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shantybeater
Original Poster
382 posts
38 months
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Hi all,
I've asked the same question in the BMW section but would like a bit of advice,
I'm putting my S54 engined Z3M up for sale, I love the car to bits but I'm looking for a more focused weekend toy and to be perhaps my final car change for some time (before kids and marriage come along)
I'm no race driver but the zed is just too good at the day to day stuff so I'm looking for something worthy to sit in the garage 90% of the time. I'm also looking for a car to hang onto for a while (maybe a bit of a project)
My requirements - I don't require rear seats, infact i'd rather not have them at all. My budget will be around 20-25k and the two cars which fit the bill are the CSL and the turbo. I also like to have something you don't see everyday
I'm swaying towards the turbo at the moment because I like to tinker and love straight line pace. I also miss turbo power delivery
What's everyone's view point on the two cars. Is the turbo enough of an event for the weekend only?
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5678
5,017 posts
96 months
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Almost identical situation to me. Mine is slightly different in that I want rear seats so that it can be used with all 3 of us on the weekends.
Heart says Turbo, I've always wanted a 911. The tales of repairs concern me a little though.
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6C4GTS
4,492 posts
47 months
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Sadly your budget doesn't get a GT3 because that is what you describe.
Turbo is more of a daily, but if you get a kick out of going very fast very easily it wins.
CSL is arguably more special, more of a weekend event and probably will depreciate less if you can find a good one.
Heart CSL head Turbo!
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f1ten
602 posts
22 months
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that is a hard one to choose. the turbo will be faster and is more practical... dare i saw more reliable as Im sure alot of the smg's auto m3s have had a lot of trouble.
Wont disagree that the csl is a rarer machine and that might help desireablilty but at the same point an m3 is not a 911, its a saloon car at the end of the day. for me supercar looks only please, the 911 wins
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LordHaveMurci
3,119 posts
38 months
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Sorry to muddy the waters but can't you get Ferrari 348's for £25k nowadays?
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OlberJ
11,945 posts
102 months
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As a weekend only car, Tuscan?
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davek_964
1,862 posts
44 months
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LordHaveMurci said: Sorry to muddy the waters but can't you get Ferrari 348's for £25k nowadays? You can - although if you need to buy parts for it, it makes a 996 turbo look cheap by comparison. £20-25k is pushing it for a 996 turbo though. £25k should just about get you a good early-ish car (privately) but £20k won't.
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habanero
18 posts
33 months
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As the owner of a 996 Turbo for the last two years I would suggest you go for the CSL. As a trackday weapon the CSL is much better suited.
I was at Bedford Autodrome on the 24th of last month and as devastatingly quick as my car is I feel a proper track car would be more fun.
Test drive both. However, don't be surprised if you get sucked in by the obscene grunt of that twin turbo flat six.
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HokumPokum
725 posts
74 months
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LaurasOtherHalf
6,297 posts
65 months
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i had a csl, great car but i'm not sure it's at all comparable to a 996turbo in anything but price. the flippant off hand answer to these threads is to go out there & try both cars, but i really think in this case you should. the csl, although quick, isn't in the same league as the turbo when it comes to just putting your foot down & riding the wave. but then it has other strengths. it's without a doubt the most "special" car i've ever owned & for reasons i'd have never have expected to like a car for. the alcantara seats, all that carbon fibre & oh my god the noise  it's a very special bit of kit. but then the gearbox is crap & takes way from the enjoyment of the experience imho. it's also not really that quick, my Z4M is certainly feels faster even though it's really not lighter it certainly makes the engine feel like it has more torque, when i had my csl a mate had the z4m coupe & it could get away in a straight drag. i did think about getting another one but i just couldn't put up with the gearbox again & to convert it to manual would be just too much of a faff, hence why i bought the Z4M coupe. it's a great car as well, stunning & very effective. if you like turbo's though, maybe nothing else will do? 
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shantybeater
Original Poster
382 posts
38 months
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Thanks for the comments, i knew the GT3 would crop up but its just not in my price bracket  As for the ferrari, i'd fear expensive bills and i'm not sure i'm after the ferrari badge experience. The tuscan again i'm not keen on (to look at), i'm sure in all other aspects its a good choice but not for me. The Z4M coupes were a serious consideration but I don't feel its different enough from my current car to warrant the change, I also prefer the look and interior of the 3M so its pretty much out of the picture. As i mentioned in the other thread my track experience is next to nothing bar a silverstone ferrari experience day. I'm hoping to change this though. I've already test driven the Turbo and the acceleration was savage, much more the power delivery I am looking for. I will try and track down a CSL for a test drive, the SMG box may be a deal breaker on its own!
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Martian O
2,113 posts
31 months
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I drove a late E46 M3 with the same SMG 'box as the CSL and it was a dire system. That's the major arguement why you should go for a manual Turbo.
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Yell_M3
130 posts
69 months
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I guess the SMG gear box is love / hate. I certainly loved it. Takes a while to get used to it, but once you do, the lightening quick gear changes are awesome, and there's nothing quite like being at 100 mph in 5th then hitting the down shift twice to 3rd and hitting the go pedal... sweet as...I do miss those german roads ...
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DKL
1,835 posts
91 months
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LordHaveMurci said: Sorry to muddy the waters but can't you get Ferrari 348's for £25k nowadays? And 456s
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Sandy59
1,122 posts
80 months
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amokwa
345 posts
66 months
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Best advice I could give is to drive the CSL first. Turbo's are addictive.
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kayc
3,316 posts
90 months
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shantybeater said: Hi all,
I've asked the same question in the BMW section but would like a bit of advice,
I'm putting my S54 engined Z3M up for sale, I love the car to bits but I'm looking for a more focused weekend toy and to be perhaps my final car change for some time (before kids and marriage come along)
I'm no race driver but the zed is just too good at the day to day stuff so I'm looking for something worthy to sit in the garage 90% of the time. I'm also looking for a car to hang onto for a while (maybe a bit of a project)
My requirements - I don't require rear seats, infact i'd rather not have them at all. My budget will be around 20-25k and the two cars which fit the bill are the CSL and the turbo. I also like to have something you don't see everyday
I'm swaying towards the turbo at the moment because I like to tinker and love straight line pace. I also miss turbo power delivery
What's everyone's view point on the two cars. Is the turbo enough of an event for the weekend only?
996 Turbo totally different level to the Csl..Csl actually flatters to deceive,not much quicker than a cooking m3 which is a shame..i had a csl when they first came out and really loved what it was supposed to be..engine is poor though ..all noise and no action imo..gearbox average at best and alacantra interior wearing out after 15k miles..get a 996tt and send it to DMS ..
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LordHaveMurci
3,119 posts
38 months
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Sandy59 said: A mate of mine has had one from new in 2006, the most amazing sounding engine & great performance but it's all downhill from there I think.
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franki68
1,421 posts
90 months
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LordHaveMurci said: Sorry to muddy the waters but can't you get Ferrari 348's for £25k nowadays? you can but why ? they are s  t
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davek_964
1,862 posts
44 months
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franki68 said: you can but why ? they are s t I rather like mine, and would tend to disagree.
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