[Del]

When I bought my 330i M Sport in 2006, I promised myself I’d buy a new M3 when I came to change it this year. I’ve only just looked at the spec of the new car and was a bit surprised. I expected the new M3 to have about 350bhp, not 420bhp. These new M cars are verging on supercar performance figures!

The problem is I can’t see it being feasible as an everyday car. My 330i does about 22 mpg, as most of our driving is in town ferrying the kids around. If the 330i combined mpg figure is 39.2 mpg and the M3's is 22.8, I’ve calculated that I’d get no more than 12 mpg out of the new M3. I tried the same calculation with the urban mpg figures and it didn’t get any better. Apart from the fuel costs, the range I would get from this car would be less than 170 miles! Have I got my figures right here?

I’ve also been looking at buying a 2 seater sports car as well and the fuel consumption figures for this 480 bhp car are not much different to the M3. The difference is I’d only be doing 4k miles a year in the sports car, not using it every day. Have BMW gone a bit too far with the new M3? I reckon there could be a lot of low mileage M3’s on the dealer’s forecourts in a year’s time.

[G33]

even the e46 m3 was verging on supercar figures....

[G33]

oh, welcome to the forum by the way!

[ChrisMWard]

I found the M3 to be a very usable everyday car, so totally civilised. However on my test drive, which was spent exploring the cars potential, the fuel consumption was only around the 12-13mpg mark.

In everyday driving (commuting) our old six cylinder M3 used to average around 18mpg.

Regards

Chris

[Yahoo]

Go for a 335i instead. It will match your 330i for mpg and can be remapped to similar bhp as an M3 for £700.

My commute to work consists of b-road stop start driving and I can get almost 30mpg from my 335i (almost 400 miles per tankfull).

I find it the perfect compromise.

[G33]

400 miles per tank?!? i dont think ive even had 300!

[Ted]

Having driven the M3 I can say that it is perfectly feasible to use as an everyday car. The question is can you, or do you want to, afford to use it as an everyday car as it will be thirsty.

Like you I am also considering a small two seater for occasional use and am beginning to think that something like a 535d may be better suited as the everyday car.

[red-max]

You might consider a 335d: 30+ mpg, if you can live with an auto. It's a very good auto, but still an auto.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Del

When I bought my 330i M Sport in 2006, I promised myself I’d buy a new M3 when I came to change it this year. I’ve only just looked at the spec of the new car and was a bit surprised. I expected the new M3 to have about 350bhp, not 420bhp. These new M cars are verging on supercar performance figures!

The problem is I can’t see it being feasible as an everyday car. My 330i does about 22 mpg, as most of our driving is in town ferrying the kids around. If the 330i combined mpg figure is 39.2 mpg and the M3's is 22.8, I’ve calculated that I’d get no more than 12 mpg out of the new M3. I tried the same calculation with the urban mpg figures and it didn’t get any better. Apart from the fuel costs, the range I would get from this car would be less than 170 miles! Have I got my figures right here?

I’ve also been looking at buying a 2 seater sports car as well and the fuel consumption figures for this 480 bhp car are not much different to the M3. The difference is I’d only be doing 4k miles a year in the sports car, not using it every day. Have BMW gone a bit too far with the new M3? I reckon there could be a lot of low mileage M3’s on the dealer’s forecourts in a year’s time.

Anyone paying £55K for a new M3 would presumably also have the money to put fuel into it.

The additional annual fuel cost for an M3 compared to a 335i on an annual milage of say 10,000 miles is significantly less of an issue than the difference in purchase price.

The M3 is perfectly feasible as an every day car, it just depends how much you are prepared to pay.

[Evil Diesel]

Originally Posted by red-max

You might consider a 335d: 30+ mpg, if you can live with an auto. It's a very good auto, but still an auto.

Unfortunatly when I last tanked up the range given on the dash was 252 miles.

