M2C or used 991/997
Discussion
I was in a very similar position albeit an M3 Competition. After much deliberation I’ve bought a Cayman R.
It’s a weekend/touring/trackday car and feels very special every time I get in it from holding the key to sliding into the fixed carbon buckets and extracting the most out of the Chassis and engine. Being a gen2 987 and an R it has the reliable DFi engine so no durability worries, GT3 doors, LSD, more downforce and a different Chassis tune. One more point is the low depreciation compared to a brand new M car.
An M3 has more tech and is way faster in most circumstances but I don’t regret it and it was driving an R that sold it to me.
It’s a weekend/touring/trackday car and feels very special every time I get in it from holding the key to sliding into the fixed carbon buckets and extracting the most out of the Chassis and engine. Being a gen2 987 and an R it has the reliable DFi engine so no durability worries, GT3 doors, LSD, more downforce and a different Chassis tune. One more point is the low depreciation compared to a brand new M car.
An M3 has more tech and is way faster in most circumstances but I don’t regret it and it was driving an R that sold it to me.
You're going to want a Porsche warranty on your 991, the cheapest C2S on the Porsche website is 48k but that has 72,000 miles on it and is 6 years old, they next one is 55k with 50,000 miles on it at 5 years old.
I think it's difficult to compare a zero mile brand new M2C and a 50-70k mile 5-6 year old 911 for the same money, the OP talks about a low mileage 991, a sub 30,000 mile example is over 60k and still 5-6 years old, so you're already 10-15k over your budget.
991 is a great car and all 991s are better sports cars than the M2/3/4 but it's not a simple swap on the money front, the 991 will cost more to buy and run than a brand new zero mile M2C with a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty.
Get the 991 but not because you think it'll cost no more.
I've had one 911 and 5 M cars, if the 911 was the same price to own and run that ratio would be reversed, as the Porsche is the better car to drive by miles.
I think it's difficult to compare a zero mile brand new M2C and a 50-70k mile 5-6 year old 911 for the same money, the OP talks about a low mileage 991, a sub 30,000 mile example is over 60k and still 5-6 years old, so you're already 10-15k over your budget.
991 is a great car and all 991s are better sports cars than the M2/3/4 but it's not a simple swap on the money front, the 991 will cost more to buy and run than a brand new zero mile M2C with a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty.
Get the 991 but not because you think it'll cost no more.
I've had one 911 and 5 M cars, if the 911 was the same price to own and run that ratio would be reversed, as the Porsche is the better car to drive by miles.
Edited by Wills2 on Friday 9th November 23:39
Wills2 said:
You're going to want a Porsche warranty on your 991, the cheapest C2S on the Porsche website is 48k but that has 72,000 miles on it and is 6 years old, they next one is 55k with 50,000 miles on it at 5 years old.
I think it's difficult to compare a zero mile brand new M2C and a 50-70k mile 5-6 year old 911 for the same money, the OP talks about a low mileage 991 a sub 30,000 mile example is over 60k and still 5-6 years old, so you're already 10-15k over your budget.
991 is a great car and all 991s are better sports cars that M2/3/4 but it's not the a simple swap on the money front the 991 will cost more to buy and run than a brand new zero mile M2C with a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty.
Get the 991 but not because you think it'll cost no more.
I've had one 911 and 5 M cars, if the 911 was the same price to own and run that ratio would be reversed, as the Porsche is the better car to drive by miles.
it's a great point. My F80 was stolen a couple of weeks ago. I'm tempted to replace it with a Cayman GTS. The only thing holding me back is the pants engine. I think it's difficult to compare a zero mile brand new M2C and a 50-70k mile 5-6 year old 911 for the same money, the OP talks about a low mileage 991 a sub 30,000 mile example is over 60k and still 5-6 years old, so you're already 10-15k over your budget.
991 is a great car and all 991s are better sports cars that M2/3/4 but it's not the a simple swap on the money front the 991 will cost more to buy and run than a brand new zero mile M2C with a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty.
Get the 991 but not because you think it'll cost no more.
I've had one 911 and 5 M cars, if the 911 was the same price to own and run that ratio would be reversed, as the Porsche is the better car to drive by miles.
Edited by Wills2 on Friday 9th November 11:13
janesmith1950 said:
it's a great point. My F80 was stolen a couple of weeks ago. I'm tempted to replace it with a Cayman GTS. The only thing holding me back is the pants engine.
I was at the PEC at Silverstone a few weeks ago driving all the Porsche range, the 718 is a tremendous car and the best car I drove all day, as you had the S55 in the M3 you'll be used to the sound! 
It sounds fine not like the old F6 but no worse than our M3s.Go see James at the Leeds OPC a good bloke, no bulls
t he'll sort you out with everything. 
Eviltad said:
So has this been concluded?
E92 M3 to 991 C2 OR M2 is one of my regular ponderings so interested to know how they compare when driven.
Long hard decision, and I know 991/7.2 are both more special, but (boringly perhaps) I’ve stuck with my original decision and the M2C (manual) which I’m collecting later in the week. I’m looking now for an 997.2 C2 pure base model to complement it though, and not to hammer it with 20+k per annum miles which is what the M2C will do which is on per what swayed me. E92 M3 to 991 C2 OR M2 is one of my regular ponderings so interested to know how they compare when driven.
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Long hard decision, and I know 991/7.2 are both more special, but (boringly perhaps) I’ve stuck with my original decision and the M2C (manual) which I’m collecting later in the week. I’m looking now for an 997.2 C2 pure base model to complement it though, and not to hammer it with 20+k per annum miles which is what the M2C will do which is on per what swayed me.
IMO I'd save the money towards a 991 over a 997. You'll find it a much, much better car. And add an 'S' to the moniker.Jazzer said:
911 all day long. They’re just so much more special, an event every time you drive them
That's just not true. They're decent cars, but I can count off many forgettable miles in both 997s and 991s.Billy_Whizzzz said:
Eviltad said:
So has this been concluded?
E92 M3 to 991 C2 OR M2 is one of my regular ponderings so interested to know how they compare when driven.
Long hard decision, and I know 991/7.2 are both more special, but (boringly perhaps) I’ve stuck with my original decision and the M2C (manual) which I’m collecting later in the week. I’m looking now for an 997.2 C2 pure base model to complement it though, and not to hammer it with 20+k per annum miles which is what the M2C will do which is on per what swayed me. E92 M3 to 991 C2 OR M2 is one of my regular ponderings so interested to know how they compare when driven.
I’m probably in a minority but I’ve never thought the 911 was that much of a step up and the running costs are a lot higher. None of my mates that have driven it have been blown away either, it’s very good but I’ve only kept it as long as I have as I like the looks.
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