£20k - M3 or Cayman S?
Discussion
As per the title. Time for a new (used) car for around 20k. The two cars (I think) I have narrowed down to are either a Cayman S or a BMW M3.
2 or 4 seats is fine. Will be a daily drive.
I drove an E46 M3 at the weekend and plan to test a Cayman S and E92 M3 as soon as possible.
I guess the question is would your money be with a Cayman S or M3 if you were in my position? And if the M3 would you go for a mint E46 or scrape for an E92 for the 4 litre engine? The E36 doesn't appeal to me.
I know running costs will be high on whichever I choose and MPG likely to be the wrong side of 20.
Thanks in anticipation.
2 or 4 seats is fine. Will be a daily drive.
I drove an E46 M3 at the weekend and plan to test a Cayman S and E92 M3 as soon as possible.
I guess the question is would your money be with a Cayman S or M3 if you were in my position? And if the M3 would you go for a mint E46 or scrape for an E92 for the 4 litre engine? The E36 doesn't appeal to me.
I know running costs will be high on whichever I choose and MPG likely to be the wrong side of 20.
Thanks in anticipation.
Isn't the fact that if you go E92 M3 you really want the DCT or next step again competition pack.
Once you have say a base E92 M3 you would never upgrade it for another which is slightly better.
DCT vastly improves MPG (i15%+ based on official combined a plus gear change is quicker and come the time when you will want to sell it will also be more desirable.
Have you considered the RS5 and C63 AMG both in this sector - big power V8 fun.
Once you have say a base E92 M3 you would never upgrade it for another which is slightly better.
DCT vastly improves MPG (i15%+ based on official combined a plus gear change is quicker and come the time when you will want to sell it will also be more desirable.
Have you considered the RS5 and C63 AMG both in this sector - big power V8 fun.
I can probably offer a bit of real life practical experience of this choice.
I had an e36 M3 as a daily, which I loved. I then progressed to an e46 M3 which I also loved.
As an all rounder, the e46 M3 was amazing. It did my daily 25 mile each way commute, and also a few very memorable track days.
I enjoyed the track days so much, that I wanted a more appropriate car to do them in. The M3 went, and an Elise SC and 320d replaced it.
The Elise was so much fun, but in reality I spent 90% of my time driving a 320d which bored me. After two years I decided I needed one car that I could enjoy all the time.
After many hours of reading forums and reviews I took a Cayman for a test drive.
I could waffle on for pages, but basically it's the best all round car I've ever owned.
It is very much the love child of an M3 and an Elise. It has a front and rear boot, so it's very sensible. Ok, not quite as much overall storage space as an M3 but more than enough for everyday duties.
In terms of handling its amazing. It really does feel like a heavy Elise. Ok, it's not quite as precise...... but that that's the price you pay for driving something that can happily be an everyday car. The Cayman is much more of an event when you drive it in terms of interior, and general reaction. I looked at an E92 M3 instead of the Cayman. It put me off that the interior was identical to my 320d. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely interior.....but paying over £15k to change cars and not see a difference when I sat in it felt a bit weird. Nobody 'normal' notices an M3....people stare and ask about the Cayman all the time. That is either a positive or negative depending on your circumstances.
If you don't need 4 seats, you'd be mad to pick the M3 over the Cayman. However, don't stress too much about your decision as there is no wrong answer. Whatever you decide, you won't have lost out. Both are brilliant, and I'd happily own either of them again.
PS, I've just got home from the pub, so forgive any drunken grammar / spelling mistakes!
I had an e36 M3 as a daily, which I loved. I then progressed to an e46 M3 which I also loved.
As an all rounder, the e46 M3 was amazing. It did my daily 25 mile each way commute, and also a few very memorable track days.
I enjoyed the track days so much, that I wanted a more appropriate car to do them in. The M3 went, and an Elise SC and 320d replaced it.
The Elise was so much fun, but in reality I spent 90% of my time driving a 320d which bored me. After two years I decided I needed one car that I could enjoy all the time.
After many hours of reading forums and reviews I took a Cayman for a test drive.
I could waffle on for pages, but basically it's the best all round car I've ever owned.
It is very much the love child of an M3 and an Elise. It has a front and rear boot, so it's very sensible. Ok, not quite as much overall storage space as an M3 but more than enough for everyday duties.
