The perfect daily

[Lewissh]

Hi all,

I currently own a mk5 r32 which i really like , however i have a ich for something with more power . My feeling is a m car would be a natural step up .
However would a m car be a good daily driver or is it more of a weekend car ? If so what would be the best pick for being a daily ? My budget is 25 to 30k and ive already been looking at the e92 and m2 .

Thanks

[VeeTenM]

Out of them two, the M2.... M3 you would have to be flooring it everywhere to get the best out of it but they can be decent daily if you can put up with the fuel costs.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[cerb4.5lee]

I wrote this earlier on another forum sharing my thoughts between the E92 M3 and F82 M4...

I used to have an E92 M3 and I've now got an F82 M4. The E92 M3 definitely sounds much better as you say(especially the induction noise for me), however because I use them as daily drivers, the M4 wipes the floor with the M3 for me. I'd probably consider the E9x M3 as a weekend car though I reckon.

Everything seems to count against the M3 as a daily to me. They weigh 1650kg, but only have 295 Ib/ft of torque, and max power is at 8300rpm as well. So unless you're absolutely thrashing the backside off them, they can feel quite unrewarding and frustrating to me. Plus the brakes are garbage in them too. Not to mention 17/18 mpg too!

The M4 is lighter/faster, and has far better brakes, plus it has 406 Ib/ft of torque. In my hands doing the same journeys it is also just over 10 mpg better on fuel as well. I'm not sure I'd want the F8x M3/4 as a weekend car though, because they arguably aren't special enough for that I reckon.

[AliMc99]

+1 for the M2. M3 has the more charismatic engine but you need to rev the nuts off to get the best out of it. I have a manual M2 Comp which I love. There are various pros and cons for the comp vs the OG M2. Whilst I have the manual the DCT box is excellent. Comps are starting to come down to the low £30’s, whilst you budget shpd
easily get you in an OG.

[AliMc99]

My comments on the M3 referred to the V8 (E90/E92) series

[Lincsls1]

Take them both for a test drive.
I doubt the M3 will feel sluggish, coming from an Mk5 R32, but yes the M2 is going to feel more muscular due to being boosted.

[cerb4.5lee]

Lincsls1 said:

Take them both for a test drive.
I doubt the M3 will feel sluggish, coming from an Mk5 R32, but yes the M2 is going to feel more muscular due to being boosted.

The test drive might not tell the true story though. I loved the E92 M3 when I had a test drive in it for sure, but it was only when I lived with it day to day that the flaws started to reveal themselves to me though.

[Lewissh]

Thanks for the replies , i test drove a e92 yesterday in glasgow however i never managed to rev it out as i was in the busy city . So im really non the wiser , will need to take out a m2 and maybe a m4 aswell .
The x drive sounds appealing as im in the west coast of scotland the rain can be pretty relentless at times .

[Jamescrs]

I daily an F82 M4 and its a great daily, usually leave it comfort mode for around town and motorway cruising and it’s perfect.

[cerb4.5lee]

Lewissh said:

Thanks for the replies , i test drove a e92 yesterday in glasgow however i never managed to rev it out as i was in the busy city . So im really non the wiser , will need to take out a m2 and maybe a m4 aswell .
The x drive sounds appealing as im in the west coast of scotland the rain can be pretty relentless at times .

I'm not sure if I've got the wrong end of the stick or not?, but both the M2/M4 in your budget aren't xDrive. It is only the current M4 that you can get with xDrive. Or were you thinking of another car with xDrive?

[Pizzaeatingking]

Not a full fat M car but I really rate my F30 340i as a daily, all rounder. It hasn’t got that last bit when driving balls out that the M car has but it is still more than capable and you’ll struggle to use all of its performance on the road. In return, you get a motor that’s very reliable and incredibly economical. The ZF8 auto box is great for the commute too, smooth and quick.