As a dad with 2 young kids (5 & 8) and a keen car enthusiast I’ve been through 6 dad cars over the past 8 years in the search for the perfect answer. Audi A4 avant, BMW 3 series Touring, 5 series Touring, Jag F-pace, BMW X5 and now Merc E class estate. When they were young, SUVs are the answer just for ease of getting them in and out. Now my 2 are a bit older, estates are the way forward. My current merc e class has everything a dad needs, ridiculous amount of space inside, huge class leading boot, smooth ride on air suspension, quiet, plenty of power in the v6 as it’s a 350d, a killer sound system and with black alloys and an amg body kit it looks killer. No need for an m3………..as soon as you floor it your other half would give you the death stare if your kids are on board. Driving as a dad is a totally different ball game!
The other dads turn up in a Cayenne / X5 SUV because their wives forced them to or they have no taste themselves, while you, the chad, turn up in a Touring M3.
Yep - second all those Alpina comments - more than fast/accomplished enough to fast public road use - would certainly have limits that I couldn’t explore (should anyone be exploring the limits of such cars on the open road?) and the ride in comfort excels. Then there’s the rarity. M3’s will be everywhere.
M340i sounds like a perfect car for the requirements you are describing. Not harsh, not overly expensive, but still very enjoyable to drive on a family trip.
@@rosscreed5859 Yes, but you never get 30% more car for 30% more the price, the final improvements are always more costly. I do think the M3 looks better and way more menacing from every single though.
The handle is meant to be in an upright position. Not only gives you an inch more space in the front, the handle acts as a roll bar and the side protectors can be opened. Nice to see content that fits my requirements 🙂
@@steelyboy3 To keep this discussion going a bit more. Norway has a legal requirement to rearface until 4 years old. Those carseats get very bulky, most "family" cars including SUV/Crossovers struggle. Having kids massively increases the space required. I have found that from the age of 4 onwards, that's when a 2+2 might be possible
Good comment! I am now retired and living in France. I the UK I worked as a professional child car seat advisor and fitter. Keep little ones rear facing as long as long as possible, 5 times safer than forward facing. The Cybex seat in this video is good. The best child seats in Europe are Axkid (Sweden) and always my favourite, BeSafe (Norway). Always go for a seat that has passed the Swedish + Test. For best advice go to the In Car Safety Centre in Milton Keynes (no personal connection).
Like, I completely agree with the SUV Vs Touring comparison. I’ve got a Q5 and I really wish I’d gone for a A6 Touring or even A4. More space! As a family of 5 we are always lacking leg room, our rotating baby seat hits the front passenger seat, the boot stacks but rakes too much to make it user friendly to stack. So items can fall out. We use a roof box and the overall height restricts access to many car parks too!
Yeah we have a Etron Suv and that has a lot of space. In the trunk. Leg space absolutely massive. But when we got a Q5 rental car in Florida we were genuinely surprised by how little space a Q5 has compared to an Etron.
@@kaybe3044 the ETron at the time just didn’t have range I needed. New one is better but it’s costing more compared to a Tesla Model Y. Which is much bigger inside than the Q5.
You need a 911 - anything from 996 onwards - together with a cheaper, safe, economical, family car. Kids can get in the 911 rear seats. Had that combo for 10 years, worked perfectly and I have 4 kids.
Sam, to me, a long time subscriber from Australia, I want to say your content is so much better and more relatable than the other original London car spotters of TH-cam. I very rarely watch the others any more. There's something cringy and snobby about them. Keep doing what you're doing mate. You do it so well.
I don't know, he sounded a bit snobby when saying he couldn't make content on a 340i or drive in the alps! Mate, save the 26k pound, do some nice mods, make it unique. I wish we got the 340i touring here in Aus!
M340D Touring is legit the ultimate dad car Because 99% of dads can’t justify the money of an M3 and if they can, the mum will slap the idea out of the air 😂🙌
Great review Sam, a few points 😂 I was born in the late 70’s and survived, tyre noise, wind noise, bad ride quality, bad tyres, passive smoking, no safety cell, at times not even a child seat - remember fondly falling asleep on the rear parcel self. I know it’s about safety and we all want to come home in one piece, but I think certain things we need to get a bit tougher again. Air con was even for the mega rich when I was a kid. 42 degrees in Summer was normal to sit on a vinyl seat. Thanks mate great work as always
I was thinking about that. When I had my son, I was driving a project build at the time with carbon back recaros inside. They make covers for the back of the seats that protect the carbon. You have the ability to PPF the seat backs for next to no money like stated above. I went with a matte PPF on the back of mine. When he outgrew the booster and learned not to kick the seat, I took it off and it was flawless. Surprised the hell out of me since he was definitely a boredom kicker lol. Started with a jeep grand Cherokee which had zero room for Car seat, then an infinity g37x which was a bit better. Funny enough, the Acura tsx-s had more Front passenger room with the seat in than the others which surprised me. The jeep has the same problem as the x series. Passenger seat had to the the whole way forward and the car seat still hit the front seat back.
I think the M340i would be the best choice if you're thinking 3 series Sam! For me, a car that you're not going to be in filming much content with (remember you have a 360 and a GT3 ;) ) doesn't make much sense for you to be spending almost £30k more! Plus I'd reckon the depreciation curve on the M3 will be a killer on finance for you! But then again, you have the privilege not to worry too much about that ;)
It’s brilliant seeing you do a dad focused video Sam! Very excited about this. We should talk as I think you hit the nail on the head with your realisation at the end, the “dad Car” doesn’t actually need to be all that practical. This would be a brilliant family wagon that your wife drives primarily then your DadCar can be a 2+2. I’m currently working my way through all the exciting options with my 4 daughters 😎
@@pkl8811 I don’t see it that way, it’s a key topic within the automotive niche that just isn’t covered enough. The more heavy hitters who make dad and parent focused content the better in my opinion. Rising tide lifts all boats 😊
I think the 2+2 wouldn't work, my sister is a petrolhead and when she had her kids she went the sensible family car option for the daily and they also went with a sporty 2+2 they soon realised that whomever drove the 2+2 was hard pressed in doing the often occuring emergency things that come with kids.
Sam just a quick tip i wish i knew when when my kid was so young and had to pack stuff into the trunk and having to transport also a pram/trolley. When base of the pram is collapsed most of them will fit behind the front seats and in this case u have completely free trunk.
