DD recommendation

[mmm def]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

One of my all time favorite M3 photos!

lol i hate that pic, but i love it. Makes me chuckle every time i see it.

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by HokieGolfer

Thanks for the responses and opinions. I think I'll wait a couple months and make a decision before winter hits, which is my biggest concern. Seems like leasing something cheap will cost about the same as a winter tire/rim package plus added depreciation on the M. Whatever I decide buying the M was the right decision, i've got 2500 miles on my car in 3 weeks and I couldn't be happier with it.

I'm just a bit south of you and went through the same thought process last fall.

Maybe a few things to consider:

1. Leasing a second car is probably a mistake. You'll drive the M3 whenever you can. Even with 10K miles a year, you'll be turning it in well under mileage.

2. Get something offering additional utility. I got an awd Mazda CX-7. It does great in the snow and offers much more room. Eventually, we all need to move something bigger than a 3 series can deal with. Try to find something like this used if money is tight.

3. I opted not to go the snow tire route either. Pain in the butt storing them, especially when living in a high-rise condo. Plus the salt and crap they spray on the road isn't anything I wanted to subject my car to.

I know an M3 is not a Ferrari, but it seemed like time to have two cars and I just didn't see the point of buying another small sedan that would still suck to drive around in when we get one of those big snow storms.

Good luck.

[SamS]

Maybe I misread the OP. Are you leasing the M3? If so, no reason to get a daily. Drive the hell out of the lease, and just be careful on the miles. Or face the fact that you may have to sell/trade-in the lease before turn in, and maybe loose a bit out of pocket.

And buying (leasing?) a daily if you have no other use for it other than to not drive the M3 may not be the best solution, either.

A daily/beater is ideal if you already have one, especially if it's paid for. There's a lot of times where taking an M3 is not the ideal situation. Nothing wrong with the convenience of having a daily if it's already paid for. You're out what $100 year for inspection/registration? Peanuts. Insurance? Actually it should cost you less to insure a daily + M3, than just the M3 alone. I know that's the case with USAA for me. To spend a couple hundred a year for tags, oil, tires is definitely worth the convenience of an extra car, to me.

[Daft]

Just get a set of these...



....and ride in the snow in style yo!

[Radiation Joe]

^^^^ What he said. ^^^^

[quadpipes]

I am of the same mind as the OP. I got a Jeep Wrangler soft top. It does everything that my E92 does not and vice versa. I drive them about 50%/50%. With both you capture the entire spectrum of driving fun. Good luck!

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

I'm sorry, I don't buy cars to look at them in the garage. Get a set of winter tires and enjoy the beast.

[HokieGolfer]

[QUOTE=SamS;10363308]Maybe I misread the OP. Are you leasing the M3? If so, no reason to get a daily. Drive the hell out of the lease, and just be careful on the miles. Or face the fact that you may have to sell/trade-in the lease before turn in, and maybe loose a bit out of pocket.

I bought it.....I'm not really sure how long I'm going to keep it. Probably 3-5 years.

[HokieGolfer]

Originally Posted by twinpipes

I am of the same mind as the OP. I got a Jeep Wrangler soft top. It does everything that my E92 does not and vice versa. I drive them about 50%/50%. With both you capture the entire spectrum of driving fun. Good luck!

A wrangler was going to be my first choice. Looks like I can lease a new one for 299/month. I was looking used, but I was surprised how much they even with high mileage. This way I"ll enjoy it with the top down, and have fun getting around in the winter.

[1MOREMOD]

i didnt just buy my m3 to look at either but that doesnt mean i want it hammered. i have an x5 for most of my commuting and pull a trailer with it if needed then track the m3 and try and keep it as fresh as possible. i consider it that if i cant afford another vehicle to drive i cant afford to have an m3.

[chetsstm3]

The M3 is my DD here in upstate NY. Having come from an RS4 I'm kinda curious to see how she will do this winter, especially with an ESS VT-1 added. Many years ago my former e46 M3 was a garage queen and I drove a beater the rest of the time. Looking back on it I regret not using the car for what it was ment for (driving) and spending what turned out to be the bulk of my time driving something called "a beater" when a great car was in the garage. When it came time to trade it in I was definitely not rewarded for my above and beyond care. Long story short enjoy what you have, it's a great car that was built to be driven...hard.

[tjsabec]

I have an 08 VW GTI, and work way too much. I have a 39 mile one way commute that takes an hour. It was becoming apparent to me that when I was actually off and wanted to enjoy myself, my GTI was filthy and I was tired of driving it. I set out to by a car that I could keep nice and enjoy on my off days. I ended up with my M3 and things have worked out nicely.

