SpiritofSenna

Hello,

I'm looking to change my car hopefully in the near future and wanted to look for some input from the forum.

To give some background, I'm in my early 20's, and currently drive a S2000..I feel like as much as the car is fun, it is too impractical in the sense that there is no back seat, and the trunk barely fits several grocery bags..

This has got me thinking that I should change my car and my list came down to either the m3 or 993..Now m3 I'm still debating whether to go all out practical and get the sedan, or compromise and get the convertible..(But it seems like convertible really takes away the practicality..making the change moot point..?)

For 993, although I'd be fine with coupe, I really love the targa..so preference is for targa..

I can't keep a second car not due to financial reasons, but due to space reasons..no parking space for second car..

Given all this information, how would you guys compare the M3 to 993 ? especially the 993 targa? Is cargo space horrible on the 993 ? Like can 2 golf bags fit or guitars fit in the car ? (big musician here..)

Lastly, how would you compare the maintenance cost for the two ? I drive around 50+miles per day and this would be daily driven, rain or shine or snow..Another concern for dailying is that I heard targa, as much as it's cool, is a very weird and complex design where if it breaks, you're looking at big money to fix it..

Anyways..would love to hear input from you guys ! If anyone had or has both cars, please chime in !!

Key Summary: Need to have only 1 car; M3 or 993 targa in terms of practicality and maintenance costs? (I know 993 is more fun to drive for sure that's a given..)

Thanks !

WPOZZZ

How long are you planning to keep your car?

quacktoduck

m3 ive had both and the e90 m3 is far more practical and powerful. the long term cost they may be similar, the resale value the 993 is much better.

if i could right now im gonna pick up a x5 M or non M next im currently daily driving my e39 530i and 993 on the weekends.

NYC993

It depends on your lifestyle and why you are getting rid of S2000. To me going from S2000 to 993 is not adding practicality except a little shelf behind the front seat.

I really like 993, but for 50mi commuter car and having limited resources I'd skip it. I'd skip e90 too tho. Keep in mind e90 M3 gets 19mpg tops on a highway and more like 13-15mpg around town and new bimmers are full of electronic gremlins. I'd look into newer VW GTI or R20 - much more practical/affortable and can be driven pretty hard (esp. the R20)

porsche bud

I own both an e90 M3 as my daily driver and a 993 C4S.

If I only had one car, I'd go for the M3 (e90 more practical, but e92 would still have considerably more space for cargo, etc.). The 993 is great, but it's a weekend car for me and I would personally find it too small, and the maintenance cost as a DD could be much higher than you'd want to pay.

The M3 under warranty isn't bad, but the cost post-warranty could be expensive (you may want to get some more info here from others with older e90/e92s).

The 993 will have drastically better resale value, but it comes down to your needs and how much you're willing to compromise.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat or have more questions!

NC TRACKRAT

As much as we'd enjoy having you as a new member of the 993 RENNLIST, I'd choose neither vehicles for the above-mentioned reasons. You don't mention your locality, so don't know if bad weather is a factor or if you go on ski trips or just like to head up to the mountains. If so, perhaps the new Porsche Macan would be a great choice for you since it's very sporty, nicely appointed, choice of engines, got space for four, luggage, etc.

RonCT

The best "only car" I ever had was an E46 M3. I put snows on it in the winter and had no issues. I hauled bags of topsoil and mulch, lumber, and all other sorts of "stuff" in the trunk with the fold-down seats. Great car that does it all. After the M3 I went to a two-car system with something with AWD and more utility as the DD and a Porsche as a 2nd (or 3rd).

SpiritofSenna

Thanks for the replies guys. The only reason I'd like to switch from my s2000 to potentially 993 is that s2000 is way too impractical..

When I mean I'm looking for practicality, I'm not concerned of MPG, but more so in reliability (which affects maintenance costs) and cargo space enough to carry a passenger and 2 golf bags, or a passenger and a guitar..the main idea is for the car to have enough space for a nice weekend trip or to be able to go play golf with another person in the same car (currently in my s2000, I can only fit the guitar or the golf club in passenger seat...)

I don't really need to haul people around, but would still like the ability to do so "in a pinch"..In addition, I do occasionally track my car and intend to keep doing so..

Given the above information, do you guys still maintain that I forego the 993 ?

I know rationally speaking, my brain is telling me I should really not opt for the 993..but my heart says otherwise ! Help me decide..

