I have a 6-speed 335 without cold weather package and active steering, but almost everything else. We are expecting a baby and my wife is thinking of getting a car. After possibly having twins, the focus has shifted from a SUV to a car. Today she told me she can just get a BMW - I tried to talk her into a Mini Clubman (I don't know how much of a hassle the back seat is) unsuccessfully. The question is, would you have a 335 and 328 at the same time? Hers would be a 328 with the same options I have except she wants auto. She said she wants a dark blue and I told her she can get whatever she wants (she works too) just so she could see why I've been against dark colored cars. She would also be hesitant about getting a clear bra. My car is white and I told her I would think silver is a good color that will not show as much "stuff."

I most certainly would. I'm trying to convince my wife now! But as far as the color goes, just let her get what she likes, which from the color described seems to be Monaco Blue. Unless she's a "Car Woman" the "stuff" won't matter to her. She'll smile more with the Blue than with the Silver color and that's what matters most

Teach her to drive stick and you should grab the new M3, maybe a 6 series, M6.... BUt on a more serious note, I don't see any reason to not have two 3 series cars. Personally, I love the 3 and will probably stick with 3's for a long time. Although the car is not huge inside, it is big enough and its smaller size makes it more agile than a 5 or 7. The 6s are great too, but, for me, a sedan is more practical and I prefer the look of a sedan.

Sure. Why not. I think I'll get my wife a pre-owned X5 next year. She loves her current SUV (Honda Pilot), but she sat in an X5 at the dealership and loved it. We like having one SUV with a trailer hitch., since it often comes in handy. Plus, for road trips with the family, the 335i's back seat is too cramped for my teenage sons. But yes, if I had two small kids, I would definitely get two 3 series. They are great cars.

She can already drive a manual; we have three cars and all of them are manual. We lived in the DC area with two manuals so if she can drive one in that traffic she can drive one anywhere. But, she wants an auto now.

I think having a dark colored car that doesn't look good will piss me off more than her.

Get her a beige 335i Auto and de-badge it. That would be a great sleeper. Especially with a car seat in the back.

Why not get an X3 or X5, they are not really your typical SUV, at least not handling wise, and they provide more flexibility in where you can go and what you can carry. Still 2 e90s is not a bad thing.

Why not get an X3 or X5, they are not really your typical SUV, at least not handling wise, and they provide more flexibility in where you can go and what you can carry. Still 2 e90s is not a bad thing.

A X3 is a possibility. I guess no matter what we end up with we are blessed to even have a choice.

I have an e92 335i and just got my wife an e90 335i. So in response, I would say yes, I would. Frankly, you don't need a SUV for hauling kids around. I have 2 boys (age 4 and 8) and have used a Mini, 335i, and an X3 as my kiddie hauler. Folks who say you need a SUV for kids are mistaken.

Having said that I would not use another Mini. But the e90 is just fine.

Get your wife what she wants!

As White05X3 suggests, get what your wife wants. I say this after 26 years of marriage, 2 kids and more than a few cars. The happier she is with her car the longer she will be content to keep it and, most importantly, the less it will be your fault when something goes wrong.

That said, I have never bought the argument that SUVs are logical for small families. If you need to haul lots and lots of “stuff” and have one or two kids, the safest approach is a European wagon. Beyond that minivans are extremely practical and have an excellent safety record (and a low risk of rollover). But there is no reason that a 2 child family can not get by with anything from a VW Rabbit up, and many do.

Good luck with the baby(ies)!

I have an e92 335i and just got my wife an e90 335i. So in response, I would say yes, I would. Frankly, you don't need a SUV for hauling kids around. I have 2 boys (age 4 and 8) and have used a Mini, 335i, and an X3 as my kiddie hauler. Folks who say you need a SUV for kids are mistaken.

Having said that I would not use another Mini. But the e90 is just fine.

Get your wife what she wants!

What she really wants is a Range Rover Sport. I'm totally against this because that is really a off-road luxury vehicle (I know most owners will not take them off-road) and Land Rover is consistently last in reliability.

You say you wouldn't use another Mini, but would you even consider the Mini Clubman?

Another issue is, she will not drive my car. She has only driven it two or three times and we were together on a short road trip. She knows how I am about my car and she feels like she will do something to damage it. I don't like this, but I can't change her feelings. Yes, it is just a car, but that is no reason for careless mistakes. For the record, I'm harder on myself for doing something stupid.

I've got a 2007 Odyssey and a 2008 335i, and 3 year old twins :). Given that, lemme tell you, it's VERY nice to have a decent sedan and it will do FINE with the kids, but the first year of having car seats facing the rear will be tough - there isn't enough room in the 335 for the majority of car seats situated like that. After you turn the seats around, it'll be fine 2 have 2 car seats in the rear, but there isn't a lot of leg room and the like (so they'll be kicking your seat and scuffing it), and there is no stock in-car entertainment option...

