buying advice required!! BMW M4 vs 991 GTS

buying advice required!! BMW M4 vs 991 GTS

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Discussion

Paleridergbr

Original Poster:

47 posts

112 months

Monday 19th January 2015
quotequote all
Hi all

I've been weighing up for some time the relative merits of an M4 vs a Cayman GTS, but now I've looked at order lead times for the Cayman which are up to 9 months minimum, I have moved to the 991 911 GTS. It's a conserable step up in terms of cost, but a great car nonetheless. I'm trying to justify the £400 per moth price differential over the M4 ( yes, it's a typical spoilt brat problem to have!!). The chosen car would be my DD, although I don't do any more than 12000 a year.

Your views and sage advice welcome......

p






crystalmethod

1,146 posts

178 months

Monday 19th January 2015
quotequote all
Paleridergbr said:
Hi all

I've been weighing up for some time the relative merits of an M4 vs a Cayman GTS, but now I've looked at order lead times for the Cayman which are up to 9 months minimum, I have moved to the 991 911 GTS. It's a conserable step up in terms of cost, but a great car nonetheless. I'm trying to justify the £400 per moth price differential over the M4 ( yes, it's a typical spoilt brat problem to have!!). The chosen car would be my DD, although I don't do any more than 12000 a year.

Your views and sage advice welcome......

p
Drive them. In 2008 I test drove current model M3, RS4 and C63. None of them turned me on much. I drove the M3 three times desperately wanting to like it. Then I tried a two year old 997 C4S and knew I had to have it within 5 minutes.

Now I have a 997 GTS, which is the only time I've bought the same 'model' of anything twice in 30 years of driving.

Have fun making your mind up after trying each out. BTW I gather the Cayman GTS is an outstanding car. Is there no way you can buy one that's in a showroom somewhere?

DMC2

1,827 posts

210 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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I bought an M4. Utter piece of garbage which I offloaded in six weeks. Awful steering, wobbly chassis, too stiff, poor power delivery which meant it was shocking in anything but the dry and archaic traction control which couldn't be left on as it cut the power so often. And the interior squeaked. Avoid at all cost.

I went straight out and bought a Cayman GTS which is one of the best cars I've ever driven.

Get2Jaime

210 posts

127 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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OP, no brainer really.....991 GTS. Or well specced 997

franki68

10,330 posts

220 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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I was a serial m car buyer until the last gen m3 and current gen m5 ,based on reviews of the m4 I think it's rather alike in that it has become too remote ,there is no feeling of any connection at all to the road ,the 991 steering is criticized by some but compared to what bmw has done to m cars it's amazing.
If you have kids or need 4 seats get the m4 it is far more practical ,in all other considerations get a porsche of some form.

cowboyengineer

1,410 posts

113 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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I too had this same issue, I was after an m4 or a Cayman gts, the m4 on paper won hands down, 10k cheaper larger, 4 seats and more importantly a could fit a roof rack to carry my mountain bikes. Drove the Cayman m4 and a used 1 year old 991 c2s and much preferred the Cayman over both the others despot being the smallest and least practical.

In the end I bough a dealer ex demo with 1800 miles on the clock for somewhere around 10% of list. But more importantly no 9 month wait!

chrisABP

1,112 posts

147 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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I replaced my BMW 1M with a 997 GTS and have never looked back!

Whilst the 1M is much hyped I prefer the power delivery of naturally aspirated engines and the 911 just feels so much better in pretty much every way...

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Monday 19th January 2015
quotequote all
cowboyengineer said:
In the end I bough a dealer ex demo with 1800 miles on the clock for somewhere around 10% of list. But more importantly no 9 month wait!
Wow, 90% off, that's an impressive deal you did there wink

Paleridergbr

Original Poster:

47 posts

112 months

Monday 19th January 2015
quotequote all
crystalmethod said:
Drive them. In 2008 I test drove current model M3, RS4 and C63. None of them turned me on much. I drove the M3 three times desperately wanting to like it. Then I tried a two year old 997 C4S and knew I had to have it within 5 minutes.

Now I have a 997 GTS, which is the only time I've bought the same 'model' of anything twice in 30 years of driving.

Have fun making your mind up after trying each out. BTW I gather the Cayman GTS is an outstanding car. Is there no way you can buy one that's in a showroom somewhere?
LOL! I have driven them! I have driven the M4 3 times as well, and I was also desperate to love it. It's a very fast car, but for me ultimately not satisfying in the way that the Cayman GTS or 911 are, although I still have to try and justify it to myself!

For those of you who have had both marques, what are running costs like as a comparison?


