scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

Know that feeling cheap. I had the same untill my first drive of a 996.

Perhaps things would be different with a c4s or a turbo? Turbo would be awesome For my budget i could only afford the low end of the 911 market, or a mint condition e46. My head rueled in the end and im glad it did.

Go drive a few and let us know how you get on!

p.s. took me ages to find a decent e46 m3!

AsianGunner

iTrader: (7)

Yeah i only wish my budget would stretch as far as a Turbo :-(

I will hopefully test drive a few but i always get a feeling that dealers are abit on the weary side when it comes to test drives? is this the case? I've not had to consider test drives for 6-8 years.

Any recommended dealers in the south east? either porsche or BMW....

MMT WRX

I did you a list here and picked you one out
https://www.scoobynet.com/showpost.p...2&postcount=29

Stealth

iTrader: (4)

Shame they've all got Porsche badges on

MMT WRX

I think he has that itch that an M3 just isn't going to quite scratch.

Stealth

iTrader: (4)

Convince him to buy the M3 (the better car) and we will see about a cream for the itch

MMT WRX

Ok, this is where I got mine from when I lived that way.

http://www.specialistcarsbmwstevenage.co.uk/

TBO I reckon whichever he gets there will be a little nagging for the other, particularly if anything goes wrong. I had a 2 year old 525 and it was constantly in the garage with problems, put me off somewhat. However, a friend has just got a 635d and its fantastic, the engine is to die for. No wonder Mateeboy goes on so much.

You can certainty get a lot newer M3 for your money.

But its not a Porsche

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

oh. and to throw a spanner in your works.

have a look at the meserati 4200. 400bhp ferrari engine. mmm I decided i couldnt afford the parts/looked a little dated. Sorley tempted tho! What a track beast that would be...

Brun

I can afford neither so i feel able to offer a balanced opinion. If i was in this position where a Porsche was possibly on the cards, a tricked up 3 series just would not cut it. It doesn't matter if it's faster, better value, more toys, etc. etc. it's still a tricked up 3 series. For the record - i am far from the biggest Porsche fan.

DoZZa

iTrader: (4)

Very true, I have had an E46 M3 and the brakes where next to useless.

However the rest of the car was very good indeed and part of me wishes I never sold it.

I had the SMG version and it was very good indeed. Dont read too much into the issues that are apparently wrong with the SMG, it is very good.

If you are interested in M3's then I suggest you take a look on the m3cutters forum, you will be made most welcome if you introduce yourself there.

Oh BTW, the OP should buy an M3, forget the Porker unless you can afford the 997 Turb!!!

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Whilst the 911 Turbo is undoubtedly an excellent car I think people get totally distracted by acceleration figures.

A number of 911s are brilliant cars but do not assume that a 911 badge means all the cars are the same - they are fundamentally different.

A car to compete with the M3 would be a 997 S, or a 996 GT3 - and both of these would blow an M3 into the weeds.

The Turbo (any 911 turbo) will be VERY fast but more of a GT car rather than a raw sports car.

DoZZa

iTrader: (4)

A tricked up three series it is not I am afraid.

If you have driven both the M3 and a standard three series then you would know.

The car is very different and has been touched by the BMW Motorsport Division, trust me, its much more of a car than a tricked up three series!!!

I could list pretty much everything that is different about this car right here, but I will be here a while, and quite frankly I dont need to defend the ///M3 as those that know the car know that it does not need any defending.

Brun

I understand what you are saying, but it will always be a 3 series under the skin. I actually really like M3's and respect everything they are - i am simply drawing my own conclusion when we are talking about a Porsche v's a BMW and if i was in the position of choosing - the car that i would be hankering after would not be a hot saloon car!
If you do cut to the chase - it is and always will be a tricked up 3 series - just like an STi is a tricked up GX/Sport/WRX.