RonCT

You asked and we answered. I've owned several Porsches (air and water cooled) and BMWs including the M3. To me only the M3 answers your question. Right now my DD is an X1 with the 2.0 Turbo and my weekend car is the 993 C2S. I easily fit 2 people, 2 golf bags, and duffles for a long weekend in the M3, but not in the 993.

tcsracing1

993 given its age requires things that can add up. If you are ok with that then get a 993.
if the targa top fails, that can also be a costly fix however.

The M3 in a 4 door would be more practical but Same goes for a subaru STI or Mitzsub Evo.

What is your budget here?

NYC993

2 golf bags fit fine in the back of a coupe. Convertible has a higher tunnel in the back without shelf I believe, not sure what targa has in the back.

Are you gonna diy maintenance items and small repairs? If not, it will get expensive quick.

Do you have 5-7k stashed away for potential top end or 1-2k for leaking steering rack or sai clean out (with obd 2). Rear tires will be done after 10k maybe 15k miles. Brakes aren't cheap either since it seems that Porsche pads and rotors are the ones to use.

Budget at least 1-2k per year in mait. and repairs.

RudyP

I have an E92 M3 as my DD/practical car (I'm single so no kids to put in the back seat) and I find it to be a great jack of all trades. It's fast and fun for when you are by yourself but great for hauling groceries and can take 4 people in reasonable comfort if need be. That would probably be my pick if I could only have one car. I'd hate to beat up my 993 with the mileage and typical wear and tear of DD duty. Just the other day, some careless person scraped the front of the bumper of my M3 and while I was pi$$ed for a few minutes, I got over it just fine. I'd still be pissed if that happened to my 993.

Spyder_Man

Here's my story. It might help you weigh your own options.

I am in my early thirties, and am doing decently well financially with no little ones to haul around. In my 20's (once I could buy my own car and have say in what I was driving) I had a 986 Boxster. I loved the car because it was fun and nimble and easy enough to drive while commuting. It certainly lacked passenger and luggage space. I think Boxster's have slightly more luggage space than the S2000, but I know your pain.

I sold the Boxster and bought a 993, because I love Porsches, grew up in and around air-cooled Porsches, and wanted to own one before they were simply unattainable. I still have a single car arrangement with my 993, though my fiancee has a Ford Focus which provides plenty of people and stuff hauling capability when needed. While I do 'commute' in my 993, I have an extremely short daily commute (~7 miles), and I recently started bicycling to work too.

In summary, I think I am getting by just fine using my high-mileage 993 as a commuter and single car. But I state this with the caveat that I do have access to a 4-door with large trunk when necessary AND I have an extremely short commute distance.

Porsche 911s are more practical than 2-seater roadsters, but they are still very restrictive. Honestly, I was surprised how small the 993 front trunk space is compared to the 986 Boxster. The rear-seat ledge and rear footwells are where you'll store most everything. Don't ever plan to fit a grown adult in the back seats for more than a mile drive. I don't play golf so I cannot comment on hauling golf clubs, but I've heard two bags will fit on the rear ledge just fine. I do play guitar and my acoustic guitar in hardshell case will only fit in the passenger side footwell and seating area. In other words, haul your guitar or your passenger at any one time, but not both.

As for 993 vs. e90 M3, these are two entirely different cars. Their design serves very different purposes, though both can haul butt when necessary. The e90 is WAY newer than a 993 and should have fewer immediate repair costs. In my example, I'm slowly fixing up some minor worn bits and leaks while saving up for a complete suspension overhaul for my 993. I expect the suspension overhaul to cost me $3-5k when completed. I have a buddy with an e90 335i and wow does that car pack a punch. It is way more practical than any air-cooled Porsche too. Still it isn't my style, and I probably wouldn't own one.

One last note is that a member on this forum (Cactus) is selling a well sorted VW R32 for a decent price. That car seems to me to be a great combination of performance fun and practicality at a much lower price tag (up-front and over time). Of the R32, e90, and 993, only the 993 will appreciate much value overtime. I wouldn't let that be the sole deciding criterion because it only matters if you keep this next car for a long while, but don't ignore that fact either.

Good luck!

John@Fabspeed

Why not save a bunch of money and go with a clean E46 M3? I think that it combines some of the nice characteristics of the 993 ( Light, nimble, raw - Only when compared to the E9X M3) when comparing it to the E9X. I have had no issues daily driving my E46 M3 in the Sun/Rain/Snow/Distance, you name it and I have done it. Plenty of room in the trunk and can seat 4 fairly comfortably. Best of all, you can find a nice one for $20k!

RonCT

Evan is on the same track as me (so to speak). There are some great low mile manual E46 M3s out there (just got the latest Roundel). Then save up and when you are more settled, pick up a "part time" 993.