ivangene

People buy Porsches because since they were old enought to have a dream car, they dreamed of a Porsche. They might have also dreamed of really exotic cars but always knew they were out of reach. The Porsche is a mighty stretch but very much something that a working guy could get if he really wanted to and saved. In time the Porsche is his and the life long dream filled...

Bimmers are cars, you buy one for the same reason you buy a Honda or a Subaru or a Ford. It fits the current desires, needs and wants for performance, utillity, size, price or what ever is floating your boat at that moment.... but I highly doubt anyone "dreams" of owning such a car for 20-30 years like some people (many people) do for a Porsche

deckman

Absolutely right. But he is asking the question on a 996 forum. The responses should be pretty predictable, which is why I gave a just a few words. I don't know why the OP asked this kind of question here. If he's serious about switching, he knows why that's the case and will do what works for him no matter what is said by any of us.

AudiOn19s

Actually...if you read alot of the threads on M3fourm you'll get basically the same responses you get here. Most of the M3 guys are in an M3 because they needed the additional utility the Porsche didn't provide, not because they felt it was a better all around car, just a better car for what they needed.

...oh, and my M3 pulls my 3.4L car at >100mph every single time. Done that run time and time again. 40-140mph pull the 996 will jump out a car initally and get passed right about the 100mph mark where the M3 pulls about 2 additional cars to 140.

BUT I see 3-4mph more at at the end of the back straight at Mid Ohio in the 996 becasue it has higher exit speed form the keyhole and I can drive just a touch deeper into the next braking zone with the 996.

Serenity Now

I'm more car loyal than brand loyal. I don't think I'll be getting a Stuttgart tattoo anytime soon. "Porsches" in general are extremely nice cars, no doubt about that. The 911's are some of the best handling cars I've ever owned/driven. However I'm comparing the options I have in regards to switching out my current car (1999 C2 with a tiptronic) for something else in a similar price range. (Porsche, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes AMG E55, or something else) I dreamed of owning a Ferrari 308 for years, but after actually driving 1 I realized that I prefer reliability, practicality, power, handling, and build quality more than how cool I looked behind the wheel, which is why I bought the 996 over the Ferrari. I'm still considering sticking with a 996 but would definitely prefer a 6spd. Just seeing what's out there now, but a well cared for M3 is still near the top of my list for a replacement if I sold the 996.

Thanks again for the responses, I had no idea this would be 3 pages and still growing...

triode

I went directly from an E46 M3 to my '04 996, and cannot speak to the acceleration victor vs. a 300 HP Mark I 996...but my '04 car has more power (345 vs. 333) and more torque (274 vs. 262) than the M3, and weighs about 400 pounds less than my M3 did. It's considerably faster from 0-60, from a roll, on the highway, and in any other way you care to measure. I say this as someone with years of seat time in both cars.

Add in Porsche's far more tactile/superior steering, much less body roll, far less intrusive traction control, and in general much more driver involvement...and I have never looked back. The M3 is a "sporty" car which was fun to own, while the 911 is the quintessential SPORTS car which is an utter blast to drive - there is a difference there, and to me it means everything.

So, I think you should consider a third option - get a series II 996 with a stick! You will never regret that choice vs. an M3.

hwk72

I think that's good advice! The Mk2 cars are ridiculously good priced these days.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...824654764.html

Quadcammer

Ya know, sometimes it blow my mind how some people can be so concerned with the image between a porsche and a BMW. There are plenty of ******* in both cars.

You need to drive both cars and decide for yourself because trying to get an unbiased answer on this site seems impossible ("well, its not a porsche" isn't an answer).

The E46 M3 looks better than the MK1, and has a much nicer interior. Porsche should absolutely be ashamed of the 996 interior.

Quadcammer

I sorta doubt that a lot of kids were dreaming about MK1 996s.

deckman

Someone recently asked me what I liked least abut my car. I said it's all the plastic **** on the inside. My Accord has a nicer interior. But that's not why I bought it. I bought it because it isn't an M3

Ray S

Please show me the e46 that looks better than these MK 1's, because I have not yet seen it.

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...highlight=Taco

ElTorrente

They would if they existed when they were kids.

I was dreaming of early-mid 70's 911's when I was a kid, but bought a mk1 996 when I finally was in a position to actually buy a 911.

eDoug

Had a 330CiC, which isn't much like an M3 except for interior size, build quality, etc. Nice enough car - driven lots of e46 M3's too - nice enough straight six. I love the sound and feel of a V8 engine - always wanted one, so I bought a 2001 740i Sport, modded the hell out of it with Dinan products, suspension, engine, exhaust, higher ratio rear-end, etc. It was a great car (sub-6 second 0-60 times, electronics nirvana, comfort) but it was also 4,200 lbs. I loved the 740i when I was in Florida, where the roads are straight and you can cruise comfortably at 130mph+ - the 740 was special that way, made for it, and I'm very lucky I never got thrown in jail (topped out at 160mph once in the everglades).

I knew I wanted something lighter after moving to the mountains, sold the Dinan 7 and started looking at pcars. Knew I wanted a 911, considered a Cayman, but I'll still take the 996 over a newer Cayman any day. Personal preference - and a 911 is one of those quintessential, iconic statements on 4 wheels. I love this car - not nearly as comfortable or stable as the 740 (or even my 330), but it's so much more fun than both combined. I think you'd find the same thing with the M3 - it's a bit more stable with a more even weight distribution, it has a bit more size, heft, power, practicality - but it's just not nearly as engaging as a pcar. So it really is just like some other comments previously posted - personal decision, only you can weigh what's important to you. As for me, I doubt I'll ever be without a pcar in the garage for the rest of my days.

This past May, I drove a new V8 M3 on BMW's Greenville, SC test track and I gotta say, it's pretty impressive, that's the M3 to have, makes the e46 seem a bit anemic in my opinion. I really don't care for the styling, but that's a matter of taste - and I'd be very proud to be driving one regardless.

Lastly - why don't you look at a 2001/03 M5? Not sure of the prices, but that's the real deal if you want performance with a roomy interior - it's an amazing engine. Probably not much more maintenance costs than a pcar either...

RaceCarDriver

I used to own an 03 M3 6spd coupe (no sunroof) and currently have a 02 C4S and a new 08 M3 sedan.

The E46 is a great car, 60k miles is nothing as long as it was maintained propertly. Make sure you get service records. It does have a good size trunk and back seat. I've fit two aldults back there (even 3 for short trips with no problems)

htny

there is no question that if I was buying a used car today it would be 996TT

prices are too good to be true, you won't regret it

pissedpuppy

wow, isn't the panamera closer (in size) to a 7 series bmw?