[gIzzE]

Well the E91 sold within a couple of days up on autotrader, being collected tomorrow.

So needed to find something else for myself, we have the Old man Merc E320 estate for family duties so didn't really matter what it was.

So what have I tested.

E92
330i manual
335i auto
335d auto
M3 Manual

E93 DCT

911 C2 996
911 C2 997 (non S) manual
Z4 M Coupe


330i manual - Really nice car, 30+ mpg without trying and if it was my only car and I only did sub 10k miles a year this would probably be it.
Really nice all round but a bit too refined for what I wanted.

335i auto - again loved it at first but ultimately too refinded. Would like to try a DCT version, could be a corker.

335d auto - Great car, feels really pacey, and returns 34mpg quite easily, a little front end heavy. I can see why this outsells the petrol through, it is effortless, but this is what also lets it down for me!

M3 Manual - Nothing really needs to be said, awesome all round car, is more comfy than a regular E92 when you want it to be but firms up nicely when the time is right too. I know I would get bored of a manual though and sub 15mpg would do my biscuit at the moment.

E93 DCT - Just to say I hated the car. The difference between the coupe and this is unreal, I understand there is always a compromise but I just can't see the point of the M in the E93 shape, get a nice 325i and enjoy it for what it is, a crusier.
DCT gear box, very good, just like an auto and nice and quick in manual mode. Still prefered the SMG in the CSL but this is pretty impressive and a coupe with DCT would be spot on.



911's..

996 C2 manual - Really is a good car, still felt awesome to drive but the interior is looking a little dated and a nice exapmle is £30k, which lead me onto a £35k...

997 C2 manual - To be honest I had written the C2 off because of the S but it is now not much more than the 996 and the power is the same, although it feels fresher and tighter and pulls far better.
All in all a superb car, only niggle is 'should have bought the S' and I don't think the time is right to being buying a Porsche, times are hard and people don't see it is a £35k car, they see £70k and think flash git!


Z4 M Coupe - great car, nice interior, stunning looks and an absolute scream, and very nearly bought one, I just love that S54 engine.
Then sat and thought would I ever use it?? If I have the dog I wouldn't take it, if the baby is with us I couldn't take it, me and my wife will not really go out just the two of us anymore, not for a while anyway, and so it would be me on my own only.
So decided that it wasn't for me.




I guess I really want an E92 DCT, but I know those £52k cars will be £40k in 6 months time and that is too much too loose, if I knew I could keep it 4 years and sell it for £25k I would proabably get one, but I would want a change in 12 months, maybe even 6, so it was not really an option.




So after all that I decided not to get anything for now, stick £500 a month in a pot to use as a deposit for when the E92 is at £40k.

That lasted 48 hours, was offered a 2002 M3 SMG with 55k miles on it with loads of options for a quite silly price. so I have bought it!
It doesn't matter if it sits on the drive for 2 weeks not being used, it is cheap enough to do that, I can track it and take it to the ring, not worry about it and not worry anout racking up miles, it is the perfect stop gap till an E92 comes my way, and I know I can offload it and get my money back as soon as it does.

[dxb335d]

Fantastic Gizze...

Love it, Great you bought a E46 M3, which will be much fun for track days and the like..


Congrats mate.

[chrisbin]

Great write up m8!

Better update your sig....







So, whats the first mod' going to be......????

[misterS3]

Nice write up.....and good choice

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Love it, Great you bought a E46 M3, which will be much fun for track days and the like..


Congrats mate.

Thanks.

Well that's what swayed me towards it, would have prefered another CSL but decided to hold on and get an E92, then this popped up.

It is costing me half what the 320d was costing each month and it will be fun.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

Thanks.

Well that's what swayed me towards it, would have prefered another CSL but decided to hold on and get an E92, then this popped up.

It is costing me half what the 320d was costing each month and it will be fun.

What a billy bargain. Let me guess Carbon Black with red leather?

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

So, whats the first mod' going to be......????

Going to leave it alone I think.

I am trying to decide what to do, finance it over 5 years so it costs virtually nothing, and keep it as a track tool, or finance it over 18 months so it is paid for in full.

The finance company have said I can do it over 60 months to start with and then swap to 18 months if I want, as long as I decide within 28 days, so will get it and see.

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

What a billy bargain. Let me guess Carbon Black with red leather?

No, Carbon black is right but not red leather, will post some pics up when I collect it.

[dxb335d]

Cant wait to see the pics mate!

[squeezebm]

Cool Car, always fun,top man

[beemerbird]

You don't mess about do you. Nothing if not thorough and sensible

Nice choice though and looking forward to the pics.

I've been offered a drive in a 997 Carrerra 2S with PDK, apparently the new box is good and the extra 30 bhp and tweeks have made a noticeable difference. Best not go there eh. So if you drive one first gIzze and let me know ok.

[F31-340i]

Hi Gizze,

Good choice, and financially a sound decision I think.

Did you let your blacklines go with the 320d, as well as the M3 alloys? If you have still got the blacklines I'd be interested as I've just got my hands on an E91 330d MSport which needs them.

Cheers

J

PS despite test drives, do you feel you have you scratched your 911 itch yet? It won't go away you know.

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

I've been offered a drive in a 997 Carrerra 2S with PDK, apparently the new box is good and the extra 30 bhp and tweeks have made a noticeable difference. Best not go there eh. So if you drive one first gIzze and let me know ok.

See, now that is a problem for me, I love the thought of the PDK but not the price when new. So I politely refused a test drive in one.
It does look like the best 911 yet imho, a GT3 with PDK in white for me please!!


Squeeze, it will keep my M craving going till I can afford an M3 DCT.

[booforty]

Get some pics up mate, we want to see it!

[1stKnight]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

That lasted 48 hours, was offered a 2002 M3 SMG with 55k miles on it with loads of options for a quite silly price. so I have bought it!

Fantastic! Everytime I see an E46 M3 I still admire it as it is a great-looking car and we all know what an awesome performer it is!

[encee]

Nice one gizze, fantastic car the E46 M3.

Good choice !

[gIzzE]

I haven't got it yet.

Only got back to work yesterday and snowed under with work.

Been off because I got another new toy last week!!

Thomas Oliver Hare at just 24 hours old....



I had my daughter when I was 21, so there is a 14 year gap between them, and to say this was a shock is an understatement!! Finding out Fiona was pregnant when I had been at Uni less than a month was less of a shock.

But now he is here I'm loving it.

[booforty]

Aaahh he's lovely! Looks like his Dad

[encee]

Well even bigger congratulations over the little lad, mate.

Much better news than any car could ever be !!

I`m in a similar boat gizz; my eldest daughter is 16, and my youngest daughter is 1........, with two more in between (another daughter at 13, and my little lad, who`s 3).

The lad`s already car-mad too, as most kids take a teddy bear to bed, but he takes one of his (many) toy cars.

Fantastic !!

[willhollin]

Great news gIzzE!

[beemerbird]

Congrats to both you and Fiona gIzze!! He's adorable.

[Strebor]

Congrats on both new additions.

I'm looking forward to my new E91 addition on 28th Oct but having just finished celebrating our twins reaching their 5th birthday, me & the Mrs have agreed to leave it to others to add to the UK population...!