Little Ones & E46 M3 Cabrios
Discussion
I can't stop obsessing about E46 M3s in general and cabrios (with hardtops) in particular. The purchase price is now at a point that I can't really ignore (and yes, I've thoroughly researched the running costs, quirks & pitfalls! 
).
Anyway, to the point; I'm only a piddling 5'7" and SWMBO is only 5'4" and we're having our first child next month. I commute by train during the week & we have a small 4-door derv for mileage-munching, so any other car in the household would really only be for weekends/fun anyway (i.e. I think I've only done about 22k miles over the last four years).
I suppose the key question is, how did all of you current/previous E46 'vert owners get on with the day-to-day grind with such a car & how was space when trying to lug about the seemingly army-like levels of kit needed to mobilise a child?
If an E46 is a total no-goer, then it'll have to be an early B7 S4, but it's really the ///M that I want...
Thoughts?
).Anyway, to the point; I'm only a piddling 5'7" and SWMBO is only 5'4" and we're having our first child next month. I commute by train during the week & we have a small 4-door derv for mileage-munching, so any other car in the household would really only be for weekends/fun anyway (i.e. I think I've only done about 22k miles over the last four years).
I suppose the key question is, how did all of you current/previous E46 'vert owners get on with the day-to-day grind with such a car & how was space when trying to lug about the seemingly army-like levels of kit needed to mobilise a child?
If an E46 is a total no-goer, then it'll have to be an early B7 S4, but it's really the ///M that I want...
Thoughts?
Edited by FamilyDub on Thursday 20th September 16:04
Rear seats in the cabrio are fine for adults so no problem for small children.Rear legroom can become a bit of an issue if the people in the front have the seat pushed far back but if you are only 5'7 you will be fine.Getting in and out of the rear is also easy enough and easier still with the roof down.
The boot space is a bit smaller on the cabrio.With the canvas top up you can make the boot space slightly bigger but with the roof down or hardtop fitted boot space may be an issue for pushchairs/buggys etc.
Other than that they are a great car and fine for everyday use.
The boot space is a bit smaller on the cabrio.With the canvas top up you can make the boot space slightly bigger but with the roof down or hardtop fitted boot space may be an issue for pushchairs/buggys etc.
Other than that they are a great car and fine for everyday use.
I have not owned one but did look seriously at them. I also have an e46 estate and a 3 year old kid. Once the kid was in a forward facing car seat I have had no problems with most cars. I did find however that the rear facing child's seats for a new born can cause issues as the top of the child seat and the top of the driver/passenger seat back have a tendency to meet. This is exacerbated if you drive with your seat back at a fairly relaxed angle - it is far more of a problem than leg room and access will ever be. I am however 6'3"! You can always buy a smaller/cheaper pushchair for weekend car use (I did!). Incidentally you may find with a very small child in the back the roof will be up more than down - too cold/too sunny/too draughty etc.
Oh...........and the reason I didn't buy one was simply because I couldn't bear to be parted from my American V8's (although I have recently found myself looking at them again!
Oh...........and the reason I didn't buy one was simply because I couldn't bear to be parted from my American V8's (although I have recently found myself looking at them again!
Edited by Huffy on Thursday 20th September 15:57
Nedzilla said:
With the canvas top up you can make the boot space slightly bigger but with the roof down or hardtop fitted boot space may be an issue for pushchairs/buggys etc.
^^ I'm being told that it's an iCandy pram we've bought and that it folds over on itself twice and is therefore actually quite compact.Huffy said:
I am however 6'3"!
^^ I am nowhere near that, so it all seems that it comes down to boot space and buggy access.E46 M3 Cab is a great all rounder.We have had no problems taking our 3yr old and all our gear away on hols. The boot is surprisingly spaceous with the fold away roof container, a ski hatch and cleverly positioned lateral recesses to fit in long golf clubs properly - without damaging them.
My daughter wants the roof down all the time, whatever the weather, so she can use her mini windmill. It's too chilly now alas but when I'm on my own its roof down heaters on full blast - just a really nice place to be.
We use a Britax Duo Isofix but it can be a bugger to fit, so leave it to Mothercare
Buy a well cared for example and you will have no regrets. They really are fantastic.
My daughter wants the roof down all the time, whatever the weather, so she can use her mini windmill. It's too chilly now alas but when I'm on my own its roof down heaters on full blast - just a really nice place to be.
We use a Britax Duo Isofix but it can be a bugger to fit, so leave it to Mothercare
Buy a well cared for example and you will have no regrets. They really are fantastic.
1 kid was no problem with an e46, when the second 1 came along we still managed easily day to day but those weekend breaks were entirely different. This was my solution ha ha, I got a bit of abuse but who cares its only on a couple of days out of the year. Obviously you ain't getting a box on a cab but if you got the coupe and you don't take yourself too seriously you could look as cool as me!?
CDM3 said:
1 kid was no problem with an e46, when the second 1 came along we still managed easily day to day but those weekend breaks were entirely different. This was my solution ha ha, I got a bit of abuse but who cares its only on a couple of days out of the year. Obviously you ain't getting a box on a cab but if you got the coupe and you don't take yourself too seriously you could look as cool as me!?
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