Compare & Contrast....

Gazzarc · 22 Feb 2006

Gentlemen..(and Indeed Nicola, are there any other Ladies here?)

Your opinions if I may.

First off I am selling my beloved Supersport, it spends too much time at home in the garage while I'm off hacking up and down the M3 in the Jag. So this leads me to the question of a replacement....

I need something exciting that can be used every day, now much as I love the Supersport I wouldn't want to use it everyday as it can be a tad heavy for everyday use plus I think the old girl should rest in her nice warm garage and only come out when the sun is shining. Initially I went straight to the idea of a 996, but then I have been driving a borrowed M3 for the last week.

Now I know this seems like going to the dark side, but it is a fantastic motor.

My dilemma is this...I dont know anyone that will lend me a 996 for a few weeks to compare, and a short test drive will not be a fair comparison.

Would any of you chaps like to speak from experience and compare and contrast the two?

Gary

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Seagull · 22 Feb 2006

That's not the dark side Garry - it's time for the men in their white coats

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Tiptronic · 22 Feb 2006

M3 good car, 996 Sublime.

M3 looks like any BMW 3 Series Coupe.

996 look like a Porsche 911.

996 is faster, looks nicer, handles better, quicker on a track, holds its value better, is nicer inside, sounds better, has more kudos.

M3 feels heavy (unless CSL), and akward in comparison to a 996.

BMW good, but not good enough.

Daz.

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Elite Detailing · 22 Feb 2006

Buy the CSL if you are going for a BMW. Awesome car and an affordable GT3 rival

. Still rather have a GT3 ofcourse though!

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Robertb · 22 Feb 2006

Might it be worth renting one?

Saying that, probably cheaper to buy and resell if you really don't get on.

My guess is a 996 would be absolutely fine for the sort of work you have in mind. My experience of driving them is that it would be perfectly refined, and yet exciting.

I have been thinking vaguely about an M3 to replace my 330, now that they are heading well below the £25k mark. The beauty of an M3 is the spec- xenons, great climate control, auto wipers/dipping mirrors, leccy seats are all standard and most come with sat nav, telly, heated seats, big tunes etc, 4-5 seats, split fold rear seats.

And yet... most of the time, I know it would feel like my 330 with little advantage, esp on the motorway (where it would be noisier and rougher) and look little different.

The 996 would always feel like a special car by virtue of its packaging, and styling and you could enjoy the experience even on the m-way. I also reckon a 996 would be cheaper to maintain- servicing costs for the M3 are quite alarming.

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Sidicks · 22 Feb 2006

Previous poster said:
Quote: Originally posted by Robertb on 22 February 2006

And yet... most of the time, I know it would feel like my 330 with little advantage, esp on the motorway (where it would be noisier and rougher) and look little different.

The 996 would always feel like a special car by virtue of its packaging, and styling and you could enjoy the experience even on the m-way. I also reckon a 996 would be cheaper to maintain- servicing costs for the M3 are quite alarming.

The M3 is very different to a 330i, in fact it is a vast step up in performance from a 330i. However to obtain that performance you need to rmake full use of the revs as the power is very high up in the range. Driven in this way, a 330i wouldn't see which way an M3 went. Rather than get the noise of a creamy straight 6, you have an aggressive, metallic engine note which begs you to rev it harder. This may or may not be attractive to you?

The M3 is also a considerably more aggressive shape than a 330i coupe, with the aggressive front air dam, 19
" alloys and flared arches. It is much more than a 330i with a body kit......

On a motorway the M3 is a surprisingly relaxed cruiser, and will top 30mpg. In no way is it rough or noisy.

For £25k you can buy a 3-year old M3 that is just coming to the end of its warranty period and renewal is expensive, but necessary, given the potential costs if things go wrong. If you are after an SMG car with Sat Nav, TV etc then you will be looking at closer to £30k for a 2-year old car (with 1-year of warranty left). Servicing isn't cheap but Insurance is probably cheaper than a 996, and other consumables like tryes etc probably cheaper too. Fuel economy will be similar, I'd imagine.

Sidicks

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Elite Detailing · 22 Feb 2006

The question is how much do you want to spend? I cant see you getting a nice 996 for under 30k. It will be a low grader. CSL is mid 30's I think.

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Robertb · 22 Feb 2006

Sidicks,

All true I'm sure. I've driven M3s a few times, and loved them, especially that rasp in the mid to upper range where my 330 starts to sound a little breathless. Its just that I get back into my 330 afterwards and think that the M3 is never quite the quantum leap over and above it that I was expecting. Somehow the style i.e. rear engined coupe as opposed to 2 door front engined saloon gives the 996 a different dimension though, which I suppose is where my comments come from.

I'm probably trying to put myself off, truth be told as I would still love an M3! If one is interested in the dark side, these guys have some very good looking, and reasonably priced IMO, M3s (and a couple of 996s last time I looked...)

www.imc-online.co.uk

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Gazzarc · 22 Feb 2006

Previous poster said:
Guys

Thanks fo all your comments, seems that there are pros and cons to each side. I have really enjoyed the M3, and it has been great fun but I think Daz has come up with the winning argument:

Quote: Originally posted by Speed Freak on 22 February 2006

M3 looks like any BMW 3 Series Coupe.996 look like a Porsche 911.