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      11-22-2013, 07:23 AM   #1
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M4 Coupe or M4 Convertible

Question: What to buy? M4 Coupe or M4 Convertible
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      11-22-2013, 10:59 AM   #2
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I guess that depends on if you want it in white or black
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      11-22-2013, 11:01 AM   #3
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      11-22-2013, 02:02 PM   #4
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but DCT or 6MT.....???
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      11-22-2013, 02:03 PM   #5
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      11-22-2013, 03:04 PM   #6
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I've owned both an E92 and E93 M3, and although the convertible is heavier and awkward looking with the roof up, I enjoyed the driving experience more on the street. On the track, the E92 is the clear winner.

It all depends on your intended use.
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      11-22-2013, 03:17 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ufgtrs2007 View Post
I've owned both an E92 and E93 M3, and although the convertible is heavier and awkward looking with the roof up, I enjoyed the driving experience more on the street. On the track, the E92 is the clear winner.

It all depends on your intended use.
Just driving around the city, blue Ridge parkway, etc. No track for me, I do have a Z3 and I enjoy driving with the top down, agree both the M3 and what I can see from the M4 Convertible the cars don't look as good as the coupe with the top up. Decision decision
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      11-22-2013, 03:27 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by angelc5 View Post
Just driving around the city, blue Ridge parkway, etc. No track for me, I do have a Z3 and I enjoy driving with the top down, agree both the M3 and what I can see from the M4 Convertible the cars don't look as good as the coupe with the top up. Decision decision

I'm going to wait and evaluate the looks of the convertible versus coupe. But I'm having a hard time justifying going the convertible route since the M division put a lot of work into reducing the weight. I'd hate to put all that weight back on with the metal roof.

If you're thinking convertible, I'd buy the 435i M Sport
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      11-22-2013, 05:03 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by angelc5 View Post
Just driving around the city, blue Ridge parkway, etc. No track for me, I do have a Z3 and I enjoy driving with the top down, agree both the M3 and what I can see from the M4 Convertible the cars don't look as good as the coupe with the top up. Decision decision
If that's all you're going to do, then like ufgtrs2007 suggested, just go with M435i convertible and save the wait and money. I really don't see the point in M3 convertible as you basically just cancel all the work in weight savings and chasis stiffening.
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      11-22-2013, 05:41 PM   #10
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Coupe. Convertables are ugly IMHO, and the loud & windy experience of driving with the top down doesn't really appeal to me.
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      11-22-2013, 06:11 PM   #11
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      11-23-2013, 01:25 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rookie84 View Post
If that's all you're going to do, then like ufgtrs2007 suggested, just go with M435i convertible and save the wait and money. I really don't see the point in M3 convertible as you basically just cancel all the work in weight savings and chasis stiffening.
That is a great point I always wanted to ask posters. Do all M3 owners track their cars?

I want an M3/M4 (still undecided), and yes I will probably take to Silverstone once maybe twice, but after that I'll probably just drive it about just like a normal car. Am I looking to buy a car that is not practical and over priced for day-to-day use?
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      11-23-2013, 01:39 PM   #13
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In my opinion, unless you are driving a proper convertible like a roadster, you need to get a coupe. The E93 was a pig of a car and looks weird with the top down. Convertible GT cars always make me assume a female is driving the car. I can't help it, but when I see a guy getting into a one, I immediately think he knows nothing about cars and got suckered into buying one by a salesman.
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      11-24-2013, 01:02 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ufgtrs2007
Quote:
Originally Posted by angelc5 View Post
Just driving around the city, blue Ridge parkway, etc. No track for me, I do have a Z3 and I enjoy driving with the top down, agree both the M3 and what I can see from the M4 Convertible the cars don't look as good as the coupe with the top up. Decision decision

I'm going to wait and evaluate the looks of the convertible versus coupe. But I'm having a hard time justifying going the convertible route since the M division put a lot of work into reducing the weight. I'd hate to put all that weight back on with the metal roof.

If you're thinking convertible, I'd buy the 435i M Sport
I completely understand what you are saying about the 435 With the M package but I want the real thing a M engine, don't get me wrong but the 435 M sport is like buying a Rolex on the streets of New York.
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      11-24-2013, 08:45 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rookie84 View Post
If that's all you're going to do, then like ufgtrs2007 suggested, just go with M435i convertible and save the wait and money. I really don't see the point in M3 convertible as you basically just cancel all the work in weight savings and chasis stiffening.
It's a fair point.

My recommendation to anyone who decides on a convertible and thinks perhaps a 435i might prove just as capable at serving their particular needs is to simply drive both back-to-back and make the decision.

If indeed you just plan to cruise around leisurely with no intention of using all of the car's available power on a regular basis then you might very well settle on the 435i. For that matter, even a 428i might suffice. If however you plan to take the car out in the country and cane it from time to time, you may not be surprised that the M4, even when in heavier convertible form, still has a lot to offer that the 4 Series can't provide.