The M340i touring is the thinking man's everyday car. Fast, comfy and practical enough for most situations. Not to mention it hasn't got the Beaver teeth grille of the the M3..😂
Sam, thank you for all your great videos over the years! I'm a dad...been thru the 911 stage with kids. Now have a '19 panamera turbo s e-hybrid...with all the performance upgrades....it's the greatest 4 door ever made...in my opinion of course :) It's a sleeper car...yes it's a porsche but my staff don't think much of it since there's 4 doors...but it will annihilate most any other vehicle (supercar or whatever) on the road. And you can go 25 miles on battery...it really is just an awesome car! Oh and I take my wife to a luxury restaurant, and it easily fits in there as well. I take my kids. to school in electric mode...then pull out of the school and put in in track mode and hear that 8 cylinder roar and have a 10 min exhilarating ride to work! Just the best! Get one!!
My son was the opposite. He got used to a more sporty ride and as a result, he'd only fall asleep in the car if you were taking some corners at speed. He now loves fast cars that makes lots of noise! :D So remember - it's all about how you want to raise them.
I think you had the best all-rounder in the RS6. I know you didn't gel with the car and I've struggled to with mine BUT for family/dad duties it's perfect.
As a fellow dad of a young girl and boy, I also needed a dad car. Gone were the 911, Boxster and Cayman. I looked high and low and refused to get an SUV. Ended up in a RS5 Sportback. It ticked all the boxes. This M3 Touring is great too.
Great looking car. Went the M5 route myself in part because it cost less. Love the exterior of this M3 Touring but £100k seems crazy to me for a car on a 3 series platform.
Hello Sam. You might know this (but I’ll tell you anyway 😊). If you lift the “handle” on the baby seat to its upright position even while it’s in the car, it will work as a rollover hoop (in many cases this is the main job of the “handle”). When you use isofix it’s not as critical, but this will save you some space and keep your child even safer 😊 Love your videos 🎉
YOU. ARE. THE DAD! I love this review as I'm in the same situation as you are. Since the M3 Touring has launched I've been wondering - what would my wife and 1 year old baby think of the ride quality? This just the video I've been waiting for! It would have been even better if you would have included your wife in the video. 😮
We all know if we really want the car, we will coerce the wife, telling her, "Its the best family car since the invention of the van", and "her mum can now spend couple of days with you guys without prior notice", and "that vacation to the Seychelle" all of a sudden is now possible and "how financially prudent it is to spend 90k + on a estate"..... Every husband and father here knows what am talking about. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Im not married with a family, but I think you must have a family car everyone approves of, it needs to be sensible, in which case, the M340i would be the way to go. I prefer the look of the RS4 because it looks sleeker and less box-like, like the M3 Touring.
i think the ultimate dad car is the M3 touring, but the Audi RS6 is also a great option imo. Nonetheless, great video. The weekday uploads along with the sunday uploads just make the week even better. The fact that we get such high quality content twice a week is simply cool.
Having had a 3 touring and X5, the touring is so much more usable with kids stuff. Lower loading for prams, slightly easier reach for baby seats and plenty enough space.
I know someone who paid £113K on one of these…..yes it’s a great all round car, but would you rather a M340i for £45K second hand (or a D)….they look less ugly without the Beever teeth, do 95% of the performance and half the base price.
Great video Sam. I have a high spec 2021 M340i touring xdrive as a daily and it’s brilliant. I have had many great daily’s including C7 RS6 and F90 M5. I have a M3T touring coming in September and its £50k to change! Always wanted a M3T but I am also struggling with the cost to justify cost to change. My other cars are Emira and then GT4 Spyder coming in June. Do I really need an M3T. Head no, heart yes. Do understand your dilemma.
@@benrobinson-tu6cw thank you and yes. Started with nothing, dad died when I was 20 so worked hard with wife and cars are my motivation. Now 61 I have a medical issue so trying to fit as much in. Hoping to get GT3 allocation next year 🤞
I was thinking that the m340i would suit you so well for the whole video, and was glad you mentioned it in the end. It's going to be great to drive etc. It won't surprise anyone at a car meet, but, it also doesn't lose so much value-per-mile. Imagine buying an m3, which is already more expensive, and then making it depreciate a lot more than an equivalent m340i after 25k miles. For me, this m3 in the "long-term", even if this is just 1-2 years, is going to cost A LOT more than you plan. I really wish you buy an m3, because WE are going to appreciate this more, but... you know... Let's be realistic for a moment.
My dad has a 2022 m340i touring and absolutely loves it. You should ask bmw for one of them as well just to have a drive but as you say it’s not as “cool” at a car meet as an m3. However I do think the b58 in the m340i sounds much better than the s58 in the m3
I think you’d genuinely look cooler in a 340i than an M3 these days. Sad times, but the image is shot to shit with modern M cars. #middleagedpersonperspective.
I am a current X3 M40i owner with the same pram and baby seat as Sam. I would agree it is tight for space! The optional X3 M Sport seats are much thicker than those lovely (optional and expensive) M3 sport seats which are a lot thinner and don't curve out towards the back of the rear cabin as much. I wish they were an option on the X3 as they would give a bit more space for the baby seat as Sam has shown. Sam has the Cybex baby car seat which needs to have the carry handle in the up position as its roll over protection, so that would give a bit more space than Sam has shown. The X3 boot allows you to stand that pushchair frame instead of lying it down and that creates a bit more boot space. The X3 boot makes good use of the extra height it has I find. The only other thing to mention is the pram and baby seat Sam and I both have are some of the biggest on the market so you kind of have to accept its not going to be as roomy!
I have mine booked for tomorrow! Not sure whether I am one of those "who are ok with the new generation look" mostly not, but it's interesting enough specimen to at least have a day with it and I love how that E30 M3 just immediately caused a moment of silence, will the same be done with this car 30 years later? Dunno.
how times have changed .. my 38 year old daughter, together with her 36 year old brother, spent many a journey in a 1.1 ford fiesta much less safety features, and yet they managed to survive. who could have thunked it?
My thoughts exactly. Wonder what the figures for fatal/serious injury to child passengers look like following all the safety changes. Child seats these days look over-engineered' money makers to me. No seat belts at all when I was a kid. My two boys sat on basic child seats fastened in by the adult belt before they were old enough to sit on a polystyrene booster! No harm came to any of us. Not saying development is a bad thing but it does appear way too risk averse at times.
Becoming a dad of twins last year was the best thing that happened to me!!!!and it also gave me a boost to persuade the wife to buy a C7 RS6 😂 Fast Dads for the win!!!!
There is always the f pace jaguarSVR for practicality for dad’s It’s a beast, loud fast just went on a road trip to Wales around the mountains. It was amazing.
