A multiple choice which car? One of these has to be replaced

I need to narrow this down as it's too complicated at this point. Main goal: DD with two pedals. We got spoiled by the old son driving the young son to school, etc. Now we are faced with a rideless 13 year old, so SWMBO is going to have to get back on the school route. That means rush hour stop and go every day. As much as it pains her to not drive a mantrans, it's time to accept that we need a two pedal car to creep in traffic. Let's call the budget cap $20k, but $10-15k would be nice. Needs torque and/or good powah. She doesn't want to drive something slow/unfun. Has become a fan of BMW for their feel but willing to do something different. Three year car then it's gone. There are three ways this can go down:

1. E46 330i 5 speed - her DD. Simply replace this with an automatic something that still has a back seat for infrequent but enough use. (Insert options), beside an E9x automatic

2. Z3 5 speed. Occupies the convertible spot in the garage, and also a lightly prepped STR autox'r. Keep the E46 as a car with a real back seat and still fun to drive, and instead replace the Z3. C5 convertible or (what else good autox w/auto?)

3. Suburban. Orig owner, 2001, 160k. Now it is used only for parts hauling, kart racing (fits inside so no trailer) and trade show booth toter. Replace with a smaller newer SUV like a BMW X3 or . In this scenario the SUV becomes the DD sharing time with the E46 and I buy a 7x14 or so box trailer. This gives me a kart trailer that can also haul the cargo that doesn't fit in the smaller SUV when we need to move stuff.

Looking for other good candidates for any of these categories and WWGRMD?

I would avoid trying to autocross an automatic trans car since it's much less fun to race so I would vote to trade the E46 temporarily. I've driven in heavy rush hour traffic, and just letting the clutch out to creep wasn't as bad as many people make it out to be(tell her to suck it up ). If she smacks you in the back of the head for suggesting that, I would suggest looking at a Jetta TDI, Mazda 3 2.3, GTI, and a Mazda 6. You could also go with an auto E46, but they're may be more maintenance than the other suggestions. Tell her that a 330i isn't a fast car, and a Jetta TDI will feel much faster for daily driving.

Careful, she lurks here. She's the one that only wants to drive a manual. The mornings are fine, it's the afternoon being tired after work that she realized makes her dread the school pickup and she doesn't want to feel that way about it, so we need an auto temporarily in our life.

GTI with DSG? It's not a manual, but it sucks a lot less than a slushbox. Could theoretically replace either of the BMWs, albeit not a convertible.

I've never minded my TDI in heavy traffic because the clutch is so light and the off-idle torque allows creeping along without touching the go-pedal - traffic almost becomes fun. But I can understand her plight as I've owned cars with heavier clutches as well (stop & go in my Cummins was a bear). BMW's aren't bad, but not light either.

I'd probably sell the E46 as it would be the easier of the three to replace a few years from now. She can still drive the Z3 on days when no kid-hauling is required. A one owner Suburban in good condition with known history is rare.

Replace the 330i with an m45? Although if the 330i is nice and you will want another one in the future, replacing it might be somewhat difficult. Most of them seem to be poorly maintained automatic ones that I have seen.

Are you in an area with techno incentives?
Keep everything but lease a Volt or Leaf?
Sample the modern side of automobilia.

Get rid of the e46 and replace with g35, GTO, or anything with a v8.

When driving the kids to school, the answer is always Kia Rondo.

I think that to offer an informed opinion, I'd need to see photos and know the mileage of the 330i...

Well, you asked....

2003, 330i 5 speed, 114k (bought at 70k 4 years ago). Beautiful combo of black sapphire metallic and natural brown interior. All of the BMW stuff is updated - full cooling system, bushings, sunroof repaired, etc. Staggered Contour II's from my old 97 M3/4/5 that this replaced. Best car I've ever owned. To me this car is almost the pinnacle - luxury, speed, ease or repair/maintenance.

pre-owned A3 TDI

pre-owned Volvo C30 (I really think these are going to hold their value well, something to consider if planning on selling in 3 years)

Have her use the suburban. Done. After 3 days she will be happy to have the 5 speed 330 back.

Just drive the Suburban. You already have it and know it.

to bgkast - here's the predecessor

Now that's a school bus

why not an E46 M3 with the hard shifting, generally maligned, but solid SMG box? Since she's a driver she likely won't mind the firm shifts

bgkast wrote:

Is this not an option?

No. Messy divorce with a shiny happy ex who insists that this is the only school he will agree to. Close to him, far from us, I'd rather keep buying cars than paying tens of thousands of dollars for a legal battle to decide where the kids go to school. They like it there, it's just not worth the fight.

When I first saw this I thought meant for us. It checks the automatic trans and lots of torque requirements. It won't fit in the L-shaped parking lot behind her office, so it's out of the running on both counts.

It always costs to trade cars. What would the realistic fuel hit be if she drove the suburban the days when kid hauling is required? I know the urge to trade cars sometimes gets the best of us but I usually end up with sellers regret when I do.

My vote is to keep what you have.

I'd dump the Z3 before the 330. Four doors and four seats is always a useful combo when you have a family. And the 330 is a pretty versatile platform. Plus you love it.

It will always be easy to find a pampered Z3 somewhere. 330i, not so much.

After seeing the pics of the 330i, I don't think it makes sense to sell it. I will change my answer to either just use the suburban when you need an automatic, ornreplace the z3.

I'm sure Junior would make an impression arriving at school in this:

ZOO wrote: I'd dump the Z3 before the 330. Four doors and four seats is always a useful combo when you have a family. And the 330 is a pretty versatile platform. Plus you love it.

Like all of them. The only reason that I didn't wax poetic for the Z3 is because Woody had the temporary hots for the 330

It makes sense to just use the Suburban, but the love of cars doesn't make sense. We like dabbling with new stuff every 2-3 years. We finally got to the point where we traded up enough times to end up with group without a bad apple in the lot. But that still doesn't offset the urge to go on the hunt again. So the desire for an auto DD is a good excuse. She DD'd the Suburban before the M3 came along, and I don't think she wants to do it again. Time for a change. It could be changing any of the three, hence my dilemma.

I would love to do a Volt - I've always thought that they were neat. But to spend nearly $15k on the lease over three years just isn't as palatable. If they put them on sale I would probably do it. Otherwise, I have this opportunity to either find a new fun 4 door, 2 seater or SUV. Just need to decide the right path.