by "Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
Published 04/11/2017 at 12:30
by "Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
Published 04/11/2017 at 12:30
No Tags
STARS: 4
What did I get to drive around our future daughter? Not an Isetta...
Previously:
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I ended up buying a Subaru WRX STi. I’ve been shopping inside my head ever since we decided to try for a baby, so my choices were already pretty well narrowed down when I started shopping in earnest. The requirements, in order of priority were: big enough back seat (and door) to put a rear-facing infant seat, reliable, fun to drive, manual transmission, fast, and furious.
What else did I consider? Well, I used Turo to drive a 528i and an ‘11 WRX hatch. The 528i was basically the perfect car. Completely competent in every way, including handling and just enough speed. However, it was just too boring for where I’m at in my life. Same goes for the 328xi that I drove using ReachNow. The WRX hatch was the opposite. It was practical, but was very loud and twitchy. The shifter felt like digging something out of a toaster with a fork. But it was sooo fun. It really stuck with me.
I test drove an E90 M3... Loved it so much and even found a few used examples, including a couple from CarMax, which would have satisfied my reliability criteria. I was even trying to pay to have the perfect one transferred here, but CarMax took over 3 weeks to go from “we’ve reserved this car for transfer for you, Bryan” to getting my credit card info, so the car sold in the meantime. Horrible customer service across the board, so I had to reconsider whether dealing with these people would be worth it for their warranty. I looked again at a few E90 M3's (which are incredibly rare, especially with a manual trans), but the main problem with them? Too similar to my 135i, which I loved. I know I’m messed up in the head, but getting into the M3 felt exactly like driving my 135i except bigger and with less torque. Absolutely amazing car, don’t get me wrong, I just like trying something different with each new vehicle. Pretty much as simple as that.
Then I tested some new cars in the price range of the used M3's (plus repairs/warranty) I was looking at, thinking that there’d be no way they would measure up. With the exception of the Focus ST, every car I tested was something I could see myself owning. I found an STI near me only because I wanted to compare it with the WRX, which I liked a lot. Well, the STI was better in every way that matters to me. It feels like a racecar. It makes all kinds of weird noises. It’s stiff but not harsh. Oh yeah, and it has a big fuckin’ wing, deal with it. Yes, it’s obnoxious, but that’s kind of what I want right now before I get too old. In 10 years, cars are only going to get more isolated, quieter, less involving, and possibly not even driven by humans. For now, I want something that makes me work for it a little. The STI does that.
Outside of the E90 M3, the practicality of the STI was by far the best. It’s the only one that I could sit in front of the baby seat without any legroom compromise. The trunk has may more storage space than the Golfs or Focuseses. I’ll fully review the STI after I live with it for a little bit, but the main reasons it beat out the competition were the size and the fun factor. The interior and ride quality are good enough and more importantly? My wife likes it.
Well, here it is, in my garage. My first new new car and so far (3 days in) I love it. Sticking to the suggestions for the break-in period is hard, but I’m doing my best. Thanks for reading.
tl:dr: I vape now.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
04/11/2017 at 12:34, STARS: 0
Congrats on the new car. You’re right about 6MT E90 M3s being a pain in the ass to find, took me like 2 months of searching to find mine.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
04/11/2017 at 12:34, STARS: 0
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!! Congrats duuuuuuude!
"Jcarr" (jcarr)
04/11/2017 at 12:35, STARS: 0
What team did you choose for your flat brim hat? Yankees? :)
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
04/11/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 0
What are the advised break-in suggestions?
"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
04/11/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 1
Congrats on the new car. I hope you get many enjoyable miles out of it :)
The Isetta is awesome Best BMW ever
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
04/11/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 1
tl:dr: I vape now.
Haha, excellent. Congrats. Now imagine teaching your daughter to drive in it down the road.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 12:44, STARS: 0
Isn’t vaping bad enough? I refuse to flatten my brim!
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
04/11/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
After your comments about the regular WRX yesterday this isn’t too surprising. Were you not interested in the STI Limited for leather and sunroof, or was it just too expensive and/or unavailable?
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 1
I can only hope people are still allowed to drive 16 years in the future.
