993 or M3 for £25k
993 or M3 for £25k
Author
Discussion

nos4a2

Original Poster:

127 posts

245 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
I'm in the lucky position of having to choose my next car. It has to be fun and a little practical (2 kids under 6) but it won't be my only car as I'll keep the trusty 740 for motorway commuting.

I've managed to discount anything with just two seats (I wan't to be able to take both kids) and I cam up with a short list of 2: Porsche 993 C2 (possibly targa) or M3 SMG. I've driven both and both are quite different but I'd love to hear of people's experiences with them long term.

SAMBAMAN

3,991 posts

252 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
993 , YOU WILL NEVER LOOK BACK !

Pickled Piper

6,451 posts

263 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
What he said.

A 993 for fun and weekends and a big Beemer for hauling the family and motorway miles. It doesn't get much better than that in my book.

pp

993_C2S

216 posts

254 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
If you want a fast relatively easy to drive car buy the M3.

If you want a car with soul, that communicates with you like no other and leaves you wuth the biggest every time you drive it buy the 993!

nos4a2

Original Poster:

127 posts

245 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
Hmm - I guessed that there might be a slight Porsche bias here

OK - what about saving £15k and buying a 3.2 Carrera (I've not driven older Porsches - only 993 and 996 model, so I'm not sure what the differences are on the road)?

SAMBAMAN

3,991 posts

252 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
if you buy a 3.2 carrera go for a g50 box 1987 onwards , much more nicer in my opinion

keith

gaity

247 posts

257 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
A 993 is special, a BMW is just...well a BMW.




But you're probably on the wrong forum to ask that particular question. BTW, the kids will fit, my 12yo and 15yo will argue to take the 993 rather than the big soft comfy warm spacious "other".

lanesra10

313 posts

259 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
993 everytime.
You wont find a Targa for £25k, thought theres one at Northways for£26,995
Kids just love the rear seats in Porsches as they are there sizes

cyrus1971

855 posts

267 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
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993 every time, suggest varioram post 95 car and as an experiment try the C4. I know purists maintain the C2 is the better car but the C4 is a joy and feels much more planted at speed.

BMW M3 is a worthy car but if you have beemer for everyday then why repeat manufacturer?

kayc

4,492 posts

249 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
quotequote all
M3 for me,993 getting long in the tooth now from a driving point of view...993 great to look at and awesome build quality but IM0 not even as good as the 996 to drive....you can but a 996 now for 25k.

mbutchers

703 posts

248 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
quotequote all
The M3 is, of course, the better car - it'll do absolutely everything better than the 993....!Don't forget, £25k gets a well spec'd 2 yr old.
If it was 'my' money tho', I'm not sure which one would get my cash. I guess it'd depend on usage - As a weekend toy etc the Porsche gets it - As a practical everydayer, then it has to be the M3.......
Of course, the Porsche is a more special car - looks, build quality, driving experience etc........ which is why it's such a hard choice........
I'd recommend a non SMG tho' as many feel it robs you of the driving experience....

>> Edited by mbutchers on Tuesday 21st March 09:08

Das Chin

50 posts

292 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
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you have to simply ask what you want the car for!

a 993 is a legend but a bit of a pig to live with daily & for commuting and certain things that are getting old and hard to live with.

it is well built though and it will stir your emotions every time you get in it.

the M3 is a great, fast, well built car with some great toys like the sat nav and SMG. personally I would go manual. plus you might even get one with the BMW extended warranty which is a bonus.

but it is still a 3 series with some nice bits on it and when I test drove one I could not really get on with the whole feel of the car, lack of connectivity to driver as well as the steering n brakes and delivery

hence going for a 996 C2 on 99 plate and just loving it.

a porsche is just a whoel diff car to the BMW. the BMW is a great all rounder with room, space to travel and soem luxuries.

I am glad I went with the porsche in the end.

the only M3 I would go for is theCSL

25k will not get you a nice 996 with a good spec. maybe an early 97 car and very basic but lots of issues with those!

just my 2c!

ICSD

638 posts

262 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
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M3 or 993? Max Powered repmobile or proper supercar?

993 or 3.2 Carrera? Well I'm biased, but as a second car I reckon you'd find the 3.2 more special. If it were your only car then the argument for a 993 is strong but the 3.2 is the last of the original cars and such a hoot to drive - at any speed! Plus you'll save money on both purchase and maintenance.

meno-porsche

228 posts

274 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
quotequote all
Hi,

I have a Beemer (325Ci) and a Porsche (964 C2). Both a great cars, however its the Porsche my 4 year son always wants to go in, and you can understand why. Great performance, sound track, looks, handling, etc where as the beemer is .........well a beemer.

Follow you heart not your head, you never know when you might get another chance.

For £25K I would look very hard at a 964 Turbo - if you are going to do it, do it big!!

Andy

mbutchers

703 posts

248 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
quotequote all
ICSD said:
M3 or 993? Max Powered repmobile or proper supercar?
Agreed, the M3 does have a slight image problem - but it's got arguably the best mass production engine ever made, and is an extremely accomplished car. 993 - Proper Supercar...! This forum certainly seems to attract unbiased, objective comment......

kayc

4,492 posts

249 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
quotequote all
Agree with mbutchers....993 a proper supercar is a tad hopefull...mine was all over the road at 100 mph plus...

Das Chin

50 posts

292 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
quotequote all
I also bucket loads of M3s around where I live in SW london and it is a real novelty to see a nice 911, whether it be 993 or 996 or whatever variant.

once you are out on the motorways you see even more of the M3s. I am sure they always look over n say...I wish I had gone for the 911 ;-)

I was out on the push bike this morning early and I did see a very nice 996 turbo cab rumble over richmond bridge! sweet!

seeing a CSL is very rare indeed so that would swing it for me!

porkers always look special and they appeal to everyone in my opinion. When I got mine the whole family were pouring over it and nice car comments. A BMW would have been, so the company must like you then!

appreciate we can all be biased cos if you put a post up on M3 owners club then they would say otherwise.

for me it would come down to practicality over passion, newer car with warranty over sth you have to look after, beefed up 3 series versus stylish looks and pure lines and finally sound....i just could not live with that tinny sound of the M3.

a air cooled 993 with sports exhaust just stirs up so many emotions!!

go out and drive both, spending time in them and make the decisions for yourself. it is your car, make your bed and then sleep in it!



>> Edited by Das Chin on Tuesday 21st March 11:34

sleep envy

62,260 posts

277 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
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Das Chin said:
a water cooled 993


:cough:

robin 993 c2

11 posts

245 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
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The 993 will feel like an event every time you drive it, the M3 with SMG will feel like a play station. My mate has an M3SMG, i have driven it quite a lot. I hate that gearbox, it is shit, go for a manual M3 if you have to, but the 993 is a better car that will cost less in the long run.
The only reason to go for the M3 is the practicality.
That said both are good cars.


>> Edited by robin 993 c2 on Tuesday 21st March 11:20

mbutchers

703 posts

248 months

Tuesday 21st March 2006
quotequote all
robin 993 c2 said:
I hate that gearbox, it is shit
Robin - I take it you don't like the SMG then...?