CSL as a daily

CSL as a daily

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Discussion

///Mike

862 posts

206 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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Thanks for the response, I have a fully stripped and caged E36 track car so it’s not even the track abilities of the CSL where my interest lies. I am sure it would see a cheeky few laps of the ring though at some point. Rude not too!

It’s the car, the noise, the visceral driving experience which is hard if not impossible to match for the money, it’s the way it makes you feel when you are in it that draws me. They feel special and although my 135 in its trim level is a beautiful car and almost perfect for my needs. It does not have that 'specialness' that can be found in the CSL. I am only just approaching 30 and have the rest of my life to match practicality with my needs.

I cannot justify the cost of a CSL as a weekend fun car which means I use it on the M4 3 days a week or I never own one and miss out on the experience altogether and I guess this is what it boils down to. I don't want to put 8K a year on it in a straight line on the M4 either. Perhaps I will take the longer way home not using the M4 a lot more often if I had one.

Some of the points you raise are the same as the ones I am battling with in my head. I need to way up the pro's and the cons and then ultimately make the decision!

Yanto

543 posts

207 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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How about changing jobs wink

///Mike

862 posts

206 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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Yanto said:
How about changing jobs wink
HAHA, I have considered moving house!

I like my job. Ironically I sell Video Conferencing for a living, saving people the need to travel haha

0836whimper

974 posts

197 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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Just get one, think you have made your mind up anyway.

You only live once, they are visceral (great description) and you could get a 2k diesel hatch for boring/winter stuff if you have to.

Who knows what's round the corner.

That was my approach anyway biggrin

Clubber330

41 posts

138 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
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I run a CSL for a year and found it difficult to life with day to day.

On a weekend blast there is genuinly no better car for the job but on a daily commute not for me.

chris56

556 posts

178 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
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I used to use mine as a daily driving into and out of London for two years some time ago- doing over 20K miles
I did however remove the standard seats pretty quickly as I found them uncomfortable (others find them comfortable). I had some custom Recaros made which match the car interior perfectly. I also installed upgraded music system and sat nav.
Once these two items were done then the car was fine to use daily for my particular requirements. Running costs are reasonable and fuel consumption I found to be better than a normal E46 M3 on the same journey.

Nords

1,031 posts

230 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
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I find my seats very comfortable, some 3 years and 40k after buying it. Used 'everyday' less op tours away in the past. It makes me smile every time I get into it.

In fact the only time, it disappointed me, was driving away from a friends house after he let me drive his 4.0RS. The CSL engine is soooooooo weak, but the CSL's (AP) brakes were as good or better, and I preferred the noise!

QED87

442 posts

205 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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I was considering the CSL as a daily but I test drove one and found the ride a little too harsh - IMHO. I ended up going for a CS which has all the luxuries but can deliver 85% of what the CSL delivers. To be fair though I am seriously looking for a CSL exhaust system & intake to give me the noise....

Whichever you choose I don't think you'll be disappointed and looking at the prices of CS's at the moment you'll likely get a bargain if you go down that route.

darreni

3,759 posts

269 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
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You soon get used to it.

The benefits more than make up the the odd compromise.

They really are far more than the sum of the parts.

five50

497 posts

185 months

Tuesday 27th November 2012
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It's an obvious thing to say, but take a test drive and you will know pretty quickly. I Always fancied a csl as an all rounder car (am an enthusiast, based in London and only do 3-4k miles pa) and on trying, it was immediately clear that this was not the car for me - it felt very harsh over bumps and transmitted a lot to the cabin - just not something i thought made sense in London - and I was driving a Porsche on optional 'sports suspension' at the time. Others love them. Who knows, maybe u just wanna get it out of your system and tick the box. You might not lose that much if you buy well. On the stuff about toys - nav, phone etc - I wouldn't under estimate this, particularly if u r doing longer journeys and its your only car - but really down to the individual. As above, the idea of CSL plus daily stter sounds a potentially good combo.

Chapppers

4,483 posts

190 months

Tuesday 27th November 2012
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That's the thing, the one I tested rode a lot worse than the Noble and the gearbox seemed like it would do my head in. And yet I still want one.

digi051669

12 posts

152 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
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If you enjoy BMW ///M, the CSL is very special piece of kit. I'm biased as I still have mine. I currently also have a R35 GTR and LP570 (not trying to be a duch bag by mentioning these, just want to put my comments in context) and I find the CSL has this magic and sense of occasion whenever I drive it. Of course it does not have the pace of the my other 2 cars, but I'll be damned that it still makes my hair on the back of my neck stand up whenever I push the loud pedal.

