30k Budget... which one....

[ATX86]

Ok, I've got a couple of test drives booked this weekend, but with my 30k budget, what do you think is the better buy, and will hold its value most...

A. Porsche 911 996 C4S - Always wanted a 911 but it's starting to look a little dated now, especially inside. 30k only gets me the bottom of the market for a 997 911. So i wouldn't want to get a 997 unless I had a 60k budget, which unfortunately I don't I would get a 996 turbo for the same money, but i'm looking at like 70k on the clock, which i'm not interested in. The max mileage i want is 50k

B. BMW E92 M3 - Newer current car and V8 muscle.... but will it have the same charm and pride of ownership as a porsche, even tho the 996 C4S is knocking on a bit...

Both cars are black inside and out and manual.

Your thoughts please

[GarryA]

E46 CSL

[ATX86]

GarryA said:

E46 CSL

Nah, don't want an E46, too old now for my liking. The way i'm looking at the E92 M3 is that it's a current model... the latest m3, plus it's a V8. Porsche has more badge so to say which offsets it being slightly older model.

I thought about about trying to stretch my budget or saving up a little longer for a ferrari 360 or an aston martin vantage, but realistically I can't afford to run a ferrari, and what I buy will be my only car that will be used every day.

You name it, i've thought about it, but for me it's literally either the e92 v8 m3 or a 996 911 C4S. I really cannot decide between the two. I want both, but i can't

[DjSki]

Why not go the whole hog and get the 996 Turbo? A decent one can be had for £30k.

Or 997 C2S's can not be had for £30k, its the new model if thats important.

Maserati GranSport, you'd get a dealer car for £30k I think.

[Herbs]

There is quite a gap between early 20's and mid 30's to what justifies the difference in price. I have looked into this myself before my priorities changed and there isn't really much to spend the extra money on that hasn't got far higher running costs

Others to consider would be

BMW 6 Series
Mercedes SL
Porsche Cayman
Range Rover Sport or Full Fat

All of those can be used everyday without sky high running costs.

[ATX86]

Like I say, the turbo's have quite a bit higher milage on them. To get a nice lower milage black 996 turbo, with sports seats, PCM 2 and manual is gonna be more than 30k, which is the very top of my budget. Also on the porsche fourms, the turbo has a solid engine but a few expensive bits on the turbo don't last that long. If i saw the right one within my budget, it would win hands down.

The 996 C4S that i'm off to test drive has everything on it, including PSE, 36k on the clock and is priced at £28k. Like I say, a turbo for that money will have over 50k on the clock. The m3 i'm off to test drive is similar milage and £29k.

[ATX86]

Herbs said:

There is quite a gap between early 20's and mid 30's to what justifies the difference in price. I have looked into this myself before my priorities changed and there isn't really much to spend the extra money on that hasn't got far higher running costs

Others to consider would be

BMW 6 Series
Mercedes SL
Porsche Cayman
Range Rover Sport or Full Fat

All of those can be used everyday without sky high running costs.

Nah, not into any of them, i've considered them, but I didn't work my arse off dreaming of any of them. Like I say, e92 m3 or 996 C4S... there's nothing else I want really that doesn't cost more than I can afford. This is gonna be my biggest. This is the first time i'm getting one of the cars on my cars i'll have one day list, so like I say, it's the m3 or 911.

As for the 997, been looking around, but i'd rather have a gen 2 997 which is obviosuly more dough. My plan was to get either the m3 or 996 and keep it until the gen 2 997 has come down in price and then trade up.

[GreatGranny]

This

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2029137.htm

or this (decent mileage and with the X50 option)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2016479.htm

493bhp XKR convertible

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2132239.htm

[baz1985]

Audi B8 S4?

[Huntsman]

ATX86 said:

I would get a 996 turbo for the same money, but i'm looking at like 70k on the clock, which i'm not interested in. The max mileage i want is 50k

I reckon that is an error, 996TT is very good value car.

[ATX86]

Huntsman said:

ATX86 said:

I would get a 996 turbo for the same money, but i'm looking at like 70k on the clock, which i'm not interested in. The max mileage i want is 50k

I reckon that is an error, 996TT is very good value car.

Yeah, but i'm planning on putting 30k on the clock before I shift it. Non one is gonna realistically gonna want to buy a turbo off me with 90-100k on the clock

[ATX86]

GreatGranny said:

This

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2029137.htm

or this (decent mileage and with the X50 option)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2016479.htm

493bhp XKR convertible

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2132239.htm

I don't want any of them, like I say i've thought about pretty much every car and narrowed it down to what I want... e92 m3 or 996 C4S, which of them two, and only them two

[Jasandjules]

Well I'd get a 996. But that's just because I think of an M3 as bland.

[Japveesix]

Jasandjules said:

Well I'd get a 996. But that's just because I think of an M3 as bland.

I think they're both bland so I guess I'd have to say neither

[slipstream 1985]

noble gto 3r, should get a nice one for your money, wont depreciate either

[loftylad]

This thread made me smile

OP comes and asks for a simple answer to a devastatingly simple question...

"911 996 C4S OR E92 M3, Just those two, nothing else in the hat"

It's easy, it's black or white.....

PH's answers to date...

E46 CSL
996 Turbo
997 C2
Masser GranSport
BMW 6 Series
Mercedes SL
Porsche Cayman
Range Rover Sport
Range Rover "Full Fat"
XKR
XKR cab
Audi B8 S4
996 TT
Noble Gto

BRILLIANT !!!!!!

(M3.....or MX-5 obviously)

Edited by loftylad on Wednesday 6th October 23:30

[sleep envy]

If you can test drive a c2 back to back with the c4s, you may be surprised

[Patrick Bateman]

I'd probably have the M3.

[Legacywr]

people don't seem to be reading this thread correctly??

I would go for the M3. The 996 is the ugliest 911 ever and could well become a money pit, but the M3 is almost a new car.

I certainly wouldn't even dream of getting a budget 996 turbo!

[DjSki]

You can get a good 996 turbo for £30k...

2002, 46k miles
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1806122.htm

2002, 49k miles
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1796910.htm

Loads more at £32/33k that might be got for close to the £30k too.