Thanks again all for the great advice. Looking to pull the trigger on a e46 M3 convertible with smg for my daily driver. I work about 15 miles away, but end up driving about 50-60mi one way sometimes (about 2 times a week). I can live with the mileage, but is the m3 liveable as a daily car?
I wanted to know how many of you out there use your m3 for your daily AND how many of you that do like it or would do it differently.
I am also considering an '04 330ci with the ZHP package and need to know what you all think?
I drive my coupe everyday as well, though my commute is only about 6 or 8 miles round trip. Never fails to bring a smile to face, no matter what kind of day I've had.
It's quite possible that the OP wants the ultimate driving convertible, not just an M3. I had an M3 Vert and it was fine for a DD. I now have a 330Vert that's easier to live with as a DD, but I had no issues with the M3, I just wanted to get an auto (bad knee).
BTW, I had SMG which I did not like, and drving a manual as a DD isn't an option for me. That's the main reason I went to the 330.
The car does ride a bit rough for a long road trip, but for that short commute to and from work, its a great feeling to just throw it down and let loose, especiallly getting on the highway, going around the on-ramp, faster than a "normal" car can
Like others have said, truly a joy to drive, and it looks great!
Thanks again all for the great advice. Looking to pull the trigger on a e46 M3 convertible with smg for my daily driver. I work about 15 miles away, but end up driving about 50-60mi one way sometimes (about 2 times a week). I can live with the mileage, but is the m3 liveable as a daily car?
I wanted to know how many of you out there use your m3 for your daily AND how many of you that do like it or would do it differently.
I am also considering an '04 330ci with the ZHP package and need to know what you all think?
I have an E46 M3 Vert (manual) and a 325xi (auto). If I lived in an area with good weather and smooth roads (I think you qualify), the M3 would be a great daily driver. However, in the Northeast, with potholes everywhere, stop & go, the M3 is not my idea of a daily driver. Add in the cold winters, where the convertible rattles more than it should as seals tighten up, and more or less, I abandon the car indoors for the better part of 4 months, except for when the roads are clean and I take it out to keep things lubricated.
If I drove the M3 every day, I'd budget some cash for speeding tickets. Too easy to go too fast in that car.
I would like to attest to the daily driveabilty of the M3. I drive 110 miles round trip 5 or 6 days a week. By my own estimation, I've put on 22K miles in the 6 months I've owned her. (04 coupe 6MT). I absolutely love driving this car...! Be prepared for your typical mtx costs. I wore out a set of rear tires in those 20K miles which I used as rationale to buy 19" oem ZCP wheels and tires. As to daily driveability, she routinely starts, runs, pulls gobs of power, and corners tighter than I know how to drive while looking nothing short of awesome. My local shop mechanic swears that these cars (M's) if driven routinely and maintained routinely (his bias of course) they run just fine for daily ops. I will also include the simple fact that at least once, the brakes on my M3 have absolutely saved my butt from what would have been a serious collision were I in my previous vehicle.
I purchased my M3 with some miles already on it... 68K in September 07. I now have over 90K. I just drove it another 240 miles today...
As yet, I haven't received any unwanted invitations to the "policeman's ball". Surely one day I'll be putting to rest some ricer with the hooped up Honda and a bumble-bee in-a-beercan muffler and well....its just inevitable.
Fuel of course is expensive, I get 21-22 MPG, but this would be a fixed cost on any other like performing vehicle type.
I've had 100% dispatch reliabilty with my M3, but I know when it breaks, that it is likely to be expensive. You could get a Bentley Manual and save on labor costs if you had to fix her...
My 2002 M3 Coupe 60K 6MT is definitely a daily driver! I use mine every day to get back and forth to work (16 miles each way). Got stuck in Boston rush hour traffic last week and I was a little concerned with the amount of clutch work. It was easy and didn't mind it at all...
my 2004 vert is a daily driver...no problems...well mannered in traffic and a great ride on the open road...40 miles round trip and yes, I often take the long way home when the time is right, the top is down and life is great.
I daily drive mine with two kid seats in the back. Drop them off at school and off to work. I drive it all through the winter up here in Boston as well with a second set of wheels and blizzaks. Go for it!
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