Great vid. Big shout out for the Babyzen Yoyo pushchair (tiny) & Baby Bjorn travel cot, when you get your inevitable 2+2. Sure you could fit those in a manual 612 Scaglietti.
I run a 2017 340i Touring as my daily and it's an amazing mix of everything - comfort, speed, space. It's also way too fast for British roads, so I consider it 'powerful enough'. The suspension is starting to get a little tired, so I think I'll swap to Ohlins Road & Track via Centre Gravity at some point. That gets great reviews as it doesn't lower the car and despite stiffer springs, has fantastic damping (something I used to love on my old 911). So Sam, what to do? If I were you I'd keep the exciting stuff separate from the usable, practical, but enjoyable stuff your wife can also use. Buy a new 340i Touring… 😁
My 3 month old is now 25!! How did that happen!!!!! Great content! No matter how big the boot kids stuff willl fill it! Good luck and this wouild be a great choice.
The only reason to own an suv anymore I’d because your/my short wife wants to sit up high. I’d much rather have the A4 wagon rather than our Q5. It’s so compromised with interior room.
The boot is “big” in comparison to an SUV, because SUVs are bigger on the outside but not so much on the inside. They also often have steeply sloping rear rooflines, which estates don’t. I drive a Touran, the rear 2 seats folded and have almost double the M3’s spaces (500L to 927L)
So people have now completely forgotten that SUV's have less internal space all around than an estate (kombi) despite being a bit bigger on the outside. On top of that are thirstier, noisier... thus polluting more and in most cases are more expensive to begin with. Wow, and yet people keep on buying SUV's
M340i or M340d is a much better choice for a normal person driving on the road. We have twins. Bought a Peugeot 508SW before we found out. Bit of a squeeze for the detritus required for twins. Ended up buying an M140i for myself so my wife could have the SUV she dreamed of, and we got a '19 plate Touareg. It's a monster but it's no more spacious than a 5 series / A6 / Skoda Superb touring, and way less economical or comfortable or good to drive than them. No idea why people choose the mid size SUVs over an estate. Way worse to drive, less practical, less comfortable, uglier, more expensive... Where are the pros?!
I’ve found most people that don’t care about driving just prefer to sit up higher and feel more protected in the event of a crash. I’d take an estate car any day but after working at a car dealership, I’m understanding more how the average driver thinks and what they want.
My 22 4 series grand coupe doesn’t even have that much room with car seats. Video to come. M3 wagon for the win. Too bad we don’t get them in the states 😢
Own the “new” 330i touring since October 2019 (had one of the first in the Netherlands) and it’s a very nice daily driver. Comfortable, sporty and spacious (no kids), fast enough and the fuel milage is better then expected. On longer trips 40mpg is no problem. Would like a M340i (or M3 touring) but unfortunately these are stupid expensive due to our tax system.
I'm currently in the market for an estate car that can accommodate my family. I need something that's spacious and practical, with a roomy boot that can hold all our luggage and gear. Four-wheel-drive is a must, as we often have poor weather conditions in London. However, I also want a car that doesn't compromise on performance and style, and that can make a good impression when we're on the road.
Heads up, the baby seat handle must be in the upright position while driving, in the video your baby seat has the hadle folded behind it. This will also give you more space behing the front passenger seat :)
the M3 touring, in my opinion, just does it all. It has the performance, the looks and the practicality. Its just the all round perfect daily car for anyone. Perfect dad car!😁
I honestly think the m3 touring would fit all your needs as a dad as well as a motor head and would create some awesome content on the channel too, looking forward to seeing you maybe add one to the collection!
I think most people don't realise how inefficient SUV's are terms of space, usability, parking, and fuel consumption. The solution is often to buy an even bigger SUV. Imposing more inefficiency and impact on the people around you, especially in cities. Would be nice if more people realise this.
Having our firts baby in 3 months. Mu wife had a Mini Cooper S, so we wanted to upgrade to something bigger. Glad we didnt go the BMW route after hearing you say the X3 couldnt fit the car seat. My wife was between an the new X1 or the X3 but the wait times were 4-5 months where we live.
You can't beat a touring for looking timeless! I actually prefer the look of the tourings for that reason, they don't look too dated with newer models come out
Findings on the space vs x3 are really strange. Boot on x3 is definitely bigger. Not as deep as M3T but taller. Also the only reason M3T is perceived to be bigger in the rear are the carbon buckets. Otherwise x3 again has more head room. I know because we’ve had both!
I was looking for someone else to be saying this. I found very hard to believe that the Touring would be bigger than the X3. I've driven an X3 before and I've been inside a 3 series touring (not M3) and find the X3 bigger and roomier.
I think have a look at the B3 touring. Every bit as quick as the M3 but has the comfort of the normal 3 series and the cool factor of the M3 too. With the updated interior you wouldn’t be missing out on a thing.
Had a 330d Touring sport 20 years ago. Brilliant car except it used to occasionally shimmy as you call it, or tramline (?), and all 4 people who drove it (wife, dad, friend and me) said it was disconcerting and we ended up selling it after just 12 months. Never had that problem with any other car manufacturer, and looks like it's still an issue. Shame, would have been tempted although a bit expensive for me, so I'll stick to the RSQ3 I bought last month.
Hi Sam. I have the x3 m40i and have recently had twins. Whilst I agree it’d very tight I have the same car seats and they do just about fit, the front seats can be back but they just need to be more upright. Also the bar going at the top rather than the front on the car seat helps. Saying all that it’s too small for twins so time to look for an X5 I think
As a dad of a 2 year old I think bigger is better. Thinking the M3 Touring will be just a tad too small for ultimate convenience. We tend to carry so much stuff, so the easier you can just throw it in the trunk, the better. Also my wife spends most of her time in the backseat, so any extra room back there is a huge plus.
I’m a dad have been for the last 13 years , I have a disabled daughter who’s got a specialised pushchair as she can’t walk very far , as nice as the bmw m3 looks I still wouldn’t swap my Range Rover velar , proper all rounder , capable of whatever you throw at it .and before the sarcasm starts it’s never let me down once , fantastic machine .
Have you tried fitting the pushchair in the A6 or 5 series equivalent? The space is about the same, if not greater. I imagine the main difference will be comparing getting in and out of it. The lower car would be easier to get it into (less distance to lift) but a bit harder to get out as you have to bend a bit further. I just checked and the 5 series estate has 560L (565 for non hybrid A6) in the back vs 558 in the velar (basically the same). The 5 series is a bit longer and a bit narrower. If i had to guess the 5 series might actually have more interior room. The real MPG website has the 520d doing around 46mpg, the 530d doing 42mpg. The site has a velar d240 doing about 40 but you'd be best placed to actually comment on that. I think the point of this video is everyone assumes the SUV is the more practical but it can pay to actually compare them
Getting a boot divider... dog goes in one half, pram goes in other half - could even get my mum’s disability scooter in one half if needed. Can even get an adjustable divider so you can have whatever ratio you please. Shame mine’s an E92 and not one if these lol 👍 top video!