[G33]

Originally Posted by Evil Diesel

Unfortunatly when I last tanked up the range given on the dash was 252 miles.

thats barely more than wat i get, if not the same!

[red-max]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Anyone paying £55K for a new M3 would presumably also have the money to put fuel into it.

The additional annual fuel cost for an M3 compared to a 335i on an annual milage of say 10,000 miles is significantly less of an issue than the difference in purchase price.

The M3 is perfectly feasible as an every day car, it just depends how much you are prepared to pay.

Well, yes, but if you do 18K miles, then you've got the cost/depreciation plus the additional fuel costs. It also depends whether you're happy to keep stopping for fuel every 200 miles. In my heart I would prefer a manual 335i (or M3), but I went for the 335d mainly due to the 500 mile range.

I am also concerened that with the rising cost of fuel, gas guzzlers may become increasingly difficult to sell (hitting the future resale value) ... but perhaps a lease purchase / MGFV deal could be used to take the risk out of that?

[Del]

Originally Posted by red-max

You might consider a 335d: 30+ mpg, if you can live with an auto. It's a very good auto, but still an auto.

I can't bring myself to buy a diesel and couldn't trust the wife not to put petrol in it

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Anyone paying £55K for a new M3 would presumably also have the money to put fuel into it.

The additional annual fuel cost for an M3 compared to a 335i on an annual milage of say 10,000 miles is significantly less of an issue than the difference in purchase price.

The M3 is perfectly feasible as an every day car, it just depends how much you are prepared to pay.

The thing is I'm a tight git and I don't mind paying out for expensive cars, but I'm not so keen on paying for maintenance/repairs or fuel. Am I alone here? This is why I like to drive warrantied cars and 22mpg is about my limit for an everyday car.

I suppose I could go for an old style M3 with a bit of warranty on it or as suggested, a new 335i as a compromise. My wife likes the 335i convertible, but at around £48k with options I think it's poor value and poorly positioned against the new M3 pricewise. Failing that I could always move to the states where gas is cheaper than water

I'm looking at buying a nearly new Ferrari F430 in the spring. So I shouldn't be too worried about the spec of the BMW, but the fact is I will be driving the BMW for the majority of the time.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by red-max

Well, yes, but if you do 18K miles, then you've got the cost/depreciation plus the additional fuel costs. It also depends whether you're happy to keep stopping for fuel every 200 miles. In my heart I would prefer a manual 335i (or M3), but I went for the 335d mainly due to the 500 mile range.

I am also concerened that with the rising cost of fuel, gas guzzlers may become increasingly difficult to sell (hitting the future resale value) ... but perhaps a lease purchase / MGFV deal could be used to take the risk out of that?

Even if you base it on 20,000 miles per annum, the fuel is not as big an issue as most people 'feel' it to be.

20,000 miles at 30 mpg and £4.76 a gallon = £ 3,173.30 per year
20,000 miles at 20 mpg and £4.76 a gallon = £ 4,760.00 per year

So the difference in fuel cost between an M3 and a 335d is £ 1587. For an 'average' 10K mileage the difference is £794 a year. Small change for someone who can afford to buy a £50k car in the first place.

335d coupe is £ 36K and an M3 is £ 50K - so £14k difference in purchase costs. That still seems a bigger issue to me than the fuel consumption.

I think you are right that 'gas guzzlers' (awful term) will become harder to sell in the next 5 years though. Bearing in mind that many major UK companies are planning to go 'carbon neutral' by 2012 (e.g sainsbury's, marks and spencer etc.. ), you can expect there to be even more focus on CO2 emissions from cars in 4 years time.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Del

The thing is I'm a tight git and I don't mind paying out for expensive cars, but I'm not so keen on paying for maintenance/repairs or fuel. Am I alone here? This is why I like to drive warrantied cars and 22mpg is about my limit for an everyday car.