Its the alpha-N setup + that air box which makes you feel you are driving a DTM car.

Drive a CSL hard and you will forget about the 85% CS comment. Its like how Clarkson compared the 458 with May's 430. Buy them whilst they are still reasonably priced.

If you are looking for creature comforts look elsewhere. You can daily drive it for sure, I did for 3 years. Just get a cushion and put it under the bucket seats for easy seating access for daily use. ENJOY!

wheelsmith

138 posts

141 months

Monday 17th December 2012
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I had one and wouldn't want to use it everyday, the ride is firm, stereo is rubbish and SMG is not the best round town in auto, it's fine round town in manual mode of course.
Only you can decide if it's for you, some lunatics drive an Elise everyday wink , can't think of anything worse, also don't forget what sort of crowd you're asking, shall we say CSL enthusiasts, so your probably going to get very positive answers.
I asked a similar question regarding TVR a few years ago, it was a resounding yes that time too. The TVR only lasted 3 months as a daily driver though.


PWE

175 posts

188 months

Monday 17th December 2012
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I did 15k in one year with no problems.
Tyres discs and pads were my only real expence(2 track days in that time too)

JuanCarpantier

17 posts

146 months

Thursday 28th February 2013
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I am from Texas and moving to Aberdeen, Scotland for work. My plan is to buy a CSL and daily drive the thing. Maybe not the wisest plan, but that hasn't stopped me from making similiar purchases.

///Mike

862 posts

206 months

Friday 1st March 2013
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I looked at a few late last year and would still dearly love one but the head ruled over the heart for me and I ended up ordering new E92 in Early December and I collect it a week today.

A friend of mine that lives locally is looking to buy a CSL as a second car and has already said I would be insured to drive it whenever I please so hopefully I will still be a able to have a play every once in a while.

In the end I just came to the conclusion that it would be sacrilegious to put lots of miles on one and I would then have to seek the use of other cars all the time. With that, I opted for something that ticks more boxes and albiet that induction noise and sense of occasion that I dearly wanted had to be put aside, the S65 V8 doesn't sound too bad either.

darreni

3,759 posts

269 months

Saturday 23rd March 2013
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darreni said:
You soon get used to it.

The benefits more than make up the the odd compromise.

They really are far more than the sum of the parts.
I'm having a rethink. I used mine as a daily for the last 2 years, but i've been suffering a back problem for the last 4 months, (finally the MRI this week has diagnosed a ruptured L4/5 disk), & after doing 600 miles in the UK last week, i'm having to accept that the cars firm ride & fixed back recaros are not ideal for me at the moment.

No critisism of the car itself, just me getting older I think, along with the piss poor state of the roads.


bruciebonuz

295 posts

214 months

Saturday 23rd March 2013
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I know it's not the same but what about a CS as a compromise?

Yoram Shazbat

170 posts

136 months

Thursday 29th August 2013
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mr sagman said:
I assume some of you guys use yours as a daily drive.. Is it likely to spoil the 'specialness' of the car, or does it turn even the daily commute into a blast.
I have test driven a M3 CS and was very impressed with it, But I feel that 6 months down the line I will be looking for the full fat version and will regret not getting one in the first place.
Have tried the search function but it doesn't appear to be working again, Just trying to work out if the car has any negatives as I cant recall ever reading anything negative about them other than you will get jaw ache from all the constant grinning whilst driving it.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
mate of mine ran one as a daily and he was fine with it
not my cuppa personally and yeah you would lose the special factor as with any car

Hedgetrimmer

570 posts

256 months

Friday 6th September 2013
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I ran mine as a daily driver for 18 months and it was great weight control device. I am 6'1 and 15 stone so not overly large but the seats were bordering on uncomfortable due to lack of width on the thigh bolsters. Also, I needed a bra on bumpy country lanes so I ended up loosing weight simply to remain comfortable in the car:-)

If I bought another one I would swap the seats to Recaro's as suggested and probably go for a softer Intracs suspension set up but ultimately this would add circa £5k to the cost of purchase and probably ruin the car.

As they say, try before you buy as not everyone gels with the car!