Cayman or e46 m3

[mr2turbogts]

I currently own a e46 m3 that i’ve Had for the past four year, an absolutely love it.

The car only gets used at the weekends (sunny ones) so it doesn’t get used much.

However I keep looking around at other cars seeing what’s on the market.

After watching top gear and the alpine film, they pitched it against the cayman, so a quick look on eBay revealed the 987 cayman is similar price to the m3. Which got me thinking?

Doing some research and the comparison between the cars conclude they are very different cars: one a purpose made sports car the other a modified coupe.

To chuck in the mix I have a rev2 mr2 as a track day car, so have that purpose built 2 seater sports car (not comparing the cayman to this, but nevertheless I have a machine of the same genre, mid engine, rear wheel drive, two seats)

I also have two dogs, which from time to time come out in the m3.

So my dilemma is, if I get a cayman will I have two very similar cars, and lose the practicality. However I will scratch the Porsche itch and have a weekend car that’s a bit more special feeling?

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

I've only driven one example of each, but found the Cayman boring in comparison to the M3.

I've reached the conclusion that I don't like my cars to be too competent - perhaps that's what's referred to as 'character'.

[JackReacher]

987 Cayman's are brilliant cars but takes some time to get used to them and the mid engined chassis, but if you can survive with 2 seats i'd take one over the M3, For well documented reasons you'd probably want a gen 2 987 Cayman. A 2.9 is a great engine but will feel slightly slow compared to the M3, but it is fun and you can use more of the performance on the road. A gen2 S would be quicker than the M3 but you'd probably need £25k for a good one. They benefit from a sports exhaust (e.g. Carnewal) and the smallest wheels available, 17" on the 2.9 and 18" on the 3.4.

They are quite dated internally, but shouldn't be an issue coming from a e46.

[Brinyan]

Are they big dogs? Do they need a seat each?!
I'd stick with an M3.

[DUBS73P]

Those that are priced along side an E46 M3 will be Gen1 and are that cheap purely because of running costs, the 2.7 is less prone to the issues, however, having test driven one when i owned my Z4 Coupe 3.0, i found it extremely dull and pretty slow. Havent driven a 3.4 because just adding pace wouldnt have suddenly made it a car i was interested in.

One of my friends is a porsche technician and told me that if i bought one to budget roughly 8k if the engine was to go. I walked away happy in the knowledge that i wasn't missing anything.

Havent owned an E46 M3, but i had an E92 M3 and i would take that over the cayman all day.

[jay_ess_em]

I've driven both. I bought the M3 and will never sell it.

[culpz]

Don't change for the sake of it, would be my advice. You said you absolutely love the M3, so it doesn't make sense in my eyes to get rid.