Is it worth it?

[Dr_Rick]

So, I’m in an enviable position of “needing” to change my car. Currently running an S3 with a Stage 1 Revo tune, but the ride is too hard for my son, who gets car sick on bumpy Edinburgh roads. My wife has suggested getting something interesting, which is nice.

My choices so far include:
- m240i, plus a JB4, and keeping some cash in the bank
- M4, which is about £10k more than the above, and a bit bigger obviously
- Go back to Lotus, and get something like an a Exige S at the same price point as the M4

Now, running parameters include:
- Daily driver
- 12000 miles a year, ish
- Garaged
- Scottish weather
- 2 kids, but mainly one being driver at a time, occasionally. Usually my commuter car only.

I can talk myself into and out of each option. I know I’m likely to get “biased” responses here, but I’m after a view of tuned m240i vs M4 really. I did have an Elise S which I ran from new and did about 16k in its first year, and an Evora more recently, so I’m not totally guessing with Lotus, and that was in Scotland too.

Any thoughts?

[Welshbeef]

Why not change the suspension in your current car so it is adjustable therefore “comfort” when the boys in the same and whatever you want when you drive it.


Also you say M235i but add on JB4 ?? Why not stick to a standard car first that meets requirements instead of already considering modifications which will ruin its resale value.

[Dr_Rick]

Welshbeef said:

Why not change the suspension in your current car so it is adjustable therefore “comfort” when the boys in the same and whatever you want when you drive it.


Also you say M235i but add on JB4 ?? Why not stick to a standard car first that meets requirements instead of already considering modifications which will ruin its resale value.

Both valid points.

I recently drove an m240i, and the power levels were good, the ride competent and the quality certainly a league on from my 2009 S3. I was just pleasantly surprised at the bang for the buck options with the likes of JB4. My only issue with the m240i, is the lack of drama; I do like cars that are a bit of an “event”.

I think saying it’ll ruin resale value is a bit strong, isn’t it.

[Welshbeef]

Possibly but the market for modified cars is tiny relevant to standard cars

[Zarco]

Very generous letting your kids drive your cars.

[Dr_Rick]

Doh, iPad autocorrect!

Need to get out in an M4 really. The local dealers don’t seem to have a demo to hand.

[Welshbeef]

Dr_Rick said:

Doh, iPad autocorrect!

Need to get out in an M4 really. The local dealers don’t seem to have a demo to hand.

Because it’s an old model

They will have M5 CP but no chance now will they have an M4 demo at the end of its production life

[mike74]

Surely an Exige s would be far more uncomfortable and vomit inducing than an s3 for a car sick kid?

[Welshbeef]

mike74 said:

Surely an Exige s would be far more uncomfortable and vomit inducing than an s3 for a car sick kid?

Sounds like he needs a family car but with a big motor

[E-bmw]

Call me picky if you like but isn't car sickness caused by basically differences between the visual and balance functions in the brain.

Changing suspension in a car isn't going to help.

Sat in the back seat of a car the visual part of the brain feels movement but the only movement that the eyes see is the peripheral whizzing by at speed..... Confusion - sickness.

Sat in the front & reading is supposed to be just as bad, as is concentrating on tablet etc while watching it.

He needs to be sat in front lifted to a position where he can see what is ahead as it approaches.

Having said that I would still ditch the audi!

[akirk]

Suspension makes a huge difference to car sickness - a jiggly ride means that the inner ear bits are having to continually adjust and can’t keep up = sickness

I would go bigger car as length dampens out the road, with a torquey engine which rides a wave of power rather than a more revvy engine or turbo based sudden power...

[Welshbeef]

A 997 Carrera S would be a good buy with the clamshell alloys

[E-bmw]

akirk said:

Suspension makes a huge difference to car sickness - a jiggly ride means that the inner ear bits are having to continually adjust and can’t keep up = sickness

I would go bigger car as length dampens out the road, with a torquey engine which rides a wave of power rather than a more revvy engine or turbo based sudden power...

