Trimming down from 3 cars to two

[mr2turbogts]

So I have been racking my brains for a while thinking I would like to change the current fleet, which comprises of the following.

Wife's Daily - Saab 93 Aero
My Daily - Merc 350CDI Estate
Weekend car - BMW E46 M3

I don't really drive the M3 much, which is where the change of fleet has come from in pondering in what to change this for.

We have a 18 month daughter and a dog so the Estate is very handy, I do around 15k miles a year and the wife does circa 2/3k. The M3 about 500 a year (shocking I know)

Currently thinking

Saab for S-Max 2.5t or maybe first gen X5. (Did consider giving her the Merc, but I think she thinks a car is a Skip on wheels so watching the Merc get trashed would cause rows)

Sell Merc and BMW and combine this into one car, thinking Jaguar XFR/XKR.

Any suggestions/advice on this situation (1st world I know)

[fido]

If you enjoy the M3 (even if it's just being used for a few weekend trips a year) then i'd say keep it. If not then sell it and work it out from there - you might find you miss the E46.

I only do 1-2k a year in my E92 but I like it so much - i'm in no rush to sell. I have a Q3 RS as well so performance wise it's not really needed. Thinking of replacing both with a new'ish M340i estate but that would cost a chunk more.

[Pedal_Loud]

Keep all 3.

In 6 months you'll be bored and asking what 3rd car to get.

[mr2turbogts]

fido said:

If you enjoy the M3 (even if it's just being used for a few weekend trips a year) then i'd say keep it. If not then sell it and work it out from there - you might find you miss the E46.

I only do 1-2k a year in my E92 but I like it so much - i'm in no rush to sell. I have a Q3 RS as well so performance wise it's not really needed. Thinking of replacing both with a new'ish M340i estate but that would cost a chunk more.

I do think I've had my time with her, coming up for 7 years now.

I've said for the past few years I'm going to drive it more and never do.

I struggle with the idea as I know it would be a struggle to buy a similar condition one back.

[SFTWend]

An E46 M3 is pretty useable so if you are only doing 500 miles pa in it I suggest it's time to move it on. I've considered buying one myself but not sure driving it would be enough of an event to make.it a purely weekend toy.

I think you've got the right idea. A family car for the good lady and something faster for yourself. My next dood neighbour loved his XFR.

[Squirrelofwoe]

mr2turbogts said:

I do think I've had my time with her, coming up for 7 years now.

I've said for the past few years I'm going to drive it more and never do.

I struggle with the idea as I know it would be a struggle to buy a similar condition one back.

Perhaps you just need to change the M3 for something else (similar budget) as a 3rd car if you fell like you've had your time with it?

My problem (and granted not everyone will experience this) is that I find as soon as I am using a fun car every day it tends to get 'normalised' and I find I want something else. The things that make it fun in the right conditions begin to grate when you are stuck in traffic on a cold wet drive home from work etc. I have moved on several cars that I never should have because of this (DC2 Integra being a case in point).

Equally, putting all the financial eggs into one (relatively) expensive daily car, if pitched more for luxury than fun, could lead to missing having something fun and entirely different to jump into at the weekend or when the weather is good etc.

In my experience the one-car-does-all experience just doesn't work, because I want something entirely different for sitting in traffic on the way to work in the middle of winter, to what I want to drive on a sunny weekend morning on decent roads. Those two points are at opposite ends of the car spectrum.

For me, the M3 is pretty much as close as you can get to an ideal one-car solution. Unfortunately that also means it just wouldn't cut it as a second car!

Perhaps you need to keep your current daily and try a different weekend car for a while- something completely different to both your Merc and the M3?

[ZX10R NIN]

Sell the Mercedes & just drive the M3.

Failing that sell both & buy the best VXR8 you can get

[mr2turbogts]

Squirrelofwoe said:

mr2turbogts said:

I do think I've had my time with her, coming up for 7 years now.

I've said for the past few years I'm going to drive it more and never do.

I struggle with the idea as I know it would be a struggle to buy a similar condition one back.

Perhaps you just need to change the M3 for something else (similar budget) as a 3rd car if you fell like you've had your time with it?

My problem (and granted not everyone will experience this) is that I find as soon as I am using a fun car every day it tends to get 'normalised' and I find I want something else. The things that make it fun in the right conditions begin to grate when you are stuck in traffic on a cold wet drive home from work etc. I have moved on several cars that I never should have because of this (DC2 Integra being a case in point).

Equally, putting all the financial eggs into one (relatively) expensive daily car, if pitched more for luxury than fun, could lead to missing having something fun and entirely different to jump into at the weekend or when the weather is good etc.

In my experience the one-car-does-all experience just doesn't work, because I want something entirely different for sitting in traffic on the way to work in the middle of winter, to what I want to drive on a sunny weekend morning on decent roads. Those two points are at opposite ends of the car spectrum.

For me, the M3 is pretty much as close as you can get to an ideal one-car solution. Unfortunately that also means it just wouldn't cut it as a second car!

Perhaps you need to keep your current daily and try a different weekend car for a while- something completely different to both your Merc and the M3?

I’ve been thinking about changing the m3 for something else and really struggled in what to change it for

[mr2turbogts]

ZX10R NIN said:

Sell the Mercedes & just drive the M3.

Failing that sell both & buy the best VXR8 you can get

You might be right 🤔