Is there any other car you'd rather drive daily?

[PhilH]

I think there is absolutely no other car currently sold, for any amount of money, that could fill the daily driver role as well as my 330i.

A 545i/6-spd would be a bit faster, but is bigger and wouldn't be as fun to throw around on the twisities. Also, IMO, although it looks OK, compared to the E46 it has questionable styling.

The E60 M5 is SMG only and most (all?) desirable Mercedes AMG sedans are automatics.

A Porsche 911 or Ferrari would be great to have in the garage, but I'm talking about a daily driver that I can use everyday like my E46. I have the two kids in the back seat and my wife in the car nearly every day to commute to school and work. A 2-seater isn't possible and a coupe just isn't practical.

The Infiniti G35 might be an OK replacement for my car, but IMO it still comes in second place to the 330i.

The back seat in the RX-8 is just a bit too small or it would be a decent choice.

The STi or Evo are too boy racer outside and too econo car inside, and I hate turbo lag.

I don't think there's anything else out there that I'd enjoy more on a day to day basis than my car. Anyone else feel the same way? Anyone think I'm on crack? :confused:

Probably the only people that would agree with me are other sedan owners who have families... :dunno:

[RandyB]

I agree.

BMW 330i: The ultimate daily driving machine.

Especially in ZSP form. :D

[Kaz]

I'd like something a bit smaller and more gas-frugal as a daily (a Mini might be good; I really like the Nissan Cube but it's not sold here), given I had other cars to do other things with. But my Touring is unbeatable as a 'if I could only have one' car. But for things like going to work and running errands, there just ins't a need for a car this big, and it only gets marginally better gas mileage than my M6.

[AF]

Good points Phil though an A4 or even better an S4 would be a great choice as well.

[330soon2b]

Love my car, but I am ready for more power. I will likely trade up to an M3 in March. Not sure if that is considered a daily driver.

[PhilH]

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to tool around in a Quattroporte for a while...
http://automobilemag.com/reviews/0404_quattroporte_h01_z.jpg

But, after a while, I'd miss the manual gearbox and there's no way it would be as fun to autocross. Because of its size and weight I doubt it would be as fun on the track either.

[Cliff]

No, I think the 330 is about perfect for my needs. 2 doors are all I need, and the car would be more frugal about gas if I was less of a leadfoot... :rolleyes: About the only thing I'd change, daily driver-wise, would be to go with 17" wheels and non-staggered tire sizes.

[wag-zhp]

I'm in the same boat as you. I love my 330i!!! I was considering the G35 sedan too, but just liked the way the Bimmer drives/feels better, so much so that it offset the price difference. I also considered the cars you mentioned, along with the TL, CTS, A4, and anything else that seemed close. None of them offered the same level of refinement and also seemed as tossable as the 330i.

I really wanted a true sports car, but the family and practicality issues ruled that out. I agree with you, for everyday driving, combined with seating for 4 or 5, and room for a little lugage, and the ability to put a grin on a drivers face, the 330i is the perfect car. Sure there are other cars out there that can out perform it, but that performance comes at a price... you either loose the seating capacity, loose the flexability, loose the refinement, pay a whole lot more money, or some combination of the above.

[The Roadstergal]

But for things like going to work and running errands, there just ins't a need for a car this big

Ja, that's why I sold the E30. Great car, but it didn't do anything I needed that the Miata didn't do better. If I need to carry lots of stuff or more than one person on a regular basis in the future, I'd be right back with an E30 - or maybe a 1 - but for current daily duties, the Miata is good and the bike is better (mileage, HOVage, parking fee...).

[AB]

Porsche 911 is my all-time favorite daily driver. Perfect for my commute and toting my daughter the half-mile to Kindergarten.

[Kaz]

Porsche 911 is my all-time favorite daily driver. Perfect for my commute and toting my daughter the half-mile to Kindergarten.

I used to WALK the half-mile to Kindergarten.

[AB]

I used to WALK the half-mile to Kindergarten.

Times have changed, unfortunately. Plus, there is one busy street to cross. Plus, it's directly in my commute path. And more importantly, it's my baby girl! :whip:

[The Roadstergal]

I used to WALK the half-mile to Kindergarten.

Uphill... both ways...

Ja, I walked or biked through high school and college m'self.

[2bor!2b]

I considered several cars before settling on a 330i with ZHP after extensive
research and some test driving. I'd agree with you that 330i is an ideal
daily driver. I seriously think of an S4 but I just can't stand the very very low
gas mileage...

