E92 M3 vs. 911 (996 s or 997 s)

[tyeo86]

Help required guys.

I recently bought a M3 E92 coupe 57 plate and i'm very pleased. All mod cons, excellent performance great looks.
However over the last year I have been toying with the idea of buying a 911 but recently decided against this because of the retro interior, i.e no ipod connector or bluetooth.

I have thought recently though that a fast 911 could be great and not having a ipod connection isnt the end of the world.
What I would like though is peoples thoughts on the merits of a 996 s or 997 s compared to my current car. I'm after noise (sports exhaust is a must, however are they loud without)straight line power and street cred! Running costs compared to my car now and whether the M3 is better than the above.

Please Help

[daveyb662]

tyeo86 said:

Help required guys.

I recently bought a M3 E92 coupe 57 plate and i'm very pleased. All mod cons, excellent performance great looks.
However over the last year I have been toying with the idea of buying a 911 but recently decided against this because of the retro interior, i.e no ipod connector or bluetooth.

I have thought recently though that a fast 911 could be great and not having a ipod connection isnt the end of the world.
What I would like though is peoples thoughts on the merits of a 996 s or 997 s compared to my current car. I'm after noise (sports exhaust is a must, however are they loud without)straight line power and street cred! Running costs compared to my car now and whether the M3 is better than the above.

Please Help

When buying mine I looked and drove the m3...wasn't overly impressed, preferred the more hardcore e46...don't get me wrong, yours is a great car...but in end went for the 996 turbo...performance feels much quicker (even though less hp) and more of an experience to drive...the m3 seemed too much like an ordinary 3 series compared to m cars of old which I felt were more 'raw'.

Running costs I shouldn't think should differ a great deal. They are both not the cheapest to run...but you should save on fuel going for a porsche over the v8 m3. If you want pse, then of course you cannot get that as a porsche option on the 996 turbo...depends what you are after, the 997 with sports exhaust may suit your needs better for the 'street cred' noise, if thats what you want. The turbo isn't loud - but its quick! The NA cars may mean you are left wanting in coparison to your v8...IMO

[threesixty]

tyeo86 said:

Help required guys.

I recently bought a M3 E92 coupe 57 plate and i'm very pleased. All mod cons, excellent performance great looks.
However over the last year I have been toying with the idea of buying a 911 but recently decided against this because of the retro interior, i.e no ipod connector or bluetooth.

I have thought recently though that a fast 911 could be great and not having a ipod connection isnt the end of the world.
What I would like though is peoples thoughts on the merits of a 996 s or 997 s compared to my current car. I'm after noise (sports exhaust is a must, however are they loud without)straight line power and street cred! Running costs compared to my car now and whether the M3 is better than the above.

Please Help

I came from an E92 M3 to a 997 GT3, the M3 was brilliant but after the new car honeymoon it really left me cold. Only exciting when you thrash it, really could just be a well specced 3 series when sitting in traffic, its not a head turner in the slightest either if thats your thing.

But the M3 is a better car in every conventional sensible way, its more comfortable, easier to drive, more spacious and the technology is light years ahead (lack of ipod and bluetooth can be fixed but I want to keep my warrenty!)

Running costs wise my m3 never got better than 21mpg and consumed oil at a fair rate too. The GT3 will do nearly 30mpg on a cruise and its never asked for a drop of oil, i'd imagine this easily offsets the higher servicing costs on the porsche.

[tyeo86]

GT3 is over my budget tbh.
£28k is about it. I'm interested in a 997 s but not sure what options i'd have to have on it to make it better/quickly/louder than the m3.

[uktrailmonster]

tyeo86 said:

GT3 is over my budget tbh.
£28k is about it. I'm interested in a 997 s but not sure what options i'd have to have on it to make it better/quickly/louder than the m3.

Will have to be a pretty basic early 997 for that budget. Although 997 prices are dropping by the day so it won't be long before there are loads of good sub £30K examples.

[tyeo86]

I could prlly push 30k but thats why i'm looking at a 996. is there much difference in the speed on the 996 s and 997 s?

[FisiP1]

I would personally keep the M3 if its not giving you any trouble, at least for a while.

After a year or two you might possibly have a bit extra saved and depreciation will have taken more of a toll on 997.

I personally see E92 to 996 as a downgrade. M3 is under the radar a bit more which depending where you are isn't a bad thing..