The GTI is an ideal DD for me because it gets 30 mpg, I can pass people when I need too, and it is still fun to drive.

[MDSKIER]

Originally Posted by HokieGolfer

After picking up my new E92, I\'ve realized Im going to need another car for bad weather and to keep the miles down. Any recommendations? I\'d like to spend 10k or lease something for about 200ish. Ive never bought a used car, so im leaning towards the lease. Reliability is key.

I have a 2012 M3 on order. So my 2006 Acura TL will be up for sale.

BTW - I live in Hanover.....

[pokerface]

used FJ Cruiser?

[persian54]

Originally Posted by SamS

If you do your insurance properly, it should cost less per month to have a beater + M3, than just M3 by itself.

We have 8 cars on the policy and it's linked to our home

So adding a beater to it will just increase the policy

The M3 is listed as a pleasure vehicle as it is, there's nothing I can change about that.

[luis_m3]

Even though 90% of ppl in this forum will tell you to make your M3 your DD, I think I understand where you're coming from.
Personally, I drive the hell out of my M3 as much as I can, but I also feel like it needs a break during the winter. This is the main reason why I kept my 2003 Acura RSX... winter time and save some gas as well. Do I have to? No, but I just want to.
I really don't know your taste for DD, but I would go with something reliable and cheap to fix in case you have to; Civic, Accord, RSX, or an Integra would be my main choices.
Good luck!

[SamS]

Originally Posted by persian54

We have 8 cars on the policy and it's linked to our home

So adding a beater to it will just increase the policy

The M3 is listed as a pleasure vehicle as it is, there's nothing I can change about that.

Different policies have difference rules about this. Mine goes by how many miles I put on the M3 in a year vs. another car. Less miles on M3 = less $$/policy.

[Michaeljh2000]

For DC/Baltimore winters I'd go with a used Jeep. For $10K you would have no trouble finding a nice one.

[Erie Von Otto]

This is something I have been torturing myself with ever since buying it. I finally decided that I would drive during the winter, got some winter wheels/tires. Then I read one of these threads, and it makes me think about buying a winter beater... again. In Germany an all wheel drive car with Standheizung(pre-heated oil/interior heated up by remote) are common and inexpensive.

Salt/rock chips/curb slides are all things to think about. But the thought of NOT driving the M...

[Technic]

Originally Posted by RudyP

Just to provide a counterpoint. I'm in the process of buying an '11 M3 to be my DD. I have a 911 Carrera S that is my weekend car and wanted something more practical and inconspicuous to drive to work. I made a brief and unsuccessful experiment with a lesser car for my DD but missed the Porsche too much while driving the daily driver. So here I am coming back to BMW after letting my last one go in 2003. I think it will be a great blend of fun to drive, precision feel, anonymous styling and (occasional) practicality. I will need snow tires in the winter and somewhat cringe at parking it outside (# cars > # garages in my household) but I will get over it.

Just trying to provide a difterent view. Goodluck with your decision.

Yeah. Right.

[NYCMCBM3]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

There certainly are two camps when it comes to daily driving an M3. I didn't buy my M3 to look at it. I bought it so that I'd have something to drive every day that I LIKED driving. There is no doubt in my mind that it is significantly cheaper to take the depreciation on my e90 than to buy and maintain a second car. I put about 25k miles on my car every year. It costs me about $7k over two years to put the extra miles on my car.

I'm on my second "beater" M3. And, No; I don't care if the prissies out there would never buy my car used.

lol wow and NICE!!

[RudyP]

Originally Posted by Technic

Yeah. Right.

Why do yyou say that? With a non-flashy color (silver, black, etc) I think the average Joe sees an E92 M3 as pretty much the same as an E90 328i sedan. Not too flashy at all. Whereas the 911 gets non car people all excited because it is clearly a Porsche. I'm fine with fellow enthusiasts recognizing an M3 for what it is, I only want to fool the busybody, chatty corolla drivers who think any sports car is meant to be a show-offy status symbol.

Note this all differs by region and work environment. If I lived in LA where p-cars are a dime a dozen, I wouldn't worry about it. But here in Columbus OH at a very conservative company, a 911 would get noticed. Our CEO drives a 535i and I don't need to be flashier than that - but I still can't bring myself to drive something truly boring. I think an M3 strikes a very nice balance.