[skim]

As I think about my impending future of married life, the painful decision I'll have to make will come true: trading/selling the M3 for a family car.
I already started looking into a 4Runner or GLK. But for those who had to make the change, what's your opinion about SUV vs wagon?
I'm not an SUV guy, but I see how usable it'll be with a kid, but how about a wagon instead? There's no way in hell I'm EVER going to own or drive a minivan, so we can at least save some talk there.

[pixelblue]

don't do it! it's not too late

[Uber V8]

cts-v wagon. problem solved

[migue90]

Range/land rover

[vwong]

<<< Married, with twin girls.

No SUV nor mini van here, and we're totally fine with the 2 cars we currently have. SUV or mini van just equals more room to pack more unnecessary shit in it.
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[Greenkirby21]

well you don't HAVE to sell your car. Sure, its better, but you don't have too.

My dad is a big BMW guy, and growing up my dad has had M's and bmw coupes. We are 3 children, and that didn't stop him from getting the cars he enjoys.

That being said, my mom always had sedans(mostly 3 series and 5 series).

Most people think you need an SUV for a family, and unless you are messy or something, you don't really. Of course, it depends on your needs and wants . Being 6"1 now, I fit into the back of BMWS perfectly fine.

With a family of 5, 3 kids, we never owned an SUV until I turned 15 or 16 and thats because we got 3 cars instead of 2. I drove SUV while my dad enjoyed his M3 and my mom her Z4.

Granted, you have to pick your battles. If you have a coupe M3 then it will be extra effort to get the kids back there. But in the end, I would rather spend that extra time each day then having to drive an SUV :P.

That being said, there are definitely fine choices of cars

[Uber V8]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

well you don't HAVE to sell your car. Sure, its better, but you don't have too.

My dad is a big BMW guy, and growing up my dad has had M's and bmw coupes. We are 3 children, and that didn't stop him from getting the cars he enjoys.

That being said, my mom always had sedans(mostly 3 series and 5 series).

Most people think you need an SUV for a family, and unless you are messy or something, you don't really. Of course, it depends on your needs and wants . Being 6"1 now, I fit into the back of BMWS perfectly fine.

With a family of 5, 3 kids, we never owned an SUV until I turned 15 or 16 and thats because we got 3 cars instead of 2. I drove SUV while my dad enjoyed his M3 and my mom her Z4.

Granted, you have to pick your battles. If you have a coupe M3 then it will be extra effort to get the kids back there. But in the end, I would rather spend that extra time each day then having to drive an SUV :P.

That being said, there are definitely fine choices of cars

[py0413]

I moved from M3 to a SUV(RX) and I wish I never did that switch. My first SUV and the last. I might be able to live with a wagon, they drive more like a car.

[quiksi]

I got the E90 while I was engaged to my now wife, with full intention of keeping it through the first two kids (hopefully no more than that!) - as a trade-off, I offered up my truck as a trade for the minivan if it ever came down to it - as long as I get to keep the M3! (my wife drives a RAV4 and would probably not get anything bigger than a Lexus RX/BMW X3)

[skim]

yea.. i really don't want to get rid of the m3..
that's why i got an e90 to begin with. but the story gets a bit more complicated..

she has a camry, but she wants to get an SUV.. now of course i thought about changing her car to the SUV and be done with it, but my car being a manual and her not being able to drive a manual car, i want there to be 2nd car she can drive in case of emergency.
i can teach her to drive manual, but her driving out my car will keep me up all night, not to mention her driving judgement is the brightest all the time.. lol

price we car guys have to pay at times..

[N 5 4]

I don't think you need to get rid of the M3. Long story short, I purchased 2007 rdx cuv when I was single (don't ask why, but fell in love with the handling on a beefy car). 2 years later, got into relationship, had a child, and still rarely drove the cuv. I had small cars.

10 months ago, we had our second child; 5 months ago, I purchased a 335iS. The rdx (my daily) and Prius (not me) does all the daily hauling. The iS is the toy. I still don't find the need for a minivan, although I've given it some thought on long road trips.