Now I have a question. I noticed the picture you posted in which you show a
Grey 330i with the body-color molding. Is this your car? Did you get the molding
painted? My wife was really into the body-color molding of the coupes and conv.
And she will be very happy if I did the mod successfully. And everyone with a family
knows how important it is to have a happy wife ;)

[Alex Baumann]

There are lots of compact cars I could drive daily, probably most of them are unavailable in the USA.

Renault Scenic, Toyota Yaris Verso, Toyota Corolla Verso, Fiat Panda, Opel Astra, Peugeot 307 SW etc.

My daily ride is a 320d.

[FireFly]

330 is a great car but for my daily drive (sometimes many hw miles) I'd like something a bit higher (SUV cross over) so I can see the road better when in traffic and I'd like something a bit less harsh.

If my commute was back roads then the 330 would be the only option and a SUV would be completely out of the question.

[kurichan]

Prius

[·clyde·]

I think there is absolutely no other car currently sold, for any amount of money, that could fill the daily driver role as well as my 330i.

The back seat in the RX-8 is just a bit too small or it would be a decent choice.

Cost no object, for the real world daily grind of solo commuting and errand running that most of us face, any E46 would be at or near the top of my list. Even without children or passengers, I'd prefer a sedan type over a coupe and a wagon over a sedan.

I don't think that the RX-8 would be the best daily driver for most people (regardless of the back seat, which is much better than most people giveit credit for). What makes the RX-8 such a great car to drive works against it in the daily driver role. Even with the whimpy OEM springs, the car rides too firmly. The steering is too quick and precise. The shifter requires too much effort and is too tight. It lets too much tire noise in and the suspension makes some noises (and I'm not referring to the "special" noises that mine makes). Storage space isn't terribly good and it's too flashy looking.

Given the choice, I'd much rather drive my (er, wife's now...need to remember that) 325xiT to/from work, the grocery store, 300 mile trips to the in-law's for a holiday weekend, etc.

Whenever the drive is about having fun, though, it's a totally different story. :bigpimp:

If I could pick anything available new today for a daily driver, it would probably be a CTS-V.

[Kaz]

Renault Scenic, Toyota Yaris Verso, Toyota Corolla Verso, Fiat Panda, Opel Astra, Peugeot 307 SW etc.


None of these exist here.

[JPinTO]

I think there is absolutely no other car currently sold, for any amount of money, that could fill the daily driver role as well as my 330i.

Leave the wife and kids home and drive an M3! :p

[Mr. The Edge]

I'm perfectly happy with my current daily driver

[JPinTO]

I'm perfectly happy with my current daily driver

What are you driving now?

[·clyde·]

What are you driving now?
:bustingup

[AB]

:bustingup


:stupid: :rofl:

The news is on at least 4 different boards.

[PhilH]

I noticed the picture you posted in which you show a Grey 330i with the body-color molding. Is this your car? Did you get the molding painted?
Actually, my molding is the stock black. I think it looks great against the Steel Gray, with just a subtle contrast. However, many people have had their sedan moldings painted. I think you just rip them off (somehow) and send them off to a body shop to have them painted. Do a search on "painted moldings" here and on www.e46fanatics.com and I'm sure you'll find a bunch of information.

[Test_Engineer]

About the ONLY car that comes close....VERY close to my 330i is the new Acura TL. The TL is front wheel drive, but using it as a regular "daily driver", it is very hard to tell. Their benchmark was obviously the 330i, and they did a fantastic job for a front wheel drive car....BUT it's still not a BMW. The new RL should be AWD and also prove to give BMW a run for it's money.

[The Roadstergal]

What makes the RX-8 such a great car to drive works against it in the daily driver role.

When I had the Miata as the daily driver, I would schedule my commute specifically to avoid traffic so I wouldn't have to make that compromise. I abhor traffic. I will go to great lengths to avoid it.

But the bike lets me do that at any commute time, and the high seating position gives me a pretty darn good view of traffic, as was mentioned earlier in the thread.

[cwsqbm]

Uphill... both ways...



In three foot-deep snow.

[chrono111]

An S4 if I could have swung the extra $$$ for gas, insurance and monthly payment...
But in reality and couldn't have asked for a better car then my ZHP.

[JPinTO]

:stupid: :rofl:

The news is on at least 4 different boards.

So I don't have to surf 4 different boards... the answer would be??

[armaq]

120d

[Roadhawk]

Well I basically alternate between the ZHP and the S4 now - where I had been driving the S4 pretty much exclusively. The S4 is a great all around/all weather commuter (and I've been driving it mostly this week because of all the rain) - but the low (around town) gas mileage is a killer. Six months ago I would have said there was no better daily commuter (and the S4 still thrills...on a daily basis...)...but driving the 3 I can see why folks would say it is close to ideal. I like both and can't really decide which I like driving (commuting with) best - varys from day to day - though S4 is way better in the rain! ZHP is perhaps easier - everything is just so perfectly balanced, engine is linear, shifts nice, lighter around town then the S4 - and better gas mileage....(about 20 vs 14....)!!...and - my S4 has a speaker that has developed a bit of a static buzz thats driving me crazy - so for now at least - talk & tunes sound better in the bimmer...