I think a softer tire choice could make those bumps and shimmies less noticeable for daily use. Keep a set for the weekend track or kidless grand tour.
my 6 month old likes my e92 m3. I will admit, when she was 3 months old she didn't like it and would only be able to sleep in our Tiguan. But they change quickly so honestly a g81 M3 would be fine.
That’s great contact and very educational! Especially that rotating baby seat! Is it available in the US? M3 touring is great, just wish it is available in the states! For now, I can only settle with a X7. Keep it up Sam!
Just buy a family car for the family. If your staying away from the M3 Badge, (check out the M540 touring) then use the ££ saved to fund something else, like a used family sports car segment, say around £50k, keep them for a few months, then sell and move to the next one, my next daily, meets family Sam, meets Ivanho. Get Tony to source them. Whats out there... Panamera, Bentlys, M6 Gran Coupe etc. Anyway, as a father I appreciate the content. Perfection, as ever.
Great review Sam. As a bit of a BMW fanboy I would love the new M3 Touring but like you said they are a lot of cash and it’s certainly out of my budget. I do have what I consider to be the next best thing in an M340i Touring and absolutely love it. Whether or not it’s enough for somebody who wants to make content is debatable but as a perfect all rounder it really ticks a lot of boxes.
Had this playing in the background and had to chuckle when you commented on your wife's amazing talent in judging ride quality. Nearly spat my coffee out. Sorry
Just get the Alpina and be different. The M3 Touring, content wise, has been done, the same goes for the M340i. The Alpina will be far more rare too. Though honestly, the M340d is probably all you need for family road trips and the daily grind.
The fact that the M3 Touring has more space than the X3 M proves a point. Wagons > SUVs, but SUVs are taller (And shorter for some reason 😶) Beautiful looks (Except for the grille, even the headlights are pretty), lots of dynamism, comfort, space, can drift, this is PEAK Daily Car right here ❤️😩 But also, I agree with you at the end, of you just want a dynamic daily, the M340i is totally enough, even more so for that difference in price 😶, and it sounds better and has a nicer face too! ❤️
Hey Sam, great reviews. Why not the best of both worlds - save the 26k pound, do some really high performance, unique mods. Then you've got the car that's good for the family but that you want to drive as well. Think yourself lucky, we don't get the 340i touring here in Aus!
Estate/ touring cars over suv anytime not only are they roomier but also definitely a better vehicle dynamically even if they’re not the sportiest one in the range
On the pram thing, for my twins I have an XC60 and an A4 All Road, the All Road is significantly more practical in terms of useable space. Especially as the two dogs don't really appreciate being stacked. I do a lot of off road driving for work and you'd be amazed what the All Road can do, plus it's miles more fun on twisty roads. As much as I like them for work, I can't really understand why anyone chooses an SUV over an estate... The wife likes looking milfy in the XC60 though!
![500 Miles Through Australia In An M3 Touring! [The ULTIMATE Daily Driver]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Tt0hIp0pfY/mqdefault.jpg)
As a dad with 2 young kids (5 & 8) and a keen car enthusiast I’ve been through 6 dad cars over the past 8 years in the search for the perfect answer. Audi A4 avant, BMW 3 series Touring, 5 series Touring, Jag F-pace, BMW X5 and now Merc E class estate. When they were young, SUVs are the answer just for ease of getting them in and out. Now my 2 are a bit older, estates are the way forward. My current merc e class has everything a dad needs, ridiculous amount of space inside, huge class leading boot, smooth ride on air suspension, quiet, plenty of power in the v6 as it’s a 350d, a killer sound system and with black alloys and an amg body kit it looks killer. No need for an m3………..as soon as you floor it your other half would give you the death stare if your kids are on board. Driving as a dad is a totally different ball game!
That’s where you miss it, flooring is for when the kids ain’t there! After droppin em off to school, going to pick ‘em up. Footy, etc. hahaha
please stop saying a 350d has plenty of power. Plenty of torque sure. Power not so much. I daily my M3 year round and the kid goes in it just fine.
The other dads turn up in a Cayenne / X5 SUV because their wives forced them to or they have no taste themselves, while you, the chad, turn up in a Touring M3.
Im getting more and more obdessed with this 3-series touring. Saw a green Alpina last week, and im in love!
An Alpina B3 or D3 would be so cool! Not much content on them around
True very rare gems
Alpina Blau with a silver Alpina Classic wheels on Lavalina Leather interior its just heavenly !
Saw a green one last week, its so awesome!
Yep - second all those Alpina comments - more than fast/accomplished enough to fast public road use - would certainly have limits that I couldn’t explore (should anyone be exploring the limits of such cars on the open road?) and the ride in comfort excels. Then there’s the rarity. M3’s will be everywhere.
I have the Alpina D3 S Touring and it's sublime....love it
M340i sounds like a perfect car for the requirements you are describing. Not harsh, not overly expensive, but still very enjoyable to drive on a family trip.
That is my dream family car, £ for £ better than the M3 I think
@@rosscreed5859 Yes, but you never get 30% more car for 30% more the price, the final improvements are always more costly.
I do think the M3 looks better and way more menacing from every single though.
This is why I just bought an m340i touring and then took it to Motech to get it upgraded
I know she doesn't like to appear on camera much, but it would be great to be see both you and Vicki review a family car sometime.
The handle is meant to be in an upright position.
Not only gives you an inch more space in the front, the handle acts as a roll bar and the side protectors can be opened.
Nice to see content that fits my requirements 🙂
I was about to comment the same, I hope he reads this!! 🤞🏼
@@steelyboy3 To keep this discussion going a bit more. Norway has a legal requirement to rearface until 4 years old.
Those carseats get very bulky, most "family" cars including SUV/Crossovers struggle.
Having kids massively increases the space required. I have found that from the age of 4 onwards, that's when a 2+2 might be possible
Also, you're not supposed to put anything around the base leg, as a security precaution.
@@s4dpanda703 I didn't know that one. I usually stuff my coat down there. (I hope this is ok 😅?)
Good comment!
I am now retired and living in France.
I the UK I worked as a professional child car seat advisor and fitter.
