[thebmw]

I have a backup one of one build BMW M6 f13 manual for my other one of one build BMW M6 f13 manual. That's how back up cars should be done.

[pbonsalb]

My 2018 M5 is my back up car to my 1999 M3. It is a good snow and rain car and good for hauling trash to the dump and taking the dogs to the vet. I rarely drive the M3 and rely mostly on the back up M5.

[Angler1]

Originally Posted by thebmw

I have a backup one of one build BMW M6 f13 manual for my other one of one build BMW M6 f13 manual. That's how back up cars should be done.

I guess I should order the identical M3CX, keep one in the garage and drive one. Or maybe a GT3RS for a back up?

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by Angler1

okay

She’s a beaut!

[bucketfoot]

Quite simply there is nothing special or exclusive about pretty much any BMW. They are meant to be driven... So drive the damn thing

[Angler1]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

Quite simply there is nothing special or exclusive about pretty much any BMW. They are meant to be driven... So drive the damn thing

I do. Trust me. But I don't want to run through a Pittsburgh sloppy, salty, winter if possible. I'd like to keep it "shiny" for years. I own it outright, and plan to keep it for the long hull at this point. Doing a little tuning and mods. So hence a backup car in the fleet would be nice for those crappy days, and back up for the family if a car is down.

[dfc888]

I just added a R56 Mini JCW that a previous owner set up for the track with half a roll cage to my fleet as my “back up daily” also to preserve my other cars.

It’s nice to hop into something else BMW built in the early 2000s and I like to think it’s capable enough to hoon around almost like a baby “///M0.5”

Being silly with the classic BMW plate frames on the Mini until my historic vehicle plates come for my other car lol

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Angler1

okay

Thats a gorgeous car.

If small car F series M240xi if you can fit in your budget. Otherwise X3 or Macan.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Angler1

very very nice. if i had that car it would also be a garage queen, it's too nice to drive! i only have a M550i and that one already is a garage queen, i drive Kia EVs (they seem to get awarded 'world car of the year' every year it seems)

anyway, i would recommend try an EV like the iX with B&W and air suspension, it's like riding in a private jet in the thing

[vt100]

Originally Posted by KevinC

2018 Golf R. Super versatile. Fun. Practical. I might be a bit biased.🙃

Meh... Aging VW isn't fun to work on...
Though the car itself is great

[Angler1]

Originally Posted by G30M

very very nice. if i had that car it would also be a garage queen, it's too nice to drive! i only have a M550i and that one already is a garage queen, i drive Kia EVs (they seem to get awarded 'world car of the year' every year it seems)

anyway, i would recommend try an EV like the iX with B&W and air suspension, it's like riding in a private jet in the thing

What about those kia ev's? Would they do snow okay? Wife drives a palisade and I'm impressed with it from a value perspective. Thought about a kia / hyundai ev as a back up. Then I would have an exciting spring time every year getting the m3 out.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by vt100

Meh... Aging VW isn't fun to work on...
Though the car itself is great

Every now and then I help friends or family members with cars I am not familiar with. In the past year there was a neglected 2016 Beetle Turbo with 70k miles. I thought it was sort of a pain. The water pump is driven off the intermediate shaft. Lots of carbon and goo in the intake ports as well. But my F90 M5 is even more of a pain to work on.

If I bought another car to go with my M5, it would be either an SUV or a 911 Turbo. I would be looking for something different, either way more practical like the SUV or way more sporty like the 911 Turbo, rather than a budget alternative to the car I have. To me the Golf R is a car for someone who can’t afford an M3/4 or buys as a stepping stone along the path to having an M3/4 one day.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Angler1

I guess I should order the identical M3CX, keep one in the garage and drive one. Or maybe a GT3RS for a back up?

Exactly. That way one becomes the "disposable" car while the other is the garage queen.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Every now and then I help friends or family members with cars I am not familiar with. In the past year there was a neglected 2016 Beetle Turbo with 70k miles. I thought it was sort of a pain. The water pump is driven off the intermediate shaft. Lots of carbon and goo in the intake ports as well. But my F90 M5 is even more of a pain to work on.

I'm comparing VW to older BMW (E-series and before) and also to Japanese cars. Older BMW usually built quite logically, and in most cases you won't need special tools (even if RM says they're required) and you can get away with generic stuff.
VW, on the other hand, does require special tools starting with triple-square bolts and the deeper you go into the car you need more and more of special things

Modern BMW... I dunno, I just don't like them and don't really care
But a friend of mine was rebuilding the cooling system on his 5-series (B58 based) lately. And man! This thing looks nightmarish to work on in terms of complexity :-o So I'm really glad I'm sticking to older cars

[pbonsalb]

Yes, that 2016 Beetle introduced me to triple square sockets. I now have a set. And have used them on my 2021 Porsche Cayenne S.

Older cars are older. I still maintain the 2008 E61 535xi that we had for 10 years before giving it to a friend in need. It now has 165k miles. I did a lot of preventative maintenance on it since I originally planned to keep it at another house. Rod bearings, turbos, water pump and thermostat, struts and springs, valve cover gasket, etc. still a great car! But I prefer my M5 even though it is a challenge.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Angler1

What about those kia ev's? Would they do snow okay? Wife drives a palisade and I'm impressed with it from a value perspective. Thought about a kia / hyundai ev as a back up. Then I would have an exciting spring time every year getting the m3 out.

The AWD ones are good in snow.

I considered a Palisade but got the EV version instead (EV9)

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Angler1

But I don't want to run through a Pittsburgh sloppy, salty, winter if possible. I'd like to keep it "shiny" for years.

Solution to that is a bucket and sponge, not another car

[pbonsalb]

Drive through car wash with undercarriage spray once a week in winter. But honestly, if you have OCD and are going to get anxiety from a little surface rust on underbody parts after a few years, you should probably it another car. I have been driving in New England winters for 30 years and no matter what you do, you will get some rust. You can take precautions that will reduce it, but you can’t prevent it. Does not bother me because I buy nice cars to drive — it would bother me more to be driving a beater when I had another car that could do the job.

[Bald Guy]

Maybe pick up a new Camry so you have peace of mind and you don't have to worry about using it as much as you need to. Some folks will laugh at this but it's just an opinion.

[HCGxKaLiBeR]

I have a $6k Suzuki SX4 as backup. I drive it to grocery shopping and unfamiliar places. I park where ever is convient, don't care about dings, don't need to maintain line of sight. Sometimes I even use it bump grocery cart away that blocks my parking space. It's a tank in snow, super low profile too.

[dumptruck]

Get a tacoma.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by HCGxKaLiBeR

I have a $6k Suzuki SX4 as backup. I drive it to grocery shopping and unfamiliar places. I park where ever is convient, don't care about dings, don't need to maintain line of sight. Sometimes I even use it bump grocery cart away that blocks my parking space. It's a tank in snow, super low profile too.

i daily a 50k Kia electric truck. i also don't care about dings because it's a Kia!

the stupid EV Kia is preventing me from driving my BMW, it's just so good around town and beyond. now i'm itching to get a F90 to replace the garage queen though a good one doesn't exist. i'm just not into the smaller M cars, too cramped. yet i'm a skinny 150 pound person ...