best car to complement M3

BK9731 · 03-21-2015, 08:40 PM

So I am looking for a car/or SUV for my wife. She's a novice driver so nothing too big or fast. I will use it as bad weather car in Boston so will have to be all wheel drive. These are some I've come up with:
1) used Evoque: + compact size, good design for my wife, can handle winter. - expensive for its size and performance
2) used X3: + bigger than Evoque, good value, - sort of boring design
3) used Cayenne: + something I can enjoy as well, - too much for a novice driver
4) used Macan: + compact size, good looking, - not too many used ones in the market

Other ones I'm considering are Audi allroad, MB C300 4 matic. I would appreciate feedback. Thanks

dubsesd · 03-21-2015, 08:53 PM

x5 35d. its my wifes car/family hauler. love the thing especially with a tune

beats · 03-21-2015, 09:51 PM

My wife picked up a x35 M Sport. We're very happy with it. Lots of power. Good luck finding a Macan, great car though...

ShocknAwe · 03-21-2015, 09:54 PM

Go with something that actually has a good truck or similar chassis if you're going for a "SUV." Then it can serve with some utility rather than being a useless mom mobile that may or may not fail the moose test.

Otherwise, get an XC90.

omegaSMP300 · 03-22-2015, 02:52 PM

It sounds like you want a car that can handle some winter weather and doesn't need to be a true utility car (all the cars you listed are luxury suvs). The Evoque is the most capable off road I would imagine but it is the smallest and at face value would be the most costly to maintain. My vote would be for an X3 (or x5) or the Macan. I am not a big fan of the Cayenne personally but I think Porsche hit it out of the park with the Macan. Give them all a test drive and see how she feels. The infotainment interfaces, rear and side visibility will all be very important. Good luck sir!

Revcrazy · 03-22-2015, 03:06 PM

Cayenne or Macan, best performance SUV's on the planet in their respective segments.

AstonKarim · 03-22-2015, 05:19 PM

Audi SQ5?

DocWeatherington · 03-22-2015, 08:00 PM

Macan would be my vote

Efthreeoh · 03-22-2015, 08:55 PM

I bought my wife a Hummer H3T in 2009. She'll die before giving it up. Her other car is a Z3.

drexplode · 03-22-2015, 09:48 PM

m235i xdrive

IEDEI · 03-22-2015, 10:11 PM

why does it have to be an SUV? ick!

Golf R
WRX
Audi Allroad

all good cars.

hellrotm · 03-22-2015, 11:09 PM

Audi SQ5, some nice second hand ones out there. My buddy has one, I actually kind of prefer it to the Macan S I test drove.

Nitrousbird · 03-23-2015, 04:56 AM

SQ5 or a loaded up Q5. Can even get them in a diesel now.

I'm hoping my wife gets a Q7 diesel when she is ready to part with her A4.

cloakster · 03-23-2015, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IEDEI

why does it have to be an SUV? ick!

Golf R
WRX
Audi Allroad

all good cars.

+1

Audi A4 Allroad gets my vote.

E92LNGCGY · 03-24-2015, 03:24 PM

What about Audi Q3? Looks good, priced very competitively. Although not sure if your wife wants something that small. I am considering this for mom.

I agree with others about the A4 allroad and the new C class. Both are great vehicles.

Fundguy1 · 03-24-2015, 08:51 PM

Really depends on how much you want to pay and what you're using it for. What's the budget? Do you need an SUV? My 3 vehicles are my 335i vert which is my M3 killer, an '07 M5, and a '12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit with a Hemi. I need the Jeep for towing and carrying stuff. I may trade it for a GL 550/63 or SRT version soon. That said I love it and though in Florida there's no snow, I am sure the 4wd version would rock in the snow. Smaller SUVs and crossovers typically suck in the snow as they don't have the necessary weight and just float on it. And if you don't have a larger vehicle for carrying stuff you may want to get bigger as a compliment. I traded in an armada for the jeep and miss its size on a regular basis which is why I'm looking GL now. And don't worry about the size of the Jeep being to much for a novice driver. My Cuban immigrant fiancé who's been driving for only a few years uses it as her daily driver. It has all the safety goodies such as lane changing warning sensors, auto speed tracking cruise, backup camera, etc.

Flying Ace · 03-25-2015, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubsesd

x5 35d. its my wifes car/family hauler. love the thing especially with a tune

A beauty! I also have a X5d

BMWDEMON · 03-25-2015, 02:27 PM

I had a X3 35 M package and it was wonderful!

fecurtis · 03-25-2015, 02:34 PM

A Toyota Camry, that way if/when she drives it into something, none of you will care that it's banged up.

kaede · 03-25-2015, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fecurtis

A Toyota Camry, that way if/when she drives it into something, none of you will care that it's banged up.

