[biscuits]

The M3 coup's days are numbered... plan is to have a family truck plus a weekend hack. What are peoples votes/views/experience on the following options ?

Family wagon: (all fully loaded spec, c£35k)

VW Toureg 3.0TDi Altitude
BMW X5/6 3.0sd Sport
Merc ML320/420 Sport
Range Rover Sport TDV8

Weekend Hack: (c£20k?)

Lotus Exige
Catherham R???
Honda S2000


I will obviously miss the M3, it's been a stonking car... but doing this will also help with plan B which includes Jetski's and other towable adrenalin !

Cheers

Paul

[willhollin]

I thought you were getting an X6M?

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by willhollin

I thought you were getting an X6M?

LOL.... I will..... when they are £40k

[e92_alex]

X6 or range rover and an Exige. I'd love an exige for some weekend fun.

[willhollin]

What about a lovely classic car?

[beemerbird]

For presence and class - RR

Reliabilty and possible residuals - X6

For the weekend - Caterham.

[Jude1]

Keep the M3 and buy a used Family Wagon (sub £20k) - that's what I did and ended up buying a Lexus RX, had it nearly a year and it's been fantastic.

Jules

[foxy-367]

X6

it'd be the RR for me all the way, have you considered a Landrover Disco?

I am quite partial to the Toerag though too

As for the weekend an Exige or have you thought about a TVR? 2003 Tuscan £1 under £20k

Wish I was in your boat!!!!

[SiKkBaSs]

If your going to get a wagon, get a Range and maintain baller status

[Cafe.Racer]

Toerag. Cracking motor.

[trixman]

I liked my rangie, although it did always feel on the edge of breaking down for some reason. Felt the interior was too cheap for a car of that supposed quality too. Still, couldn't fault the stance and sheer presence of the thing. Petrol consumption was a killer but I would probably go for the TDV8, pretty much same power (once mapped) and far better mpg.

Isn't the new shape coming out this year? That'll kill whatever residuals there are.

Even so, my vote:

TDV8
TVR T350 or E46 M3 with FI.

[Hoops]

We love the RRS so my view is biased - TDV8 remapped will keep up with any stock supercharged all day long - great economy when cruising and still good road presence but agree with Paul the interior is not plush and looks like my Disco used to inside and upcoming facelift will reduce residuals further. Ive owned the larger engined V10 Altitude Toerag and loved it - goes like stink and super plush inside with gorgeous ergonomics - but not as much road presence as RRS and you sit lower and economy not as good when humping around - but in terms of prices i think that probably gives you more bang for buck at the moment BUT make sure you buy the later facelift model with touchscreen sat nav and the new light clusters etc. I still love the new X5 and X6 and these will give better residuals - i'd steer towards the X5 as jury is still out for the X6 - but i think Toerag is worth a punt and a dark horse.
And you know my view on the Exige - awsome car, have to buy the S supercharged model without doubt - pure unadulterated fun and ultimate track car etc - but bear in mind its a bone rattler whether youre doing 5mph or 155mph and totally impractical for anything other than a sunday blat and can be a real handful in the wet - so it could end up staying in the garage more often than you'd want it to. My absolute No1 choice IF you could find a cheap one/desperate seller that wasnt a cat d etc and you could stretch a little into the £20's further would be a CSL - awsome car and could be practical if you need it to be - no question, real bang for buck and an all time classic, gains respect wherever you go from those that know their cars and that soundtrack!!! Good luck fella and make sure you give me a call when you get that jet ski - love 'em!!

[biscuits]

Thanks guys (and Helen!),

Appreciate your views on the matter. Last night I did my usual geeky breakdown of each vehicle pro's and con's etc and every time it came out the Toureg Altitude. To be honest, the RRS is just a bit too glam for me and I could imagine a few snide comments from customers too, where as the T'reg is just a big VW. Have asked my man to look into the costings of a fully loaded 3.0TDi Altitude and also to see if there are any R50's going as sensible money... both the new facelift models.

I would buy a Defender/Disco, but the M3 won't go in our cubbyhole of a garage, but a smaller car would (ie: Lotus, etc...)

TVR... I've driven quite a few and although they are brutaly fast, they are just too much mechano and glue for my liking...

Let's see if I can bring the M3 home in one piece from the 'Ring... kinda need it to part-ex !!! (hmmm.... seem to remember I have RTI cover....... hmmmm!)

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

And you know my view on the Exige - awsome car, have to buy the S supercharged model without doubt - pure unadulterated fun and ultimate track car etc - but bear in mind its a bone rattler whether youre doing 5mph or 155mph and totally impractical for anything other than a sunday blat and can be a real handful in the wet - so it could end up staying in the garage more often than you'd want it to.

make sure you give me a call when you get that jet ski - love 'em!!

The Exige is a great car I know what you're saying about it being a bit impractical. However I had a Mk1 Elise (not as stripped out granted, but still pretty raw) and lived with it in London as my only car for almost a year. I did 13000 miles in it if I remember correctly in a crap winter of heavy rain and snowfalls in Europe. Brilliant car - cold, damp, noisy, but brilliant to drive. And I miss it every bloody day - the only car I've owned that I would take back in an instant

[E902717]

X6/toureg and Lotus Exige for me!

[Hoops]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

I had a Mk1 Elise

How the hell did you get in and out of that every day without giving yourself a hernia or decapitating yourself!!!!!???

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

How the hell did you get in and out of that every day without giving yourself a hernia or decapitating yourself!!!!!???

It's easy once you get the hang of it And once you're in there's a surprising amount of space, even for a lard like me! I even got the process of putting the roof back on down to less than a minute. I want another one, I do I do I do

[Porscha!]

Caterham
OR TVR Cerbera

Do you tow or plan on towing? Do you go / plan on going offroading? If not get something like a 911 or keep your M3.

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

Caterham
OR TVR Cerbera

Do you tow or plan on towing? YES - Jetski, etc...
Do you go / plan on going offroading? YES - Ploughed fields

[marriedblonde]

I would test drive the Tourag and then remove it from your list, awful, awful things. They look great but are awful to drive. Even the the big denzel engined thing.

We looked at the Tourag, RR Sport and ML when looking for claires car (she is not a BM fan and therefore didn't want the x5) the RR Sport looks nice on the outside but I am not a fan of the interiors. The ML in the end hit the spot. We went for a ML 320 CDI sport. Bought an ex demo and it's now just over a year old and has been brilliant. Not quite as good to drive as the X5 but very very close. Perfect family wagon.

My experience with MB dealers has been very positive so far as well. (this is my wifes second MB)

J.

[biscuits]

I've got some me time tomorrow (with out the wife and kids in-tow!), so have arranged to pop-in to BMW to have a go in their X5... will also go and have a drive of a T'reg and an ML.

It's the only way to see which one I like.

[biscuits]

Oh cr@p I've just read this DR review of "big SUV's"...

Monsters INC

How much do I want an ML63 AMG now !!!!!