New M3 or 996??
18 December 2002, 09:40 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Budget will stretch to a new M3 import or a second hand Porsche 996 (seen a tasty S-plate with full GT3 kit! 
)
Looking for some opinions based on experience of both cars...
Cheers,
T
) Looking for some opinions based on experience of both cars...
Cheers,
T
18 December 2002, 09:52 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Some country and western
Posts: 13,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
996.
a) Its a Porsche
b) Its a proper sports car, not a "hot" version of the 3rd best selling saloon in the UK.
[not saying the M3 is bad, its just a BMW and they make 316's too]
a) Its a Porsche
b) Its a proper sports car, not a "hot" version of the 3rd best selling saloon in the UK.
[not saying the M3 is bad, its just a BMW and they make 316's too]
18 December 2002, 10:45 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Some country and western
Posts: 13,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not really money to burn, the 996 will have already lost 20k (est) so depreciation will be very slow.
Did you ever want a BMW when you were 5? Did you ever have a pic of a 911 on your bedroom wall. It's not just the badge
While I do not doubt the M3 may be superior I know where my money would go.
Did you ever want a BMW when you were 5? Did you ever have a pic of a 911 on your bedroom wall. It's not just the badge
While I do not doubt the M3 may be superior I know where my money would go.
18 December 2002, 10:56 PM
#5
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmm, not so sure. I reckon the M3 is the better buy because it's as good as the Porsche in almost every way and better in others. Why pay as much for a 5 year old car that is no more capable, mainly because of the badge?
Ahhh damn, sounded good but changed my mind after a can of lager. Get the Porsche.
[Edited by scoobysnacks - 12/18/2002 10:59:26 PM]
Ahhh damn, sounded good but changed my mind after a can of lager. Get the Porsche.
[Edited by scoobysnacks - 12/18/2002 10:59:26 PM]
19 December 2002, 07:33 AM
#7
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In ability, the cars may be similar. Overall, the M3 cannot touch the porsche for image, long term residuals etc. If I could afford it, this is not a choice I would have to make, it would be porsche all day. I'm not down on BMW's either as I drive a 330ci.
Trending Topics
19 December 2002, 07:38 AM
#8
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've been thinking about this one as well recently. You could have a 51 plate M3 with 5k on it for the price of a 3 year old 996.
My head tells me the M3 has to be the better buy. However...
My head tells me the M3 has to be the better buy. However...
19 December 2002, 08:19 AM
#9
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 633
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you anticipate ANY snow then even a Carrera 2 is miles better in traction than an M3 (and obviously the C4 is better still). I had a late E36 M3 here in Aberdeen and last Xmas's snow meant I could not even get it out on to the road as the RWD and lots of power into big tyres was hopeless. I thus decided against the New M3 and bought an R34 Skyline (as I need seating sometimes). But I have also owned 3 earlier 911's and they are magnificent machines.
19 December 2002, 08:24 AM
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Guy at work here has a 6 month old M3 and is looking at changing it for a 996. Enough said.
Except I also drive a 3 series and have no complaints!
[Edited by Seamus300 - 12/19/2002 8:25:01 AM]
Except I also drive a 3 series and have no complaints!
[Edited by Seamus300 - 12/19/2002 8:25:01 AM]
19 December 2002, 10:07 AM
#11
same here - guy had an M3 conv then a tin top - now chopped in for a new 996 in black - was speaking to him the other day & he said he has never looked back - plus he always dreamed of owning a porsche - something he couldn't quite say the same about of the BMW.
Ro.
Ro.
19 December 2002, 11:29 AM
#13
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Surferk
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmm my mate just changed froman M3 Convertable to a 996 as well. Do we all know the same bloke?
And his is black. Were do you two work?
[Edited by Mark Champion - 12/19/2002 11:30:38 AM]
And his is black. Were do you two work?
[Edited by Mark Champion - 12/19/2002 11:30:38 AM]
19 December 2002, 12:52 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Got to agree with most on here...
M3 is a great car, but the main issue would be depreciation.
An M3 in a few years time will have lost a good £10k...
Decent older Porsches can still fetch well in excess of £25k nowadays... the depreciation will definitely have slowed down on a 3/4 year old Porker by now !!
Apart from money - what about the noise of that flat 6 !!!
Unless space is an issue - Porker every time !!
M3 is a great car, but the main issue would be depreciation.
An M3 in a few years time will have lost a good £10k...
Decent older Porsches can still fetch well in excess of £25k nowadays... the depreciation will definitely have slowed down on a 3/4 year old Porker by now !!
Apart from money - what about the noise of that flat 6 !!!
Unless space is an issue - Porker every time !!
19 December 2002, 01:47 PM
#16
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 1998
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I ordered a 996 a while ago, should be here early next year. I did consider (briefly) BMW M3 and M5, and even had a boxster on order before I changed my mind. But at the end of the day when spending many 10's of thousands on a car, to me it has got be something you really want (and I mean REALLY WANT) and lust after. Those magic numbers 9...1....1 just does it for me in a way no BMW can or ever will.
Short term, not so sure about depreciation being that great on porsches, but I'm being very conservative on the options which should help....it's very well spec'd as standard anyway. In the long term the 911 will always be the winner. An old 911 still has a class, whereas all an old BMW says about you is that you can't afford a new one (possible exception for, and only for, original E30 M3).
Short term, not so sure about depreciation being that great on porsches, but I'm being very conservative on the options which should help....it's very well spec'd as standard anyway. In the long term the 911 will always be the winner. An old 911 still has a class, whereas all an old BMW says about you is that you can't afford a new one (possible exception for, and only for, original E30 M3).
19 December 2002, 01:49 PM
#17
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cheers for the responses guys, basically confirmed my gut feel - M3 is a great car, but a 996 is even greater!
Running costs seem similar, insurance is about the same and depreciation should hit the 996 less as it has already lost a large chunk of its value so it looks like it is time to realise the 911 dream...
Running costs seem similar, insurance is about the same and depreciation should hit the 996 less as it has already lost a large chunk of its value so it looks like it is time to realise the 911 dream
...
19 December 2002, 11:21 PM
#18
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IMO go for what you need. Both cars are awesome so you cannot lose either way. M3 is fractionally faster and is great for oversteer whilst posrche is just sublime handling. Go for whichever suits your personality best - either way you cannot lose
20 December 2002, 09:23 AM
#19
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having owned both, I would agree with most posts on here, The m3 was a better drivers car in a lot of ways, and certainly nothing in it performance wise. I now have a 996 c4 cab, and much prefer it to the m3, its more comfortable to drive on a day to day basis, and i think residuals are a lot stronger.
You should be able to find a real bargain at this time of year.
You should be able to find a real bargain at this time of year.
20 December 2002, 10:20 AM
#20
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The GT3 is rather odd (in a good way) in that it's hardly depreciated in the 3yrs since they were first sold (I think they were all registered '98/'99). Dealers still have them up for £60-70K
20 December 2002, 11:02 AM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Some country and western
Posts: 13,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I spoke to an instructor at Oulton recently and he said the GT3 was the best car he had ever driven around Oulton, he said you could feel the downforce working round the bends.
Merkin - any luck selling your car? Saw it on Piston Heads.
Merkin - any luck selling your car? Saw it on Piston Heads.
20 December 2002, 11:23 AM
#26
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Some country and western
Posts: 13,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Most Scoobs and Evo's would not see which way a GT3 went!
I think a scoob would have to have more than 400bhp to be able to keep with it.
I think a scoob would have to have more than 400bhp to be able to keep with it.
20 December 2002, 11:40 AM
#30
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts