2003 BMW M3 v 1999 911

JackCharlton · 01-11-2010 5:28pm #1

right i have been slaving away the past year and i have decieded to treat myself
i have 15-18k to spend on a nice car
im looking at either an early 996 Porsche or a 2003/2004 E46 BMW m3

i had the older e36 M3 but i didint like it way to raw and crazy as opposed to the previous car i had which had far better road manners and way better build quility a Boxster S

i do about 150 miles a week
any pointers?

Pkiernan · 01-11-2010 5:35pm

911 all the way.

Beemers, even M3's, are ten-a-penny.

The Porsche will be more expensive to run, but is a much better car.

Pkiernan · 01-11-2010 5:40pm

Quick question - can you find a 911 from 1999 in your budget range? I think you might have to up it to the mid 20s to be honest.

JackCharlton · 01-11-2010 5:43pm

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1567433

Tigger · 01-11-2010 5:49pm

JackCharlton wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1567433

hmmmm the vibe i get from that ad is not good

Atomic Pineapple · 01-11-2010 5:50pm

Tigger wrote: »

hmmmm the vibe i get from that ad is not good

+ 1!

JackCharlton · 01-11-2010 5:52pm

what vibe?

Max Power1 · 01-11-2010 5:55pm

Tigger wrote: »

hmmmm the vibe i get from that ad is not good

+1, its not exactly well written. Surely if someone was looking to sell a nigh on 20 grand car they would write the ad correctly

NO LESS CHEAPEST CAR AROUND

johnos1984 · 01-11-2010 5:57pm

JackCharlton wrote: »

what vibe?

TH&#8364 wrote: »

NO LESS CHEAPEST CAR AROUND

@DDDDD LIKE D@T 4 A 9!! I~~~~M SURPRIZZZZD'E IT ASN*T SOLED SOON€R

JackCharlton · 01-11-2010 5:59pm

or this ??

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/M3/SMGII/201039199680848/advert?channel=CARS

johnos1984 · 01-11-2010 6:01pm

~~~NO MORE D~~K HEADS PLEASE~~~

:D:D:D

Max Power1 · 01-11-2010 6:22pm

LIGHTNING wrote: »

911 everytime, the big problem with that advert is that its a auto!

+1 to that also. Porsches seem weird with an autobox!

Cyrus · 01-11-2010 7:06pm

not sure how many who are advising the 911 have driven both,

and e46 m3s are hardly ten a penny either

both are super cars, they are very different too,

there isnt anything in it really in numbers 0-60 0-100 etc but they are a different drive,

the main advice that i would give you, is to buy a well looked after example, because if you dont it will be a financial nightmare,

owners clubs would be a better place to start looking, you will pay more but it will be worth it in the long run,

you have a pm by the way

Divorce Referendum · 01-11-2010 7:19pm

JackCharlton wrote: »

or this ??

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/M3/SMGII/201039199680848/advert?channel=CARS

Tax is out at the end of this month on that so bear that in mind. If you are looking at buying either of these cars privately then do your homework and scrutinise the cars carefully or get someone that is an expert. Possibility of getting your fingers burnt here are very high.

rabbitinlights · 01-11-2010 7:27pm

Neither car is one I would like to be buying on a budget, especially the 911. Pick a specific model & year(s) then buy the best one you can find, it will save your wallet in the end, both in servicing & resale.

Do your research on running cost etc and do it properly, a €20k sports car can easily be a €35k hole within 12 months if you buy a lemon.

S.

mathepac · 01-11-2010 7:32pm

I'm not sure what OP wants from a car but the M3 and a 911 Carrera 2 tip tarted up with after-market body-kit, wheels etc is not a like-with-like comparison. That whorish body-kit on a Carrera 2 promises more enjoyment-wise than the car will ever deliver.

An autobox Carrera 2 is a granny Porsche. A more valid alignment performace-wise would be the M3 and a 911 (996) Turbo, but I don't think the porker will be in the ball-park budget-wise. Here's a nice discrete one - like all the unmolested 996 turbos, a wolf in sheep's clothing with a great singing voice

http://www.porsche996turbo.com/ (no connection, not my car)

Gallus · 01-11-2010 9:35pm

mathepac wrote: »

I'm not sure what OP wants from a car but the M3 and a 911 Carrera 2 tip tarted up with after-market body-kit, wheels etc is not a like-with-like comparison. That whorish body-kit on a Carrera 2 promises more enjoyment-wise than the car will ever deliver.

An autobox Carrera 2 is a granny Porsche. A more valid alignment performace-wise would be the M3 and a 911 (996) Turbo, but I don't think the porker will be in the ball-park budget-wise. Here's a nice discrete one - like all the unmolested 996 turbos, a wolf in sheep's clothing with a great singing voice

http://www.porsche996turbo.com/ (no connection, not my car)

What are you talking about. The 996 turbo and e46 m3 are two entirely different cars.
Plus that tarted up aftermarket kit is from a gt3.

I would echo the posts by other members if you pick one get the best you can. Costs can spiral quickly

bijapos · 01-11-2010 9:50pm

OP: There is no such thing as a cheap 911. I cannot emphasise this enough. If its cheap it will be a money pit. I had two 911s back in the 90's, they are incredibly reliable, but you must invest in servicing and original parts. If the car does not have a full service history then walk away from it.

The problem with Porsches is that when they hit a certain price level they become attractive to people who can afford to buy the car but can't afford to run them properly.

If you thought the M3 was too wild for you then you might consider a 911 with 4 wheel drive, they are more forgiving but I think this will be beyond your budget.

fwiw the best Porsche I ever drove was a 993 4S, but this may be beyond your budget.

Maybe the best thing is to wait another year, save a bit more and go for something better.

mickdw · 01-11-2010 10:32pm

Can you get a 996 for under 20k? Yes.
Can you get a worthwhile 966 for under that wont need money spending on it for 20k? No.

Spend a bit extra on a proper example.

mathepac · 01-11-2010 10:45pm

Gallus wrote: »

... The 996 turbo and e46 m3 are two entirely different cars. ...

The original cars are hardly identical -
BMW E46 M3 coupe - 3.2 litre straight 6 330bhp
Porsche 911 (996) Carrera 2 auto - 3.4 litre flat 6 295bhp

Gallus wrote: »

... Plus that tarted up aftermarket kit is from a gt3. ...

I said the car was tarted up with the body-kit and wheels, not that the body-kit was

Gumbo · 01-11-2010 10:59pm

mathepac wrote: »

The original cars are hardly identical -
BMW E46 M3 coupe - 3.2 litre straight 6 330343bhp
Porsche 911 (996) Carrera 2 auto - 3.4 litre flat 6 295bhp
I said the car was tarted up with the body-kit and wheels, not that the body-kit was

FYP

2003 BMW M3 v 1999 911

Comments