Currently own a 718 GT4 manual as my 'daily' I work from home. Used to own a 991.2 GTS and regret selling it because I've got two little ones and absolutely loved being able to haul my family around for backroad trips to a lake or park. The prices on pcars are insane and can't even get an allocation for 992 GTS.

I test drove the new M3 on a couple of occasions and was surprised on how close it felt to the 911. So I pulled the trigger and ordered one (ETA in about a month).

Anyone who went from a 911 or Cayman to M3 have any regrets? I love my GT4 and love the feel, handling and fun factor. Wish I could own both!

My thought process is to enjoy the M3 and wait until prices come to sanity levels and 992 GTS allocations are more available.

 

I think a new M3 makes good sense over a 911 due to the pricing difference. I have a 2013 911 but if I were in the market to upgrade, I would seriously consider a new M3. I can build one on line like I would want for about $79,000.

A comparable new 911 is about $135,000 for me.

 

I went the other way. Went from F80 to 981 Cayman S to 991.2 Carrera T. I have two kids: 3 and 6.

we also have a model YP so we have an suv for family trips.

Owning the M3 was a good experience but even driving the cayman felt a lot better. M3 is very numb, albeit fast. I owned it for nearly 5 years and had zero regrets selling it. Kids fit well in the back of my 991.2 and it’s good for short trips.

I drove the G80 and was amazed at how cheap it felt inside. Maybe I got bitten by a Porsche bug but I can’t imagine paying nearly $95k for a well equipped G80 which looks like a cheap toy inside and like a beaver on the outside.

 

New M3/4 design became too trendy with too many bulky body lines so it looks like they're targeting to grown up Civic Type-R crowd than classic design appreciated Porsche crowd.

G80 M3 seems like engineering master piece per all reputable professional reviewers in the world but I just can't seem to like the missing out on the new nose design + BMW design cues (kidney grills, angel eyes, rear quarter window shape, upside down L taillights, etc.)

 

The previous gen IMO is the best looking thus far and maybe e90 2nd. I’d put the g80 at 3rd or 4th. But driving experience #1.

 

No reason you can’t sell the GT4 and get another 991.2 GTS. Regardless of price, the amount you can sell your GT4 will negate the extra you spend for a 991.2. Unless you’re just stuck on the 992 GTS.

Question, forget the space issue, how would you compare the GT4 to your previous .2 GTS? I’m assuming your GT4 is a manual.

 

yeah I’ve been on the hunt for a 991.2 GTS but folks are keeping the better speced ones. And the extra cash from selling GT4 is also enticing. I’m almost positive I’ll move to 992 GTS anyway.

I went from a 718 GTS (2.5L) to 991.2 GTS to GT4. Came back to the 718 platform because it was more fun to drive; better steering feel, go-karty, etc. The 911 gave up maybe 20% of that but made up for it in torque, space, sound (actually liked the sound of the turbo motor), and importantly being able haul my family to backroad trips.

 

I haven’t driven a 718 GT4, only the 981, how is the throttle response and clutch feel on the 718 GT4 vs the 991.2 GTS? The 981 had a nice heavy clutch and solid shirt shifter.

 

991.2 GTS I had was PDK. 718 GT4 has a perfect light but not too light clutch. All inputs have become lighter than previous gens.

 

Nobody commenting on the nostrils ? ;-)
I love both brands, I alternated them over my car-life... I still own 2 old bimmers, a 1973 2002 (my fav car ever) and an E46 M3 (and a 991). Porsches overall (not talking specifics here) are just more of a sports car overall as opposed to a sporty car, the bimmers are generally more usable day to day and generally are a better value, more power for the $, no doubt. Over the years I've also had much much better reliability and build quality "chez Porsche" - back when I was on track every week end, I noticed any factory porsche could run laps all day and drive home without any mods. Often times the bimmers needs coolant/brakes or they'd be on fire mid day on track. I'm always fixing something on the bimmers (even newer ones), I don't really mind because I enjoy tinkering, but yeah...and you can take the kids home in it... there's no bad answer there, 2 iconic brands with long history and slightly different cost/benefits. These days I'd get an M2CS over a 911..

 

Yeah and if the CS variants are as great as on the M2 and M5, can put imagine how amazing it would be for the M3. Bars are set high now for sure especially after M5CS won COTA from EVO.

 

Any other feedback for those who have experienced both?

 

I am very blessed to own an F90 M5, and a .2 Carrera - both are great cars, and serve different purposes. The M5 is a super comfortable, luxurious straight line beast; and the 911 is a great backroad/occasional track duty weapon.

Both cars have been very reliable, and I enjoy them both tremendously.

 

I did the reverse Kinda,
Traded in my M2 comp for a 991.2 Base Carrera, so point to note the M2C does not have adaptive suspension but it has the S55 M4 engine but rated at 405hp.
in addition the day i got my 2017 base C2 i test drove a 2014 C2S and a 2021 BMW M4 comp..so
1. The M4 comp is big it felt very big, and although i think this word is overused it felt like a Beast, I've had Hellcat and a Gen 5 Viper and i never called them a beast.
2. The 991.1 just wasn't for me i found it too raw, reminded me of the Viper but without 640hp.
3. 2017... 991.2, The 3 bears story, this one was just right.. fast enough, surprisingly fast actually, better than the M2C by a long margin but so it should be at the cost, with enough modern tech to satisfy.

Summary, I find the BMW tech too gimmicky, too hard to navigate, the whole emergency braking fiasco whereby it is called passenger crash mitigation i just didn't like it,

Finances of this..

If you don't mind the M4 depreciation then what your proposing makes sense, but they are making plenty of M4Comps you will likely lose your arm when you trade it in or sell it, so point being, when the bubble is over what are you left holding?
a car that depreciates less or more? all BMW's depreciate for some time except the 1M so its the outlier, the e46 M3 cars are just starting to come back up if you have a low mileage one after 20 years.

That dutch guy that does depreciation videos on youtube shows the 911 as a pretty safe bet. So even with a bubble that bursts i think they are still a safe bet, well i would i just overpaid for one...
supply woes will be around for quite some time, can you wait 3 years? hmmm you know what, with a short supply of 992's and limited production these early 992's will likely hold there money well with the limited amount being made.

G

 

If you get an M3 lease it. I leased a 2014 M5 and the residual was $75k ! When I turned it in it was worth mid 40s. There is no downside as long as you drive at least 7,500 miles a year and less than about 25k. The big advantage is you have the right but not the obligation to buy the car at the end of the lease for the residual. The disadvantages of leasing is it usually expensive or difficult to get out of a lease and when the lease is up you need a new car and the timing may not be right. If you own a car you get to choose the time to get a new one.