Advice; keep the coupe or get an M Coupe...

Ed Doe

Ed Doe

Veteran
 Ashbourne or Frimley
Evening all,

Irrespective of the outcome of this debate I won't be in a position to make any change for 6months, but that doesn't stop the speculation, or indeed the hours of gazing longingly in the pistonheads classifieds!

Firstly a bit of background; I'm 25, plenty of ncb, and I probably do about 17,000 miles a year.

In April I purchased a 3.0si Sport Coupe, which I have slightly fallen in love with. It's a gorgeous thing to look at, even though it's a little tatty at the front end (stone chips and a dim-witted pheasant have had their way with the bumper and grille!), and I love driving it. I'm hoping to spend a bit on it in spring 2015 to refresh the suspension (powerflex rtabs, Bilsteins and eibachs, new wishbones with polybushes, new droplinks, new top mounts front and rear, and likely some of the other bushes too), but in my mind I keep coming back to the idea of owning an M....

Half of me says keep the coupe, enjoy it for what it is, muck about with the suspension and make it mine. Own it for a few years, really get to know how to drive it and tune the suspension and geometry to make it drive as I want it to.


The other half of my brain says wait until spring, see how the financials lie at that point, and then instead of tarting the coupe up, put all the money together and get an M whilst they don't cost a fortune....

I know in the long run I'd want to bilstein and Eibach an M if I got one anyway but again that could happen later in the ownership experience.

So what's the general consensus? Should I stick with the car I've already grown to love and make it mine, or should I throw common sense to the winds and plump for an M and deal with the potential significant additional running costs of putting higher mileage on an M car?


Thoughts greatly appreciated; I'm sure my position is not unique, and I'm sure many have taken the plunge into M ownership; how has it been?!


Thanks in advance!

Ed
 
I was similar to you Ed in the fact I had the si, although I'd pined for the MC since it came out whilst I was still at uni.

There are a few owners your way, see if you can go out and get a ride in one?

They really are a totally different car. The 3.0si is a brilliant car, and I miss mine! It is such a smooth easy car to drive in, and so flexible performance vs economy as you will know.

The M is much more raw, feels more hard work and certainly is nowhere near as relaxing in traffic / slow city driving. On the motorway however I find it absolutely fine.

With that sort of mileage, you just need yo make sure you can justify a big service Inc comparison to the 3.0si nearly every year! Factor in fuel, tyres etc etc that all work out that bit more. If that's all done by the time you're ready, and you don't mind putting some effort and thought into daily driving then they are awesome. I'd love to drive mine every day!!!!
 
Ed

Whilst obviously not the coupe, I am very happy for us to meet up and if you're insured to drive mine, then you're very welcome to see how it feels. Best hope that it's dry - one certainly doesn't want to lean on the loud pedal with the sport button depressed in the wet!

You have my have my number of you want to text or PM me.

Rick
 
Thanks for the responses guys, much appreciated.

Tom; this is the thing, I can't justify it as a second car, I'd get too frustrated at not being able to drive it daily! The problem is as you say the significant increase in running costs as a consequence. I'll have to dwell on it longer. The biggest surprise in my research so far was actually how reasonable the insurance quote was. But then stuff like the cost of a full brake service is significant to say the least! Servicing (even inspection 2s) seem fairly reasonable wit TWG automotive in Camberley, whom I believe a few members already use. I suppose my greatest concern would be an unforseen pproblem leaving me with a big bill; I can plan for the running costs pretty easily...


Rick if you didn't mind that would be ace! I'll look into getting day insurance in spring next year (in the hope we'll have some dry decent weather by then!). I'd greatly appreciate the chance to drive yours :) you're more than wwelcometo have a go in the coupe too if you want; you can see what you're missing :P
 
Yes those are the things that can catch you out ... Brake overhauls are pretty steep, as are any big bits that might happen to go! But you really could say that about anything.

I could drive mine everyday, but as past pin up of mine my aim is to try and keep it ... And so I don't want to destroy it totally so early in ownership, if that makes sense at all.

