So after 14mths of leasing an M3 through the business I have decided to hand it back. Several reasons but an opportunity has come up which makes it a no brainer even with the early hand back charge. It has been a definite love hate relationship for me personally although I can understand why others love them, for me they’re just not “all that”.
Personal likes:-
Acceleration (obviously
)
Original purchase / collection experience.
Low running costs
No VED
Surprisingly expansive luggage capacity (beyond my expectation, do they actually count the underfloor area in measurements?)
Ability to heat / cool car prior to leaving the house (although latest updates seem to have made it less functional imo)
Speed of Supercharger network and ability to see before arrival if you need to divert (unless the press are to be believed of course or you’re a numpty who likes to queue)
Personal dislikes
TACC, sorry but it just doesn’t flick my switches (dont like adaptive cruise at all in any car I’ve tried with it) but the ghost braking although better than it was is just a complete NO from me. I’ve never been a drive watching only the car in front and brake driver anyway, my preference is to look a few vehicles in front and ease off when needed (adaptive cruise isn’t there yet for me)
Windscreen wipers are just a complete pain in the arse on Auto. I spray the screen, wipers operate, then carry on operating until the screen is smeared because the camera didn’t clear
. On our lovely damp road winters in UK it sucks lol, used more screenwash than any car I’ve owned previously.
Seats . Anything over 100miles and I find them uncomfortable and need a break from them. I also find because they’re plastic that they make me sweat in summer.
Build quality, anyone ever driven with no music on and windows down? Might just be mine but it rattles like a bag of bones on anything other than a smooth surface (difficult to find in UK)
Breakover height - when leaving a flat road down a driveway is awful. Never even considered it in any other car (not my driveway btw but somewhere I go a fair bit) even a mates Aston (much longer wheelbase) is better.
Physical controls - very much a personal thing which I thought I’d be fine with after an adjustment period, however no, I just can’t get away from the fact I like tactile easy to find switches and controls.
So what am I changing to you may ask especially as ALL new cars seem to come with adaptive cruise
. I’m heading back to the dark side of ICE, looking at 2-3yr old BMW X3, Jaguar FPace, Volvo XC60 or Audi Q5 which I intend to keep for as long as possible. Yes I’ll miss the acceleration, no VED (although it’s coming). Can’t wait for some beautiful sumptuous real leather seats and decent auto wipers though lol.
Will I go back to an EV? Not in the foreseeable future I’ll be clinging onto ICE for as long as humanly possible.
Personal likes:-
Acceleration (obviously
)Original purchase / collection experience.
Low running costs
No VED
Surprisingly expansive luggage capacity (beyond my expectation, do they actually count the underfloor area in measurements?)
Ability to heat / cool car prior to leaving the house (although latest updates seem to have made it less functional imo)
Speed of Supercharger network and ability to see before arrival if you need to divert (unless the press are to be believed of course or you’re a numpty who likes to queue)
Personal dislikes
TACC, sorry but it just doesn’t flick my switches (dont like adaptive cruise at all in any car I’ve tried with it) but the ghost braking although better than it was is just a complete NO from me. I’ve never been a drive watching only the car in front and brake driver anyway, my preference is to look a few vehicles in front and ease off when needed (adaptive cruise isn’t there yet for me)
Windscreen wipers are just a complete pain in the arse on Auto. I spray the screen, wipers operate, then carry on operating until the screen is smeared because the camera didn’t clear
. On our lovely damp road winters in UK it sucks lol, used more screenwash than any car I’ve owned previously.Seats . Anything over 100miles and I find them uncomfortable and need a break from them. I also find because they’re plastic that they make me sweat in summer.
Build quality, anyone ever driven with no music on and windows down? Might just be mine but it rattles like a bag of bones on anything other than a smooth surface (difficult to find in UK)
Breakover height - when leaving a flat road down a driveway is awful. Never even considered it in any other car (not my driveway btw but somewhere I go a fair bit) even a mates Aston (much longer wheelbase) is better.
Physical controls - very much a personal thing which I thought I’d be fine with after an adjustment period, however no, I just can’t get away from the fact I like tactile easy to find switches and controls.
So what am I changing to you may ask especially as ALL new cars seem to come with adaptive cruise
. I’m heading back to the dark side of ICE, looking at 2-3yr old BMW X3, Jaguar FPace, Volvo XC60 or Audi Q5 which I intend to keep for as long as possible. Yes I’ll miss the acceleration, no VED (although it’s coming). Can’t wait for some beautiful sumptuous real leather seats and decent auto wipers though lol.Will I go back to an EV? Not in the foreseeable future I’ll be clinging onto ICE for as long as humanly possible.
