M3 CSL or 996 Turbo
Discussion
Hi all,
I've asked the same question in the Porsche section but would like a bit of advice,
I'm putting my S54 engined Z3M up for sale, I love the car to bits but I'm looking for a more focused weekend toy and to be perhaps my final car change for some time (before kids and marriage come along)
I'm no race driver but the zed is just too good at the day to day stuff so I'm looking for something worthy to sit in the garage 90% of the time. I'm also looking for a car to hang onto for a while (maybe a bit of a project)
My requirements - I don't require rear seats, infact i'd rather not have them at all. My budget will be around 20-25k and the two cars which fit the bill are the CSL and the turbo. I also like to have something you don't see everyday
I'm swaying towards the turbo at the moment because I like to tinker and love straight line pace. I also miss turbo power delivery
What's everyone's view point on the two cars. Is the turbo enough of an event for the weekend only? Does the CSL look special enough? Normal e46 m3's are ten to the dozen which has always put me off
I've asked the same question in the Porsche section but would like a bit of advice,
I'm putting my S54 engined Z3M up for sale, I love the car to bits but I'm looking for a more focused weekend toy and to be perhaps my final car change for some time (before kids and marriage come along)
I'm no race driver but the zed is just too good at the day to day stuff so I'm looking for something worthy to sit in the garage 90% of the time. I'm also looking for a car to hang onto for a while (maybe a bit of a project)
My requirements - I don't require rear seats, infact i'd rather not have them at all. My budget will be around 20-25k and the two cars which fit the bill are the CSL and the turbo. I also like to have something you don't see everyday
I'm swaying towards the turbo at the moment because I like to tinker and love straight line pace. I also miss turbo power delivery
What's everyone's view point on the two cars. Is the turbo enough of an event for the weekend only? Does the CSL look special enough? Normal e46 m3's are ten to the dozen which has always put me off
Edited by shantybeater on Monday 3rd September 11:21
As the owner of a 996 Turbo for the last two years I would suggest you go for the CSL. As a trackday weapon the CSL is much better suited.
I was at Bedford Autodrome on the 24th of last month and as devastatingly quick as my car is I feel a proper track car would be more fun.
Test drive both but don't be surprised if you get sucked in by the obscene grunt of that twin turbo flat six.
I was at Bedford Autodrome on the 24th of last month and as devastatingly quick as my car is I feel a proper track car would be more fun.
Test drive both but don't be surprised if you get sucked in by the obscene grunt of that twin turbo flat six.
Thanks for the replies, I've test driven the porsche and the power delivery was savage compared to my ZM. I'll have to give the CSL a go (if I can track one down). I assume the SMG boxes are fairly solid? For me i've only ever known of a manual so that in itself could be a deal breaker
I have to be honest and point out I have no track-day experience but plan to change that in the near future, all i've done so far is ferrari experience days at silverstone so you can imagine how limited my skills are at present.
I have to be honest and point out I have no track-day experience but plan to change that in the near future, all i've done so far is ferrari experience days at silverstone so you can imagine how limited my skills are at present.
To be honest, they're two very different cars. The CSL is more akin to the GT3. It's a semi-stripped out track weapon. The Turbo is a very very fast, nice comfy road car.
I have a CSL and used to drive it day to day. It's an event to drive it, but using it a lot became tiring. It's the sort of car that wants to be driven at 8 or 9 tenths all the time. Whilst i can do quiet and placid in traffic very well, it gets quite frustrating. I wouldn't worry about the gearbox. I had similar thoughts, but the SMG suits the car perfectly.
I've never owned a 996 Turbo but have ridden in one a lot. The power delivery is savage and it's a great car, but very different to the CSL.
Where are you based? If you post on the CSLregister, i'm sure someone would be local and happy to take you out in their car for a spin?
I have a CSL and used to drive it day to day. It's an event to drive it, but using it a lot became tiring. It's the sort of car that wants to be driven at 8 or 9 tenths all the time. Whilst i can do quiet and placid in traffic very well, it gets quite frustrating. I wouldn't worry about the gearbox. I had similar thoughts, but the SMG suits the car perfectly.
I've never owned a 996 Turbo but have ridden in one a lot. The power delivery is savage and it's a great car, but very different to the CSL.
Where are you based? If you post on the CSLregister, i'm sure someone would be local and happy to take you out in their car for a spin?
No experience of driving either but if i had the choice id go for the csl in grey everytime. Wasnt there only a few hundred built? How many 996 turbos? Sureley the rarer car is also going to hold value better? Plus they look mean as hell compared to standard m3s with those csl wheels and huge racing brakes, and the awesome carbon roof and bootlid if im not mistaken? And that front bumper with the single intake on one side for the airbox is immense. The ultimate luxury track car!
