996 C4S or 997.1 or E92 M3

[frg530]

I test drove an E92 M3 after having owned a couple of E46 M3's and although it was a very good car it lacked the rawness if you like of the E46's so I passed on it. The 997 has the raw feel in the drive and you feel much more connected to what the car is doing than in the M3.

Perhaps if you bought an M3 you may always be thinking "911 next" but I'm fairly sure you wouldn't be thinking of an M3 next if you went for the 911.

I haven't driven a 996 C4S, I love the look of them but the dated interior (compared with the 997) put me off.

[Shaoxter]

ORD said:

The interiors are certainly leagues apart. The M3 interior reminds you constantly that you are in a 3 Series. BMW interiors are generally a bit cheap and chintzy (although not as bad as Mercedes - those are cringeworthy).

Disagree. I find BMW's indicators and door handles much more solid than my 996. On the other hand you definitely feel like you're in a proper sports car in a 911 with the 5 dials and seating position, but I certainly wouldn't say interiors are leagues apart.

This is of course assuming we're comparing full leather options on both cars.

[g7jhp]

frg530 said:

I test drove an E92 M3 after having owned a couple of E46 M3's and although it was a very good car it lacked the rawness if you like of the E46's so I passed on it. The 997 has the raw feel in the drive and you feel much more connected to what the car is doing than in the M3.

Perhaps if you bought an M3 you may always be thinking "911 next" but I'm fairly sure you wouldn't be thinking of an M3 next if you went for the 911.

I haven't driven a 996 C4S, I love the look of them but the dated interior (compared with the 997) put me off.

Don't be so shallow, try it you may surprise yourself and like the 996 interior. I did.

[harleywilma]

A few years back I was in the market for a second hand 911 but could only just stretch to a 996, What put me off was the interior,I didn't want to spend all that dosh and think I was sitting in a boxter.The 997 was only just being launched and the interior just blew me away ,Porsche had finally done there homework with the 997,even now they have only tweaked the gen 2 interior as I think it is so classic 911 and if I wanted retro I would have bought a ford capri,unfortunately there are problems with the car as widely gassed about on hear but it didn't stop me eventually buying one,but I did have to wait a long time as they have really held well in the second hand market.

[g7jhp]

harleywilma said:

A few years back I was in the market for a second hand 911 but could only just stretch to a 996, What put me off was the interior,I didn't want to spend all that dosh and think I was sitting in a boxter.The 997 was only just being launched and the interior just blew me away ,Porsche had finally done there homework with the 997,even now they have only tweaked the gen 2 interior as I think it is so classic 911 and if I wanted retro I would have bought a ford capri,unfortunately there are problems with the car as widely gassed about on hear but it didn't stop me eventually buying one,but I did have to wait a long time as they have really held well in the second hand market.

Most can tell it's a 911 as it has rear seats. When you got your 997 did you feel like you were in a 987 Boxster?

[Shaoxter]

Out of interest what is it about the 996 interior that makes people think it's "dated"? I might be slightly biased but I don't like all the switches on the centre console of the 997, it looks too cluttered. Other than that I struggle to see any significant differences.

Could it just be that the 996's are obviously older and hence the interior is more worn?

[Pommygranite]

Shaoxter said:

Out of interest what is it about the 996 interior that makes people think it's "dated"? I might be slightly biased but I don't like all the switches on the centre console of the 997, it looks too cluttered. Other than that I struggle to see any significant differences.

Could it just be that the 996's are obviously older and hence the interior is more worn?

My thinking:

- the actual switches, specifically on the centre console are shaped and made of plastic from a previous era

- the way the different parts of the dashboard connect doesn't look like the 1 or 2 parts you see in current models - it's not flowing

- the vents don't look as integral as newer vehicles

The font and colouring of the displays is quite dated.

Id happily put up with it but the above is just my thinking

[frg530]

Pommygranite said:

My thinking:

- the actual switches, specifically on the centre console are shaped and made of plastic from a previous era

- the way the different parts of the dashboard connect doesn't look like the 1 or 2 parts you see in current models - it's not flowing

- the vents don't look as integral as newer vehicles

The font and colouring of the displays is quite dated.

Id happily put up with it but the above is just my thinking

Agree, it's just dated compared to the 997, simple as that.

That colour though, not for me

[harleywilma]

g7jhp said:

Most can tell it's a 911 as it has rear seats. When you got your 997 did you feel like you were in a 987 Boxster?

987 is nothing like a 997!,Totally different...I know someone who has one though and she is a hairdresser funny enough..

[harleywilma]

Shaoxter said:

Out of interest what is it about the 996 interior that makes people think it's "dated"? I might be slightly biased but I don't like all the switches on the centre console of the 997, it looks too cluttered. Other than that I struggle to see any significant differences.

Could it just be that the 996's are obviously older and hence the interior is more worn?

I might be biased by the 996 interior but not sure about the centre console ,Period..

Edited by harleywilma on Friday 20th November 17:34

[J-P]

I loved my E92 M3, the engine is superb but the car itself is nowhere near as special as either 911. I'd probably go for the 996C4S in that group. Great car, and sounds magnificent with PSE.

[pomp1]

For what it's worth I've had all three.....

996 for a retro feel, 997 for a bit of a show-off situation as hardly anyone will know it's a nearly 10 year old car and the e92 if you want some fun with practicality.

Regarding the indicators- the m3 has far better build quality than the 996 but then again it is a newer car. The 996 and 997 will never be truly special but then again nor will the m3.

Take a test drive and see which you prefer. I've since moved on to AMG mercy as they really are better for me than all three of the above.

[g7jhp]

Not sure if tan is the best colour for either the 996 or 997. Both can look bad if you get the wrong colour or a two-tone leather mix!

Dark colours work best on the 996 IMO.





I do like the Cocoa interior with GT Silver exterior on the 997.





Others can be quite marmite.

[harleywilma]

I have the cocoa in mine and it feels just right

[NJH]

IMHO a lot of relative look and feel of the interiors between the 986/996 generation and the 987/997 is down to the sheer quantity of earlier cars with lets be honest pretty shabby interiors. I never owned one myself but have been in a few early cars that looked and felt pretty gash, OTOH our friends 996 C4S has an utterly mint black interior and really does feel a nice place to be.

[Budflicker]

Im just having my steering wheel re-trimmed the same as this and have the gear shifter ready to fit, so mine will look the same as this except right hand drive, I like the 996 interior, that being said its not as nice as a 997 interior in a good colour, or with some alcantara chucked in it like a GTS or GT3.



Then again a 991 or 981 Cayman GTS with the red GTS interior pack with red stitching and alcantara is better still.

I suppose some Victoria Secrets models are better looking than others but I'd be happy with any of them.