Strollers take up a lot of trunk space; carseats will stick with the car until the kids are heavy enough to be without one. Afterwards, a minivan or suv for a family of 4 is still not a requirement.

If I did it all again, I'd purchase a larger luxury sedan for the family instead of the small suv (cuv).

[Black Flagged]

the M3 is a family car!!! just faster than the rest!!! it should work just fine with a young family so wait on selling that classic car... don't give in... please...

[X54SiQI]

You should keep your M3, like Greenkirby21 said, if you don't mind extra effort to get the kids back there.

I drive my ISF way more than X5M, even when going out with wife and 2 kids.

[cssnms]

Been there and done that... Was forced to sell my beloved estroil blue '99 M-Coupe when my wife was pregnant. I say "forced" but I made the decision and it was the right one.

We first purchased a Jeep Grand Cherokee then added a 4 door sedan to the mix -- a Jetta to be exact which owned for 6 months and couldn't stand it so we sold it and bought a Lexus IS. As our family grew (both kids are now 8 and 5) we moved up to an SUV with 3 rows of seating - Lexus GX470. The extra seating is nice when you have a family of four esp if they play sports. You will be driving your kids, their friends and their teammates around along with chairs, equipment etc. We eventually sold the IS and bought a '11 BMW E90, but we kept the Lexus the entire time. Now we have 3 kids (our 3rd was born Aug 13th. Is an SUV a requirement, no, but it does make life easier and you won't catch me dead in a mini-van, so it's a good compromise.

It's not the end of the world and eventually you will find yourself back in something that brings a smile to your face. It is amazing how having kids changes your putlook and priorities though.

[TK-421]

i don't get why people need SUV's with one or even 2 kids. hell, adults fit into most sedans these days and are just as safe. if you have 3 or more then that's a different story

[BMW F22]

Don't get a 4Runner. It's base on the chassis of a truck (tacoma I believe) so the ride isn't all that compliant. It's pretty rough. You might not like it after a month or two. But I agree that you should just stick with a sedan. There is no need for an SUV when you only have 1 kid.

[shazzy04]

I drove a buddy back to university last night in his moms minivan and let me just say, sitting in the back seat with the chair reclined on the way up was helluva ride. Got me a nice nap and all !



I would never own just a minivan though.

[Hierlevelz]

I never understand why people equate kids with minivans. My son is a few weeks away and granted my 335i probably isnt the best for R&R of a baby seat I'll be damn if I get a minivan. An E90 335i or M3 will more than suffice if I trade it in to accomodate him. My cousins wife told me that I "NEEDED" a minivan and I looked at her like she had two heads. My bro has a 2yo and his 550i works just fine I told her.

[liquid]

i would get a 3 series sedan. i am married and there are talks of a kid. my wife also cant drive my 6mt. i have thought of making the switch f30. if you want something bigger then a sedan look a at a 3 series wagon. if you are set on a suv take a look at the crosstrek. i am not an suv fan but that looks amazing in pictures.

[NoM3ForMe]

Originally Posted by vwong

SUV or mini van just equals more room to pack more unnecessary shit in it.

This quote delivers buckets of truth. I have a minivan AND an SUV, and the amount of shit we haul with us on trips to our beach cabin is stupid...

[Danconia]

Keep the E90 M3. I had one and it works fine. I have two little kids and now have a rear facing seat and a front facing Recaro in an M5. It's little tight only because I am tall but very doable. Wife has an SUV but honestly, we take my car on the weekend because I like to drive and we all fit fine.

I got rid of my E90 and got...an Escalade!!!....when I had my firstborn and traded it in less than a year later on the M5. Nice and comfy but totally not necessary. Plus I missed my Ms. Thought I needed all that room and size but it is a myth.

[MikeyV]

Mercedes R Class might not be pretty but as a family vehicle it's hard to beat.