What did you drive before your M?

[NikMN]

M or ///Marketing?

[RickFLM4]

Most recent to oldest:

2018 M4 convertible (orange) (first custom ordered; picked up in South Carolina)
2015 M4 coupe (orange) (someone else ordered but didn't take, got good deal on car off showroom floor)
2013 Audi S4 (white)
2010 Audi A6 (black) (wrecked in hit and run accident; later sold by Audi as CPO after repairs)
2008 Lexus LS (silver) (worst quality new car I have had)
1998 Lexus GS (silver) (great car)
1994 Lexus ES (gray) (first new car)
1984 or 1986 (can't remember) Olds Cutlass Calais (beige) (college graduation gift from my dad)
1975 Chevy Nova (gray) (hand me down gift from same grandmother; died during last week of college; sold to scrap yard for $50)
1978 Chrysler Cordoba (gray) (destroyed reverse gear in transmission)
1975 Ford Granda with Mustang 302 V-8 (gray) (Sold for $1,400 after buying for $900 and driving for a while + sending spring through trunk)
1969 Plymouth Fury convertible (red) (hand me down gift from grandmother - never got on the road because I couldn't get it to pass inspection)

[M5Rick]

Previous one was a Merc C200K Sport, was okay but harsh suspension made you avoid the bad roads.

[vreihen16]

What's this "M" thing that you speak of? Roman numeral for 1,000? Every car that I've owned had more than a 1,000 cc engine.

On a side note, the last car that I bought brand new will be turning 24 years old in a few weeks.....

[GolfCoyote]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

What's this "M" thing that you speak of? Roman numeral for 1,000? Every car that I've owned had more than a 1,000 cc engine.

On a side note, the last car that I bought brand new will be turning 24 years old in a few weeks.....

It’s your cars “golden year”!
Turning 24 in 2024…..What that means, I have no idea. Lol

[Nuckle]

Whew. I’ll give it a go.

1985 Ford Escort
1982 Datsun 4x4 Ext Cab
1989 Niaas 4x4
1995 Chevy S10 ZR2
1992 Chevy Z71 - Stolen
1992 Chevy Z71
2003 Infiniti G35
2005 Nissan Titan
2008 Nissan Armada
2010 Nissan Armada
2009 Nissan 359z
2011 Nissan Armada
2012 Infiniti QX56
2015 Infiniti QX80
2017 Infiniti QX80
2017 BMW X5M
2019 Infiniti QX80
2021 BMW M240i
2021 BMW X3M Comp
2019 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
2022 BMW X5 M50i
2022 Land Rover Defender 90
2022 Land Rover Defender 110X
2023 Land Rover Defenrr 110 V8
2023 Land Rover Defender 110 X Dyn
2024 BMW X5

[GolfCoyote]

Originally Posted by Nuckle

Whew. I’ll give it a go.

1985 Ford Escort
1982 Datsun 4x4 Ext Cab
1989 Niaas 4x4
1995 Chevy S10 ZR2
1992 Chevy Z71 - Stolen
1992 Chevy Z71
2003 Infiniti G35
2005 Nissan Titan
2008 Nissan Armada
2010 Nissan Armada
2009 Nissan 359z
2011 Nissan Armada
2012 Infiniti QX56
2015 Infiniti QX80
2017 Infiniti QX80
2017 BMW X5M
2019 Infiniti QX80
2021 BMW M240i
2021 BMW X3M Comp
2019 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
2022 BMW X5 M50i
2022 Land Rover Defender 90
2022 Land Rover Defender 110X
2023 Land Rover Defenrr 110 V8
2023 Land Rover Defender 110 X Dyn
2024 BMW X5

Bit of a Nissan/Infinty fan I see? Haha

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by dradernh

In the early '10s, I was a driving day instructor with an excellent student who drove an RX-8.

When we would exit a slow corner onto a long straight and I waited for something to happen, I would say "It's okay to go to gas now.", he always said "I know, I've been full-throttle since [way back there]."

In a regular piston engine car, all you had to do it shift down one gear, such as 4th to 3rd. In the RX-8 you had to shift down from 6th to 3rd, or 6th to 2nd. You had to rev the crap out of the Wankel to get any decent performance.