In terms of handling its amazing. It really does feel like a heavy Elise. Ok, it's not quite as precise...... but that that's the price you pay for driving something that can happily be an everyday car. The Cayman is much more of an event when you drive it in terms of interior, and general reaction. I looked at an E92 M3 instead of the Cayman. It put me off that the interior was identical to my 320d. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely interior.....but paying over £15k to change cars and not see a difference when I sat in it felt a bit weird. Nobody 'normal' notices an M3....people stare and ask about the Cayman all the time. That is either a positive or negative depending on your circumstances.
If you don't need 4 seats, you'd be mad to pick the M3 over the Cayman. However, don't stress too much about your decision as there is no wrong answer. Whatever you decide, you won't have lost out. Both are brilliant, and I'd happily own either of them again.
PS, I've just got home from the pub, so forgive any drunken grammar / spelling mistakes!
Shaoxter said:
A Z4M is probably a better comparison to a Cayman S.
I think the answer depends what the roads are like on your commute, but just to throw a few more ideas out there:
996 Turbo
E60 M5/E63 M6
Exige
Since we're offering alternatives, I can thoroughly recommend the SL55 AMG.I think the answer depends what the roads are like on your commute, but just to throw a few more ideas out there:
996 Turbo
E60 M5/E63 M6
Exige
OK It's not exactly sporty in the handling department, but it had an amazing and easy to tune engine, sounds like a monster, and is significantly more impressive in the looks department - I get a lot more attention in the SL than I do in the 997 turbo (if that's your thing).
I've owned an E36 M3 as a daily, driven both E46 and E92 M3, driven the Cayman S in manual and PDK, and when I had similar money to spend, I went for the SL55.
Sorry for taking it off topic!
k it... FFRR?Tough one both superb cars. I'd personally go m3, but I like that heavyweight thump it gives and the chassis that is very controllable and just seems to get better the more you push. It won't blow you away on the first drive but it is a deeply talented car that will get under your skin.
E46 vs e92, I'd probably go e92 as they are a very reliable car that take very little outside standard servicing, maintaince and tyres. Yes there's the throttle actuators but there's a cheap fix now. For 20k you should be able to get an excellent 60k mile 07/08 car. There were no mechanical changes through the cars life so your drive will be the same as someone who spends 44k on a '13 car. Look in m3cutters in the for sale section.
E46 vs e92, I'd probably go e92 as they are a very reliable car that take very little outside standard servicing, maintaince and tyres. Yes there's the throttle actuators but there's a cheap fix now. For 20k you should be able to get an excellent 60k mile 07/08 car. There were no mechanical changes through the cars life so your drive will be the same as someone who spends 44k on a '13 car. Look in m3cutters in the for sale section.
The Cayman if you don't need the practicality of the 3-series body. The M3 is a remarkable transformation of a mainstream saloon but it can't compete as a drivers' car with a proper ground-up sports car design like the Cayman, IMO.
The Z4MC would be a better comparison with the Cayman?
The Z4MC would be a better comparison with the Cayman?
Cayman. Glorious things to drive.
M3s are nice but they are no sports car, there is a big difference between the two when driving for fun.
I bought an M3 (E46) over a Cayman last year and ran it for 6 months... wish now that I hadn't really bothered and had found the additional for a good Cayman.
M3s are nice but they are no sports car, there is a big difference between the two when driving for fun.
I bought an M3 (E46) over a Cayman last year and ran it for 6 months... wish now that I hadn't really bothered and had found the additional for a good Cayman.
kambites said:
The Cayman if you don't need the practicality of the 3-series body. The M3 is a remarkable transformation of a mainstream saloon but it can't compete as a drivers' car with a proper ground-up sports car design like the Cayman, IMO.
The Z4MC would be a better comparison with the Cayman?
I'd have agreed with that after having my E92 6 months, until i started "properly" driving it.. i'd say it was more of a drivers car than my Z4M was.. and while it doesn't have the poise and delicacy of the 360 or Elise, for a big, heavy 4 seater it's amazing..The Z4MC would be a better comparison with the Cayman?
Would it compete for pure "drivers car" against the cayman... no... but i would say the times i would personally see the difference is few and far between..
All i will say is, that V8 is thirsty, mine is my daily driver and i'm averaging 23MPG, I would expect a Cayman S to be more frugal, and its a Porsche rather than a BMW.. which might matter to some people...
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