Keep little ones rear facing as long as long as possible, 5 times safer than forward facing.
The Cybex seat in this video is good. The best child seats in Europe are Axkid (Sweden) and always my favourite, BeSafe (Norway).
Always go for a seat that has passed the Swedish + Test.
For best advice go to the In Car Safety Centre in Milton Keynes (no personal connection).
Like, I completely agree with the SUV Vs Touring comparison.
I’ve got a Q5 and I really wish I’d gone for a A6 Touring or even A4. More space!
As a family of 5 we are always lacking leg room, our rotating baby seat hits the front passenger seat, the boot stacks but rakes too much to make it user friendly to stack. So items can fall out.
We use a roof box and the overall height restricts access to many car parks too!
Yeah we have a Etron Suv and that has a lot of space. In the trunk. Leg space absolutely massive. But when we got a Q5 rental car in Florida we were genuinely surprised by how little space a Q5 has compared to an Etron.
Living the same life as you at the moment but only one child. I wish we’d gone with and Audi wagon instead of the Q5.
@@kaybe3044 the ETron at the time just didn’t have range I needed. New one is better but it’s costing more compared to a Tesla Model Y. Which is much bigger inside than the Q5.
@@hmi1750 It is a real good car tho.
You need a 911 - anything from 996 onwards - together with a cheaper, safe, economical, family car. Kids can get in the 911 rear seats. Had that combo for 10 years, worked perfectly and I have 4 kids.
Sam, to me, a long time subscriber from Australia, I want to say your content is so much better and more relatable than the other original London car spotters of TH-cam. I very rarely watch the others any more. There's something cringy and snobby about them. Keep doing what you're doing mate. You do it so well.
100% Agree mate. 🇦🇺
Absolutely agree. Cheers from Austria
I don't know, he sounded a bit snobby when saying he couldn't make content on a 340i or drive in the alps! Mate, save the 26k pound, do some nice mods, make it unique. I wish we got the 340i touring here in Aus!
@@colhutchins Yeah, you're being way too sensitive if you think he was being snobbish there.
A good Video. The sensible option would be to swap the X3 for a M340D Touring. Probably the cheapest way without parting with any of your 2 door cars.
Exactly what I thought,more power than you'll ever need .
That's the way I'd go. Why have the 340i! My mates got the 335d and it's frickin awesome.
Yep my thoughts exactly.
M340D Touring is legit the ultimate dad car
Because 99% of dads can’t justify the money of an M3 and if they can, the mum will slap the idea out of the air 😂🙌
@@tomnutting3836 yea cause you a beta
Great review Sam, a few points 😂
I was born in the late 70’s and survived, tyre noise, wind noise, bad ride quality, bad tyres, passive smoking, no safety cell, at times not even a child seat - remember fondly falling asleep on the rear parcel self. I know it’s about safety and we all want to come home in one piece, but I think certain things we need to get a bit tougher again. Air con was even for the mega rich when I was a kid. 42 degrees in Summer was normal to sit on a vinyl seat.
Thanks mate great work as always
As soon as the child sits in a forward facing car seat they will just kick and destroy the back of the carbon buckets 😂
In comes ppf templates for front seats
Yeah ...ppf them
Tell me about it, I've ppf'd mine and they are still getting mullered
I was thinking about that. When I had my son, I was driving a project build at the time with carbon back recaros inside. They make covers for the back of the seats that protect the carbon. You have the ability to PPF the seat backs for next to no money like stated above. I went with a matte PPF on the back of mine. When he outgrew the booster and learned not to kick the seat, I took it off and it was flawless. Surprised the hell out of me since he was definitely a boredom kicker lol. Started with a jeep grand Cherokee which had zero room for Car seat, then an infinity g37x which was a bit better. Funny enough, the Acura tsx-s had more Front passenger room with the seat in than the others which surprised me. The jeep has the same problem as the x series. Passenger seat had to the the whole way forward and the car seat still hit the front seat back.
Take their shoes off.
I think the M340i would be the best choice if you're thinking 3 series Sam! For me, a car that you're not going to be in filming much content with (remember you have a 360 and a GT3 ;) ) doesn't make much sense for you to be spending almost £30k more! Plus I'd reckon the depreciation curve on the M3 will be a killer on finance for you! But then again, you have the privilege not to worry too much about that ;)
M340i is good budget car but it’s not ultimate like the title suggests
@@exoticwhipsbroadspipesandbagsyeah but it’s much better at practicality, More reliable and incredible gas mileage
@@gschmarri2014 yeah it has its place in the market considering it’s the best performance for the value but the m3 will always be better
It’s brilliant seeing you do a dad focused video Sam! Very excited about this. We should talk as I think you hit the nail on the head with your realisation at the end, the “dad Car” doesn’t actually need to be all that practical. This would be a brilliant family wagon that your wife drives primarily then your DadCar can be a 2+2. I’m currently working my way through all the exciting options with my 4 daughters 😎
Now this would be a perfect collaboration on your specialist subject! 👍
It would be wonderful as I’ve watched and listened to Sam’s podcast for many years 😊
why is it exciting? Isn't that your space? He is taking views away from you.
@@pkl8811 I don’t see it that way, it’s a key topic within the automotive niche that just isn’t covered enough. The more heavy hitters who make dad and parent focused content the better in my opinion. Rising tide lifts all boats 😊
I think the 2+2 wouldn't work, my sister is a petrolhead and when she had her kids she went the sensible family car option for the daily and they also went with a sporty 2+2 they soon realised that whomever drove the 2+2 was hard pressed in doing the often occuring emergency things that come with kids.
Sam just a quick tip i wish i knew when when my kid was so young and had to pack stuff into the trunk and having to transport also a pram/trolley. When base of the pram is collapsed most of them will fit behind the front seats and in this case u have completely free trunk.
The M340i touring is the thinking man's everyday car. Fast, comfy and practical enough for most situations. Not to mention it hasn't got the Beaver teeth grille of the the M3..😂
Correct and that was my choice but then I went to Motech and had it upgraded
As great as the car is, I'm more impressed with the baby capsule that you can rotate. Can we get a review of it? 😅 Great work as always, Sam. Cheers.
They’re game changers! (And back savers!)
