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      03-19-2010, 08:10 AM   #1
andret
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Question Body Style

I appreciate everyone's responses on the issue of Manual or DCT ( see http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363092 )

Now I have another major decision and would appreciate some opinions on body type. Given the three options, these are my current thoughts...

Sedan - good for practicality, but perhaps too similar to my current E90. have a child on the wsy, so wife likes this option (but this is not for her)

Coupe - great for track, but being in Adelaide, this would rarely be appreciated. difficult access to rear seat, might as well have convertible.

Convertible - great to appreciate the sound of the engine whilst blasting through the winding roads in the adelaide hills. body not as solid as other options when roof down, but as i am not a mad track driver, this may not be an issue. could be considered a posers car, but i don't really care if others think this.

Clearly the convertible is my preferred choice as i think it will provide the most practical day to day enjoyment. but the sedan is sensible and may be handy with a little one on the way ( hang on, that's what the wifes X1 will be for). the coupe is more conventional for this type of performance vehicle but i may not benefit too much as i am not an extreme enthusaist.

i would like to know what others opinions are on this issue. this will be a hard decision to make.

thanks in advance.
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      03-19-2010, 10:15 AM   #2
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you cant really go wrong but do remember that the convertible adds some weight and slows the package down. depends like you said on your intended purpose. i find the sedan the best looking and the best for me personally. only adds a small amount of weight and looks oh so good.
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      03-19-2010, 10:20 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chriszeh View Post
you cant really go wrong but do remember that the convertible adds some weight and slows the package down. depends like you said on your intended purpose. i find the sedan the best looking and the best for me personally. only adds a small amount of weight and looks oh so good.
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      03-19-2010, 10:22 AM   #4
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convertible all the way...
as you said you're not a mad tracker, so you probably will never notice the extra lbs and less rigid chassis... it's still a M3, it's not like it's gonna be slow even with the top down!!!
and the enjoyment of top-down motoring is worth the extra $ and lbs...
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      03-19-2010, 03:14 PM   #5
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Go the sedan!

Sedan and coupe are identical performance-wise, plus you will have something a little more convenient for the little one and the sedan is a rare sight on the roads (in my area at least).

I understand convertibles have to be heavier, but an extra 200kg than the coupe or sedan? That is a massive deal breaker for me, and I am not convinced on the styling.
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      03-19-2010, 03:32 PM   #6
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I have a four month old child and a 2 year old as well. I was going to order the sedan but at the last minute decided on the coupe. I've also got an X1 on the way as well!! Trust me when I say that when your baby arrives you will not use your car when carrying your child. You will nearly always use your X1. The main reasons for this is that depending on how you like to look after your car you will not want to ruin the leather on your $180,000 odd thousand beast and once your baby is eating unaided you will see the state of your wifes car and the decision will be made for you. I think I have had the kids in my car once since I've had it. The rest of the time we just use the family car. So just get which ever car you like the look of the most.
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      03-19-2010, 04:26 PM   #7
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sedan looks different than e90. it looks like a stretched coupe. performance numbers are almost identical to coupe and back seat will make it easy for the baby. its a no brainer but dont get white or black. the blues are how to go
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      03-19-2010, 06:18 PM   #8
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I have an E92 and an E53 X5. I was one of the first one to get the M3 in Australia and the E90 was not available at the time. In my opinion M3 is a special vehicle and buying it in E90 would have been something very hard to live with for me given they look same as the regular sedan except for the front. Also no CF roof in the E90 and a lot of the standard items on the E92 have to be optioned in the E90.
I have a 15-month old daughter and I drop her off Day Care everyday and there is no issue getting in and out of the back seat. Although E90 is more practical if you're buying an M3 you should go for something that stands out from the rest of the 3-series range when you're spending that kind of money.
When we go out as a family we still use the E92 even for long trip and there is no problem. One rule in our household is no eating in any cars - drinks are fine. I think it is a good habbit not give the kids to eat in the car.
I've had the car for nearly 2 1/2 years and it's still in prestine condition. So it depends how you look after the car. There is no reason not to use an expensive car b'cos you have kids. Kids will be kids but if you instill good qualities in them when they are young later on there will be no problems. (God, this sounds like a parenting lesson ). This is my humble opionion.
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      03-19-2010, 08:15 PM   #9
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I went from a 135 coupe to an E90 M3 purely because I have 3 primary school kids. Loading them in and out and strapping in the seat belts became a pain as I had to climb into the car. It's not fun when it's raining either. The longer doors of a coupe make ingress/egress harder in tight carparks. Don't forget your newborn will be rear facing for quite a while esp under new seatbelt laws. We don't have ISOFIX here so you also have to lift the baby over and thru the restraining belt.

