£20k - M3 or Cayman S?

[PompeyPaul]

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.

[PompeyPaul]

Thanks for all the answers so far guys.

Interesting to hear the differing opinions. I am going to test a Cayman ASAP. I can't quite stretch the budget to £25k so I think it would need to be a gen 1 Cayman.

I think either at that price will be private purchases rather than a garage. I have never spent 20k on a private car and I guess I have always wanted someone to go back to on other cars if there are any immediate problems that I discover. I guess the answer is to research any common problems and find a good mechanic with me.

[PompeyPaul]

paulmoonraker said:

I had a Cayman S for a year, then sold it for an e92 M3 which I kept for a year.

The Cayman is good fun round the lanes and its a Porsche (which may or may not man anything to you). I guess I found it a bit boring at times, but then I was coming from a loony STi. The M3 is a brute by comparison and more of a laugh, and that engine is simply incredible.

Anyway, I am back in a loony STi now which is boat loads more fun

I used to have a 2006 WRX STI Prodrive UK which was great fun and obviously rapid. Did you prefer that to either of those then?

[PompeyPaul]

Tuvra said:

I LOVE the look of these, but over budget around 25k generally I think. May be able to stretch to a 4.2 but not an XKR.

[PompeyPaul]

paulmoonraker said:

Indeed. I often did a few shows to pay for the petrol that the M3 relentlessly drank.

Did you find the M3 considerably more thirsty than the STI?

[PompeyPaul]

A friend has just thrown the suggestion of a BMW 135 in there - anyone have experience of these?

[PompeyPaul]

CarAbuser said:

You seem to have the same criteria as me (no rear seats needed, comfortable enough to use daily, fast and sporty for B roads) so give the Z4 a quick look.

Thanks, will do

[PompeyPaul]

vinnie83 said:

The Cayman is a more nimble car. By no means is it a full on 'better' car.

I have driven pretty much every version of the 911, Cayman, and Boxster since 2007 (various courtesy cars) and can confidently say the 911 is the 'better' car.

But it is nowhere near as nimble and easy to throw around as the Cayman.

The Cayman looks significantly less impressive, sounds less so, is slower in real world driving. The new Cayman I will retract my comment on the looks, but the Cayman at this budget, IMO, looks very uninteresting.

Thanks for the comments. Where would your money be around the 20k mark for a powerful car that can make you smile and drives well?

[PompeyPaul]

Davey S2 said:

Don't buy a cayman unless it has a full OPC (Porsche) warranty as it has the potential to cost you not far off 50% of your budget on an engine rebuild if you get thhe dreaded scored cylinders /VOE.

Brilliant cars though.

Wow, thanks for the heads up. At my budget it won't stretch to one with an OPC warranty

[PompeyPaul]

kambites said:

To be fair, the M3 also has potential for significant bills. Neither is a car to be run on a shoestring.

I am aware of that and happy to spend out on running costs etc, but a £10k repair would cripple me if that happened shortly after purchase.

[PompeyPaul]

Tuvra said:

There are 12+ "New Shape" XKR's on Ebay below £20,995 both coupe and convertible. Not the 5.0 XKR but a 4.2 XKR non the less.

Sorry didn't make myself clear. I am (rightly or probably wrongly) a little concerned about spending this sort of money which is a lot to me on a car without a warranty, so would try to aim for approved used. I know you pay more and it may well cancel out what could have been spent on repairs, but just want to avoid any sudden big outlays as far as possible.