Fatass et al weigh in..

[Muggi]

Fatass, how much do you love your M3? I'm thinkin about trading in my Suburban for something smaller, probably stick. I was looking at the Chevy Trailblazer SS (395hp in an SUV, pretty sweet ride), but it's automatic only so..meh. Looked at the Audi a4 a bit, but thinking maybe I could buy a used M3, couple years old, for a decent price.

On the other hand, having 4WD or AWD is friggin AWESOME around here in the winter..can you get an AWD M3? I haven't even looked. I read some reviews of the Quattro on the a4, and reports are it really kicks ass. I like driving over stuff, hence the Suburban. I figure if I at least keep AWD in a sedan, I can drive over LITTLE stuff.

[Onii]

Teh M3 rox juur boxxor.

But it is terrifying in the snow. The tires are 245/45/R17 and even in third it's too much torque to start in the snow. It's great in the rain even with the cheap ($190) continental tires I have on it. And it's all around fun to drive. I have 95K miles on it now and i think the only thing i've done to it was new brakes a while back. I downshift to brake alot so i think i've started to wear the clutch so i'm gonna need to sink cash into that soon but for a 10 year old car I think it's going pretty well.

Oh and as far as getting an M3 awd, they dont make em. As I understand it even the 3 series cxi's are only 10/90% AWD so i'ts pretty much a joke anyway. While the "anti skid control" is great on dry and wet pavement it's a joke in the snow too.

That being said the a4 is a really nice car. While I've never driven one, I hear its big brother the s4, is like an awd M3. I've heard a few maintinence stories audis tho (then again what car havent you heard at least one nightmare story about).

If i had it to do all over again, I'd rebuy my M3 100 times over. When this one dies I plan on getting another one. Or if I can afford it by then an M5. But where I am there is no snow. Even when i was back in Jersey i survived the snow, but it was not fun.

RE: driving over things. if you want to drive over anything larger than a gravel sized stone the M3's probably not for you. The suspention is so tight and the chasis is to rigid you feel every tiny ridge in the highway. When you hit a pothole it feels like your going to either bend your rims or shake your teeth out of your head. The upswing to it is i regularly take 90 degree turns at 35+ MPH. there is next to no body roll. Also the clearance is very low and I bottom out over alot of speedbumps.

If you want AWD and want to drive over stuff you might want to check out a subaru WRX. they look like crap in my opionion. but they're fast and you can drive over shit and they are awesome in the snow. And everyone's got different taste.

verdict: M3 if you're not terrified of sliding all over the place in moderate snow. A4 otherwise.

hope this helps, but rereading it, it's probably just more confusing than helpful hahaha.

[Ferrum]

Hah Muggi you sound like my wife. I have to keep her in 4wd SUVs because she thinks she is allowed to drive over anything she wants.

[Razorwind]

I believe the 530 is the lowest end model with true AWD.

I have but one thing to say Acura RL....AWD luxury bliss....

If you can live without the AWD then the Acura TL Type S is a beast

AWD in a sedan really limits your options :confused:

[Fraktal]

Get one of these!

http://www.quentecafe.com/img/022605jeep.jpg

TWO 5.7L hemi's

670 HP

740 ft-lb torque

A ZERO turning radius, it turns or "rotates" like its name: a hurricane.

I want one of those so bad, I would burn my neighbors house down for one!

[Tronco]

Traffic "I Win" button

http://www.zjstech.net/~library/6115/Orlando%20Meet%208-10-03/Monster%20Truck.jpg

buy 6 of those.

[Fraktal]

RC car

Nope, the Jeep concept 4x4.

[Muggi]

I believe the 530 is the lowest end model with true AWD.

I have but one thing to say Acura RL....AWD luxury bliss....

If you can live without the AWD then the Acura TL Type S is a beast

AWD in a sedan really limits your options :confused:


Yeah not sure I HAVE to have AWD, just a preference. One of my nephews has a 2003 TL, completely swears by it. Also, one of my best friends is an Acura mechanic, can't stop saying what great cars they are. Other good thing is you can buy Honda parts for em, since that's primarily what they are: a really fancy Honda.

The RL is a bit more than I was looking to spend, and a bit larger than I was looking for as well (from my limited experience). Maybe I'll go drive a TL and see if I like it.

Thanks for all the input!