If I was going to make that decision, based on stock to stock, I'd get the 944T. The ride is very good, handling is good, and the performance is excellent. Most good shops can quickly diagnose any issue with a stock car, sometimes it's the modified ones that give them fits, unless they're an installer.

I've driven and ridden in a couple of M3's, very nice cars, but that just don't have that...shape and feel, to me anyway.

 

I drove a 951 daily for a while and found it kinda annoying. Great on the highway, back roads, etc. but stoplight to stoplight you are better off with a 944S2, 968, 928 or (probably) an M3. If daily reliability is a concern that goes double. An older turbocharged car (modded?) can be full of little suprises.

I've actually thought about getting an E36 M3 cabrio to replace both Porsches. A Saab Viggen would also be kinda fun but it's the poster car for torque steer. Not quite ready to make a switch though.

-Joel.

 

I always scoffed when people called the 951 a bad DD due to its lack of low end grunt and lag, it never bothered me at all and I loved driving the 951 around. But after actually spending some time in a nice torquey 6 its another story. Like Jfrahm said - stoplight to stoplight I would much rather have an n/a.

 

My understanding is an M3 is more enjoyable in a street, daily driver, however, I use my 951 as a daily driver and it is fine.

 

Well my last 4 daily drivers

1) 01 VW GTI 1.8T 5spd- Nice car I got new. Not a whole lot of fun. Decient

2) 84 944 NA - Started with 70k and it had been the family Show Car. put 20k miles on it and it was great fun. Never fast in straight line, but never boring to drive either. It had two downsides. Limited A/C performance for Arizona summer's and no space for the baby on the way. I sold it back to the original owner. Never left me stranded once, but I did need to replace the waterpump.

3) 88 944 Turbo S - With the 84 sold I drove my sometimes garage queen/first track & autocross/weekend car. I have owned the car since Feb 1997. I drove it for a month straight and put 4k miles on it. I loved it. Better A/C than my early 84. Nice ride and actually enough low end torque to keep you moving on the roads. Really below 3k RPM it acts very similar to an NA car. Anyway I really loved that car and still drive it to work every so often. This summer I considered selling it and maybe looking into a Cayman, but after 2 weeks of driving to work I just want to keep it and forget about the Cayman.

4) Currnet Daily Driver 2002 E39 530- Auto. Nice car and with the sport package fun and good handling. Much more comfortable than my 951, but not as "engaging" and Fun as the 951. I get more joy from the my drive (40 miles each way) in my 951 than the BMW. The reason I got the BMW was for the automatic and proper rear seats. It is great long distance car and fits my needs perfectly for a fun, yet family friendly car.

 

Thanks to everyone for the input. It looks like I'm going with the M3. The 951 will have to remain a dream car for a while longer. My e30 M3 is already my weekend and track car. My wife also needs to drive the car so I think she'll be more comfortable in the M3. I told her we need something good on gas,reliable, and we can both drive...What I'm really saying is: better on gas than our SUV, and needs to be able to function as a backup track car if the e30 is down : ). I'm sure I'll be back someday when the right 951 comes along.


Mike

 

951 unless you turbo the m3.

 

I drive my 951 as a daily driver for the last three and a half years. It has been pissy lately and has been sitting on jackstands the last week waiting on an alternator. I cannot complain too much, my car has over 190,000 miles and I drive it like I stole it. The M3 does feel a little heavier than a 951 when it comes to handling.

 

Ive asked a similar question recently..and have debated the addition of a 951 for about a month now.

My situation is however: Turbo the M3 or buy an start modifying a 951 instead.

Looking forward to even more opinions in this thread...