Couldn't agree more. Getting her a "nice" used SUV or car just doesn't really make sense when you did mention she is a novice driver. Also, by going to a more premium car right away she will never appreciate the gadgets and technologies that premium cars comes with.

Stick with something simple, a Golf, Used Audi A3/A4 at most, Mini cooper? (new ones are quite fun and cheap). Good Luck and let us know what you ended up with!

ShocknAwe · 03-25-2015, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaede

Couldn't agree more. Getting her a "nice" used SUV or car just doesn't really make sense when you did mention she is a novice driver. Also, by going to a more premium car right away she will never appreciate the gadgets and technologies that premium cars comes with.

Stick with something simple, a Golf, Used Audi A3/A4 at most, Mini cooper? (new ones are quite fun and cheap). Good Luck and let us know what you ended up with!

Isn't the OP talking about his wife? Not his daughter.

kaede · 03-25-2015, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Isn't the OP talking about his wife? Not his daughter.

lol, I never mentioned daughter did I?

Since she is a novice driver, and OP is buying her a car, I am assuming that it is gonna be one of her first cars ever. Therefore, giving her a premium car with powerful engines and luxuries will only spoil her

Plus, if she bangs it up cost of repairs etc is gonna be much more. And she'll probably feel much more sorry if its a premium brand vs a more economical brand.

Just personal perference xD i am in around the same situation, Fiance never ever had her own car, we've been shopping around and we've decided to get a used mini cooper so she can drive the shit outta it (and perfect her third pedal, yup, getting her to drive a MT). We'll upgrade her car when she is more experienced.