"Jcarr" (jcarr)
04/11/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 1
I don’t think it’s optional. Better check your purchase agreement.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 12:52, STARS: 0
Seriously. Worth it, probably, but I only have space for one car at a time. Thinking about putting 12k+ miles per year on an E90 M3 starting out at 60k miles had me a bit worried. Someday maybe we’ll be stripping and caging E90's to make racecars just like the E30 is now. Maybe not the M3, which will be a collector’s item for sure.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 1
For the first 1000 miles, don’t go above 4k RPM, don’t use cruise control, no fast starts. You know, the opposite of most STI drivers you may have encountered...
"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
04/11/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 0
Did you actually test fit a rear facing infant seat?
Edit: I’m thinking about trying to convince the Mrs. that a V60 Polestar edition is a good decision.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 0
Yes. It fit great, especially compared to the other cars I tested or my 135i. Those seats are seriously huge.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
04/11/2017 at 12:58, STARS: 0
I was looking in 2014 when they were just another used car, and people were still trading them in. I got mine with 15k on it, and have put another 25k on it in the time I’ve had it, since July 2014. I’m sure the last NA M3 with a six speed will be worth something one day.
I think you made a pretty good choice, I mean I would have liked another e90 owner on oppo.
"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
04/11/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 0
I would have thought a rear facing would have maybe worked behind a passenger in the 1 series but still tight.
Anyways, congrats! STI seems freaking amazing to me.
It’s a shame the Ford dealer wouldn’t let you take out an RS so you could at least compare.
"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
04/11/2017 at 13:01, STARS: 0
Is it possible to get it behind the driver seat? The Mrs. and I are expecting two, so I’m going through similar decisions. I’m hoping I won’t have to ditch my Tacoma, but we are tall and google images aren’t giving me hope.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 0
Leather and sunroof aren’t worth the difference in cost to me and I really like the alcantara seats anyway. Not sure how they’ll wear over time.
The only thing I really miss from the limited is the BBS wheels.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 0
Adults would barely fit in the back of the RS, so it was already eliminated.
A rear facing seat fits fine in the middle back of the 1-series, but getting it in and out is incredibly hard, even without a human in the seat. It won’t fit at all behind the passenger seat, at least if you expect anyone to sit in the passenger seat.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 13:14, STARS: 0
I think if CarMax hadn’t dicked me around I’d have bought one before even trying a new car. I basically wasted a month and a half with them watching other low-mileage M3's disappear because I thought they told me the truth when they said the car was reserved for me. Once I tried some new cars, I was surprised how much I liked them.
"Tripper" (tripe46)
04/11/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 2
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiick! I was hoping that was what ya got. I love it! Congrats!!!
When I bought my 04' I let my father drive it and he said with a grin. “I can’t believe this car! I will make your first payment if you go a week without a ticket.” I shook on that bet, and wrote the check for the first payment. 5 days.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 13:29, STARS: 0
That’s hilarious. The break-in period is the only thing keeping me from tickets right now, but I’ll be in danger of that very soon.
"Tripper" (tripe46)
04/11/2017 at 13:31, STARS: 0
Ah of course. I bought mine with 6k on the clock, so it was good to go haha. Super nice car man, lots of luck with it.
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 13:59, STARS: 0
Thanks!
"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures)
04/11/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 0
In the STI? Yes, it would fit behind the driver’s seat for someone below 5'10". In the 135i? No way.
A Polestar is a good decision no matter what!
"Rico" (ricorich)
04/11/2017 at 15:28, STARS: 1
Yo I burst out laughing at the TLDR. Congrats on the baby and the whip!
"Rico" (ricorich)
04/11/2017 at 15:29, STARS: 0
HEY leave the Yankee’s out of this!
"E90M3" (e90m3)
04/11/2017 at 18:59, STARS: 0
I had to reserve a car twice because they messed up on their end. It was really annoying and one reason I didn’t buy the car from them.
"Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero" (sampsonite24)
04/12/2017 at 10:26, STARS: 0
normally im against flat brims but i did buy a James Hinchcliffe flatbrim hat at the milwaukee mile a few years back when he drove for andretti cause it looked cool
"Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero" (sampsonite24)
04/12/2017 at 10:28, STARS: 0
no cruise use for the first 1000 miles? that would suck for me