Also, coupes with baby seats dont look cool.
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      03-19-2010, 08:44 PM   #10
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If you have a child and the M3 is the only car in the household, than a Sedan would be more practical. However in your case, you have the X1 at your disposal.

At the end of the day it just boils down to what you like. I don't see why you can't go for convertible if that is what you fancy the most.

Welcome to the ///M Family.
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      03-19-2010, 10:01 PM   #11
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Coupe for me....the CF roof and the styling were what sealed it. Oh, and I have a 5 yo son that I drop off to school every day, it's never been an issue.
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      03-21-2010, 10:40 AM   #12
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I love my E92 - but then, no children. And I wanted the car to look more overtly a sports car (tho' people in the know sure do spot an E90 M3). Do agree w/ the above that the rear seats are still very useable in the E92.

If I were in your shoes (baby coming) the E90 for sure. Cheaper, just as quick (on some tracks the E90 > E92) and more of a Q-car.

E93 - well, there's about 10 days / year I really want one. Like today - crisp and glorious. But it gets as hot here as Adelaide - and that's more than 10 days - then I don't If I lived in SoCal or back on the Gold Coast then an E93 would be just the ticket.

I love the drives in the Adelaide Hills: if you go E90/92 then get it w/ moonroof and drive the Hills w/ it open.

@aussieM3: I have 3 rules in my E92, no food, no drink but water and no dogs (have 4 - why we have a 'van)!
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      03-21-2010, 04:34 PM   #13
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Coupe for me either....2 adult 2 children Not a problem......seden doesn't looks right for me....go with which you think looks better....
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      03-21-2010, 06:47 PM   #14
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look on the color thread and look up lemans blue sedan. you tell me if that doesnt look right.
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      03-21-2010, 08:30 PM   #15
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still prefer coupe....not fan of seden....
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      03-21-2010, 09:02 PM   #16
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On the weekend I parked my E90 white M3 in front of a white E90 335i and my M3 made the 335 look a bit like a toy or a mini me version. In my opinion the E90 M3 is the most aggressive of the M's. I considered an M3 vert because I came from a 135 vert but I decided I wasn't getting enough improvement in performance/handling over the 135 vert to justify the cost difference. My reasoning was if I was going to pay that much for a 3 series I had to have the coupe or sedan so I could get the full M experience with the lighter more rigid body. I miss the vert but the E90 is brilliant on Tasmanias winding roads and the extra doors and space in the back has been really useful. I did option the sedan with EDC, and M drive. DCT is awesome on the track. I think I would have stayed with the 135 vert rather than go to the M3 vert.
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      03-22-2010, 12:13 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltigeur View Post
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I love my E92 - but then, no children. And I wanted the car to look more overtly a sports car (tho' people in the know sure do spot an E90 M3). Do agree w/ the above that the rear seats are still very useable in the E92.

If I were in your shoes (baby coming) the E90 for sure. Cheaper, just as quick (on some tracks the E90 > E92) and more of a Q-car.

E93 - well, there's about 10 days / year I really want one. Like today - crisp and glorious. But it gets as hot here as Adelaide - and that's more than 10 days - then I don't If I lived in SoCal or back on the Gold Coast then an E93 would be just the ticket.

I love the drives in the Adelaide Hills: if you go E90/92 then get it w/ moonroof and drive the Hills w/ it open.

@aussieM3: I have 3 rules in my E92, no food, no drink but water and no dogs (have 4 - why we have a 'van)!
Funny you should mention, I did exactly that on Saturday...up the freeway to Stirling then back through Piccadilly, Summertown, Ashton and Norton Summit. A glorious day and perfect for Adelaide Hills driving.
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      03-22-2010, 07:09 AM   #18
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sounds like you've already chosen the vert! My couple of cents: you're either into verts or not, I'm all for the sedan for practicality but it just doesn't measure up in the looks department. It doesn't have the athletic stance of the e92 and from some angles looks a little dorky in comparison.
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      03-28-2010, 08:15 PM   #19
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I have an e90 m3 with 2 kid seats in the back for the 1yr and 3yr old. I got over the initial worries of having kids in the car pretty quickly. After day 1 there were already footprints on the back of the front passenger seat.

Go the sedan for the added flexibility. Half the fun is sharing the m3 with the family.
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      03-28-2010, 09:37 PM   #20
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The sedan's rear end looks more aggressive than the coupe, mean!
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