David '97 993

I read this forum often and I find the responses to be both insightful and intellegent. Therefore, I would like an opinion on a new daily driver. Current ride is a 98 528 with 70k trouble free miles. The new 5 is now delayed till fall 03 and I dont't want to wait. Any opinion on an M3 SMG. Daily commute is about 60 mi. roundtrip with some heavy bumper to bumper.
Should I be concerned with an SMG transmission for the daily grind?

Martin S.

Suburu WRX: Have your Porsche buddies chase you down the twisty roads...there may be a surprise in store, don't know, but suspect the WRX to be a real screamer on a twisty road.

The new 350ZX may also be something to look into.

If I had a 10 car garage, and lots of money, I would have these two cars in there for variety and contrast.

Buy either one of these and you'll have change for your next Bimmer.

TrackJunke

Get a used e36 m3 for about 17 thousand..... fun to drive, pretty fast, handle well.

Berkley

Try the Volvo S60 T5 it is a real sleeper....I switched from Bimmers to Volvo Turbos and Mercedes because of our local dealers ( GREAT )....Same story with the Audi as BMW....The dealers suck on price and service

Jeff 993TT

I love my honda civic ex as my commuter car. It just works. You have to love honda's for this reason. Also very cheap to maintain and run. It's not very sexy, but it gets me to and from work everyday without incident.

I chose the Honda becuase I realized that what I needed was a commuter car and not anything else. Besides, I have my TT for fun.

What really burns me is to see people driving cars that are not built for their purpose. It just seems very wasteful. I mean, does it make sense to commute 100 miles a day in a Ford Excusion?

If I were to get another commuter car, I'd probably get a toyota prius. This is a gas/electric hybrid. Getting 50 mpg on the prius would probably ease some of my guilt of getting 9 mpg when I take my TT to the track!

Jeff

Suwipin

Jeff,

Talking about Prius, I heard that Honda will come up with a Hybrid Civic

88clbsport

E30 M3 is my vote....
A lot of fun to carve through turns, good gas mileage, not a harsh ride (only if you want it to be) I loved mine, even with the daily LA commute.

SundayDriver

[quote]Originally posted by Jeff 993TT:
<strong>
What really burns me is to see people driving cars that are not built for their purpose. It just seems very wasteful. I mean, does it make sense to commute 100 miles a day in a Ford Excusion?

If I were to get another commuter car, I'd probably get a toyota prius. This is a gas/electric hybrid. Getting 50 mpg on the prius would probably ease some of my guilt of getting 9 mpg when I take my TT to the track!

Jeff</strong><hr></blockquote>

Careful there dude - I drive an Excursion.

If you are getting 9 mpg in your TT at the track, I suggest the following:
1) Drive harder
2) More Mods
3) Measure mpg based on fule used and distance. The OBC only reads as LOW as 9.5 mpg (As I recall).
I used to get 4.5mpg on the track.

Suwipin

Hehehe... Mark drives an Excursion and DJ drives a Mini.

I really want to see DJ's Mini Cooper parked next to Mark's Excursion

4.5 mpg? Is that the reason why you switched to Race Cars, Mark?

Jeff 993TT

Next time, I'll take more note of the mileage and actual number of gallons I replace when I fill up. I didn't know that the OBC didn't register below 9 mpg.

And thinking about it more, 9 mpg does sound high since I was filling up every 2 run sessions.

Jeff

mooty

at thunderhill, i got 10 mpg on a 996

SundayDriver

[quote]Originally posted by Jeff 993TT:
<strong>Next time, I'll take more note of the mileage and actual number of gallons I replace when I fill up. I didn't know that the OBC didn't register below 9 mpg.

And thinking about it more, 9 mpg does sound high since I was filling up every 2 run sessions.

Jeff</strong><hr></blockquote>

It took me a few times to notice that I always got the exact (to the 0.1) same mpg at the track. I bet I just gave you even more reason to by that 50 mpg Toyota. (On the other hand, it makes better bragging to say you get 4.5 mpg at the track. Just don't do the math for $/mile at the track.)

SundayDriver

[quote]Originally posted by Suwipin:
<strong>4.5 mpg? Is that the reason why you switched to Race Cars, Mark?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah. I drive race cars to save money - That's the ticket. I'll try that on my wife tonight. You should be able to hear the laughter from your front yard.

David '96 993

[quote]originally posted by Mark D:
Yeah. I drive race cars to save money - That's the ticket. <hr></blockquote>

Well I guess that would make your Spec Racer Ford the ultimate "Econobox". Looks more rectangular, than square though <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

From what I remember at Spring Mountain, it doesn't exactly drive like an Escort though <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

SundayDriver

[quote]Originally posted by David '96 993:
<strong>

Well I guess that would make your Spec Racer Ford the ultimate "Econobox". Looks more rectangular, than square though <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

From what I remember at Spring Mountain, it doesn't exactly drive like an Escort though <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

Good point. It started life as a modified Renault and now has an Escort powertrain. It IS an econobox. The new one, why it is just a motorcycle and we all know how economical motorcyles are to operate.

Thanks for the help.

ps - TracQuest board has photos of the new car. It ships this week.