Coupe ownership.......is this normal????
- Thread starter TOMGREEN413
- Start date
Sold my E86 this year and bought an E85. Aside from the fact that side by side they are very similar and one was less than half the price of the other, I do prefer the E85.
The Coupe was a gorgeous looking car, but definitely you can see that the roof and boot were added to the E85 shape rather than the whole car conceived from scratch. The haunches on the E85 look the part with the roof down, muscular wide stanced etc. Whereas with the Coupe the boot is narrow and doesnt for me quite sit right. All a matter of degrees really, both cars are gorgeous.
In terms of ownership, I preferred the E86 for the rarity and looks I got, not many about. But for the driving experience overall definitely the E85. I understand of course the rigidity difference the E86 has, but Im 99% of the time not testing the chassis on the E85 to a point where that extra is noticeable. And you just cant beat roof down motoring, it really is such a huge extra layer of experience on top, and the noise bonus as well. I used to drive my VX220 in winter with the roof off and that had hard seats and no heaters, so roof down motoring in the leather heated seated E85 will be much easier to live with, and like all my cars, I drive them all year round.
The Coupe was a gorgeous looking car, but definitely you can see that the roof and boot were added to the E85 shape rather than the whole car conceived from scratch. The haunches on the E85 look the part with the roof down, muscular wide stanced etc. Whereas with the Coupe the boot is narrow and doesnt for me quite sit right. All a matter of degrees really, both cars are gorgeous.
In terms of ownership, I preferred the E86 for the rarity and looks I got, not many about. But for the driving experience overall definitely the E85. I understand of course the rigidity difference the E86 has, but Im 99% of the time not testing the chassis on the E85 to a point where that extra is noticeable. And you just cant beat roof down motoring, it really is such a huge extra layer of experience on top, and the noise bonus as well. I used to drive my VX220 in winter with the roof off and that had hard seats and no heaters, so roof down motoring in the leather heated seated E85 will be much easier to live with, and like all my cars, I drive them all year round.
I bought my E85 way back in 2007 when it was just 3 years old. I sold it to a fellow forum member, who I believe, sold it on again to another member.....I'd be interested to hear if it's still around. NU54 MMV.
I bought my E86 from a fellow forum member as a weekend car. The Z4 was already under my skin but I'd never owned a coupe. So far I'm loving it, but I didn't buy it to sell on or just to have for a few months. I don't really have a plan but right now, I've no intention of selling it.
I did pick it up for a really good price, and they're now advertised a couple of thousand more than I paid, although I didn't buy it to make money.
I bought my E86 from a fellow forum member as a weekend car. The Z4 was already under my skin but I'd never owned a coupe. So far I'm loving it, but I didn't buy it to sell on or just to have for a few months. I don't really have a plan but right now, I've no intention of selling it.
I did pick it up for a really good price, and they're now advertised a couple of thousand more than I paid, although I didn't buy it to make money.
A lot of truth in what Tom has said above, both on the comparison between si and M, and the roadster as a proposition in comparison to the coupe.
My entry into coupe ownership is a little different as I bought a Cat D repaired car as it was literally what I could afford at the time. I do tend to keep my cars a long time anyway, but the si still has the record - kept it for 5 years, did 60k miles and a load of trackdays in it. I still remember picking it up - I simply couldn't believe that I owned such a beautiful car (in my eyes at least). I still have very fond memories and would 100% own an Si coupe again if the opportunity arose.
I did always have an itch for an M Coupe, and finally got mine after 5 years of si ownership - I moved house and found myself with a garage in which to keep a weekend toy. I don't think I'd have been able to justify the man maths required to get an M if I was dailying it, but yeah never stopped me wanting one!
I completely agree with Tom when he said the Si Coupe is 80% of the car for less than 50% the buying and running costs - it's absolutely true. Even discounting the bork factor of the S54 (rod bearings, vanos, cams and follower wear etc), the servicing and parts costs are much higher than the si, and in my opinion aside from the noise and the additional power, it's actually quite a difficult one to justify on paper the extra costs for the experience you get on the road most of the time. On longer journeys in the M (I'll whisper this) I actually miss my old Si - it had by FAR the better road manners, it was softer comfier and the engine was more tractable, albeit at the cost of the fireworks at the top end with the S54 in the M.
I'll hold my hand up in saying I've never done the roadster thing, but having recently been passenger in my mates boxster with the roof down, I have started to understand the appeal of open top motoring. To me the driving dynamics have always been most important, as well as the looks (sorry but to my eye at least the Coupe is miles better looking than the Roadie!), but can absolutely understand (and would appreciate myself) the enjoyment to be derived from chucking the roof down and going for a drive in the sunshine on a scenic road etc. I'm sure one day I'll cave and get a Roadie, but it will never replace the Coupe, that would always have to stay!
