I got an M3 for my 16th bday (i'm 20 now) mine was a 2002 cabriolet in imola red and yes I loved it BUT for all the day to day stuff I really do prefer my X5 its more a luxury car then the M3 was, sure my M3 had power seats and h/k sound and xenons but the feeling was pure sport, this car is luxury and I'm ok with that, I love the tips to the snow, the 5 people that ride in it, the dog sitting in the back seat and of coarse the endless crap I can pile into my trunk before it just won't put anymore in lol and oh those insurance rates? God those are better too!! If i wanted to match it I would have gotten the 4.4i but I said forget it I don't floor it so whats the point? So a loaded 3.0i came off the truck with my name on it :)

Something is pathetically out of whack here. It's getting a little obscene, like Paris Hilton piping champagne into her bidet.

Amit, my physician recently returned from a funeral in Seattle. A friend from med school had given his 16-yr old kid an M3. The kid lost contol during accelleration and crossed the median. Someone's father had more money than sense. I went to high school with two brothers who came from one of America's wealthiest families. You know what they drove? Very discreet, well used, base model Jeep Wagoneers. Enough already, get some miles under your belt and be glad you have your own car keys.

Couldn't agree more. Well said.

You need a 4.8is. I have a 2002 M Roadster with the S54 engine and it's great. But, I think that the X5 is as much fun to drive (at least the 4.8). I think that the 3.0 engine is not powerfoul enough for a 5Klb vehicle.

I sense jealousy

It took 4 pages, but at least it's been said now :thumbup:.

I disagree. Something given has no value when you get right down to it.

Some of the other members are making the point that not all of us can sit down to a bowl of cereal with no utensils and whip the silver spoon out of our mouth to eat with. In fact, the vast majority of us can't.

JV

There is also a possibilty that you will feel the same if you got the m3 instead...imo;)

Okay, I'll jump in as I sit in my backyard puffing on a nice cigar. :smokin: I think there are good points being made all around. SANguru and others have a good point that in general, and yes we can speak in generalities, younger inexperienced drivers tend to be more dangerous behind the wheel. It's like anything else that requires skill and experience whether it's driving or bowling; the more you do, the longer you do it, the better you get at it. Add massive horsepower and the equation becomes more volatile. My dealer has had it's share of M3's get totalled by fortunate sons of rich parents. I'm sure the Subaru, Mistu, and Honda dealers have too. The point is, there are many factors that come into play with young drivers, including lack of experience, lack of discretion, lack of appreciation for the machine, excess of testosterone, etc. Have you ever been in a carload of 17 year olds when another car challenges? 'Nuff said. I will however agree that plenty of 30+ year old drivers can and do stack their sports cars in stupid ways. (See www.wreckedexotics.com.) Speaking for myself, I know that I am a much better driver today than at 17. I did my fair share of dumb stuff behind the wheel when I was that age. My first accident was because I was trying to act cool and did not pay attention to something that I subsequently bumped into. I also spun a 911 because I was too inexperienced to understand and handle a rear engine car like that. Fortunately nothing was harmed including me but that might have been different if my father had found out I took his car out without his knowledge. :tsk: I have driven many superfast cars and have owned some nice sports cars. I have had BMWCCA driver education, autocross, and some track time. With that experience and most importantly, maturity, I am a better driver than the average 17 year old. (Excluding a 17 year old Schumacher or Senna.)

Having said that, I'm sure our younger members here aren't of that ilk and have more brains than that but you can't ignore the point that time and age give experience and experience is what helps us be better at whatever the task at hand is. I tip my hat to Amit for his maturity in his responses. I think he knows he's lucky to have an X5. ;)

Lets go re-read my first post. I said that me and Amit should both be fortunate to drive BMW's.

@Sanguru

When I was talking about the 14 year olds, I was talking about the group of kids training to be BMW's tomorrow M3 GTR, Formula 1 drivers... A very experienced group indeed. Dunno how you drive, and so I won't judge.

I never said I was a good driver or a bad driver Sanguru. I simply said, UNTIL you see me drive, you should not judge how I do drive. Key difference there... If we go to the track, and you think I suck, then fine, by all means, spew all the crap you want - you'll have made your opinion from real experience.

Sure the older you are the better you get at driving. No-one contested that. What I did contest is that not EVERY teenage driver drives as badly as you might think, just like not EVERY 30 year old is not M. Schummacher.

Sure I'd love to go driving with you sometime. Lets go to Laguna, maybe you can teach me something. As to why I didn't respond right away - well some of us have stuff to do in the day Sanguru, and don't spend all day infront of X5world (as tempting as that may be... :)) If you want me to drive, obviously I can't bring the X, but maybe the 330Cic would do... I doubt my aunt would let me drive her 996 to a track...