Def take rick up on the kind offer. But unfortunately, or fortunately, I think it will only seal the deal in your mind in view of wanting one even more :-D
 
Z4M-2006 said:
You do know your gonna get one dont you?

You have sown the seed in your mind... :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Agreed - you're 3/4 of the way there, just looking for final validation from all of us :lol:

Many people don't want an M and take on the associated costs, especially with high miles going on. Others can't afford one, and still others are simply happy with what they have.

I do about 13-15k a year in my car - about 9-10k of which is 'ordinary' driving and commuting. I've always wanted an M car ; once I had a Z and spent some time on here I had to have a ZM at some point. Fortunately the perfect car came up - I didn't need a new one, my 3.0Si was much friendlier in traffic, certainly fast enough and definitely mine because of what I'd do rep to it - very similar to Tom. But it needed to be done so I did it. I've gotten used to the quirks now, mostly, and don't really find it a chore to drive in traffic unless it's really really bad. And when you get out of the traffic, well then... :driving:

I've had to start taking a slightly more grown up view to having money tucked away than I have done in the past, or would necessarily like to, in anticipation of higher service bills in the future. Not a bad habit anyway just in case it's needed for something else that's not car related. On the plus side, having to ensure there's no skimping on the fuel I put in means I'll have a great set of Lego kits within a few weeks :oops:

If you can find one that's just had an Insp 1 and has an interval oil service coming up next in 10/15k miles or so then you'll be buffered from the Insp 2 costs for nearly a couple of years or 30k miles, plenty time to save the £900 or so you might need. If you can accept that a set of tyres will cost you £800 and pads and discs all round, fitted, could be more, then just do it.

I know that if I hadn't bought one then I'd be regretting it - I love driving it every day because there's a distinct difference between weekdays and weekends, but it's always awesome.
 
I've had a 3.0i roady, and now have my coupe.

The 3.2 S54 engine has a lot character. The car is not as compliant to live with on a day to day basis as my old 3.0i. Clutch is more savage, breaks are harsher, 1st to 2nd gear is not as smooth etc etc. All of these traits are a PITA, but to be honest, I love each and every one of them. Wouldn't have it any other way. That said, my zed is a weekend toy. I use SMWBOs car for the daily trips to the shops, gym, restaurants etc etc.

You're doing 17k miles a year. So after just 2 years, you'll have added more than the total mileage of some 'low mileage' examples. Which is something to think about on resale value. Also, on 17k a year that'll be at least an oil service each year, and the more expensive 'inspection' service every other year.

On 17k a year, of the options you've mentioned, I'd stick with your existing coupe.

OR..... sell your coupe, get an M for the weekends, and buy a cheap shed to take the 17k miles a year :thumbsup:
 
as good as the 3'0 is , it is a different league to the M. delivered a piano last month to a guy with a 3.0 he fired it up to go back to work and it sounded ,well, like a normal car, it just didnt have the presence of the M. I am not saying it may not be a better buy if you are doing 17k pa, they all say the 3.0 is easier to live with as a daily driver,but if you want sense of occasion then its the M by a Mile. later , twenty years down the line its the M that will be the desirable one with the highest value, just look at the price of an LT1 corvette compared to an L82 of the same year. :) :driving:
 
I'd echo everything adamski has said. Get a cheap diesel and you will be able to run it on what you fuel would cost for the ///M as a daily.

The longer you leave it the harder it will be to find one with decent mileage.
 
I think one of the most important factors in the cost of an M over the 3.0 is petrol.
I remember my 3.0si being pretty good on petrol, averaging well over 30mpg, 35mpg with mixed driving. Very useable.
The M on the other hand rinses petrol like no-ones business, it really goes through it, mostly because it's a car that loves being driven in that way. You'll do well to get over 25mpg average in my eyes. On the mileage you'll be doing, you'll definately notice the amount of times your filling up! I could only have mine as a second car, running day to day with the petrol costs would be too painful on the wallet! Plus I wouldn't want it to lose its charm driving it every day for tedious mileage, like a girlfriend absence makes the heart grow fonder :P
 
I do wonder what I'd do if I needed a car to commute again. Probably buy a diesel Golf or something like that.
 