@@FabioMolle If only they were allowed to be sold in Canada :( Apparently does not pass safety guidelines here
@@sisted that's unfortunate :(
At 4:09 I don’t see any space for “three more suitcases” but ok. The car looks amazing but that red interior is criminal 😂
Sam, thank you for all your great videos over the years! I'm a dad...been thru the 911 stage with kids. Now have a '19 panamera turbo s e-hybrid...with all the performance upgrades....it's the greatest 4 door ever made...in my opinion of course :) It's a sleeper car...yes it's a porsche but my staff don't think much of it since there's 4 doors...but it will annihilate most any other vehicle (supercar or whatever) on the road. And you can go 25 miles on battery...it really is just an awesome car! Oh and I take my wife to a luxury restaurant, and it easily fits in there as well. I take my kids. to school in electric mode...then pull out of the school and put in in track mode and hear that 8 cylinder roar and have a 10 min exhilarating ride to work! Just the best! Get one!!
Genuinely one of the best reviews of the M3 Touring I've seen.
My son was the opposite. He got used to a more sporty ride and as a result, he'd only fall asleep in the car if you were taking some corners at speed. He now loves fast cars that makes lots of noise! :D So remember - it's all about how you want to raise them.
I think you had the best all-rounder in the RS6. I know you didn't gel with the car and I've struggled to with mine BUT for family/dad duties it's perfect.
M340i or.M340d makes more sense.
Plus the front end is more pleasing to the eye.
Thank you Sam for your honest POV. From Portland, Oregon USA
As a fellow dad of a young girl and boy, I also needed a dad car. Gone were the 911, Boxster and Cayman. I looked high and low and refused to get an SUV. Ended up in a RS5 Sportback. It ticked all the boxes. This M3 Touring is great too.
Great looking car. Went the M5 route myself in part because it cost less. Love the exterior of this M3 Touring but £100k seems crazy to me for a car on a 3 series platform.
Hello Sam. You might know this (but I’ll tell you anyway 😊).
If you lift the “handle” on the baby seat to its upright position even while it’s in the car, it will work as a rollover hoop (in many cases this is the main job of the “handle”). When you use isofix it’s not as critical, but this will save you some space and keep your child even safer 😊 Love your videos 🎉
YOU. ARE. THE DAD! I love this review as I'm in the same situation as you are. Since the M3 Touring has launched I've been wondering - what would my wife and 1 year old baby think of the ride quality? This just the video I've been waiting for! It would have been even better if you would have included your wife in the video. 😮
We all know if we really want the car, we will coerce the wife, telling her, "Its the best family car since the invention of the van", and "her mum can now spend couple of days with you guys without prior notice", and "that vacation to the Seychelle" all of a sudden is now possible and "how financially prudent it is to spend 90k + on a estate"..... Every husband and father here knows what am talking about. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Im not married with a family, but I think you must have a family car everyone approves of, it needs to be sensible, in which case, the M340i would be the way to go. I prefer the look of the RS4 because it looks sleeker and less box-like, like the M3 Touring.
Yes the bucket seats give way more back-space. Have an M340i Touring and it’s noticeable less space than in the M3 Touring I test-drove.
i think the ultimate dad car is the M3 touring, but the Audi RS6 is also a great option imo. Nonetheless, great video. The weekday uploads along with the sunday uploads just make the week even better. The fact that we get such high quality content twice a week is simply cool.
Having had a 3 touring and X5, the touring is so much more usable with kids stuff. Lower loading for prams, slightly easier reach for baby seats and plenty enough space.
I know someone who paid £113K on one of these…..yes it’s a great all round car, but would you rather a M340i for £45K second hand (or a D)….they look less ugly without the Beever teeth, do 95% of the performance and half the base price.
Great video Sam. I have a high spec 2021 M340i touring xdrive as a daily and it’s brilliant. I have had many great daily’s including C7 RS6 and F90 M5. I have a M3T touring coming in September and its £50k to change! Always wanted a M3T but I am also struggling with the cost to justify cost to change. My other cars are Emira and then GT4 Spyder coming in June. Do I really need an M3T. Head no, heart yes. Do understand your dilemma.
You are living a good life Richard!!
@@benrobinson-tu6cw thank you and yes. Started with nothing, dad died when I was 20 so worked hard with wife and cars are my motivation. Now 61 I have a medical issue so trying to fit as much in. Hoping to get GT3 allocation next year 🤞
Someone has mentioned this, but it would be truly amazing to see a comparison test between the M3 touring and the Alpina B3 touring
I was thinking that the m340i would suit you so well for the whole video, and was glad you mentioned it in the end. It's going to be great to drive etc. It won't surprise anyone at a car meet, but, it also doesn't lose so much value-per-mile. Imagine buying an m3, which is already more expensive, and then making it depreciate a lot more than an equivalent m340i after 25k miles. For me, this m3 in the "long-term", even if this is just 1-2 years, is going to cost A LOT more than you plan.
I really wish you buy an m3, because WE are going to appreciate this more, but... you know... Let's be realistic for a moment.
Never considered ‘Dad cars’ before ? Nonsense, you used to daily an RS6 Avant.
My dad has a 2022 m340i touring and absolutely loves it. You should ask bmw for one of them as well just to have a drive but as you say it’s not as “cool” at a car meet as an m3. However I do think the b58 in the m340i sounds much better than the s58 in the m3
I think you’d genuinely look cooler in a 340i than an M3 these days. Sad times, but the image is shot to shit with modern M cars. #middleagedpersonperspective.
I am a current X3 M40i owner with the same pram and baby seat as Sam. I would agree it is tight for space! The optional X3 M Sport seats are much thicker than those lovely (optional and expensive) M3 sport seats which are a lot thinner and don't curve out towards the back of the rear cabin as much. I wish they were an option on the X3 as they would give a bit more space for the baby seat as Sam has shown. Sam has the Cybex baby car seat which needs to have the carry handle in the up position as its roll over protection, so that would give a bit more space than Sam has shown. The X3 boot allows you to stand that pushchair frame instead of lying it down and that creates a bit more boot space. The X3 boot makes good use of the extra height it has I find. The only other thing to mention is the pram and baby seat Sam and I both have are some of the biggest on the market so you kind of have to accept its not going to be as roomy!
I have mine booked for tomorrow! Not sure whether I am one of those "who are ok with the new generation look" mostly not, but it's interesting enough specimen to at least have a day with it and I love how that E30 M3 just immediately caused a moment of silence, will the same be done with this car 30 years later? Dunno.
how times have changed ..
my 38 year old daughter, together with her 36 year old brother, spent many a journey in a 1.1 ford fiesta
much less safety features, and yet they managed to survive. who could have thunked it?
My thoughts exactly. Wonder what the figures for fatal/serious injury to child passengers look like following all the safety changes. Child seats these days look over-engineered' money makers to me. No seat belts at all when I was a kid. My two boys sat on basic child seats fastened in by the adult belt before they were old enough to sit on a polystyrene booster! No harm came to any of us. Not saying development is a bad thing but it does appear way too risk averse at times.