Everyones got a porsche, go for the csl.
Everyones got a porsche, go for the csl.
On our annual Euro trip last year we had a Nissan GTR, 2 996 Turbos (one of them mine) and a CSL.
The CSL stole the show for me. On the twisy mountain climbs where the Porsches couldn't really use the extra grunt the CSL was epic, and that noise! It became the default camera car. It just had so much character and honestly made my 996 Turbo feel bland.
It's nagged at me all year and as a result I shall be doing this tear's trip in an E46 M3 SMG, admittedly not a CSL but I found a 23,000 mile peach which I couldn't resist. I'm 100% happy with the choice, the added bonus being the build quality is simply in a different league to the 996.
So I would say CSL, definitely.
Oh, if anyone's interested the GTR crapped on everything
The CSL stole the show for me. On the twisy mountain climbs where the Porsches couldn't really use the extra grunt the CSL was epic, and that noise! It became the default camera car. It just had so much character and honestly made my 996 Turbo feel bland.
It's nagged at me all year and as a result I shall be doing this tear's trip in an E46 M3 SMG, admittedly not a CSL but I found a 23,000 mile peach which I couldn't resist. I'm 100% happy with the choice, the added bonus being the build quality is simply in a different league to the 996.
So I would say CSL, definitely.
Oh, if anyone's interested the GTR crapped on everything
As an M3 owner and as much as I like the csl it would still be the turbo for me. I was at a Donington track day a couple of months ago when there were a few M3's and CSL's and two 996 turbos. The CSL's looked and sounded lovely, but to be fair most of the talk and focus was on the two turbos. They were in a different league.
Also can somebody clarify a point made earlier about CSL's having massive racing brakes? I thought they had slightly bigger discs, the same single pot calliper and really need upgrading if going on track.
Also can somebody clarify a point made earlier about CSL's having massive racing brakes? I thought they had slightly bigger discs, the same single pot calliper and really need upgrading if going on track.
Pig Skill said:
The CSL is the one to impress the wife as you are buying with the future in mind so extra points awarded there 
I thought that, didn't really work though. She struggles to get in and out of the seats and it is 'too noisy and has a rubbish stereo'. And I have to avoid anything north of 5000 revs most of the time.I still claim it's a practical family car though.
Shanty, both cars are pretty amazing, but judging by your taste in cars I think you will fall out of love with the 996 turbo quite quickly.
Yes it's fast but I feel that's about it. It is not exactly rare, sound special, look special, and 911's dont need 4wd (they already have great traction and it makes them heavy). I have tracked a 996t and found it underwhelming, very soft and slightly flabby.
If you had a 996t you will always lust after a 997t, however if you could stretch to a 996 gt2 you would have an amazing, rare, depreciation proof, super fast car that you would want to keep forever. Oh and it has 2 seats as you wish...
I like the csl, but like you said the M3s are a little common sight and only takes a petrol head to know the difference between the two. As I have read before you don't really track your cars, so will a csl tick the boxes for you? A similar budget could get you into a E90/92 M3 (very yummy)...
Food for thought, have fun searching
Yes it's fast but I feel that's about it. It is not exactly rare, sound special, look special, and 911's dont need 4wd (they already have great traction and it makes them heavy). I have tracked a 996t and found it underwhelming, very soft and slightly flabby.
If you had a 996t you will always lust after a 997t, however if you could stretch to a 996 gt2 you would have an amazing, rare, depreciation proof, super fast car that you would want to keep forever. Oh and it has 2 seats as you wish...
I like the csl, but like you said the M3s are a little common sight and only takes a petrol head to know the difference between the two. As I have read before you don't really track your cars, so will a csl tick the boxes for you? A similar budget could get you into a E90/92 M3 (very yummy)...
Food for thought, have fun searching
MMT said:
Also can somebody clarify a point made earlier about CSL's having massive racing brakes? I thought they had slightly bigger discs, the same single pot calliper and really need upgrading if going on track.
Most if not everyone upgrade these if they are tracking the car, mostly AP items. Thats pretty much all it needs since the engine is nearly maxed out already.996TT you will start to modify more.....Exhaust, X50 turbos, remap..... if you dont buy a X50 in the first place, lol I sold my M Coupe in search for one but I didnt like the dated interior or the front end much and a GT2 bumper is nearly £2k! so maybe 997 for me instead
Edited by ady702 on Wednesday 5th September 18:16
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