The Odyssey is definitely not a requirement, but MAN it drives nicely for such a big car, and has tons of options designed for families. We had a sport wagon at first, and sold it for the odyssey after having to do 2 car trips a LOT to handle a baby sitter, a mother-in-law, a friend and their kid(s), etc. The Odyssey handles 7+ people with baby gear and other stuff easily, with DVD playing and such easily. And it gets 26-30mpg for us on regular, has active noise cancellation so it's quiet, etc.

SUV's are not what people need, they are purely ego trips. Minivans are for families, BMW's are for drivers. Having one of each is PERFECT :) (and yes, I drive the van often, it's not just for my wife).

You say you wouldn't use another Mini, but would you even consider the Mini Clubman?




I would need to look at it. My reasons (relevant to the old New Mini) are:

1. Lack of rear crush space. I was just uncomfortable with the backrest of the back seat being behind the rear axle and so little distance to the rear bumper.
2. Lack of luggage space. This is relevant for stroller storage.

Also there is very little leg room in the back of the Mini. I don't know how tall your wife is, but she would probably be very uncomfortable in front of a rear facing car seat in one.

As for safety, let me tell you a story. My 05 Mini Cooper S was wiped out one day on a rain slicked road. In the car were me and my (then) 6 year old son. Some dumb b**ch used my car as a guard rail with the front of her 4Runner. The entire driver's side was mangled. Despite that, the door opened, I drove the car to the body shop (after dropping my son off at school) and we were both uninjured. The driver of the 4Runner was the only person injured in the collision. Minis are TOUGH!!!!

One more thing I must add. I will not make a payment on a mini-van in this lifetime. Basically, I would have to win one or be given one. 1 trip, 2 trips, it just doesn't matter.

One more thing I must add. I will not make a payment on a mini-van in this lifetime. Basically, I would have to win one or be given one. 1 trip, 2 trips, it just doesn't matter.

Me either, pay cash :).
Your tune on this may change quickly once the kids come along. Good luck!

SUV's are not what people need, they are purely ego trips.

Quite the assumption...I love when people generalize. :rolleyes

I can assure you that my suburban is the last thing from an ego trip....with a family of 6 who travels alot I found it much more practical for my family than a mini-van. What works for some may not work for others. Why must people always attack others who don't do things EXACTLY like they do? :confused

I have a 6-speed 335 without cold weather package and active steering, but almost everything else. We are expecting a baby and my wife is thinking of getting a car. After possibly having twins, the focus has shifted from a SUV to a car. Today she told me she can just get a BMW - I tried to talk her into a Mini Clubman (I don't know how much of a hassle the back seat is) unsuccessfully. The question is, would you have a 335 and 328 at the same time? Hers would be a 328 with the same options I have except she wants auto. She said she wants a dark blue and I told her she can get whatever she wants (she works too) just so she could see why I've been against dark colored cars. She would also be hesitant about getting a clear bra. My car is white and I told her I would think silver is a good color that will not show as much "stuff."

Sure. Why not. I think I'll get my wife a pre-owned X5 next year. She loves her current SUV (Honda Pilot), but she sat in an X5 at the dealership and loved it. We like having one SUV with a trailer hitch., since it often comes in handy. Plus, for road trips with the family, the 335i's back seat is too cramped for my teenage sons. But yes, if I had two small kids, I would definitely get two 3 series. They are great cars.

Hello "tomegun" and "brokenbimmer":

If you have not been parents before, you can not realize all the "stuff" you will need to carry when the baby is small. When it (they) get larger, the amount of "stuff" you need to carry will lessen, but the kid(s) will get larger.

Go with what "brokenbimmer" and I did. Keep the 335 for carrying a sub-set of the family and for helping you get through those stressful times. Get the X5 (suggest the 4.8 liter 350 HP version) to carry all the baby related "stuff" and the entire family. Getting back into the wife's X5 for a 220 mile round trip over the long weekend was not as satisfying as running the twisties in my 335 but it was damn sure better than any other choice. Just ask the G35 I was chasing at 100+.

Me either, pay cash :).
Your tune on this may change quickly once the kids come along. Good luck!

You are right, I just changed my tune! I will not spend any of my money, monthly payments or cash, towards purchasing, leasing or borrowing a mini-van. How is that?

nm335:

I'm not underestimating how much stuff I will need to carry; I can already imagine. We are having one baby and that child will more than likely be an only child - my wife is one, but I'm not. I'm the type who plans/worries about things like this so I'm not sitting here thinking one baby bag will be th only thing needed. If need be, we will get a SUV. Not something I would be looking forward to, but there are worst things in life (hint, hint, mini-van).