I would personally buy a M340i instead and spend some money on that, i.e Milltek exhaust, nice wheels and so on and spend the money saved elsewhere
It's a shame it looks terrified of its own reflection.
340i is way better looking
Becoming a dad of twins last year was the best thing that happened to me!!!!and it also gave me a boost to persuade the wife to buy a C7 RS6 😂
Fast Dads for the win!!!!
There is always the f pace jaguarSVR for practicality for dad’s
It’s a beast, loud fast just went on a road trip to Wales around the mountains. It was amazing.
What a great fun series. Thank you Sam, keep the awesome content coming.
Great vid. Big shout out for the Babyzen Yoyo pushchair (tiny) & Baby Bjorn travel cot, when you get your inevitable 2+2. Sure you could fit those in a manual 612 Scaglietti.
I run a 2017 340i Touring as my daily and it's an amazing mix of everything - comfort, speed, space. It's also way too fast for British roads, so I consider it 'powerful enough'. The suspension is starting to get a little tired, so I think I'll swap to Ohlins Road & Track via Centre Gravity at some point. That gets great reviews as it doesn't lower the car and despite stiffer springs, has fantastic damping (something I used to love on my old 911). So Sam, what to do? If I were you I'd keep the exciting stuff separate from the usable, practical, but enjoyable stuff your wife can also use. Buy a new 340i Touring… 😁
My 3 month old is now 25!! How did that happen!!!!! Great content! No matter how big the boot kids stuff willl fill it! Good luck and this wouild be a great choice.
The only reason to own an suv anymore I’d because your/my short wife wants to sit up high. I’d much rather have the A4 wagon rather than our Q5. It’s so compromised with interior room.
The boot is “big” in comparison to an SUV, because SUVs are bigger on the outside but not so much on the inside. They also often have steeply sloping rear rooflines, which estates don’t. I drive a Touran, the rear 2 seats folded and have almost double the M3’s spaces (500L to 927L)
So people have now completely forgotten that SUV's have less internal space all around than an estate (kombi) despite being a bit bigger on the outside. On top of that are thirstier, noisier... thus polluting more and in most cases are more expensive to begin with. Wow, and yet people keep on buying SUV's
Awesome car. I think the BMW 320D Touring or the KIA Optima wagon would be enough. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
M340i or M340d is a much better choice for a normal person driving on the road.
We have twins. Bought a Peugeot 508SW before we found out. Bit of a squeeze for the detritus required for twins. Ended up buying an M140i for myself so my wife could have the SUV she dreamed of, and we got a '19 plate Touareg. It's a monster but it's no more spacious than a 5 series / A6 / Skoda Superb touring, and way less economical or comfortable or good to drive than them.
No idea why people choose the mid size SUVs over an estate. Way worse to drive, less practical, less comfortable, uglier, more expensive... Where are the pros?!
I’ve found most people that don’t care about driving just prefer to sit up higher and feel more protected in the event of a crash. I’d take an estate car any day but after working at a car dealership, I’m understanding more how the average driver thinks and what they want.
I too think the M340i is a better solution
My 22 4 series grand coupe doesn’t even have that much room with car seats. Video to come. M3 wagon for the win. Too bad we don’t get them in the states 😢
I imported jdm wagon from Japan when my first child was young and second was coming. It was a very good choice then (15 years ago).
Own the “new” 330i touring since October 2019 (had one of the first in the Netherlands) and it’s a very nice daily driver. Comfortable, sporty and spacious (no kids), fast enough and the fuel milage is better then expected. On longer trips 40mpg is no problem.
Would like a M340i (or M3 touring) but unfortunately these are stupid expensive due to our tax system.
I'm currently in the market for an estate car that can accommodate my family. I need something that's spacious and practical, with a roomy boot that can hold all our luggage and gear. Four-wheel-drive is a must, as we often have poor weather conditions in London. However, I also want a car that doesn't compromise on performance and style, and that can make a good impression when we're on the road.
Get and Audi A6 or 5 Series? Or if these are too long then the size below get the 3 Series with X drive.
Vw golf 7/8 R Variant. Great car. 610L boot space and 300-320 hp. 👌
lambo ursus 👌
Four wheel drive is a must because of weather conditions in London 😂
@@smwatson1512 😂 I expected “Scotland” to follow that sentence.
7:50 I can just hear Tony’s evil laugh right at this point 😂
Heads up, the baby seat handle must be in the upright position while driving, in the video your baby seat has the hadle folded behind it. This will also give you more space behing the front passenger seat :)
the M3 touring, in my opinion, just does it all. It has the performance, the looks and the practicality. Its just the all round perfect daily car for anyone. Perfect dad car!😁
front looks awful
What really wakes the baby up is the stop-start system when you get to a traffic light 🚦
I honestly think the m3 touring would fit all your needs as a dad as well as a motor head and would create some awesome content on the channel too, looking forward to seeing you maybe add one to the collection!
I think what you meant to say Sam is: "the minute the M3 Touring launched, a lot of us petrolhead parents went: hmm, a 100k+ 3 series?!?!?!" 🤣
So stoked for the dad content dude!! Totally new world!
That bar of the maxi cosi is best to keep straight up. It works as a roll-cage in case of an accident.
Sam, can you not get a stroller base that the car seat clips into? Eliminates the separate Pram basinette. That’s what we did for our kids.
I think most people don't realise how inefficient SUV's are terms of space, usability, parking, and fuel consumption. The solution is often to buy an even bigger SUV. Imposing more inefficiency and impact on the people around you, especially in cities. Would be nice if more people realise this.
Having our firts baby in 3 months. Mu wife had a Mini Cooper S, so we wanted to upgrade to something bigger. Glad we didnt go the BMW route after hearing you say the X3 couldnt fit the car seat. My wife was between an the new X1 or the X3 but the wait times were 4-5 months where we live.
You can't beat a touring for looking timeless! I actually prefer the look of the tourings for that reason, they don't look too dated with newer models come out
Uppababy Vista - great choice Sam. Nice wheels on those and amazing manoeuvrability.. Lightweight too.
Congrats on fatherhood Sam and nice video as always...🙌🏾
Findings on the space vs x3 are really strange. Boot on x3 is definitely bigger. Not as deep as M3T but taller. Also the only reason M3T is perceived to be bigger in the rear are the carbon buckets. Otherwise x3 again has more head room. I know because we’ve had both!