03-21-2015, 08:40 PM	#1
BK9731 Enlisted Member 27 Rep 45 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	best car to complement M3 So I am looking for a car/or SUV for my wife. She's a novice driver so nothing too big or fast. I will use it as bad weather car in Boston so will have to be all wheel drive. These are some I've come up with: 1) used Evoque: + compact size, good design for my wife, can handle winter. - expensive for its size and performance 2) used X3: + bigger than Evoque, good value, - sort of boring design 3) used Cayenne: + something I can enjoy as well, - too much for a novice driver 4) used Macan: + compact size, good looking, - not too many used ones in the market Other ones I'm considering are Audi allroad, MB C300 4 matic. I would appreciate feedback. Thanks
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03-21-2015, 08:53 PM	#2
dubsesd #dubspec 6328 Rep 5,200 Posts Drives: G05 X5/ 2016 F80 M3 INDVL Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (2)	x5 35d. its my wifes car/family hauler. love the thing especially with a tune __________________ LCI ///F80 M3 Individual Atlantis Metallic / Black Full / Carbon Cermics / 6MT MPE / M Performance & Carbon package / KW v3 / 20" HRE R101LW / 20" HRE 527s / Michelin PSS / 20% tint / 3d Design / Streckenn splitters / OEM GTS hood / EAS Carbon seatbacks / Carbon RKP sideskirt / Bootmod3 / M Performance Tri color alcantara / AWE S Flow instagram: @ dubsesd
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03-21-2015, 09:51 PM	#3
beats Lieutenant 225 Rep 599 Posts Drives: 2015 911 GTS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	My wife picked up a x35 M Sport. We're very happy with it. Lots of power. Good luck finding a Macan, great car though...
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03-21-2015, 09:54 PM	#4
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3231 Rep 7,889 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 Truck Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	Go with something that actually has a good truck or similar chassis if you're going for a "SUV." Then it can serve with some utility rather than being a useless mom mobile that may or may not fail the moose test. Otherwise, get an XC90. __________________ 2010 135i 6MT Jet Black N54/3 FE82 Mutt \| BUILD THREAD \| GARAGE SALE
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03-22-2015, 02:52 PM	#5
omegaSMP300 Lieutenant 65 Rep 520 Posts Drives: Macan S, Boxster GTS, R8 V10+ Join Date: May 2012 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	It sounds like you want a car that can handle some winter weather and doesn't need to be a true utility car (all the cars you listed are luxury suvs). The Evoque is the most capable off road I would imagine but it is the smallest and at face value would be the most costly to maintain. My vote would be for an X3 (or x5) or the Macan. I am not a big fan of the Cayenne personally but I think Porsche hit it out of the park with the Macan. Give them all a test drive and see how she feels. The infotainment interfaces, rear and side visibility will all be very important. Good luck sir! __________________ 2017 R8 V10 Plus, 2016 Boxster GTS, 2015 Macan S, 2015 V12 Vantage S - Pending Sale, 2013 911 C4S - Sold, 2012 V8 Vantage S - Sold, 2013 DB9 - Sold, 2011 997.2 Targa 4s - Sold, 2011 E90 335i M-Sport - Sold, 2013 981 Boxster S - Sold, 2006 E46 M3 - Sold, 2010 E60 M5 - Sold, 2006 E46 M3 - Sold, 2011.5 E90 M3 - Sold, 2006 325i - Sold, 2004 Mazda6 - Sold
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03-22-2015, 03:06 PM	#6
Revcrazy Banned 61 Rep 450 Posts Drives: M3 coupe Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Driver's seat iTrader: (0)	Cayenne or Macan, best performance SUV's on the planet in their respective segments.
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03-22-2015, 05:19 PM	#7
AstonKarim First Lieutenant 38 Rep 378 Posts Drives: 2022 Audi RS5 Sportback Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Audi SQ5? __________________ 2022 Audi RS5 Sportback SOLD 2013 BMW 335i M Sport Xdrive / MPPK / MPE / Alpine White / Black Dakota Leather / M Sport Brake / 19"Style 403m / M Perf Diffuser
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03-22-2015, 08:00 PM	#8
DocWeatherington Brigadier General 2933 Rep 4,076 Posts Drives: F90 CP Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: US iTrader: (0) Garage List 23 Bmw M3 [10.00]	Macan would be my vote
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03-22-2015, 08:55 PM	#9
Efthreeoh General 17199 Rep 18,691 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I bought my wife a Hummer H3T in 2009. She'll die before giving it up. Her other car is a Z3. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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03-22-2015, 09:48 PM	#10
drexplode Brigadier General 1779 Rep 3,061 Posts Drives: G26 i4x Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walled Lake Michigan iTrader: (17)	m235i xdrive
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03-22-2015, 10:11 PM	#11
IEDEI Banned 1130 Rep 4,686 Posts Drives: L'Orange Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Brooklyn, NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 1M [8.40]	why does it have to be an SUV? ick! Golf R WRX Audi Allroad all good cars.
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03-22-2015, 11:09 PM	#12
hellrotm Banned 4143 Rep 6,926 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: ...Location...Location iTrader: (0)	Audi SQ5, some nice second hand ones out there. My buddy has one, I actually kind of prefer it to the Macan S I test drove.
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03-23-2015, 04:56 AM	#13
Nitrousbird Banned 432 Rep 1,602 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Powell, OH iTrader: (2)	SQ5 or a loaded up Q5. Can even get them in a diesel now. I'm hoping my wife gets a Q7 diesel when she is ready to part with her A4.
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03-24-2015, 03:24 PM	#15
E92LNGCGY Lieutenant Colonel 433 Rep 1,732 Posts Drives: F97/Q5/982 GT4 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	What about Audi Q3? Looks good, priced very competitively. Although not sure if your wife wants something that small. I am considering this for mom. I agree with others about the A4 allroad and the new C class. Both are great vehicles.
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03-24-2015, 08:51 PM	#16
Fundguy1 Major General 2031 Rep 8,339 Posts Drives: 335 e93 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, fl iTrader: (0)	Really depends on how much you want to pay and what you're using it for. What's the budget? Do you need an SUV? My 3 vehicles are my 335i vert which is my M3 killer, an '07 M5, and a '12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit with a Hemi. I need the Jeep for towing and carrying stuff. I may trade it for a GL 550/63 or SRT version soon. That said I love it and though in Florida there's no snow, I am sure the 4wd version would rock in the snow. Smaller SUVs and crossovers typically suck in the snow as they don't have the necessary weight and just float on it. And if you don't have a larger vehicle for carrying stuff you may want to get bigger as a compliment. I traded in an armada for the jeep and miss its size on a regular basis which is why I'm looking GL now. And don't worry about the size of the Jeep being to much for a novice driver. My Cuban immigrant fiancé who's been driving for only a few years uses it as her daily driver. It has all the safety goodies such as lane changing warning sensors, auto speed tracking cruise, backup camera, etc. __________________ '08 e93 AW 335i 6MT,Vargas Stg 2+ 20T clipped,VRSF catless dps & 7"FMIC,ER chargepipe&Tial, MMP inlets&outlets,Motiv Stg 2 fuel rail&dual disc clutch/fly, JB4G5,MHD w/Motiv tune,Fuel-it Stg 3 LPFP,Wavetrac LSD w/lockdown, KwV2,M3(Strut brace,frt control arms,steering wheel)AKE blk sub bush,re11 245/305,19x8.5et30&19x11et43,SmartTop,RE trans mounts,Msport rear bump & skirts,15%tint,ZSP knob,Stoptech rotors,241k miles Last edited by Fundguy1; 03-24-2015 at 09:02 PM..
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03-25-2015, 02:27 PM	#18
BMWDEMON Super modder 104 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: E90 M3 & E46 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (1)	I had a X3 35 M package and it was wonderful! __________________ SOLD - 2005 E46 M3 ZCP - I/B on black CURRENT - 2011 E90 M3 - meticulously modified 2015 X1 Xdrive 28i
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03-25-2015, 02:34 PM	#19
fecurtis Banned 3262 Rep 6,299 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 335i M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Arlington, VA iTrader: (0)	A Toyota Camry, that way if/when she drives it into something, none of you will care that it's banged up.
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