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

lol.

go try a 996 c2 2000 reg vs a e46 m3 54 reg. You gotta REALLY love the porsche or REALLY hate the m3 to choose the porker. as they are the same price ish. By no means does this make the porker a BAD car. It just means when spending your actual hard earned, i was more inclinded to chose the faster, better sounding, better equipped, more comfortable, better looking, newer, lower milage car...

its no contest.

M3 is an entirely different beast to a 3 series. Thats like saying your elise is the same as a skoda, as they both have 4 wheels....

MMT WRX

Are Evo mag figures very reliable?

According to them:
M3 (E46) 0-60=5.1s 219bhp/ton
996 C2 (3.4) 0-60=4.6s 230bhp/ton
Doesn't give 0-100 for the 996 to compare.

If that's the case then Trouts earlier point is valid.

You may think your M3 is fast but all your going to see is one of the best pair of hips ever.

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

Im a stat junky. but in this case the numbers dont mean jack.

Go drive them both!

DoZZa

iTrader: (4)

Those M3 figures are for the US spec M3 with less BHP, the Euro spec M3 will do 0-60 in 4.7 secs. Thats for the coupe. Convertible is ever so slightly more.

MMT WRX

What are the true numbers then?


Look at the **** on that



Compared to the 3 series

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

that appears to be a pre-facelift m3 **** which now looks dated. The newer 03 onwards looks much improved/modern. also the 911 has the optional areo pack..

lets not forget, this decision is massivly impacted with PRICE!

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

Look at that stance. menacing looks better in rl




the 911 with the gt3 does look awesome tho! Prefer the turbo tho.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

You cannot on one post say that the M3 is demonstrably faster and then in the next post say numbers don't mean jack!

A more telling time is 0-100 and the 911, even the base Carrera, is demonstrably faster than the M3. Usually posting times in the low 10s, as opposed to the M3 posting between 11 and 12s.

And at that point the 911 would be pulling away at every increment. But drive them both and the amazing things about 911s is their supernatural way of building speed once you get to 80mph and above. You are always going faster than you think you are, or should, or that power output would seem to support.

At the ring the base 996 Carrera did 8m 17s, clearly slower than the E46 M3 with 8m 22s (I won't even mention the GT3 with sub 8m )

And for those saying is it not a tricked up 3 series the clue is in the car name M3

Trout

iTrader: (1)

You cannot on one post say that the M3 is demonstrably faster and then in the next post say numbers don't mean jack!

A more telling time is 0-100 and the 911, even the base Carrera, is demonstrably faster than the M3. Usually posting times in the low 10s, as opposed to the M3 posting between 11 and 12s.

And at that point the 911 would be pulling away at every increment. But drive them both and the amazing things about 911s is their supernatural way of building speed once you get to 80mph and above. You are always going faster than you think you are, or should, or that power output would seem to support.

At the ring the base 996 Carrera did 8m 17s, clearly slower than the E46 M3 with 8m 22s (I won't even mention the GT3 with sub 8m )

And for those saying is it not a tricked up 3 series the clue is in the car name M3

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Nice 3 series there

MMT WRX

There you go...much better.
Facelift

320

pre-facelift

Trout

iTrader: (1)

One of them has different lights!

MMT WRX

Yea but it makes it look much improved/modern.

Tongue in cheek smiley

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I think someone has taken their 3 series BMW branded ball home

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

Lol.

I dont remember saying the m3 was demonstrably faster at any point.

There are so many holes in this argument i dont know where to start were it comes to statistics!

As ive said previously. Go try both and id be VERY surprised if you went for the 911!

Now if you had 20k in your back pocket it would be a DIFFERENT question. In this case, pound for pound the m3 is the FAR better car. Only thing its got significantly going for it is its a porsche! The porsche that i could afford tbh doesnt look that good. and the inside is shocking.

zip106

S'funny, I test drove the new M3 in view to changing my car for one and to be perfectly honest, I don't think I've ever been so underwhelmed with a car as I was with this one.

I really wanted to like it but it just felt very lardy and slow with no torque.

On the other hand, if I had room I'd add an e46 M3 CSL to my garage any day.

But I'd still keep the Porsche.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Just as a little reminder