Prior the the RX-8 I had a 1985 RX-7, base model. 1.2 litres with the little 4-barrel carburetor and manual choke. Fun car but again, you had to really rev the engine to get any performance.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

In a regular piston engine car, all you had to do it shift down one gear, such as 4th to 3rd. In the RX-8 you had to shift down from 6th to 3rd, or 6th to 2nd. You had to rev the crap out of the Wankel to get any decent performance.

Prior the the RX-8 I had a 1985 RX-7, base model. 1.2 litres with the little 4-barrel carburetor and manual choke. Fun car but again, you had to really rev the engine to get any performance.

That reminds me! I forgot about my Turbo II FC. Such neat drivetrains!

[tigermack]

‘91 Maxima
‘03 Xterra
‘05 Mazda3
‘82 RX-7 GSL
‘91 MR2 Turbo
‘03 Chevy Duramax
‘95 325i sedan
‘06 330i
‘13 BRZ
‘10 335i sedan
‘10 M3 sedan (now)
‘98 M3 sedan
‘06 WRX
‘15 Jeep GC SRT
‘08 TL Type S
‘97 M3 sedan (now)
‘21 F150 PB (now)
‘12 Model S (now)

[GolfCoyote]

Originally Posted by tigermack

‘91 Maxima
‘03 Xterra
‘05 Mazda3
‘82 RX-7 GSL
‘91 MR2 Turbo
‘03 Chevy Duramax
‘95 325i sedan
‘06 330i
‘13 BRZ
‘10 335i sedan
‘10 M3 sedan (now)
‘98 M3 sedan
‘06 WRX
‘15 Jeep GC SRT
‘08 TL Type S
‘97 M3 sedan (now)
‘21 F150 PB (now)
‘12 Model S (now)

Jealous of that Mr. Deux

[2000cs]

1937 Packard 120
1967 2000cs
1972 Bavaria
1972 Ford Gran Torino Wagon
1974 2002tii (2, one Golf one Malaga)
1974 3.0S (if only it had been a CS)
1976 Dodge Colt
1980 320i
1980 Mercury (forgot what model, so unremarkable)
1982 Ford Escort GT
1982 Ford Country Squire wagon
1984? Ford Thunderbird
1984? Ford Bronco II
1986? 528e
1988 633i (euro)
1992 740i
1992 Ford Econoline conversion van
1994 Suburban
1999 Z3 2.8
2000 Audi A6
2001 540i/6
2001 330i
2004 X3
2005 X5 4.8is
2006 540i
2006 750Li
2006 Z4 3.0si
2007 Porsche 997s
2008 X5
2011 540i
2014 650i GC
2016 Mercedes C-class (barf)
2015 M3
There have been several since, including another M3 and a M5. Currently only have the 750Li and a volvo and Ram. 750Li going up for sale after the new year.

Would like a nice 3.0cs, 635csi and 850csi but will never spend what they cost. Have long thought about putting an LS into either a lower spec 6-series or 8-series from the last century. Not interested in anything BMW currently offers.

[sygazelle]

I've never owned an M, so I really don't qualify. Also, I'm smart enough to know that driving an M-sport model doesn't make me qualified either.

My cars:

ps: I should probably move this to the "You know you're old when" thread, but here are the cars I've had before becoming a BMW fanboy:

'48 Pontiac Straight-Eight with 3-on-the-tree. (Family car for us kids to learn to drive)
'55 Chevy wagon (shared with my brother)
'61 VW Bug (my first car that I paid for myself)
'68 AMC Javelin (one I wish I'd kept)
'74 Mustang II hatchback with MT (hate if you like. I loved that car)
'79 Olds Cutlass Supreme (My first new car.)

BMWs for that past 35 years:

'88 528e (Bought new, drove 9 years, sold to son who drove another 6 years)
'97 540i (Bought new, drove 9 years, sold to son who drove another 7 years)
'03 540i M-tech package (Bought in '06, crashed and totaled in '12. My favorite car.)
'14 328i 328i M-sport package (Bought new in '13, still driving. It just had it's 10th birthday!)
'19 X5 40i M-sport(Bought new in '19, my wife's car)


While I'd love a real M, it's way too much for me as a daily driver. My hats off to you all real M drivers who are living the dream. Good for you.

