Two great finds..too few doors

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:13 pm

As a few of you know I am finally looking to replace my daily driver. While a G35 Sedan is top on my list, I am still keeping my options opened. In my looking, and a few friends making somewhat serious suggestions (yeah, that Lambo should work)..we came across two great deals that just won’t work for my needs….bummer..

The first is a 04 GTO for the loan payoff..only 38K miles on it. Not low, but not outrageous. The second one is a 2002 E46 M3 with all options deleted, almost a CLS-lightweight. The car was special ordered to be a track car, but then the owner went the E36 Spec route instead. I bet this car is 200 lbs lighter than a standard E46. He even already has suspension and other go-fast goodies on the car. It just basically needs a roll-bar if you wanted to track it. And as a Daily driver it would be a blast.

Problem is both of these are 2 doors, and I really need a good four door, or at least a two door that I can get an infant seat in and out of.

Bummer…

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Marty Howard wrote:

Problem is both of these are 2 doors, and I really need a good four door, or at least a two door that I can get an infant seat in and out of.

Bummer…

Not a problem at all with a 2-door BMW. In fact we just test-fit my neighbor's 3 car seats in my M3 because they have a 3rd on the way and wants to sell his truck for an M3.

Personally, if I had to schlep kids around every day, I wouldn't recommend a BMW coupe. But if it's going to be a few times a week, no problem.

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

Marty Howard wrote:

Problem is both of these are 2 doors, and I really need a good four door, or at least a two door that I can get an infant seat in and out of.

Bummer…

If you don't mind the big wing and huge hood scoop, Subaru has a fun daily driver that is kid friendly

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:20 pm

We found the WRX didn’t like rear facing infant seats. The Front seat backs touched the seat unless pushed all of the way up. It works for standard kid seats. The Legacy GT worked just fine though.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:21 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

Problem is both of these are 2 doors, and I really need a good four door, or at least a two door that I can get an infant seat in and out of.

Bummer…

Not a problem at all with a 2-door BMW. In fact we just test-fit my neighbor's 3 car seats in my M3 because they have a 3rd on the way and wants to sell his truck for an M3.

Personally, if I had to schlep kids around every day, I wouldn't recommend a BMW coupe. But if it's going to be a few times a week, no problem.

Did you test with a rear facing seat. It was really close with the E36 we looked at.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Marty Howard wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

Problem is both of these are 2 doors, and I really need a good four door, or at least a two door that I can get an infant seat in and out of.

Bummer…

Not a problem at all with a 2-door BMW. In fact we just test-fit my neighbor's 3 car seats in my M3 because they have a 3rd on the way and wants to sell his truck for an M3.

Personally, if I had to schlep kids around every day, I wouldn't recommend a BMW coupe. But if it's going to be a few times a week, no problem.

Did you test with a rear facing seat. It was really close with the E36 we looked at.

Ah - no we didn't. I had a rear facing in my old 95 325i 4-door though, but it was in the middle. I'd be surprised if it didn't fit behind the passenger side with the pass seat slid foreward though. I will be trying that soon myself soon in the M3. Infant seats will be going in the Durango and the Passat initially.

MarekRozanski · **Posted:** Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:51 pm

If you decide that a 2-door E36 M3 will accomodate your child seat needs, I might know of one coming on the market some time soon.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:43 am

MarekRozanski wrote:

If you decide that a 2-door E36 M3 will accomodate your child seat needs, I might know of one coming on the market some time soon.

Say it ain't so..

Matthew Fortner · **Joined:** Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:21 am **Posts:** 384

I read you can mount a rear facing child seat in a Mazda RX-8. It has fourish doors. They hover close to 3000 lbs depending on the options. It has only 232 hp, but it would be more nimble. The truck opening is narrow though. You can pick one up as low as $15,000 now.

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:35 am

Matthew Fortner wrote:

I read you can mount a rear facing child seat in a Mazda RX-8. It has fourish doors. They hover close to 3000 lbs depending on the options. It has only 232 hp, but it would be more nimble. The truck opening is narrow though. You can pick one up as low as $15,000 now.

I can confirm that you can fit a rear facing seat in an Rx-8. We have one and we fit both a forward and a rear facing seat in the back. The trunk opening is a bit narrow, but it still fits a stroller, suitcase and golf clubs in it. What more do you need?

Also, you can fit four race tires in the car if you don't feel like trailering the car that weekend.

Check out Tom Freeman's Rx-8 that is listed for sale.

adamb

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:41 pm

Marty, if you don't get that E46 M3, ping me. I might be interested. What's the asking price?

Andrew Emery · **Joined:** Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:31 am **Posts:** 12

child seats fit fine in an e36 coupe, so the e46 m3 shouldn't be a problem at all.

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Two great finds..too few doors

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