I suppose I could go for an old style M3 with a bit of warranty on it or as suggested, a new 335i as a compromise. My wife likes the 335i converible, but at around £48k with options I think it's poor value and poorly positioned against the new M3 pricewise. Failing that I could always move to the states where gas is cheaper than water

I'm looking at buying a nearly new Ferrari F430 in the spring. So I shouldn't be too worried about the spec of the BMW, but the fact is I will be driving the BMW for the majority of the time.

Nobody ENJOYS paying for petrol

With the best will in the world though you pay your money and take your choice.

On the one hand you are talking about buying a Ferrari and on the other you are saying you are concerned about having to stump up an extra £1500 to put petrol in an M3.

[Ted]

Originally Posted by Del

I can't bring myself to buy a diesel and couldn't trust the wife not to put petrol in it

I'm pretty sure the BMW diesels have a fuel filler that won't accept an unleaded nozzle.

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Nobody ENJOYS paying for petrol

With the best will in the world though you pay your money and take your choice.

On the one hand you are talking about buying a Ferrari and on the other you are saying you are concerned about having to stump up an extra £1500 to put petrol in an M3.

ERRRM F430 for spring,but bothered about 4mpg difference,as has already been said

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by Yahoo

Go for a 335i instead. It will match your 330i for mpg and can be remapped to similar bhp as an M3 for £700.

My commute to work consists of b-road stop start driving and I can get almost 30mpg from my 335i (almost 400 miles per tankfull).

I find it the perfect compromise.

Stop being SILLY

[Serjames]

Originally Posted by Del

My wife likes the 335i convertible, but at around £48k with options I think it's poor value and poorly positioned against the new M3 pricewise.

lol I LOVE my 335i e93 Convert... It's the best car I've ever driven for value terms..

Converts, great stereo, Comfy, looks unusual (i.e. different!), Has a sublime engine from stock and with the bits I've added is easily quicker than a stock e46 m3, and will give an e92 M3 a real run for it's money.

When I've finished with it my target is 400 RWHP or about 470 - 500 BHP

Never be as light, quick or as good a handler as the coupe, but Pretty good value if you ask me !

SJ

P.s. I get 30 + mpg on the motorway at 80 with the top down. (in germany of course!)

p.p.s try and get a test drive in the 335d I think you might be pleasantly surprised !

[Del]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Even if you base it on 20,000 miles per annum, the fuel is not as big an issue as most people 'feel' it to be.

You're right, I needed to look at the figures as it's not as bad as I first thought. We only do about 10k in our main car, so moving from a 330i to a 335i would cost just £635 extra per year and the M3 an extra £1800. The discount I negotiated on my 330 was more than both of these figures put together. The 335i looks like the favourite at the moment as the range of the M3 is just too low.

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I think you are right that 'gas guzzlers' (awful term) will become harder to sell in the next 5 years though. Bearing in mind that many major UK companies are planning to go 'carbon neutral' by 2012 (e.g sainsbury's, marks and spencer etc.. ), you can expect there to be even more focus on CO2 emissions from cars in 4 years time.

What concerns me is that these new M cars are so expensive now, they may be affected by the same issues that Lambo and Ferrari are having with poor residuals caused by the credit crunch. Although some reports I've read recently suggest the worst of it is over. And yes I am aware I'm going to take a big depreciation hit on the Ferrari, but I don't really see it as a motoring expense. This is more of a tick in the box for things I've always wanted to do/own.

[Del]

Originally Posted by Serjames

lol I LOVE my 335i e93 Convert... It's the best car I've ever driven for value terms..

Converts, great stereo, Comfy, looks unusual (i.e. different!), Has a sublime engine from stock and with the bits I've added is easily quicker than a stock e46 m3, and will give an e92 M3 a real run for it's money.

They have a black convertible on show at our local dealership and I must admit it is a gorgeous looking car. I just think BMW take the pee a bit with their pricing. I dread to think what they're going to ask for a new M3 convertible!

[jingle68]

My 'oil burner' returns at least 36 mpg & 480 miles per tank.