I've signed up twice for BMW M track day at Sonoma so I get to get a taste of all that is M. But then I get back in my "normal" BMWs and I'm perfectly happy.

[Marmugmotleocay]

This is my list. I was a big Honda fan until 2016.

1976 Pontiac Sunbird - USED
1986 Nissan Pulsar NX - USED
1988 Honda CRX DX - NEW
1993 Honda Del Sol Si - NEW
1995 Honda Prelude Vtec -NEW
1996 Honda Passport EX - NEW
1998 Honda Accord EX V6 coupe - NEW
1998 Honda Prelude Si - USED
2000 Honda S2000 - NEW
1989 Honda Civic DX - Beater
2002 Acura RSX Type S - NEW
2003 Honda Element EX - NEW
2000 Honda RC51 - USED
2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL - NEW
2006 Honda CBR1000RR - NEW
2007 Honda Civic SI - NEW
2000 Honda CRV DX - Beater
2008 Acura RDX Tech - NEW
2010 Mazdaspeed 3 - NEW
2012 Honda CRV EX - NEW
2011 Acura MDX Advance - NEW
2016 BMW M235i _ NEW
2011 Honda Fit Sport - USED
2019 Honda CRV EX - NEW
2020 BMW X3M40i - NEW
2021 BMW X3MC - NEW

The wife said I'm done.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Marmugmotleocay

This is my list. I was a big Honda fan until 2016.

1976 Pontiac Sunbird - USED
1986 Nissan Pulsar NX - USED
1988 Honda CRX DX - NEW
1993 Honda Del Sol Si - NEW
1995 Honda Prelude Vtec -NEW
1996 Honda Passport EX - NEW
1998 Honda Accord EX V6 coupe - NEW
1998 Honda Prelude Si - USED
2000 Honda S2000 - NEW
1989 Honda Civic DX - Beater
2002 Acura RSX Type S - NEW
2003 Honda Element EX - NEW
2000 Honda RC51 - USED
2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL - NEW
2006 Honda CBR1000RR - NEW
2007 Honda Civic SI - NEW
2000 Honda CRV DX - Beater
2008 Acura RDX Tech - NEW
2010 Mazdaspeed 3 - NEW
2012 Honda CRV EX - NEW
2011 Acura MDX Advance - NEW
2016 BMW M235i _ NEW
2011 Honda Fit Sport - USED
2019 Honda CRV EX - NEW
2020 BMW X3M40i - NEW
2021 BMW X3MC - NEW

The wife said I'm done.

24 cars in 35 years (starting with your new '88 Prelude. Now, that's impressive.

[Nuckle]

Originally Posted by GolfCoyote

Bit of a Nissan/Infinty fan I see? Haha

Hahah yea once upon a time.

[wtwo3]

I love going down memory lane.

My first ever car- I scrunched together $2,000 as a sophomore in undergrad back in 2004 to purchase this 1993 Nissan Maxima. I loved this car, unfortunately 2 years of hard driving later I completely blew the transmission.




Soon after I scrapped my first car, I picked up a 2000 maxima for $6k in 2006. I held on to this for a solid 4 years before it started randomly stalling, a problem nobody seemed to be able to diagnose.



In 2010 I picked up my first luxury car, a 2008 Lexus IS350 for $27k. This car was smooth operator.... butter smooth transmission and 3.5L V6 which, for the time, was so quick. Held on to this car for 6 years and never gave me a single problem. I finally sold it in 2016 simply because I wanted something new.



2013 - I had just gotten married and we needed a 2nd car, so I purchased my first ever SUV, a 2010 Lexus RX350 for about $30k.




In 2016 I purchased my first ever new car, a loaded 2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, which, after some insane discounts from Infiniti, I paid about $56k (Had an MSRP of $65k). But after a few years I just couldn't get over the lazy transmission and the wonky steer-by-wire system. Plus the infotainment was so outdated.




I had never been a big fan of BMW in the past. I thought their interiors were kind of trashy and the cars unreliable. But the new G series of BMWs (G20, G05, etc) was a gigantic step up in both interior build quality and reliability. I know I took sort of an opposite approach of many people in this forum, but I find the current BMWs significantly superior to BMWs of old. So in 2019, I placed an order for an X5.



2 weeks after ordering the X5 to replace our RX350, I got the itch to replace my Infiniti, and ended up placing an order for an m340i.



