Finally decided it was not worth the money to upgrade to a .2 and enjoy what I have. I have anguished over this since the day I bought my gt3. I love my gt3 and will try to be content.

In the meantime I need a new daily driver since the wife got my e63 who passed down her car to our teen who just started driving.

I am considering either a 2011 m3 sedan with v8 and DCT transmission or 2013 Cadillac CTS-V wagon with automatic. I don't care much for the ctsv automatic trans but it is a daily driver and the wife can't drive a manual. However, I love the rarity of the V wagon and bad *** personality vs the m3 which appears to be a lot more common. The m3 seems to be the more complete car though.

Does anyone have experience with both? Which complements the 997 gt3 better? Thoughts?

 

The dual clutch is an amazing transmission. The only thing with the m3 is you may want to consider getting a warranty. Those bespoke engines aren't likely to fail, but are a doozy if they do.

The M3 is smaller than the CTS-V, esp. the wagon. The CTS is more similar to an M5 in sizing I think.

I used to have an E90 M3. Shopped F80 M3 as a daily, but ended up with a F10 M5. I think if you want something fun the E90 M3 is great. The biggest issue I had with the E90 is range. At 180-190 miles I'd consistently get the low gas light. That was a big reason I looked at F80s. But new car depreciation scared me into an M5....

The range was only thing I really hated about the M3.

 

I have considered both of those. Love the CTS V wagon, the magnetic ride suspension is great as is the manual tranny (can't comment on auto). I did think the rear of the wagon is a bit tight (not nearly as much room as I expected) and the interior isn't quite as nice as the M3.

The M3 is also a great car, which is why so many sold. It isn't as rare but you won't care when revving out that V8.

I think I would lean toward the wagon if I could get a manual but I imagine the dsg in the M3 would be worlds better than the CTS auto so given your situation I might slightly lean toward M3 for best overall drive. You can't lose either way.

 

Cayenne Diesel.

Fantastic utility and surprising amount of fun factor. Makes the GT3 feel very special when you hop in!!!

Of the 2 choices, M3.

CTSV is nice, I don't like the look. And I don't like the interior.

 

My wife picked up a e90 M3 for a DD. She loves it. I love it, especially the motor.

 

I DD an '11 E92 DSC ZCP. The car is fantastic as a DD. Fast and good handling when you want it. Comfortable and great amenities when you just want to cruise. True about the engines but they are kind of like Russian roulette. I have 52K on mine with 0 issues. Saw an E93 at Cars and Coffee this morning with 92K miles on it...original engine. I'd definitely want want BMW CPO warranty. If you shop an '11 or '12, you should have a couple of years minimum of coverage - enough to know if it's going to pop. Do a Blackstone analysis every 6 mo or so for insurance.

The V cars are really cool on paper but for me, the interiors are just not a place I want to be.

Market on E9x cars is softest on sedans so you should be able to get a great deal. Check m3post.com classifieds.

Feel free to PM if you have any more questions.

 

E63 wagon ....my next ....

 

Would love a biturbo e63 wagon and would be my first choice.

However, self imposed budget of $60k.

Reason I am considering the V wagon is because I am assuming it should be more reliable and cheaper parts than the m3. I don't care for the interior much and the recaros are not very comfortable. In fact, the ones in my friend's fiesta st are more comfortable.

 

I had an E90 for 5 years, and it saw about 20 track days a year. Not the best track car in the world due to overheating issues, but it was very reliable. Only major issues were a bunch of leaks (DCT, Engine, PS).

That said, I have seen 4 S65s go boom now (two at COTA on the same day) - main bearings. The engine is not indestructible. I would get either CPO or a 100K warranty if you plan to run for a while (even without any track use).

CTS-V Wagon would have been my next car if it could tow 4500lbs....

 

I'm in the minority I guess, but I hate the dual clutch trans in m3. I find it annoying almost all the time.

I just bought a 2015 and was planning on dd it for a year or two and sold it after 6 weeks.

 

Get a F80 M3 with a 6MT. 100 more ft lbs than the S65 V8 M3.

 

I had an 08 e90 M3 for a couple of years. The engine is sweet, but it doesn't really fit the car. It's a low torque high revving racecar engine in a relatively heavy sedan.

For a compromise car if you don't have the gt3, it's perfect. For a daily driver, something with more torque would be more fun.

 

My experience with an E-Class AMG Wagon has been very positive. The utility is unmatched. The power is, well, unmatched. You can pick up a W211 E63 (6.2L NA engine) well within your budget.

 

Another reason I am considering the V wagon is due to its ample torque for DD purposes. Can be modded easily to produce a lot more too.

 

I've been looking around for these too. Maybe even more rare the V wagon. The handling is the only concern. Do they approach the Cadillacs abilities?