AlexCeres

have you tried Turo or looked for some local owners ?

Benedict14

Cool wife. Keep her, buy the 992.

But seriously - if you really need two extra doors and an adult sized back seat. And the 992 stretches you uncomfortably financially; you know what to do.

If not - with a child and an SUV in the family, the 992 will absolutely work. It is the superior sports car.

AlexCeres

If the kid can get in and out of the car by themselves (2-4 yro) and isn’t too big to fit in the back (11-12) then you don’t HAVE to have four doors. For very young kids, who you need to put in and out of the car yourself you do need the four doors. The car seats are heavy and it’s not worth the chiropractor costs when you can lease a couple years and then get the 911.

ipse dixit

Where are you located? If close to one of the upcoming locales, you could go to the BMW Ultimate Driving Experiences in the various local US citites and do one of their M course. https://driving.bmwusa.com/cities

rk-d

We’ve had nothing but one SUV and 911s in our family for the past 5 years. My daughter is 10 now. Still works out fine.

This is the whole point of the rear seat of the 911. It’s what makes the car so versatile.

Master Deep

Carwow M3 vs 911 base

Porsched

I actually went to one of those events hoping for an M3/M4. We drove the M440i xDrive around the course instead. I had a blast to be honest. I had zero issues with the big grill after that. Unfortunately they weren’t letting anyone drive the M3 that was on display so I don’t know how it compares. The M440 was great though. I should probably just buy that and save a bunch of money. But it wouldn’t be a proper midlife crisis if I don’t get an M or a Porsche.

Porsched

First of all, I’m really glad you’re ok. I had a scare like that a few years ago also. It also turned out to be nothing luckily.

My wife and I did build out an aventurine green base 992. But I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I might lease the M3 as someone suggested and then see if I want to step up to the 911 after that. Since you have had so many cars, I assume you lease them all? I have always purchased, thinking it’s financially better to keep a car long term. I think that’s true unless I get in an accident which will crater resale value and make leasing more attractive. Leasing would also allow me to enjoy lots of different cars.

AlterZgo

Right with you. Heck even my 2015 without CarPlay feels much better than Porsche’s system. The fact that I can easily open my garage door without waiting for homelink to appear or the ease which I can navigate my playlist on my iPhone in the M3 is vastly better than in my 992. I don’t think it’s even possible to display any playlist either thru PCM or CarPlay on the 992. I will say though that the Bose system in the 992 is much better than the base or HK in the M3.

But, of course, the 992 drives SO much nicer than the M3 and it feels every bit as fast completely stock, as my tuned M3 and the 992 feels much more planted and doesn’t feel like I’m always on the verge of just peeling out or kicking the rear out at all times like with my M3.

yrralis1

A friend of mine was shopping base 911 cars with a serious budget . I can lean this car down even more but hew wanted sport exhaust and sport Chrono . He wanted white (basic color and free)
http://www.porsche-code.com/PNKD5BD6

The M3 competition I built came into the 80K range . It is a significant price gap.

I have never leased a Porsche and only tried leasing twice in my life and hated it . I ended up buying both cars .
I buy my cars new (with the exception of an out of production car) and pay cash . I dont finance them but have read lengthy discussions over on the Macan forum about guys who shopped for better rates at various credit unions and how they set up their plans about paying. A few of them still have their dream car which was a 2015 Macan S and love their now free and clear Porsche just as much today as when they bought them years ago.

Ultimately I would rather buy no car than buy the wrong car . The M3 is not cheap either . Why not keep what you are already driving ? How about a CPO 991.2 ? You can buy a well maintained low mile 911 for the same price as an M3 . The 911 would even have some depreciation baked in . I love my 991.2 GTS and there are some things I will really miss with a 992.

. Most 911 owners do take care of their cars and a CPO program is quite solid .

PS. I have owned a lot of cars because am old .

ko2302

In your scenario, I would go for a second hand M5, rather than a brand new M3. 911 is not too practical for kids but if you are going for the 2 doors hey, then go for the 911 because M3 is something in between not a real family car or a sports car.

Bat28

You won’t be sad you have an m car but will always want the 911. this is the correct take.

Fastcarsplease

I’m currently awaiting my 992 GTS, having had an F82 M4 Comp for 4 years. I can’t imagine choosing the BMW over a Porsche unless money or practicality were the deciding factor. If it’s your only car with kids, the Porsche will never be enough for more than a quick trip with minimal luggage. Imagine a weekend away where you need to pack more than just a pushchair! No chance 😉

I agree with people that suggest you buy the car that will fit in with your lifestyle rather than trying to make your lifestyle fit with your car.

I will just throw one idea out there for you - get a low mileage M2 Competition (id go manual gearbox), they get great reviews (better than my M4 &#128528 and then in a couple of years when it’s easier to justify get the Porsche.

Good luck with whatever way you go, it’s a great problem to have 😀

Outlaw 06

Here are my thoughts on BMW.

I special ordered my first 3-series BMW in 2000, and I’ve (only) owned 6MT, Sport Package or M-Sport Package, rear wheel drive BMWs ever since. I currently own a 2004 E46 M3 coupe and a 2021 M240i coupe with an M Performance LSD (my wife owns a 2018 X5 diesel that I occasionally use as a tow vehicle).

Every time I drive my 17-year-old M3 ($55k MSRP in 2004) and my new M240i ($52k MSRP) I marvel at how good those cars are for the money. They’ll also seat 5 people in a pinch, albeit uncomfortably.

Total cost of ownership is similar between BMW and Porsche in my experience.

As far as depreciation is concerned, my BMWs all depreciated more than my Porsches, although the E46 M3 is on the way back up after 17 years…

Of course, you asked about a 992 base or BMW M3. I recently got to drive a new M3 at the BMW Performance Driving School, and I was very impressed with its performance and “fun to drive” factor. I’d be very satisfied daily driving that vehicle.

AlterZgo

The first time I saw BMW’s new front design language in the 4 series concept I thought it looked stunning. I’m in the camp that thought the G80 M3 front end was awesome and aggressive and I appreciated the evolving design. It reminds me of when Audi came out with their shield grille and Lexus came out w/ their “predator” grille. People flipped out… but got used to the new designs and now don’t bat an eye. Many people are coming around to accept the new M3’s front end, yet there is a large contingent that still hate on it 24/7. I think some of that is because people are not used to change and some is because they are just jumping on the bandwagon of people hating on the grille. I know on the BMW boards there’s great camaraderie to hang out and talk trash about it. Personally I don’t get why people have that much time and energy to feel so bad about something they never would buy.

Personally I am so glad BMW tried something new and different. Ironic as I ended up not getting a new M3 but, instead, bought the most conservative, least changed designed car of all time… a 911. I have to say though that this is because the M4 is a freaking gigantic boat. If the M4 was the size of an E92 or F82, I’d probably be driving that now instead of the 911.