Convince me not to buy an M3 Touring
Discussion
Light hearted thread (on a Sunday evening).
I currently own two cars, an LC500 (Lexus) and an M240i. I'm thinking of replacing both with an M3 Touring.
Pros - Less car 'tax', insurance, maintenance, more practical, 4wd (all year usability), good for camping (which I enjoy) practicality
Cons - Not as special, doesn't sound great, too fast (?), depreciation (as they seem to be dropping quite fast)
So, good idea, or bad idea?
I currently own two cars, an LC500 (Lexus) and an M240i. I'm thinking of replacing both with an M3 Touring.
Pros - Less car 'tax', insurance, maintenance, more practical, 4wd (all year usability), good for camping (which I enjoy) practicality
Cons - Not as special, doesn't sound great, too fast (?), depreciation (as they seem to be dropping quite fast)
So, good idea, or bad idea?
t, sound muted, and are pretty numb below 8/10s. Despite this, it’s definitely on my radar once they’ve depreciated some more 
LC500 - The M3 doesn't look nearly as good, nor sound it. The Lexus will likely not give you any trouble and you'll get up to 10 years warranty if you keep looking after it at the dealership. There's never going to be anything remotely like it ever again, the large coupe is a dead genre unless you're in the realm of Conti GT's and Wraiths. Not to mention an N/A V8...
M240i - Easily modifiable, potential for a "track weapon" if you wanted to dedicate it to being a fun car. You can likely get it to handle as well as the M3 with some aftermarket love and a session of cornerweighting and alignment. Still a turbo 6 cylinder, with a good noise and great power delivery. Less worry about getting it wrong and writing off your only car.
M240i - Easily modifiable, potential for a "track weapon" if you wanted to dedicate it to being a fun car. You can likely get it to handle as well as the M3 with some aftermarket love and a session of cornerweighting and alignment. Still a turbo 6 cylinder, with a good noise and great power delivery. Less worry about getting it wrong and writing off your only car.
I’m going to put it out there as I think it’s a good compromise but, as you obviously enjoy the V8 in the Lexus, have you considered an F-Pace SVR? Quite an event even at mundane tootling speeds due to the supercharged V8 and ‘chainsaw’ gearshifts. Handles nicely, great interior on the facelift, super practical and are now getting pretty cheap. They’re like an oversized, overpowered hot hatch.
Sure, the M3 will beat it on the limits but for road driving it’s more than you’d ever need with an hilarious soundtrack.
Edit: I should probably add that I’ve done the combined fun and daily route (with the SVR) and I’d always look to run two cars where possible.
Sure, the M3 will beat it on the limits but for road driving it’s more than you’d ever need with an hilarious soundtrack.
Edit: I should probably add that I’ve done the combined fun and daily route (with the SVR) and I’d always look to run two cars where possible.
Edited by Crumpet on Sunday 2nd February 19:34
Every time you look at it you will miss the lexus.
The m3 is revolting to look at.
Question is why m3 touring. Do you need the extra space?
Re read your op. I would sell the 240i and buy an older estate. Something like a c63 ect.
Probem is as good as the m3 touring is its not a nimble coupe like the 240i and not a magnificent looking GT car like the lc500
The m3 is revolting to look at.
Question is why m3 touring. Do you need the extra space?
Re read your op. I would sell the 240i and buy an older estate. Something like a c63 ect.
Probem is as good as the m3 touring is its not a nimble coupe like the 240i and not a magnificent looking GT car like the lc500
Edited by sam.rog on Sunday 2nd February 20:25
msportpanda said:
LC500 - The M3 doesn't look nearly as good, nor sound it. The Lexus will likely not give you any trouble and you'll get up to 10 years warranty if you keep looking after it at the dealership. There's never going to be anything remotely like it ever again, the large coupe is a dead genre unless you're in the realm of Conti GT's and Wraiths. Not to mention an N/A V8...
M240i - Easily modifiable, potential for a "track weapon" if you wanted to dedicate it to being a fun car. You can likely get it to handle as well as the M3 with some aftermarket love and a session of cornerweighting and alignment. Still a turbo 6 cylinder, with a good noise and great power delivery. Less worry about getting it wrong and writing off your only car.
Great! This isn't supposed to be the convince me to buy LC500 thread, *grumbles and opens the classifieds*M240i - Easily modifiable, potential for a "track weapon" if you wanted to dedicate it to being a fun car. You can likely get it to handle as well as the M3 with some aftermarket love and a session of cornerweighting and alignment. Still a turbo 6 cylinder, with a good noise and great power delivery. Less worry about getting it wrong and writing off your only car.
I think the M ethos doesn't really suit an estate (for me) that nuggety ride and eager reactions seem at odds with a 5 seat family holdall if that's how you will use it and if you don't then why drive around with the extra weight and bodywork.
I think an Alpina B3 would do the job of a fast estate better as would an RS4 or 6 they are softer and have a gait more suited to that job, but that doesn't mean the OP won't love it though.
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