You can think about it like this: yes, the convertible does face a noticeable performance penalty vs. the coupe, but knocking over 100hp off the car, dumbing down the suspension and steering, and making all of the other changes that you have to do to get it to be a 4 Series convertible certainly do not help the situation any.

Now, I am speaking from my experience with the E46ciC and E93. It could be different when it comes to F83/F33 but I am betting not.
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      11-24-2013, 09:01 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Money2536 View Post
In my opinion, unless you are driving a proper convertible like a roadster, you need to get a coupe.
For sure a roadster has the better shot at coming in at a more reasonable weight. If you don't need the back seats, it's definitely the way to go. That being said I am not convinced a Z4 35is will actually be a better and more fun car overall than a M4 convertible. In fact it might not weigh that much less. So if you want a two-seater it might be worthwhile to look at other brands too.

Quote:
Convertible GT cars always make me assume a female is driving the car.
I can't help it, but when I see a guy getting into a one, I immediately think he knows nothing about cars and got suckered into buying one by a salesman.
I actually found this funny. You raise another good point - if you do choose the convertible, OP, you'll need to make sure you have thick skin and a relatively high level of a comfort in your manhood.
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      11-24-2013, 01:31 PM   #17
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I never understood the M3 convertible models. It's a motor for the racetrack, but most racetracks don't allow convertibles. I'm not sure what the point is.
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      11-24-2013, 03:00 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mkoesel View Post
It's a fair point.

My recommendation to anyone who decides on a convertible and thinks perhaps a 435i might prove just as capable at serving their particular needs is to simply drive both back-to-back and make the decision.

If indeed you just plan to cruise around leisurely with no intention of using all of the car's available power on a regular basis then you might very well settle on the 435i. For that matter, even a 428i might suffice. If however you plan to take the car out in the country and cane it from time to time, you may not be surprised that the M4, even when in heavier convertible form, still has a lot to offer that the 4 Series can't provide.

You can think about it like this: yes, the convertible does face a noticeable performance penalty vs. the coupe, but knocking over 100hp off the car, dumbing down the suspension and steering, and making all of the other changes that you have to do to get it to be a 4 Series convertible certainly do not help the situation any.

Now, I am speaking from my experience with the E46ciC and E93. It could be different when it comes to F83/F33 but I am betting not.
Very well put. Additionally, if you absolutely need to have M4 power levels, you can easily modify 435's engine and it will still come out to be much cheaper than buying the M4 convertible.
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      11-24-2013, 05:45 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rookie84
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkoesel View Post
It's a fair point.

My recommendation to anyone who decides on a convertible and thinks perhaps a 435i might prove just as capable at serving their particular needs is to simply drive both back-to-back and make the decision.

If indeed you just plan to cruise around leisurely with no intention of using all of the car's available power on a regular basis then you might very well settle on the 435i. For that matter, even a 428i might suffice. If however you plan to take the car out in the country and cane it from time to time, you may not be surprised that the M4, even when in heavier convertible form, still has a lot to offer that the 4 Series can't provide.

You can think about it like this: yes, the convertible does face a noticeable performance penalty vs. the coupe, but knocking over 100hp off the car, dumbing down the suspension and steering, and making all of the other changes that you have to do to get it to be a 4 Series convertible certainly do not help the situation any.

Now, I am speaking from my experience with the E46ciC and E93. It could be different when it comes to F83/F33 but I am betting not.
Very well put. Additionally, if you absolutely need to have M4 power levels, you can easily modify 435's engine and it will still come out to be much cheaper than buying the M4 convertible.
It depends on what the driver wants, but this seems like a poor solution to me...adding power without improving handling seems like a mistake. In a straight line, it'll be fine, but the M models offer far more than just additional power to make them the great cars they are.

Just my opinion.
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      11-24-2013, 07:23 PM   #20
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I think I'm going to wait for the specs on the M4 convertible before making my final decision, hopefully the weight different is not that significant.
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      11-24-2013, 07:28 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mkoesel
Quote:
Originally Posted by Money2536 View Post
In my opinion, unless you are driving a proper convertible like a roadster, you need to get a coupe.
For sure a roadster has the better shot at coming in at a more reasonable weight. If you don't need the back seats, it's definitely the way to go. That being said I am not convinced a Z4 35is will actually be a better and more fun car overall than a M4 convertible. In fact it might not weigh that much less. So if you want a two-seater it might be worthwhile to look at other brands too.

Quote:
Convertible GT cars always make me assume a female is driving the car.
I can't help it, but when I see a guy getting into a one, I immediately think he knows nothing about cars and got suckered into buying one by a salesman.
I actually found this funny. You raise another good point - if you do choose the convertible, OP, you'll need to make sure you have thick skin and a relatively high level of a comfort in your manhood.

I already owned a Z3 Roadster and I love to drive it with the top down.
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      11-24-2013, 07:59 PM   #22
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An M3 convertible is just the pure status symbol model in the family, that's all there is to it.

Which is fine if that's your thing.
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