I disagree as my son used to get car sick in the back of my 530 Sport, but never in the front of the same car on the same journey when set up as I said after consulting Dr who was an ENT specialist.

[akirk]

E-bmw said:

akirk said:

Suspension makes a huge difference to car sickness - a jiggly ride means that the inner ear bits are having to continually adjust and can’t keep up = sickness

I would go bigger car as length dampens out the road, with a torquey engine which rides a wave of power rather than a more revvy engine or turbo based sudden power...

I disagree as my son used to get car sick in the back of my 530 Sport, but never in the front of the same car on the same journey when set up as I said after consulting Dr who was an ENT specialist.

we can’t generalise like that, the reality is that children can get car sick for many reasons, front seat and what you view def. helps, but equally for many children suspension can make a difference - very jiggly suspension can make me car sick regardless of where I sit in the car... equally, flow and temperature of air, cabin fell or space, even the smells from plastics can all make children car sick, as can many other factors

[Welshbeef]

Phennigan is what we use with one of our children they used to vomit even if it was half a mile (or could).
Flipside is it knocks them out so they are tired/grumpy later on.

You can do the Same for flights - dose is crucial though.



Also drive slower and smoother - I don’t drive quickly at all with kids in the cars and only if an emergency do I brake hard

[thatsprettyshady]

I had a new Z4 M40i for the day a couple of weeks ago, it had adaptive dampers and rode very well when in comfort mode. Went very well too.

[Dr_Rick]

Welshbeef said:

Sounds like he needs a family car but with a big motor

Been there, done that: had a Lexus ISF with the 5.0 V8. Bit too thuggish, and "controlled".

Will take on board the comments on the immediate jump to a JB4.

However, will also have a test of a vanilla M4 to see what's what.

1. zenlikestate
2. canseethewayforward

[BFleming]

Welshbeef said:

Phennigan is what we use with one of our children they used to vomit even if it was half a mile (or could).
Flipside is it knocks them out so they are tired/grumpy later on.

This takes me back 17 years or so; a neighbour's 2 year old had trouble sleeping etc, so a chemist recommended Phennigan; night 1 & the kid had the best night's sleep ever - and so did the parents. night 2 the same, etc etc. Eventually the dad thought he would try it to see what the effects were, and took what he considered to be an adult size dose. He awoke in the morning with what he described as the worst hangover ever - and never allowed his son to have any again. It's powerful stuff. Night nurse for kids.
Anyhow, as others have said, depending on the kids' age, put them somewhere they can see the road ahead, in a nice light airy environment. The 'drama' from a loud exhaust - or plenty of hard acceleration & braking - or cabin heat - won't help at all. But all of your suggestions above don't fall into any of those categories - particularly the Lotus, that's laughable.
You don't say what your other cars are available at home - assuming any. But it does sound like you need to think of the family & buy a family car. Just buy one with enough poke for those times you're in the car on your own, but enough comfort for when you're not.

[Dr_Rick]

Alright people, back in your boxes....

I've had Lotus' / Loti before so it's not a completely irrational concept to revisit them, especially as we have a RRS as the family wagon. However, plans for an interesting car in the next couple of years means I'm discounting the Lotus stable for a next daily driver.

I drove a standard M4, and think I'll be heading down that route as it gives a little more space in the rear for the kids growing, and a boot I can get stuff into. Plus the longer wheelbase will suit the commute better than the shorter m240i.

So my only question is whether I need to look harder for an M3 for the 4dr option. The prices are holding up better than the M4, and the M3 does continue the lineage of the original M-cars.

Was really pleasantly surprised by the ride quality of the M4 over some really hideous scabby B-roads around Edinburgh.

The hunt begins...

[PorkInsider]

Regarding M3/4 prices holding up (or not), don't forget the M3 is already out of production, but will also be replaced sooner than the M4, so things will start to even out again in the next year or so.

Just worth bearing in mind as, if you pay considerably more for an F80 M3, you might find it falls quicker at some point.