Guys -

Thanks in advance for your time. This is not a loaded question, and I do realize I'm posting it on the M3 forum. I'll also be posting it on the 993 forum.

I currently own a '00 528iT with sport package and 18" wheels (about 83k miles), and a '95 Porsche 993 C2 with sport package and 69k miles. I'm considering trading them both in for an M3 or M3 convertible. Or perhaps just selling the 528 and making the 993 my daily driver after I redo the suspension.

Thoughts? Have any of you in the past or currently owned both an M3 and 993 that you can share your experiences with?

Many thanks, Aaron

Never owned a 993 - but have driven many and owned an 88 3.2L for a few years.

Plainly, as good a car as the M3 is, its still not a 911. The M car will accelerate quicker, brake faster and turn harder, but you wont get the feel of that indescribable 'something' which exists in the P-car. (you know what I mean) ;)

Drive a few and youll be able to tell what suits you.

I drove my Uncle's 993 Targa Carrera. The thing is nice, but it's nowhere near the performance level of an E46 M3.

I say keep the M3.

I have driven a stock 993 and a chiped 993 with suspension. The stock 993 is a great car and I would say comparable if not slightly better than an M3. With a little money in the porsche it can be a beast. (I am a BMW driver currently). If this is going to be your daily driver then repair and upkeep cost might want to be factored into the equation. Fixing a porsche is more costly than fixing a BMW so are performance components and general maintenance.

I would say go with a porsche if you can afford it, otherwise the M3 is a great option, though it does not have the same feeling as a porsche.

Depends on what you are looking for. The M3 will obviously be a lot newer, have more creature comforts, more modern brakes, better acceleration, etc. It will also have more weight, especially the 'vert. I have a 'vert and the first thing I noticed when I jumped into a 996 was the feel of the car. The Porsche was faster to react and felt infinitely more tossable. You are more involved with the Porsche than the BMW. Like others mentioned, a Porsche drives like nothing else. That said, my car is more comfortable and feels faster in a straight line (just not in the curves).

I'm selling my M3 right now (pm me if you're interested) and looking at used 997's as a possible replacement. If you really get into how a car feels, the Pcar is tough to beat.

Keep the 993. Especially if it's in good condition and runs great.

If you really enjoy your 993, I would recommend staying with a Porsche. I owned two E46 M3's, and they are great sports sedans. If you need the utility of the back seat and trunk, I would recommend it without reservation. I bought a used 997S last year, and drove it about 10K miles and 6 or 7 DE events; really great car, but I guess I'm just not a Porsche guy, a shortcoming on my part I'm sure. But, after owning and tracking a C5 ZO6, I sold the Porsche and bought a new C6 ZO6, and love it. The Porsche is a great car, but so much about is just different than everything I have owned previously. The handling dynamics are fine, but again, just different than the balance of other cars in which I am more comfortable. And the motor ain't where it's supposed to be! Seriously, I would never talk anyone out of a Porsche, and maybe a good used 996 would be a good option for you.

Never owned a 993 - but have driven many and owned an 88 3.2L for a few years.

Plainly, as good a car as the M3 is, its still not a 911. The M car will accelerate quicker, brake faster and turn harder, but you wont get the feel of that indescribable 'something' which exists in the P-car. (you know what I mean) ;)

Drive a few and youll be able to tell what suits you.

Thanks Stuttgart and others. I drove the E46 'vert yesterday and was relatively impressed, but you're right. The E46 is missing the visceral connection to the road! That's the only way I can describe it. It's going to be 50 degrees up here and almost all the snow is gone. Maybe I'll fire up the 993 and take it for a spin today. I have to reach closure in my head!

Thanks to all!

Aaron

I drove the E46 'vert yesterday and was relatively impressed, but you're right. The E46 is missing the visceral connection to the road!
Aaron

Not sure I'd go that far in an assessment. Drive a coupe. It's 300(?) lbs lighter than the vert. Visceral and connected to the road is the E46 M3 coupe in a nutshell.

But, I'd still keep the 993.

You also have to remember that you are comparing two totally different cars from different eras...

also, this 993 isnt even a turbo... Yes the 993 in every trim is a great car, but a 993 non turbo does not make the cut in this decision, in my opinion.

For those who have been in the cockpit of both cars, there is something to be said about Porsche interiors. They suck. Even the 996 only gets a decently luxurious interior. The sad part is the 993 was the last great Carrera with focus on performance. The 996 is a luxury car and its interior is no better then cars half its price.

Anyway, back to the comparison. The E46 M3 will be 10 years newer. Suffer less problems (theoretically) and be less costly to fix. Also, if you dont plan on modding, a CPO will be perfect for you or most other extended warranties.

Right away the E46 M3 will have a much more pleasant interior that will make a functionable daily driver and will be more pleasant to the opposite sex. Women are all about comfortable surroundings, and lets face it... the 993 just doesnt have what it takes in that area. Not that we need it though... On a side note, depending on what year and options M3 you get you will also get great features like NAV, bluetooth, Audio Jack, LED tails, etc...

In addition, the M3 is renowned for being one of the most spacious sports cars on the market. It competes in the 2dr/2seater categories with unexplainable room for rear passengers and truly useful trunk space.

So far... the e46 M3 will be newer and more luxurious, it should theoretically be cheaper to maintain and can either come with a CPO warranty or will easily qualify for an extended warranty. The M3 also has more useful features and much more room in both the cabin and the trunk.

And as mentioned above this post... you need to be test driving a Coupe. Yes the E46 M3 is a heavy car in general, but the difference between a Coupe and Vert is dramatic. You will find the Coupe is much more connected to the road and has much more agility and response. The reduced weight also means a quicker car on top of the increased response.

And to make this car even more desirable, it actually gets decent gas mileage for a 333BHP car. If you stay out of sport mode for daily driving you can get just over 20MPG city, and just over 30MPG highway if you use cruise control and keep it just under 3000RPM.

In all reality the E46 M3 the best of both worlds from each of your current cars... the space and comfort of your 5 series, and the speed, agility ,and excitement like your 993.

Just my .02