Help! Getting My First M3- Cant Decide Convertible or Coupe!!!

DaddysLittleGirl · Jun 10, 2004

Hi Guys!

I am a 27 year old female who just got a license (i know, run for your lives) and i am getting my first BMW, must likely certified pre-owned. i am getting a 2000 or so model. in the 3 series line.

the problem is that since i am a new driver, i am not so sure a M3 convertible is a good choice for me because of the low visibility when the top is up. i also live in Manhattan, and even though i am going to garage it, i would feel a little scared of leaving it outside for periods of time because we all know people seem to always want to stick something to the cars. also i heard you need to specially service the soft top or problems may be costly. and since is cold here most of the time, i really dont see the point... so is the old "want" versus "need" battle in my head.

i am a serious convertible addict but i am a BMW addict first so i know i would be happy. so i think that coupe is the way to go but i need some advice. what is better for a first time driver? and er... female driver (lets face it, i am not the worlds greatest driver) ah it has to be automatic only, so i am a little worried about control

any words of wisdom?

thanks!!

MrElussive · Jun 10, 2004

Welcome to the forum.

Don't even bother with a convertible. I really LOVE convertibles/roadsters as well, but if you spend all your time driving around in NYC, you KNOW that NYC is not the environment for a convertible. Cabbies constantly honking at you, smells very bad in most parts of the city, and you're always sitting at a stop light (the heat will get to you fast).
I think you should go with an M3 Coupe if you really want the M3. But at the very end, there is something about females + convertibles. No matter what time of year it is, the outside temperature, the driving environment, etc. it's always a perfectly normal site for a woman to be driving a convertible (not necessarily with the top down).
As for top maintenance, I don't think it's too bad. You just have to clean it with a different product, and make sure not to keep the top lowered for long periods of time (such as weeks or months at a time), otherwise that creates the creases and it makes the top shrink. But either way, 95% of convertible owners have no idea of how to maintain their soft tops and they get by perfectly fine.

Tom · Jun 10, 2004

From a performance stand point the Coupe is much better. If you are buying this as a weekend car then either would be fine.

They don't offer a 2000 M3. So it's either going to be a E36 1999 or a E46 2001.

flashinthepan · Jun 10, 2004

DaddysLittleGirl said:

Wow !!! 27, female, and BMW, all go great together !!!

I had a vert', have an M3 coupe - honestly both are fun ! I know that doesnt help any..lol !
You may have just slightly more maintenance with a soft-top - but BMW makes a nice & quiet convertible.

Also rememeber a nice sun-roof can be fun too & it rains in NY ??.

in summary - I like the M3 coupe for me, but I may chose the convertible for you, I agree with Mr E, something about a gilr in a Convertible - eye catching !

Good Luck either way !!!!

drkeng · Jun 10, 2004

Do you plan on using exclusively the SMG in auto mode?? Have you driven it?? It doesn't drive like an automatic, especially in city traffic. Also, it will be rough to use the M3's potential in heavy traffic. May want to consider ZHP with Steptronic. Also, don't forget about winter tires. Sorry to raise doubts, but I think these are realistic issues in view of everything you wrote.

archang3l378 · Jun 15, 2004

Since your up in the northeast, I'd stay away from the convertible. Especially if its going to be your primary car. If its just a summer car, then go ahead and get the convertible. Watch out for all those darn craters on the road. I for one am more partial to hard top, and hard top convertibles. Which ever you choose, have fun with the car.

gizzy · Jun 15, 2004

I personally, would love to go for the convertible and would be very happy to put up with a little more noise and cold when the top is up in the winter time to have all of the fun in the summer. I'm surprised that no one else has suggested getting the convertible with the optional hard top. Do they not make the hard top for the M3? That way, you could put the hard top on durring the winter months and store it someplace durring the summer and enjoy the rag top.

gbf1lm · Jun 15, 2004

u will need to get he 99 if u want auto
maybe you shoud get a 2000 328ci or sumthing.