As the BMWs were leases, in 2022 I replaced the X5 with an LCI X7.



And finally.... my first ever M car. I placed the order in March 2022, and 11 months later, in Feb of this year, I finally took delivery of my first ever M car. It's been the best car I've ever owned.

[GolfCoyote]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I love going down memory lane.

My first ever car- I scrunched together $2,000 as a sophomore in undergrad back in 2004 to purchase this 1993 Nissan Maxima. I loved this car, unfortunately 2 years of hard driving later I completely blew the transmission.

Attachment 3349975


Soon after I scrapped my first car, I picked up a 2000 maxima for $6k in 2006. I held on to this for a solid 4 years before it started randomly stalling, a problem nobody seemed to be able to diagnose.

Attachment 3349974

In 2010 I picked up my first luxury car, a 2008 Lexus IS350 for $27k. This car was smooth operator.... butter smooth transmission and 3.5L V6 which, for the time, was so quick. Held on to this car for 6 years and never gave me a single problem. I finally sold it in 2016 simply because I wanted something new.

Attachment 3349972

2013 - I had just gotten married and we needed a 2nd car, so I purchased my first ever SUV, a 2010 Lexus RX350 for about $30k.

Attachment 3349973


In 2016 I purchased my first ever new car, a loaded 2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, which, after some insane discounts from Infiniti, I paid about $56k (Had an MSRP of $65k). But after a few years I just couldn't get over the lazy transmission and the wonky steer-by-wire system. Plus the infotainment was so outdated.

Attachment 3349971


I had never been a big fan of BMW in the past. I thought their interiors were kind of trashy and the cars unreliable. But the new G series of BMWs (G20, G05, etc) was a gigantic step up in both interior [...]

Man I love those wheels on your G80!

[vreihen16]

I'm fascinated by the number of posts in this thread with long lists of previous cars. When I buy one, it is a long-term hold for the most part. As I approach age 60, I have only owned eight cars in my life...and still have three of them (in date purchased order):

1980 VW Rabbit, Snowshoe Edition
1988 VW GTI 16V
1985 Jeep CJ-7 (second vehicle)
1995 VW GTI VR6
2000 Audi TT-Q (still own)
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins/4WD/6MT (second vehicle) (sold in 2022)
2015 BMW i3 BEV (still own)
2014 Almost Mighty Freightliner diesel (second vehicle) (still own)

As long as the BMW doesn't fail me, I do not see myself buying another vehicle for the rest of my life. Plus, there really isn't another vehicle on the road that interests me enough to buy.....

[iwantyourcar]

Originally Posted by GolfCoyote

You’ve got me beat haha. I’m at 17 cars in 35 years.

I started my count at 16 yrs old. I’m currently 42. There are couple I there that I really never should have sold:

2001 s2000. Berlina Black with Red Interior. Was mint and lightly modded.
2004 955 Cayenne Turbo. Another mint ride that was a great family vehicle. All paperwork since day 1.
Lastly my first P38 rover. Bought it with a blown head gasket and a bunch of other little things. First time I ever really ripped into an engine myself and rebuilt it all over a summer. Still had working air suspension.
I’m kinda looking to get another P38 because I learned so much about them.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by dradernh

In the early '10s, I was a driving day instructor with an excellent student who drove an RX-8.

When we would exit a slow corner onto a long straight and I waited for something to happen, I would say "It's okay to go to gas now.", he always said "I know, I've been full-throttle since [way back there]."

With the RX-8 you had to shift down. Anything under 6000 RPM, the engine was pretty gutless. Above that, it was pretty good.

[JMcLellan]

This is a fun thread. Lets see if I can remember what I have driven.

1993 Chevy Corsica-- first car my parents gifted me when I turned 16 in 1997
2000 Ford Ranger
2002 Mazda Protege
2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege
2007 Mazda 6
2004 Toyota Corolla-- wife's car
2008 Chevy Suburban
2016 Toyota 4Runner
2017 Toyota Tundra
2018 Lexus GX460- wife's new car
2019 BMW M240i- sold October 2023
2024 BMW M2-- coming Feb/March 2024

My wife and I have been sharing her SUV since October and will be the case until my M2 gets here. It's quite painful waiting but I am very excited about my first M car.