...that said, personally I claim private mileage rates on mine for business travel, so that more than covers the cost of V-Power + higher fuel consumption on many of my miles.
 
Hi ed. I had the 3ltr se roadster and after a foray into a very expensive (to run) e92 m3, went to a z4mc.
Even though on paper, the stats don't appear to be massively different to the old 3ltr - the drive is totally different. Main thing is the hydraulic steering, which feels much heavier but in a good way. Power delivery and soundtrack (even with standard exhausts) is incredible.
I think the running costs have to be compartmentalised as even the 3ltr is more expensive than a sensible diesel. However, that's not why you bought a zed in the first place is it? Consider smiles per hour and not mph!
The fact that you've considered it is enough. You now have an itch that needs scratching - scratch away! :thumbsup:
 
My advice after being in your situation on more than a few occasions (!) is to go for it. If you can afford to run a second car too then the answer is simple. You'll find the trouble with planting the ///M seed firmly in mind is that it is an inevitable chain of events to get you there. How much back and forth deciding on whether to pull the trigger only extends the pain.

And once you own ///M it's very difficult to break off that love affair. Trust me!

Good luck :thumbsup:
 
For a driving experience it's a no brainer, costs, especially with doping 17k a year will be a fair bit different (7MPG less, extra servicing, tax, consumables....insurance should fairly similar).

You mention about wanting one before costs are crazy. Prices have stabilised on the M's, maybe even rise slightly at the right times of year, but I don't think they are going to experience any significant level of appreciation for a fair while yet.....E30 M3's they aint.

I had a similar conundrum to you and it actually worked out cheaper to run the ///M as a second car and run (although I already had one) a used diesel astra (1.7 CDTI....55mpg) for the commute.

With 17k a year I would guess that it'd definitely be cheaper to get a diesel hack for the commute and run the ///M for pure enjoyment. Ofcourse, if you can't stomach the thought of driving such an uninteresting commuter and don't mind serious calf cramps whilst stuck in traffic, stick with the ///M full time. :thumbsup:
 
17k a year mileage in an ///M would be painful. My daily commute is about 75 miles a day which is equal to about 17,000 a year...that's why I drive a diesel Golf 4 days out of five...70mpg average as opposed to 28-30mpg for the ///M on my commute.

You could do it, but after a while the running costs will start to hit home..having to fill up every 3-4 days....never mind the yearly £500 tax etc.

Also as others have said...it's not an easy drive at times.
No fun to be had driving home from work on a cold wet winter's evening when you're feeling tired, stuck in stop/start traffic and your left foot is in agony :cry:
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys, all very much appreciated!

From my perspective having had a 'weekend car' in the past, I would always prefer to run any car as a daily rather than save it for occasional use. In terms of ease of use as a daily, is the M really that different from the Si? I've had some fairly uncompromising dailies in my time (including a stripped, bucketed 306GTi6), and I've found the Si very pleasant to run even in comparison to the more sane commuters I've owned! Is the clutch really a lot heavier on the M?

I realise there is a wealth of knowledge on the subject already on the forum, but has anyone had any real shocker bills for problems which have cropped up during M ownership? From what I have read it appears the lambda sensors can go dickie which can be a little pricey, and there appears to be a throttle hesitancy issue, which seems to affect a number of regulars, with no apparent cure... Are clutches a regular thing? I've not read of any needing them thus far!

I've already got 224s, so tyre replacement costs I'm already familiar with, I was definitely expecting steeper servicing costs when I bought the Si, so the £280 inspection 2 was a very pleasant surprise back in October. The £540.00 inspection 2 cost with TWG Automotive in Camberley is perfectly agreeable also. Tax isn't really a massive problem, I can definitely find another £220 a year for that.... I'd already forecasted my fuel bills based on 25mpg, so again I think I'm more than catered for provided I'm not a complete goon with it....
I suppose all that's really left is to take a test drive (more as a formality), and then save up and buy one really.....!

Thoughts...?
 
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