Dinan55 · Jun 15, 2004

Christ.

hosagod · Jun 15, 2004

Always go with your first love...I can tell you really want that convertible...so why not?

Live life a little and who cares that you live in NY, so do other people WITH conv., i'm sure of it!

I think that if you choose the coupe you'll always be saddened by the fact that you didn't choose the convertible.

Fabp_330Ci · Jun 15, 2004

hosagod said:

I agree, if your heart is leaning towards the convertible then go for it. I live in NYC also and there are plenty of convertible cars around. They may not be the most practical cars for NY but so what. I don't believe that visibility will be an issue but I've never driven the convertible so I don't know how much worse it is than a coupe. As for the top, like gizzy suggested, just go with the optional hardtop and you shouldn't have any problem.

........by the way, I'm 27 also so maybe we should hook up that way you'll have the best of both worlds [;)]

DaddysLittleGirl · Jun 15, 2004

thank you so much for all the info guys! but i thought it over: sure, i love convertibles (gosh i even stare at the Miatas!

LOL but NYC is no place for a convertible. it stinks and is sticky in the summer, bumper to bumper traffic and is not like i will be leaving for the country side driving around like they do in commercials.

so a coupe is the way to go. also i found something interesting: when the top is up, the visibility in a M3 Convertible is not that good (and that for a new driver cant be so good) also i read in a car magazine that "control" in a convertible is not as good as a coupe. and nevermind accidents.

it seems that it will be too much of a hassle (and to be honest, i would be afraid to leave it out for longs periods of time, since people are evil and might poke at it.

but i am still happy because after all, not many 27 year olds can drive the car they want right off the bat, and who knows, in a few years i might get the convertible after all.

ii really appreciate your comments.... thanks soooo much

DaddysLittleGirl · Jun 15, 2004

Fabp_330Ci said:

LOL! thanks for the offer but i already have a boyfriend..... the only thing is that he is totally against the BMW (he wants me to drive a Honda) can you imagine?? [nutkick]

Fabp_330Ci · Jun 15, 2004

DaddysLittleGirl said:

Thats funny, my girlfriend drives a honda accord. I should ask your boyfriend if he wants to swap [joke]

Good luck with whatever you decide to go with. You won't be disappointed with any bimmer!

hosagod · Jun 15, 2004

haha nice!

DaddysLittleGirl · Jun 17, 2004

i cant wait to get my car! when i do i will post pictures and like Homer would say: ummmmmmm bimmer!!!!

flashinthepan · Jun 17, 2004

DaddysLittleGirl said:

Nice !! & good luck !

& it is customary for girls to include themselves in the car pics [clap]

Average Jae · Jun 17, 2004

good luck!

flashinthepan said:

DaddysLittleGirl · Jun 17, 2004

oh dont worry, i will include myself in the photo (preferible kissing the hood of the car) I know! how lame! LOL

but i want pictures of other people too!!!

Bmw 325i 7803 · Jun 17, 2004

DaddysLittleGirl said:

Hi and Welcome, you can get whatever you like just by all means DO NOT GET IT FROM BMW MANHATTAN... They have the most incompetent service department in perhaps the entire northeast, and they gave me a loaner car with unsafe tires (got me stuck) and a flat spare in the trunk. I observed their techs driving the cars like their on a raceway competing for the fastest lap time. On one occasion they had 3 3-series cars each with a tech in them cut through the double yellow line (on 10av??) easily at 20, bump over the curb and make a hard stop into their garage with big grins on their faces, they have way too much fun with the customers cars. As if thats not enough they have to play steal the bacon in their garage and mess up the customer cars in service. It's amazing how their telephone-toughness vanishes when you show up in person and stand 2 inches from their nose.

Anyhow for NYC if you want an M3 I would go with the coupe (just not from BMW manhattan), btw how much are you looking to spend? From what I've seen the CPO M3's cost as much if not more than the new ones, afterall they are guaranteeing them for 6yrs 100k miles. You can always get the 330i zhp brand new for around 40k.

Help! Getting My First M3- Cant Decide Convertible or Coupe!!!

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