When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
M3 6MT paid off, picked up in Europe, ordered to my exact specs, no issues.
for....
911 T 7MT, possibly financed, used, not exactly how I want it (close but not exact).
Is it worth it?
My hesitation with the 911 - Standing out more, more money (I can afford it, but still), fear it won't be worth it and regret selling a car I really like
with a larger upgrade in price, less practicality.
You answered your own question. Stay with your M3. I'd only recommend a Porsche to one who loves them and what they have to offer. Otherwise you won't be happy, because not only is the initial price higher than the M3 but even routine maintenance costs will be much higher. In your case the juice probably isn't worth the squeeze.
I've had 4 911s now (currently driving a Targa 4 GTS) and had a 2015 M4 6MT as my last car. The 911 is better in virtually every conceivable way. And I'm not sure it really stands out more - 911s are fairly common and the M3 is kinda loud imo, and the T is a pretty subtle version of the 911. It's definitely more expensive, but that's an entirely personal decision and, again, I think you get what you pay for. 911 is still a pretty practical car and functions perfectly well for me as a daily driver. I don't own another car, although my wife has a 535xi. How often do you take people in your back seats? For me, the answer was pretty much "never", and since we had my wife's car for those very few occasions, I didn't have to worry about it. TBH, I didn't like my M4 very much. It was fast, but the chassis isn't sorted for the amount of power the engine has, and everything else about it made it feel like a German Mustang to me. The 911 is absolutely sublime in comparison. Every tactile sensation is better. Only thing I liked more about the M4 was the HK stereo, which was awesome. But I haven't regretted my decision for one single second. Hope that helps.
Based on my F80 test drives, I'd be happier in just about any other car, even a bicycle!
A 911 of a recent vintage/variety is all but guaranteed to be a substantial upgrade.
Why not buy a 991.1 C2S 7 speed? Get a car closer to the M3 in price and can figure out if a 911 is for you or not. If you like the 911 and have always wanted one, try it.
I traded my 2015 M4 for a 991.1 GTS. Both manual cars. Both cars are great, but different. As a daily driver, boulevard bruiser I’d stay with your M3. The massive torque makes the BMW very usable around town.
If you track your cars, or even do a lot of canyon carving you might need to experience a 911. Absolutely sublime on the track, like a surgical weapon. The M4 was fun too, but a beast of a car to tame. More of a drift machine. Oh, and the 911 is quicker around a track even though it doesn’t “feel” like it.
Hard to test drive manuals any other way unfortunately......
I liked it and had tried to secure a European Delivery allocation, but was unsuccessful.
In my mind, I had moved on, but I found a used T, that is close enough to how I would have optioned my car in decent proximity,
thus the dilemma......
Adding more to the story.
I have 3 cars, two four-door cars that are fun and sporty and can haul the family around....
and an older coupe that is my B-road blaster. The 911 would be a venture into a new brand
and a cross between daily driver and B-road blaster. I am fortunate to have great roads nearby.
A test drive would take place, but the car is 5 hours away, so I wanted to be somewhat sure before the trip was even made.
M3 6MT paid off, picked up in Europe, ordered to my exact specs, no issues.
for....
911 T 7MT, possibly financed, used, not exactly how I want it (close but not exact).
Is it worth it?
My hesitation with the 911 - Standing out more, more money (I can afford it, but still), fear it won't be worth it and regret selling a car I really like
with a larger upgrade in price, less practicality.
Any feedback is appreciated!
I have owned one or more M3s from the last three generations. The most feeling was the e46, the best looking and sounding was the e92 and the fastest was the f80. But I'll tell you this -- even if you put the best qualities of each into a blender, the M3 you'd come out with still wouldn't begin to compare to a Carrera T. I say this with much love and respect to my former M3s, all of which I miss on certain days.
M3 6MT paid off, picked up in Europe, ordered to my exact specs, no issues.
for....
911 T 7MT, possibly financed, used, not exactly how I want it (close but not exact).
Is it worth it?
My hesitation with the 911 - Standing out more, more money (I can afford it, but still), fear it won't be worth it and regret selling a car I really like
with a larger upgrade in price, less practicality.
Any feedback is appreciated!
I wouldn’t do it. Your post sounds like you are trying to convince yourself to get something that isn’t 100% of what you want. I would only do what you are proposing, if the 911 is your dream car, and not for status of the 911. Me personally, I have loved the Porsche brand since I was a little boy, specifically the 911, and thought the 928 was pretty cool too. Anyways, for me, other than it’s unique looks, which drew me in when I was young, the driving characteristics is what I wanted in a “driver’s car”, and the 911 has it. For me, it fit the bill. The M3 is a great car, one of the best cars I have driven, and I have driven every model out there. You currently have the best one, the F80 nailed it. I could go on and on why the 911 is the king for me, but you get the idea. Good luck in your decision, but make the right one.
My hesitation with the 911 - Standing out more, more money (I can afford it, but still), fear it won't be worth it and regret selling a car I really like with a larger upgrade in price, less practicality.!
I made a similar move two weeks ago from my custom-ordered ‘18 M240i to a used Carrera T with just 144 miles on it, located about 160 miles away. My concerns had been identical to yours, and I was much more than satisfied with the BMW.
But sometimes ya’ just gotta scratch the itch. I still can’t say whether my decision was ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, but I’m extremely impressed with the Porsche, and still feeling overwhelmed in a good way. We are starting the post-honeymoon phase of getting used to living together, and there’s a lot to learn.
Your question about whether it’s “worth it” is completely subjective, both experientially and financially. And you may not even get your answer by test driving or purchasing the vehicle. I still can’t say, in my situation, whether it was worth spending 2.5X the value of my BMW to get the Porsche. Who’s to know?.
I don’t ever buy cars based on a rationalized laundry list of pro-con reasons. I like to try new things, especially true for cars. I had no “reason” to buy the P-car, and I bought it without even a test drive. There was a nagging itch that I needed to scratch for myself.
So far, it’s working out great; the Carrera T is utterly amazing. A mind-blowingly brilliant car. Zero regrets.
I liked the M3 but was in love with the 997. I was petrified to lay a wrench on the M3 for maintenance purposes, not even oil changes. The 997 on the other hand, saw a lot of my tools. It was a joy and pleasure to spend a weekend doing stuff to the 997. To me, the ability to work on the car sits high on the list.
The M3 gave me tons of issues, all covered under warranty. The 997 only gave me a couple of annoying issues (sticky AC buttons, seat rattle) but flawless otherwise.
I would get the 911.
Last edited by Guards_Red_991; 03-20-2019 at 08:16 AM.
03-19-2019, 07:14 PM
F80 M3 to 911 T?