Jim909

207 posts

130 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
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I test drove an M4, was given the car for a whole afternoon, had it back at the dealer within an hour, I just didnt gel with it for the same reason written above, i left feeling very dissapointed, each to there own though as a pal at work absolutely loves them.

crystalmethod

1,146 posts

178 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Paleridergbr said:
crystalmethod said:
Drive them. In 2008 I test drove current model M3, RS4 and C63. None of them turned me on much. I drove the M3 three times desperately wanting to like it. Then I tried a two year old 997 C4S and knew I had to have it within 5 minutes.

Now I have a 997 GTS, which is the only time I've bought the same 'model' of anything twice in 30 years of driving.

Have fun making your mind up after trying each out. BTW I gather the Cayman GTS is an outstanding car. Is there no way you can buy one that's in a showroom somewhere?
LOL! I have driven them! I have driven the M4 3 times as well, and I was also desperate to love it. It's a very fast car, but for me ultimately not satisfying in the way that the Cayman GTS or 911 are, although I still have to try and justify it to myself!

For those of you who have had both marques, what are running costs like as a comparison?
Ah - sorry! You're doing man maths then. The acid test is how will you really feel if you buy an M4 every time you see a 991 / Cayman GTS.

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
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Maybe posting in the BMW section will muster up support for what is clearly a very weak position.

seawise

2,144 posts

205 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
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spent a day with a variety of the latest performance cars (one of the mags 'car of the year' type events) on both road and track and I have to say I thought very little of the M4. very ordinary car, with the exception of being fast in a straight line. otherwise inert and dull, like a very fast rear wheel drive Audi diesel (if such a thing existed!). haven't driven the 991 GTS but even a boggo 991 C2 is a hugely more enjoyable steer than the M4. there was a BMW M235i on the same day and I have to say that was a much more engaging steer, in fact off topic but I would say that was an absolute bargain for circa £30k.

rosino

1,346 posts

171 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
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Loved my E92 M3 to bits. But don't think the M4 would do the same for me.

Still when I switched to a 991, aside from the stealth factor and believe it or not the build quality they was much better in my m3 than the early 991 (dec 2011), the porker was just so much more special.

I think GTS could become a legend if they really switch to turbo going forward.

Manual GTS ? Last ever manual n/a engine?!? No brainer.

Freakuk

3,103 posts

150 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
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There's plenty of Cayman GTS's at dealers, call them up/email and look through the classifieds. I found 4 cars that ticked the boxes (new/demos) and picked mine up at the weekend after 3 weeks of looking, discount included.

Paleridergbr

Original Poster:

47 posts

112 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Oddly I've currently got a BMW M135i which is, for the money, pretty fun. The engagement and sense of occasion in the Porsche models really is special. Sounds like I know what I should be doing. I better go find a car!!

Cheers!

wilkos

197 posts

237 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
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I tried an m4 middle of last year. Wanted to love it as my kids are getting bigger and it was an obvious choice when I change the 991.
Absolutely hated it to drive. Liked the looks, interior etc but it was incapable of going fast without disco lights on the dash. This was on a warm dry day as well, so god knows what it'd be loke in the wet.
Then a mate of mine with a 135I told me about all the bmw nanny crap that you have to turn off to have any fun. We booked a BMW day at oulton on which we got to try various BMW m cars.
The m3 with the nanny stuff turned off, as far as the instructors were alowed, became much more engaging. But car of the day was a 235i. Absolute hoot for a sub 30K car.
135 was a close second.
M5 was a shocking barge that would have been just as fast with 200hp less it was so tracton chalanged.

But drove an old (V8) M3 at bedford on a palmersport day, with some sticky tyres but not much else, and it was awesome.

My search continues, but Next I will probably be keeping the 991 and buying a 3-4 year old diesel wagon for the family/work duties.

wtdoom

3,742 posts

207 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
They are on different planets , the m4 can't hold a candle to the gt's mate .
No choice there , however it's not good enough to warrant stretching yourself financially .

Personally I'd get a performance pack v8 m3 over the m4 . But I am odd that way

CheesyFootballs

14,673 posts

188 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
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I have a new M3.

Go for the Porsche if you don't want or need decent rear seats.

As much as I loved the M3 when I got it, after 4 months it's starting to grate....
It's ok as a daily (which the wife uses it for), but fun?

Nah.

Mach

490 posts

224 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
Maybe posting in the BMW section will muster up support for what is clearly a very weak position.
Not so sure about that, based on some recent threads in the M Power forum.

It's such a shame. I loved my E46 M3 and also love my E92 M3.

Unfortunately, I have pretty much zero interest in the M4 based on what I've read. I've felt both my M3's have traction issues on anything but a smooth road but at least you can meter the application of power over 8,000+ revs. Goodness knows what the new one must be like with all that low down turbo torque.

Boxster / Cayman GTS are far more appealing to me right now than an M4... which I find a little sad frown