I was looking for someone else to be saying this. I found very hard to believe that the Touring would be bigger than the X3. I've driven an X3 before and I've been inside a 3 series touring (not M3) and find the X3 bigger and roomier.
I think have a look at the B3 touring. Every bit as quick as the M3 but has the comfort of the normal 3 series and the cool factor of the M3 too. With the updated interior you wouldn’t be missing out on a thing.
Had a 330d Touring sport 20 years ago. Brilliant car except it used to occasionally shimmy as you call it, or tramline (?), and all 4 people who drove it (wife, dad, friend and me) said it was disconcerting and we ended up selling it after just 12 months. Never had that problem with any other car manufacturer, and looks like it's still an issue. Shame, would have been tempted although a bit expensive for me, so I'll stick to the RSQ3 I bought last month.
Hi Sam. I have the x3 m40i and have recently had twins. Whilst I agree it’d very tight I have the same car seats and they do just about fit, the front seats can be back but they just need to be more upright. Also the bar going at the top rather than the front on the car seat helps. Saying all that it’s too small for twins so time to look for an X5 I think
As a dad of a 2 year old I think bigger is better. Thinking the M3 Touring will be just a tad too small for ultimate convenience. We tend to carry so much stuff, so the easier you can just throw it in the trunk, the better. Also my wife spends most of her time in the backseat, so any extra room back there is a huge plus.
Loved this one sam, more of the same please - love the super car stuff but it’s nice to throw in some more ‘normal’ cars every now and then.
I’m a dad have been for the last 13 years , I have a disabled daughter who’s got a specialised pushchair as she can’t walk very far , as nice as the bmw m3 looks I still wouldn’t swap my Range Rover velar , proper all rounder , capable of whatever you throw at it .and before the sarcasm starts it’s never let me down once , fantastic machine .
Have you tried fitting the pushchair in the A6 or 5 series equivalent? The space is about the same, if not greater. I imagine the main difference will be comparing getting in and out of it. The lower car would be easier to get it into (less distance to lift) but a bit harder to get out as you have to bend a bit further.
I just checked and the 5 series estate has 560L (565 for non hybrid A6) in the back vs 558 in the velar (basically the same).
The 5 series is a bit longer and a bit narrower. If i had to guess the 5 series might actually have more interior room.
The real MPG website has the 520d doing around 46mpg, the 530d doing 42mpg. The site has a velar d240 doing about 40 but you'd be best placed to actually comment on that.
I think the point of this video is everyone assumes the SUV is the more practical but it can pay to actually compare them
Getting a boot divider... dog goes in one half, pram goes in other half - could even get my mum’s disability scooter in one half if needed. Can even get an adjustable divider so you can have whatever ratio you please. Shame mine’s an E92 and not one if these lol 👍 top video!
Great video, and I think you make valid points at the end. It’s way to expensive, second hand in a few years maybe.
I think a softer tire choice could make those bumps and shimmies less noticeable for daily use. Keep a set for the weekend track or kidless grand tour.
my 6 month old likes my e92 m3. I will admit, when she was 3 months old she didn't like it and would only be able to sleep in our Tiguan. But they change quickly so honestly a g81 M3 would be fine.
The space thing is basically every touring/station > their SUV counterparts. You pay more for the SUV, but the space is less.
That’s great contact and very educational! Especially that rotating baby seat! Is it available in the US? M3 touring is great, just wish it is available in the states! For now, I can only settle with a X7. Keep it up Sam!
I wish wagons were more popular in the USA. As a muscle car fan, my pick for a dad car here would be a wide body scat pack Charger.
Just buy a family car for the family. If your staying away from the M3 Badge, (check out the M540 touring)
then use the ££ saved to fund something else, like a used family sports car segment, say around £50k, keep them for a few months, then sell and move to the next one, my next daily, meets family Sam, meets Ivanho. Get Tony to source them. Whats out there... Panamera, Bentlys, M6 Gran Coupe etc. Anyway, as a father I appreciate the content. Perfection, as ever.
Great review Sam. As a bit of a BMW fanboy I would love the new M3 Touring but like you said they are a lot of cash and it’s certainly out of my budget. I do have what I consider to be the next best thing in an M340i Touring and absolutely love it. Whether or not it’s enough for somebody who wants to make content is debatable but as a perfect all rounder it really ticks a lot of boxes.
Bro, is that your house making an appearance at the end of the video? Looks friggin lovely.
We have a 530d touring with 2 children. Huge boot. Comfortable and really fast!
Had this playing in the background and had to chuckle when you commented on your wife's amazing talent in judging ride quality. Nearly spat my coffee out. Sorry
Just get the Alpina and be different. The M3 Touring, content wise, has been done, the same goes for the M340i. The Alpina will be far more rare too. Though honestly, the M340d is probably all you need for family road trips and the daily grind.
M3 Touring, until they start depreciating like the saloon as a used proposition, you might as well buy the gentleman's version, the Alpina B3 Touring.
To me this is the coolest M3 since e46 CSL, if they are not offering tourings next gen, this could be the one to keep.
great conclusions! the bmw default sport, comfort & eco modes work great in every car
The fact that the M3 Touring has more space than the X3 M proves a point. Wagons > SUVs, but SUVs are taller (And shorter for some reason 😶)
Beautiful looks (Except for the grille, even the headlights are pretty), lots of dynamism, comfort, space, can drift, this is PEAK Daily Car right here ❤️😩
But also, I agree with you at the end, of you just want a dynamic daily, the M340i is totally enough, even more so for that difference in price 😶, and it sounds better and has a nicer face too! ❤️
I’m going to The Jolly Nice drive thru after watching this. It’s only 30 mins away…thanks Sam.
Hey Sam, great reviews. Why not the best of both worlds - save the 26k pound, do some really high performance, unique mods. Then you've got the car that's good for the family but that you want to drive as well. Think yourself lucky, we don't get the 340i touring here in Aus!
I would get the Alpina in a flash over this. The Alpina looks so classy by comparison. Will never get used to BMW’s new design language.
Estate/ touring cars over suv anytime not only are they roomier but also definitely a better vehicle dynamically even if they’re not the sportiest one in the range
On the pram thing, for my twins I have an XC60 and an A4 All Road, the All Road is significantly more practical in terms of useable space. Especially as the two dogs don't really appreciate being stacked. I do a lot of off road driving for work and you'd be amazed what the All Road can do, plus it's miles more fun on twisty roads. As much as I like them for work, I can't really understand why anyone chooses an SUV over an estate... The wife likes looking milfy in the XC60 though!
What we need is an RS6 All Road and I'll sell the spare twin for one...