Alpina B10 vs 964

[r4_rick]

Need some views on this and wondered if any others who just use their Porsche as a second car have the same dilema.
My Daily driver is a W211 E320CDI estate, but in reality this gets used lightly as i drive a van for work, then I've got the C2 964 manual, which is used less and less, if i go anywhere with the kids they'd rather go in the Merc..

So if i sell the merc for the B10 (E39 5 series, 3.2 manual)i might as well get rid of the Porsche cos i'll get my driving kicks, and more often than the Porsche, in the Alpina. I know it's a totally different drive to the Porsche, but it's still a cut above average.

I don't need the money from the Porsche, but to see it wasting away at the back of the garage doesn't seem right.

Any views ?

[tom felty]

keep it
even if you dont use it its a beautiful car to look at

[DAB964RS]

Alpina B10s are great cars - superb build quality,virtually bullet proof and quite brisk, a great choice for a daily driver, but..... VERY different to a 964, and certainly not a replacement. I can't remember the weight of a B10, they are not light, and this is reflected in their lack of agility and tactility when compared to a well set up 964.

Watch out for high oil consumption on the early B10s

[marky911]

Tough one.
As said really, B10 no substitute for a 964 but as you say you're not using the 964 so really it's a case of is the B10 a good substitute for the Merc. In which case yes.

Or for the short answer. Yes sell the 964....


to me!

Seriously, if you get rid and it's a nice straight car, then pm me some details. It'll be going to a good home.

[graemel]

Mmm. IMO the Alpina E39 is not that special. Only the E46 Alpina was built from a shell and they are special. Not the 5 series. My missus had a B3 3.3S. Probably the best handling out of the box car we have ever owned. Phenominal. The only downside where seats are a little short, I am 6'2" and oil consumption. Year 1999 and 2000 only apparently. 300 miles per litre. A good 964 C2 a better investment but the 3 series Alpina a better drive.

[del toro]

The B10 would be a good replacement for the Merc, but wouldn't really cover the same ground as the 964.... I had a B10V8S (as family carrier) at the same time as my original 964C2, worked well together although I can see you'd have a bit more of an overlap with a manual B10. Still a big car though, you'll probably end up fancying something lighter to go with it. With the benefit of hindsight I should have kept both my B10 and 964, but it's the 964 that I've replaced with another a couple of years down the line.

JM

[boxsey]

marky911 said:

Tough one.
As said really, B10 no substitute for a 964 but as you say you're not using the 964 so really it's a case of is the B10 a good substitute for the Merc. In which case yes.

Or for the short answer. Yes sell the 964....


to me!

Seriously, if you get rid and it's a nice straight car, then pm me some details. It'll be going to a good home.

I thought that you might say that

[marky911]

boxsey said:

I thought that you might say that

Just exploring every avenue boxsey.

Thanks for the email OP.

[Seek]

DAB964RS said:

Alpina B10s are great cars - superb build quality,virtually bullet proof and quite brisk, a great choice for a daily driver, but..... VERY different to a 964, and certainly not a replacement. I can't remember the weight of a B10, they are not light, and this is reflected in their lack of agility and tactility when compared to a well set up 964.

I have a B10 3.2 Touring as daily hauler... the above sums it up nicely. The engine and chassis are more special than a regular daily driver but not comparable to a real sportscar. It would make a great replacement for your E-class though.

DAB964RS said:

Watch out for high oil consumption on the early B10s

Incorrect. You're thinking of the early 3.3 engine - not the 3.2 engine which is bullit-proof.

graemel said:

Mmm. IMO the Alpina E39 is not that special. Only the E46 Alpina was built from a shell and they are special. Not the 5 series.

• cough*utterbksonallaccounts*cough*

From the E34/E36 onwards all Alpinas were built on the production line at BMW. Including your cherished E46, just like the E39 and everything that came after it. The E39 B10 3.2 was built in much lower numbers than the E46 B3... make of it what you like with regards to which is more special.

[r4_rick]

Seek
thanks for the post, do you run yours on super unleaded, have heard they run okay on normal unleaded ?
Rick

[Legacywr]

What is your reason for selling the 964? What will you do with the money?

[Seek]

r4_rick said:

Seek
thanks for the post, do you run yours on super unleaded, have heard they run okay on normal unleaded ?
Rick

If you're not running full throttle continously (ie Autobahn) then it's fine to run on normal unleaded.

[r4_rick]

Seek thanks.

Legacy WR - No reason for selling and after using it this weekend, I'm not going to sell, what i might do is sell my track car and start using the 964 for the occasional track day, it's more a question of space and clutter !

I'm going to sit tight on the Alpina, it's not sold for months so i doubt it's going anywhere soon

[g7jhp]

I see you posted asking about a top end rebuild.

Did you have it done on your 964?

[r4_rick]

not yet