And I do understand the perspective from folks that a smaller vehical - 1 or 2 seater - makes so much sense for most commutes (I miss my MR2 for that....)...and of course - high gas mileage=good.....low=bad!!

And Roadstergal - wouldn't it be nice if we could all schedule our commutes to avoid traffic! :mad: ...lucky you....and be careful on that bike now - y'hear

[Mr. The Edge]

So I don't have to surf 4 different boards... the answer would be??
:D

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75934

[JPinTO]

What was that--- a 12 months wait ? Congrats.

[SARAFIL]

120d

I'd be happy with a 320d, or better yet a 330d. Since neither is available, a 330i would be fine. If they offered a real sport package on the 330xi, I'd chose that over the 330i.

[2bor!2b]

Actually, my molding is the stock black. I think it looks great against the Steel Gray, with just a subtle contrast. However, many people have had their sedan moldings painted. I think you just rip them off (somehow) and send them off to a body shop to have them painted. Do a search on "painted moldings" here and on www.e46fanatics.com and I'm sure you'll find a bunch of information.

Thanks, somehow the picture makes it looks like a painted one :)

I will do some more research.

[Konrad]

I almost bought a 330 ZHP, then I drove an S4. Now with current S4 leasing rates, I may be able to lease it for the same as the 330.
I hear you about the mileage, but the pure speed and sound of the S4 is in a different league than the 330. Plus 330's are a dime a dozen in l.a. S4's are fairly rare.

[Alamo]

I think there is absolutely no other car currently sold, for any amount of money, that could fill the daily driver role as well as my 330i.

A 545i/6-spd would be a bit faster, but is bigger and wouldn't be as fun to throw around on the twisities. Also, IMO, although it looks OK, compared to the E46 it has questionable styling.

The E60 M5 is SMG only and most (all?) desirable Mercedes AMG sedans are automatics.

A Porsche 911 or Ferrari would be great to have in the garage, but I'm talking about a daily driver that I can use everyday like my E46. I have the two kids in the back seat and my wife in the car nearly every day to commute to school and work. A 2-seater isn't possible and a coupe just isn't practical.

The Infiniti G35 might be an OK replacement for my car, but IMO it still comes in second place to the 330i.

The back seat in the RX-8 is just a bit too small or it would be a decent choice.

The STi or Evo are too boy racer outside and too econo car inside, and I hate turbo lag.

I don't think there's anything else out there that I'd enjoy more on a day to day basis than my car. Anyone else feel the same way? Anyone think I'm on crack? :confused:

Probably the only people that would agree with me are other sedan owners who have families... :dunno:

Vette but I have two kids so it was a compromise

[·clyde·]

I would schedule my commute specifically to avoid traffic so I wouldn't have to make that compromise.

Most people don't have the scheduling flexibility of a lab rat. :p :angel:

[AB]

Vette but I have two kids so it was a compromise

I LOVE the new Vette, but as I have a child, it wouldn't work for me.

My 911 has 2 very small back seats that are unfit for adult usage (although I did cram my wife and 2 of her drunk friends in it one time over the summer).

The back seats are just perfect for kids though.

[Alamo]

I LOVE the new Vette, but as I have a child, it wouldn't work for me.

My 911 has 2 very small back seats that are unfit for adult usage (although I did cram my wife and 2 of her drunk friends in it one time over the summer).

The back seats are just perfect for kids though.

Ya, that Vette is full of Yankee muscle.

[swchang]

For my daily 2 minute commute, I think I'd prefer a Mini if parking were more of a pain. Because it isn't, anything with great gas mileage would do at this point. But because it's my only car, and I do go places other than East Baltimore, the 330 is pretty much perfect. In wagon form and slightly wider, it'd be even more perfect. ;)

[Mantis]

Another daily driver.....hmmmmmmm

The Acura TL is nice huh, but it's not a BMW. I also like the Maxima se, but it's not a BMW.The Lexus 300 is sweet, but again not a BMW.


I perfer driving a BMW over all other cars I can afford.

[RandyB]

In wagon form and slightly wider, it'd be even more perfect. ;)

Maybe something like 3 inches wider, or thereabouts? :)

[swchang]

Maybe something like 3 inches wider, or thereabouts? :)

Yup! But without the decontenting... And without the beating of the ugly stick. :p