[daveyb662]

I think you may find the M3 depreciating more than an early 997 in the next couple of years. Don't forget its a newer car at 2007 / 2008 compared to the 997 of 2205ish. They will both lose money - but I suspect the M3 will lose more. Definitely a lot more than the 996 and definitely more than the 997 IMO

[FisiP1]

daveyb662 said:

I think you may find the M3 depreciating more than an early 997 in the next couple of years. Don't forget its a newer car at 2007 / 2008 compared to the 997 of 2205ish. They will both lose money - but I suspect the M3 will lose more. Definitely a lot more than the 996 and definitely more than the 997 IMO

That's a good point I had neglected.

[tyeo86]

Will the 997 carrera S feel and be fastest than my m3? also louder?

[911p]

tyeo86 said:

Will the 997 carrera S feel and be fastest than my m3? also louder?

Performance of a 997 Carrera S and M3 is about the same. In this video it's the M3 cab vs the 997S cab, the M3 cab is alot heavier than the coupe, but this is made up for by its DCT. All in all the 997S is a little quicker than the M3. Video here.

My Dad recently test drove an E92 M3. Great all-round car, surprisingly quiet engine note. The DCT was amazing. The car in fact felt slower than his current 996 Carrera. It must have been quicker but just didn't feel it, the car was so refined that you didn't get a real sense of speed. In all he found it alot less fun than his 996, so it all depends on what you're using the car for. The M3 would be fantastic as a daily driver, the 997S better as a weekend car. I should think it would be louder with or without PSE, the M3 was very quiet.

Just my 2p's worth. Test drive a 997S and decide yourself, it's the only way.

[threesixty]

tyeo86 said:

GT3 is over my budget tbh.
£28k is about it. I'm interested in a 997 s but not sure what options i'd have to have on it to make it better/quickly/louder than the m3.

Sorry was reading that as 997s plural!

[monthefish]

daveyb662 said:

but in end went for the 996 turbo...performance feels much quicker (even though less hp) and more of an experience to drive...the m3 seemed too much like an ordinary 3 series compared to m cars of old which I felt were more 'raw'.

996 turbo has 420 bhp.

autocar said:

Just two cylinders of the M3’s new V8 sit ahead of the front axle line. Displacing 3999cc, the engine produces 414bhp at 8300rpm and 295lb ft of torque at 3900rpm.

[911p]

monthefish said:

daveyb662 said:

but in end went for the 996 turbo...performance feels much quicker (even though less hp) and more of an experience to drive...the m3 seemed too much like an ordinary 3 series compared to m cars of old which I felt were more 'raw'.

996 turbo has 420 bhp.

+1

996 TT | 420bhp | 413lb/ft | 1540kg
E92 M3 | 414bhp | 295lb/ft | 1620kg

[tyeo86]

996 tt could pull a caravan with that torque

[daveyb662]

911p said:

monthefish said:

daveyb662 said:

but in end went for the 996 turbo...performance feels much quicker (even though less hp) and more of an experience to drive...the m3 seemed too much like an ordinary 3 series compared to m cars of old which I felt were more 'raw'.

996 turbo has 420 bhp.

+1

996 TT | 420bhp | 413lb/ft | 1540kg
E92 M3 | 414bhp | 295lb/ft | 1620kg

Indeed it does. Must have had a brain freeze for a second. I was thinking it had 480 for some reason!! Well that explains why tt feels quicker!

Edited by daveyb662 on Tuesday 9th August 16:00

Edited by daveyb662 on Tuesday 9th August 16:01

[monthefish]

daveyb662 said:

Indeed it does. I was thinking it had 480 for some reason!! Well that explains why it feels quicker!

Lighter, more powerful, more torque (by some margin) and 4wd traction.
A good combination.

[Callughan]

Not to be anal but 6t has 414hp officially

[tyeo86]

Can i get a PSE fitted after market on to a 997 carrera s

[uktrailmonster]

tyeo86 said:

Can i get a PSE fitted after market on to a 997 carrera s

Of course you can, but the factory version is fooking expensive. Plenty of other aftermarket options out there though. Search on here and you'll find plenty of discussion. But your cheapest and best option by far is to buy a car with PSE already fitted. It doesn't really add value to a used car but is a desirable option. Especially if you don't want to blow your budget.