The middle-aged Dad Dilemma

[allinon72]

I can tell you my journey....when my kid was on the way I had an F80 and I got rid of it thinking I needed an SUV. So I traded it for an X3MC...big mistake, it's got the performance but does nothing well. Isn't that much bigger inside and the usable trunk space isn't that much different from the F80. It rode rough, my wife hated it, and we still felt cramped even though it was just the 3 of us. I sorely regret getting rid of the F80.

Now, the F80 is a small car by modern standards, especially with teenagers. Honestly the sweet spot in M car ownership is the M5. You get performance, luxury, interior space (but not too much), huge trunk, and eats up the miles on the highway. I never considered it in the past because I thought I needed the handling performance, even though I just putt around town 95% of the time.

Of course I'm a little biased.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Let’s face it tho, the LSD in these cars is super helpful in the slop too. When I grew up everyone was driving RWD, open diff cars in crappy weather because that’s all there was, unless you had a 4WD hub-locking truck. Never again. Sliding off the road in your K Car at some point or just stuck in the winter was an occasional fact of life 35 years ago.

AWD coming along was a huge improvement for most people and conditions, but emulating an LSD with ABS/DSC only gets you so far. My E53 project was still scary in really greasy conditions. The ABS would be hammering away on all 4 corners, while the car was sliding sideways towards a ditch. It’s a completely different vehicle with the Quaife rear ended I built. It still has 2 open diffs (center and front) but the ability of the Quaife to seemlessly and instantly split torque and find grip in the back without breaking traction is game changing.

I agree, get what you want. It’s been 20 years since I sold my E46 and I’m loving being back in a RWD. 6 spd monster. It gives me confidence too that it’s got a LSD and ABS/DSC.

Yes, it is easier to drive a RWD now (in the last 15 years) than it was before for a few reasons, including technology (DTC, ESC, LSD, etc) and tire improvements (which I guess falls under technology).

Winter tires and all season tires are better now than 15 years ago. There was a joke in the past that "All season tires sucked in all seasons". Now, many all season tires (including my favorite, the DWS06+), are fine in small amounts of snow in the winter and autocross in the summer. Last summer, my new DWS06+ were better than my 6 year old Pilot Sports on the autocross.

Getting back to the thread topic, you get the car that makes you happy, and that does not always mean "M" or manual. No car is perfect and the perfect car is the one that connects with you.

[T.R.S.]

Originally Posted by thebmw

Getting back to the thread topic, you get the car that makes you happy, and that does not always mean "M" or manual. No car is perfect and the perfect car is the one that connects with you.

Sometimes something we really thought we had to have ends up being a disappointment. And for some, it can even be a mistake. Disappointments happen, but then try to avoid the mistakes as their negative effects can linger long past that initial endorphin rush.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Ok, so there shoudn't be any performance SUVs? No Macans, Cayenne Turbos, Urus, Grand Cherokee SRT8/Track hawks, etc.?

I'll go let my wife know the expert on the forum says she should remove the M branding from her X3M Competion.

no I didn’t state that. as I said it goes back to engineering and there is no Motorsport suv that I know of but folks can buy and drive whatever of course. Folks don’t buy perf wagons but high cg, heavy suv are ok?? Marketing at it’s best.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I don’t know whether the M Division has any involvement in M Sport parts, but the M340i does have LSD and a track capable brake package, and sport suspension.

There were some “real” M cars that used the turbo motors from the non-M cars, like the 2011 1M that used the N54 and the 2016 M2 that used the N55. Some question whether the S50 and S52 of the 1995-1999 USA M3 are really M engines and I agree.

I'd assume that BMW is qualified to provide the answer.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by silvermanor

Lol the M division didn't touch this car. I'm not sure you know what an M car is.

So what? BMW gets to define what is an is not an "M". I could argue the current M3 is really just a M5. I wouldn't necessarily be wrong because it's as big as an E39 M5 but BMW decided to give it the M3 badge.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

So what? BMW gets to define what is an is not an "M". I could argue the current M3 is really just a M5. I wouldn't necessarily be wrong because it's as big as an E39 M5 but BMW decided to give it the M3 badge.

Whoa, I needed to go look that up. G80 is actually a bit larger than an E39 in most dimensions, especially width:

https://www.carsized.com/en-us/cars/...2020-sedan-m3/

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Mavus

no I didn’t state that. as I said it goes back to engineering and there is no Motorsport suv that I know of but folks can buy and drive whatever of course. Folks don’t buy perf wagons but high cg, heavy suv are ok?? Marketing at it’s best.

I don't understand your argument. The X3M, for example, has the same engine and transmission as the M2/3/4, has performance tuned suspension & steering, exhaust, differential, same brakes, etc. So why can't it be called an "M"?

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

I'd assume that BMW is qualified to provide the answer.

Attachment 3869666

Looks like the M Division is involved with MSport cars since it engineered their modifications. The M snobs will be disappointed.

[jmg]

The M340i and a F80 M3 are totally different cars. You’ve wanted an M3 your whole life.

Anyone can dream. It’s worthless unless you act on it.

Get the M3. Don’t settle.

[M5Rick]

If you need to ask people whether you are worthy to drive a full M car then you probably shouldn't and just stick to the i's, you'd know in yourself if you'd want to or not.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Whoa, I needed to go look that up. G80 is actually a bit larger than an E39 in most dimensions, especially width:

https://www.carsized.com/en-us/cars/compare/bmw-5-1999-sedan-vs-bmw-3-2020-sedan-m3/

Yep. The current M2 is very similar to the e46/e92 M3 so perhaps the M2 is a "real" M3? *Sarcasm*

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Yep. The current M2 is very similar to the e46/e92 M3 so perhaps the M2 is a "real" M3? *Sarcasm*

Made me do it, and you're not wrong... https://www.carsized.com/en-us/cars/...2023-coupe-m2/

[TI.3VOM]

Originally Posted by allinon72

I can tell you my journey....when my kid was on the way I had an F80 and I got rid of it thinking I needed an SUV. So I traded it for an X3MC...big mistake, it's got the performance but does nothing well. Isn't that much bigger inside and the usable trunk space isn't that much different from the F80. It rode rough, my wife hated it, and we still felt cramped even though it was just the 3 of us. I sorely regret getting rid of the F80.

Now, the F80 is a small car by modern standards, especially with teenagers. Honestly the sweet spot in M car ownership is the M5. You get performance, luxury, interior space (but not too much), huge trunk, and eats up the miles on the highway. I never considered it in the past because I thought I needed the handling performance, even though I just putt around town 95% of the time.

Of course I'm a little biased.

Mine was a similar story, but I kept my F82 after my first was born. I loved it too much, so I held off getting something bigger until I really had to. But the day never came, even after the second kid. Sure the front passenger was a little cramped when the baby seat was rear-facing, but it was a small sacrifice I was willing to make Once both seats were front-facing, things got easier. Buckling the seat belts in a coupe is not significantly harder than in a sedan and neither is getting them in and out.

I now have a G90 and I agree with you it is the perfect car right now. Sure some things could be improved, but it's an outstanding daily driver and it helps me forget my M4

[Mo2002]

Get the M3. M340i is not a real M car.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Mo2002

Get the M3. M340i is not a real M car.

I test drove an M340i before deciding to look at the M2, and I agree 100%. There was nothing overly impressive about the M340i.