For sure, 100%, get the 993.

It will be slower than the M3.
It won't handle as well as the M3 or the S2K.
It will be more uncomfortable and archaic than the M3 and the S2K.
It will probably cost you much more money to fix and maintain than the M3 and S2K.

BUT, you will have the experience of the original air cooled 911. You can say "Yeah, I did that and it was good/interesting." Because when you get older and/or have kids, you won't be able to own a 993/911 bc it is not practical.

So get it now while you can. When you have real need for 4 seater, you can still get the M3.

That was my EXACT path. I came from an E30/E36 M3s to a 964 then a 993. Now that I have a family, it may be time to get a 9x M3. But I will have 12 years of driving my 964/993 daily through sunny day/curvy road and snow and rain storms. Have that experience what owning a sport car like a 911 is like.

So...do it for the experience...because right now is the best time.

 

I haven't owned a V8 M3, but have owned an E36 and E46 model. My thoughts:

1. From a financial perspective, the 993 is the winner. I still think the E90 M3s have some depreciating to do whereas the value of the 993 seems to be on the rise and likely won't fall below what you paid for it. The E46 M3 came out a month after I bought my E36 and I lost my *** on that car. Once the newest M3 is commonplace on the road, expect values on the E90s to drop.
2. As much as I love my 993 (I've owned it for over 10 years), I would hate to have it as my only car. Its small, hard on the back (I drive with my PSS9s cranked to stiff) and I worry too much about someone hating on it in a parking lot. BMWs are everywhere- it stands out less which is nice from a security standpoint.
3. Get the Porsche as soon as in life as you can. I have a list of friends a mile long who want a Porsche, but they are married and having kids and can't seem to win over their wife's vote. I had my 993 when I met my wife, so I like to claim she knew what she was getting into. She is obviously cool- I picked up my GT3RS in an insane color without selling the 993 and she was fine with it.
4. Don't overlook the E46 M3. Although only available in a coupe, it has a more useful backseat than the Porsche and prices are pretty low compared with E30 models.

 

993 because you can always rent a normal car

 

To respond to others' thoughts, I too have a buddy with an E46 M3. He upgraded the suspension further from OEM and wow does that car haul! I'd definitely consider an E46 M3 before an E90 M3, based upon the depreciation argument alone.

As for the 'buy a Porsche as soon as you are able and while you're young and unconstrained,' AMEN! That's what I've done, and I don't regret it.

My now fiancee (who met me in my Boxster days and endured my shopping for 993) went to the Porsche Parade this last weekend and is already wondering when we'll get to go next and when we'll try entering into the concourse. She's a keeper and she's off limits boys.

Just don't over extend financially and don't rush into buying a used car without doing some due diligence to make sure you aren't buying a money pit. Then enjoy!

 

Wow...not to hi-jack this thread....but I have to re-consider that E46M3. I thought it was introverted and overweight pig with gutless power.

 

Loved my E46 M3 non-sunroof manual with very limited options (cloth seats). Certainly not a pig, extremely fast at Lime Rock where balance is rewarded. Also booked at Watkins Glen - had enough power to stretch legs.

 

I took mine once to the track and hated it. That said, I spent the previous day on the same track in my set up 993 on Hoosiers. Might of enjoyed it more if I reversed the order! Car had plenty of power, but it felt heavy and the brakes weren't the best. Awesome daily driver though!

 

I, too, had an e46 M3 SMG. It looked great with Fikse's and PS2's, ran like a cheetah...but it had no soul. It was boring so I sold it and bought the '95 993 in '07. Boredom solved. C2S followed soon after. "Icing on the cake": An e46 M3 has depreciated like the temperature in Siberia while we all know what the 993's have been doing.

 

Yeah, my friend with the e46 M3 bought it probably 8 years ago or so. He got a loan for it and paid through the nose for it. Now it is worth so little in comparison that he refuses to sell it even though he's ready for something new. Depreciation sucks. One of these days I'll get him driving a Porsche.

 

Based on this, I say get a 993. You're in your twenties and the heart wants what the heart wants...

Both my 993 and my M3 are awesome, but for different purposes. You can always pick up an e90 or e92 M3 down the road, but the 993s will become more rare over time (and $$$)!

 

Once you sort out a 993, they are reliable.

I wouldn't own a BMW M3 out of warranty.

Biggest issue with the 993 is the slippery slope (mods and upgrades)...trust me on this one.

The 993 meets your criteria. I would be looking for a high mileage coupe (there was a beaut on craigslist for $21k last week), but more than likely you will spend more. Plan to spend $5k on most cars you buy to bring it to standard.

Where are you? You said snow? Is so look at a 4.


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