Before getting this car, I was stuffing 2 kids in 2 child seats in the back of my 318ti hatchback along with 1 rather large stroller and kid/baby stuff in the smallish trunk. It wasn't ideal, but it was workable for a few years, until I got fedup with getting the kids through the coupe-like doors. The e90 is proving very capable of handling 2 kids (though 1 childseat and one booster) along with an occasional rear passenger. Trunk space is good too.

Rock a 328 Wagon. SUVs, and the X3 aren't too much bigger and the handle worse and get worse MPG.

328 with some nice rims looks really nice. I'd say an A4 Avant over the bimmer too since it feels a little roomier and looks a little better to me...but then again Audi/VW service as been horrible for me.

Also the ONLY thing a larger car lets you do is take things you DON'T need. People get by fine with normal-sized cars. Having a Suburban means you think you need to take everything and over pack.

I've got to admit I'm not a big X3 fan. A friend got a X3 Sport for his wife and riding in it makes me feel ill... I didn't think it was possible for a ride to be bother harsh and floaty at the same time... :(

I have a 6-speed 335 without cold weather package and active steering, but almost everything else. We are expecting a baby and my wife is thinking of getting a car. After possibly having twins, the focus has shifted from a SUV to a car. Today she told me she can just get a BMW - I tried to talk her into a Mini Clubman (I don't know how much of a hassle the back seat is) unsuccessfully. The question is, would you have a 335 and 328 at the same time? Hers would be a 328 with the same options I have except she wants auto. She said she wants a dark blue and I told her she can get whatever she wants (she works too) just so she could see why I've been against dark colored cars. She would also be hesitant about getting a clear bra. My car is white and I told her I would think silver is a good color that will not show as much "stuff."

The 328xi coupe I keep writing about is actually my wife's. She likes it quite a bit and it has an auto and practially all of the options. I think its a great car and I drive it all the time....I did buy it though...LOL:evil2

I've got to admit I'm not a big X3 fan. A friend got a X3 Sport for his wife and riding in it makes me feel ill... I didn't think it was possible for a ride to be bother harsh and floaty at the same time... :(

Hello "eisenb11":

We got an X3 as a loaner when the X5 was in for service. I agree with your assessment. There is a day and night difference between her X5 and the X3. We hated it. Could not wait to get the X5 back.

We had a minivan until my son didn't want to be in a booster any more (yes, we can do that in HK). But the height and the space sure were nice while we needed it. So with your twins coming, I'd think a 335 is way too small...short trips are probably OK, but it'll be hell if you need to go on long trips. And yes, always let your wife pick the color of her ride...either you suffer every time you see the car or you'll never hear the end of it...your choice.

rlu1338, I guess you haven't been paying attention. We thought we were having twins, but we aren't. Also, any and all talk about a mini-van can stop because it just isn't going to happen for me.
I'm surprised about the X3 comments. I do know that when I drove one it wasn't anything special. My wife does like the current X5...as long as it has running boards on it.

I think having a dark colored car that doesn't look good will piss me off more than her.

It's her car - let her get whatever she wants. And if the dirty car bothers you, then wash it! She'll appreciate it and you'll be happier - a win-win.

Michael

Ya for sure you and your wife both having bimmers. Somethings money can't buy for everything else there's mastercard. LOL

My wife is currently driving a Toyota Sienna and it's great as a family car! Pretty zippy too! The 335i is my "mid-life" crisis (LOL!) but I've always wanted one and have been on cloud nine since...I would probably sell her on the new "crossover" X6 but most likely she wouldn't budge...she likes her Sienna...and I like it too! It's totally practical for family outings and rides pretty well...but for sheer driving excitement I'll hop in the 335i...my kids like it! They like talking to mommy on the bluetooth...

The X6 doesn't make any sense to me. It doesn't have the usefulness of an SUV or wagon and it doesn't have the handling or MPG of a car. And it doesn't look good. Pretty sure they aren't selling too many of those poor bastards.

My wife doesn't like the X6 and I'm not sure I like it either.

Is a Sienna a mini van?

rlu1338, I guess you haven't been paying attention. We thought we were having twins, but we aren't. Also, any and all talk about a mini-van can stop because it just isn't going to happen for me.
I'm surprised about the X3 comments. I do know that when I drove one it wasn't anything special. My wife does like the current X5...as long as it has running boards on it.

I must have missed that. The X5 is indeed nice; my wife likes it very much, too. But her comment was 'it's cute'! Go figure!

As one other poster mentioned earlier, a rear facing child seat will force you to put the passenger seat near the dash and seatback upright to get it to fit. After the little one graduates into a front facing seat all is well. We opted against a 3 series a few years ago for this reason. We ended up getting a FX-35 instead as the X3 interior dash looked like rubbermaid material back then. Just make sure she will not get tired of having the seat all the way forward before investing this much.