Baby forcing Kit Car Sale, Considering M3 E46 Convertible

Baby forcing Kit Car Sale, Considering M3 E46 Convertible

Author
Discussion

sailingsmith

Original Poster:

21 posts

250 months

Saturday 27th June 2015
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Evening all,

I'm after some advice as my wife wants be be able to join in with open top motoring, but as we have a 6 month old baby my Quantum Xtreme isn't doing the job (gutted).

I'm considering a few options, and will post in other sections about those.

One of my top 2 is an M3 E46 Convertible, I'm not sure if baby seat will fit OK, so that's the first question, has anyone had experience of this.

Also, if I go down this route, what things should I be looking out for, what to check, where are the problem areas, how to avoid a lemon etc.????

My other option is an Audi S4 (2004 ish), I'm sure there is a lot more love for BMW in this section, so will post about that over there, just wondering if there is anything else I should be considering apart from these two for fast family soft top motoring. Budget is up to £8K.

I want to go in with my eyes open so the more info the better.

Thanks everyone smile

Mark

Edited by sailingsmith on Saturday 27th June 23:03

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
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If you want "Go" get an M3 with a roof, if you want "Show" you may as well get s 330i convertible and save loads on running costs!

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
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If it has to be a cab then I'd get the S4.

Otherwise M3

Maxus

951 posts

180 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
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Mr Tidy said:
If you want "Go" get an M3 with a roof, if you want "Show" you may as well get s 330i convertible and save loads on running costs!
I get this and ended up with a 330 myself as I wanted a convertible. It is a great car and has been very economical to run. But I am forever looking at M3 convertibles in the classifieds and feel there is a bit more to them than outright speed - the looks and that engine. As good E46 M3's are becoming increasingly difficult to find I think it may turn out to be a decent investment as well.

sailingsmith

Original Poster:

21 posts

250 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
quotequote all
philmots said:
If it has to be a cab then I'd get the S4.

Otherwise M3
Yep, we have a 530D for the daily driver so want something for the good weather. Why do you say S4 over the M3?

sailingsmith

Original Poster:

21 posts

250 months

Sunday 28th June 2015
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Maxus said:
I get this and ended up with a 330 myself as I wanted a convertible. It is a great car and has been very economical to run. But I am forever looking at M3 convertibles in the classifieds and feel there is a bit more to them than outright speed - the looks and that engine. As good E46 M3's are becoming increasingly difficult to find I think it may turn out to be a decent investment as well.
How do you find the performance of the 330 (what age is yours)? I look at the numbers and the 0-60 isn't great, my kit car is less than 5 to sixty, but I appreciate mid range is key so what do you think of it? I will probably have to arrange a test drive.

Maxus

951 posts

180 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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sailingsmith said:
How do you find the performance of the 330 (what age is yours)? I look at the numbers and the 0-60 isn't great, my kit car is less than 5 to sixty, but I appreciate mid range is key so what do you think of it? I will probably have to arrange a test drive.
Mine is a 2003. You can see a pic in my garage. I think the "book" 0 - 60 is just under 7 seconds. If anywhere it is the mid range where I find it lacking. The engine comes alive over 4,000 rpm. Below this it isn't a slow car as such but I feel that you need to work at it if you want the most out of it. I will say that this isn't a hardship as the engine is silky smooth and makes great noises when pushing on.
I also consider that my day to day car is a 520d with the 8 speed auto. Whilst this wouldn't be described as a fast car as such you can drive it briskly without any effort. I would have to work pretty hard in the 330 to keep up with an enthusiastically driven modern 2.0d.
Don't get me wrong, it is a great car that I am unlikely to change but you don't buy it for the performance.

eliot

11,364 posts

253 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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If like all new mums they insist on buying the massive push chair combo monstrosity from mammas and pappas, then forget getting anything else apart from a fag paper in the boot - even more so with a convertable.

Once you realise all the people you see with those little mclaren foldup things are not poor trash but havr realised the massive buggy is a pain in the arse and best left in shed until you have got over the £500 expense and can face taking it down the tip (you wont sell it on ebay because all mums must have brand new kit)

Also you will want a four door as getting them in and out is also a pain in a coupe.

Basicly you need a 5 series to 'enjoy' the next 5-8 years of your life.


Mave

8,208 posts

214 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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I've got a 330i and a pair of 5 year olds, its OK (not great) for them now they're in booster seats but.... you need to make sure you can find a suitable seat for when they start facing forwards. The e46 has got fixed head restraints, the full back car seats we have from when our kids were younger won't fit because the head rests get in the way.

no effort

224 posts

178 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
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I think your biggest issue is getting a reverse seat to fit in the back of a convertible.
Any 2 door car is going to be a pain and I hope your partner is short.

Personally I think you'll be better waiting until your child can sit the right way. And as someone else has said you'll need space for buggies, food, spare clothes, a poo bag...etc


eliot

11,364 posts

253 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
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no effort said:
poo bag...etc
AKA "st kit"

Cheib

23,112 posts

174 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
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How tall are you and your wife OP ? If you and your wife are anything near 6ft you will have massive logistics issues. When your nipper gets a little bigger there's no way they can be in a car seat in the back and you can occupy the front seat comfortably. Your nose will be up against the windscreen....


anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
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eliot said:
If like all new mums they insist on buying the massive push chair combo monstrosity from mammas and pappas, then forget getting anything else apart from a fag paper in the boot - even more so with a convertable.

Once you realise all the people you see with those little mclaren foldup things are not poor trash but havr realised the massive buggy is a pain in the arse and best left in shed until you have got over the £500 expense and can face taking it down the tip (you wont sell it on ebay because all mums must have brand new kit)
Mammas and Pappas! This is Pistonheads don't forget, for the utmost bragging rights you need to pull the trigger on £875 of Bugaboo Chameleon. Obviously it is stupidly big and won't fit in the boot of the car, but you are an unfit parent if you can't afford one!

I do love the naivety of new parents when all the woman can talk about is what type of Bugaboo they are going to buy, especially as after 6 months they will dump it in the shed and get a fold up McLaren like the people they used to look down their nose at!

Anyway, I have an A4 convertable although my children are 6 and 8 and there is no way I would consider one with a baby. As has already been said, the boot is too small and you will soon get sick of having to lean in to strap the baby in. I take my children out in it now occasionally but I also have a Renault Scenic for longer journeys.

I am 6ft tall and when I have my children in the back of the car I have to move the seat forward as there is no legroom. Plus driving with the roof down with children in the back is a big no no as they will hate the wind noise and constantly complain about being cold.

I bought the Scenic when my Eldest was born and although it is a rubbish car from a drivers perspective, it is the perfect car from a parents perspective. As an only car there is no way I would have either an E46 or A4 convertable.






Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 1st July 04:41