I do find the comments regarding the Coupe cabin being claustrophobic interesting - my si coupe had red leather which I rather liked in a silver car - the M has black with the carbon leather effect trim, and black bucket seats etc - sure it's a bit 'black on black on black' in there, but I really like how snug the cabin feels - feels like you're an actual part of the car which to me is part of the appeal!
Anyway, enough witterings from me, glad you're enjoying the car OP, glad it's got under your skin as it has with so many of us - hope you have many enjoyable miles to come in yours!!
I'll leave you with a pic of mine from Donington in April - how can anyone not love that shape eh?!
My entry into coupe ownership is a little different as I bought a Cat D repaired car as it was literally what I could afford at the time. I do tend to keep my cars a long time anyway, but the si still has the record - kept it for 5 years, did 60k miles and a load of trackdays in it. I still remember picking it up - I simply couldn't believe that I owned such a beautiful car (in my eyes at least). I still have very fond memories and would 100% own an Si coupe again if the opportunity arose.
I did always have an itch for an M Coupe, and finally got mine after 5 years of si ownership - I moved house and found myself with a garage in which to keep a weekend toy. I don't think I'd have been able to justify the man maths required to get an M if I was dailying it, but yeah never stopped me wanting one!
I completely agree with Tom when he said the Si Coupe is 80% of the car for less than 50% the buying and running costs - it's absolutely true. Even discounting the bork factor of the S54 (rod bearings, vanos, cams and follower wear etc), the servicing and parts costs are much higher than the si, and in my opinion aside from the noise and the additional power, it's actually quite a difficult one to justify on paper the extra costs for the experience you get on the road most of the time. On longer journeys in the M (I'll whisper this) I actually miss my old Si - it had by FAR the better road manners, it was softer comfier and the engine was more tractable, albeit at the cost of the fireworks at the top end with the S54 in the M.
I'll hold my hand up in saying I've never done the roadster thing, but having recently been passenger in my mates boxster with the roof down, I have started to understand the appeal of open top motoring. To me the driving dynamics have always been most important, as well as the looks (sorry but to my eye at least the Coupe is miles better looking than the Roadie!), but can absolutely understand (and would appreciate myself) the enjoyment to be derived from chucking the roof down and going for a drive in the sunshine on a scenic road etc. I'm sure one day I'll cave and get a Roadie, but it will never replace the Coupe, that would always have to stay!
I do find the comments regarding the Coupe cabin being claustrophobic interesting - my si coupe had red leather which I rather liked in a silver car - the M has black with the carbon leather effect trim, and black bucket seats etc - sure it's a bit 'black on black on black' in there, but I really like how snug the cabin feels - feels like you're an actual part of the car which to me is part of the appeal!
Anyway, enough witterings from me, glad you're enjoying the car OP, glad it's got under your skin as it has with so many of us - hope you have many enjoyable miles to come in yours!!
I'll leave you with a pic of mine from Donington in April - how can anyone not love that shape eh?!
After over 5 years of 3.0Si Coupe ownership I just felt the MC was an itch I had to scratch so when I saw mine advertised for a price I could just about afford I bought it. I'd turned 60 that year so I thought it was then or never!
But I'd agree with what Tom and Ed have said - the 3.0Si is 80% of the car for 50% of the money. But if it's in budget that extra 20% is just fantastic and the M will always be worth more when you finally come to sell.
But I'd agree with what Tom and Ed have said - the 3.0Si is 80% of the car for 50% of the money. But if it's in budget that extra 20% is just fantastic and the M will always be worth more when you finally come to sell.
We've had our E86 for 13 years now. It hasn't seen much use in that but we've never had a good enough reason to sell it.
Wifey has had a couple of rag-tops (Mini & 2-Series) in that time but in the end they just became a pain, although the climate here in the West of Scotland didn't help!
Wifey has had a couple of rag-tops (Mini & 2-Series) in that time but in the end they just became a pain, although the climate here in the West of Scotland didn't help!
It's really interesting to hear owners comments from "both sides of the coin " this thread could be a threat to my e86 as the joys of e85 ownership seems very inviting.. 
TOMGREEN413 said:It's really interesting to hear owners comments from "both sides of the coin " this thread could be a threat to my e86 as the joys of e85 ownership seems very inviting..
I've only had my E86 a few months, but I did have an E85 pre facelift about 15 years ago.
As much as I love the coupe, if and when I get rid of it, I'd be very tempted by a late E85. Thankfully they're generally cheaper than E86 so it shouldn't be a difficult swap.
Interesting thoughts, I think if we didn't already have the e89 I'd be tempted by a late 3.0si sport e85 which is what I originally had planned to by until I started searching the classified cars and was re introduced to the Coupe, a car l though was stunning when they first came out but due to rarely being seen had forgotten about them.