla is my winter beater, I would drive the e92 year round if I could .... Winters are tough up here. I love it as a daily driver. I drive country roads mostly, in car 90 minutes a day. __________________
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06-12-2011, 03:19 PM	#17
TW0929 Lieutenant 26 Rep 529 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	just do it. An E90 M3 is all you need
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06-12-2011, 05:37 PM	#21
08E92M3 Private 2 Rep 94 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Coupe Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dublin iTrader: (0)	Rules of thumb, always keep a second car. You'll never know when you need it, my E92 M3 doesn't go everywhere, that's why I keep it around for that reason!
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06-12-2011, 05:47 PM	#22
Money2536 Colonel 1586 Rep 2,148 Posts Drives: '13 E92 M3 \| 992 GT3 Touring Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Villages, FL iTrader: (1)	I have an S2000 as my daily driver and just got my E92 three weeks ago. I also have a 5 month old son. My original plan was to sell my S2000 when I ordered an S4. My wife made the choice to quit working and Audi was having production issues (9 month build time), so I decided to cancel the S4 and order the car I really wanted, an E92. Since I have some experience, here is why I did this. Racking up miles on the M3 would be too painful and my S2000 is so cheap to maintain. I drive about 25,000 miles a year and the S2000 has cheaper tires, oil, diff/tranny oil, and gets 27 MPG. Oh, and it has 103,000 miles on it and has never seen the dealer. It's bulletproof. My wife has a four door A4 to cart around my son, and we take that when we go out as a family. To my surprise the baby seat easily fits in the E92, so we can take him in the M3 when we want. The only problem driving the S2000 everyday is that it makes the M3 "feel" much less connected. The transmission is world's better and the clutch engagement is less sloppy. Other than that the M3 is better in every other way. The M3 is the logical, practical upgrade for an S2000 guy. If I were to drive 12,000 miles a year like you, I would really consider having just the M3. That being said, the M3 is a nice enough car to treat it like a garage queen. I love having to ability to leave it in the garage when it is raining. I think having the E90 and keeping the S2000 in your situation would be pretty sweet. If you really want an E92, I wouldn't rule it out. The baby seat fits back there just fine.
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