Both German...both getting on...both potentially ruinous...

[theironduke]

Budget is around 4-4.5....

Pretty set on a nice 944 S2 or maybe a Turbo

HOWEVER...recently been thinking about E36 M3's....specifically cabrio form and ideally Dakar yellow...

Pros and Cons i can see...

944 :-

Pros-

Handling
Pretty bullet proof
Aprreciating?
Cheap classic insurance
Pop up lights!
It's a Porsche

Cons-

Not as quick as the M3 but 6.0 to 60 is hardly slow i guess
Is a 4 pot...no nice noise
Vandal magnet if left somewhere a bit lively...?

M3 :-

Pros-

A lot of bang for your bucks with acceleration and rapidness!
It's an M car
Sweet 6 pot engine
Roof down in the summer (and winter...eben better IMHO!!!)
Being a little more modern maybe a little less delicate?
Less rot worries than the Porker

Cons-

Delicate engine? Vanos issues?
Naff image now
Insurance will be more than 230 quid PA (quote i've got lined up for a 944) i guess
Likely to attract unwanted attention? or are they off the radar now?
Ultimately it's an E36, doesn't have a low and sporty position like the Porker
Not quite as "special" as a 944

Any thoughts welcome!

[redstu]

I've had neither but I'd probably go for the 944, you don't see that many of them about now.

[deadmau5]

Definitely the M3, despite the extortionate insurance premium (Ha).

[theironduke]

1 all

[300bhp/ton]

Do you want a sports car or a BMW?

[The Riddler]

944, any day of the week.

And a Dakar Yellow M3 was one of my favourite cars at one point.

[Wills2]

Go for the Porsche, the 944 still looks great and is a lovely thing to see on the road, I love M cars having owned 2 but the e36 has not aged well and the image is abit iffy...Although I recently saw a thread about a garaged e36 evo (last of the line special edition) and that did look great. (I'm confused now)

[Plotloss]

944 S2 is a magnificent car, truly magnificent and if you buy right you'll have a genuinely well made car thats been cared for well all it's life.

E36 M3s on the other hand have almost always had a suspect owner and the ones that haven't are big money.

[theironduke]

Thanks for the input chaps

I suppose a 944 Cab is an option...but i guess that defeats the point of having a 944 i.e. a lovelt chassis and excellent balance..

[balders118]

Another vote for the porsche! Love 'em.

[y282]

m3.

944 is nice and a genuine sports car, but i suspect a GOOD e36 m3 would see it off.

[theironduke]

y282 said:

m3.

944 is nice and a genuine sports car, but i suspect a GOOD e36 m3 would see it off.

Oh i dont doubt that, IIRC an Evo has 321 horses, a non evo 280 ish? an S2 manages 211 i think, or 250 for a Turbo...

Don't know which would handle the horses best though, i'd hope a well sorted 944.

[y282]

theironduke said:

y282 said:

m3.

944 is nice and a genuine sports car, but i suspect a GOOD e36 m3 would see it off.

Oh i dont doubt that, IIRC an Evo has 321 horses, a non evo 280 ish? an S2 manages 211 i think, or 250 for a Turbo...

Don't know which would handle the horses best though, i'd hope a well sorted 944.

hmm, couldn't honestly answer. i have an evo and although it doesnt give you a low down visceral punch like some blown jap toy, it does go bloody well. very nicely balanced through bends too. against that the 944 has a bit more character possibly but it could also look like a cheap attempt to own a porsche (not that that matters if you like the car of course).

when did they stop making the 944? i think that'd have a hand in the decision too (rot/electrics, ect).

[theironduke]

y282 said:

theironduke said:

y282 said:

m3.

944 is nice and a genuine sports car, but i suspect a GOOD e36 m3 would see it off.

Oh i dont doubt that, IIRC an Evo has 321 horses, a non evo 280 ish? an S2 manages 211 i think, or 250 for a Turbo...

Don't know which would handle the horses best though, i'd hope a well sorted 944.

hmm, couldn't honestly answer. i have an evo and although it doesnt give you a low down visceral punch like some blown jap toy, it does go bloody well. very nicely balanced through bends too. against that the 944 has a bit more character possibly but it could also look like a cheap attempt to own a porsche (not that that matters if you like the car of course).

when did they stop making the 944? i think that'd have a hand in the decision too (rot/electrics, ect).

I'm not fussed about the "its not a proper Porsche because it isnt a 911" thing, i used to have a 928 and people loved it!

From what i've read 944 rot badly in their sills but are otherwise pretty bombproof. I think production stopped in 1992?

[y282]

92 does put it in proper rot warning territory i guess.


usual advice, driv both and see which one is more for you. although i have the m3 i do have a soft spot for the 944 and have thought a few times about having one. love the interior and the fact it's not a performance variant of a normal car. in the end the power difference was what swayed me away from one tho.

still, lovely cars.

[anyideas]

I had the same 2 cars on my shortlist a few months ago, I went for the 944 and I've loved every minute of owning it. It may not be as quick as the M3 but its a lot of fun and for me it feels a lot more special then the M3.

[tr7v8]

Never had an issue with leaving the 944 anywhere. Generally attracts admiring glances by all.