Which one is better? Anyone driven both?

why the year? Are you at a certain price point? I just bought a 2002 M3..yesterday. I considered a 911 for about 5 seconds and it was a matter of a number of variables - maintenance, character of the car / driving characterists of the M3 compared to a 911...etc. I think the BMW is always the best bang for the buck, better quality, etc but that's my perspective.

Also, I think the e46 m3 is still the best looking BMW in the arsenal of BMW cars. Perception - people do make assumptions about you based on your car. The joke is BMW = a-hole; porsche = small penis.

Classic BMW joke - what's the difference between a BMW and a Porcupine?

...a BMW has the prick on the inside...

Best of luck, no appologies if I offended any 911 drivers.

hmmmm... haha
yea the year thing was just because there both in about the same price range...

I've owned both. The M3 is a great sports sedan, offering the versatility of that configuration. The 911 is a sports car, pure and simple. It's lower, lighter, shorter wheel base, etc. They are both great cars in their own right. If you don't need the back seat and trunk of the M3, there is really no comparison in the handling; get the Porsche.

I've owned both. The M3 is a great sports sedan, offering the versatility of that configuration. The 911 is a sports car, pure and simple. It's lower, lighter, shorter wheel base, etc. They are both great cars in their own right. If you don't need the back seat and trunk of the M3, there is really no comparison in the handling; get the Porsche.

+1 I think it really comes down to a question of utility. If you need/want a back seat and a trunk then the M3 is your car. You should definitely drive both before you make up your mind, they are both great cars.

Classic BMW joke - what's the difference between a BMW and a Porcupine?

...a BMW has the prick on the inside...

:lol

Which one is better? Anyone driven both?

Owned both. If you're considering a Porsche and don't need a back seat, then why are you asking?
If you can afford it, buy the Porsche. It's sportier and a whole lot more fun. That's what makes it better.
The added prestige is not a bad little thing either.

The M3 has four seats for practical and very mundane reasons,
not because it improves the handling or it makes it any more fun to drive... :rolleyes

m3 is slightly faster, m3 is more versatile seating/carrying wise, m3 is probably cheaper to maintain, m3 looks better IMO (but i dont like porsches that arent gt versions), will be cheaper and newer.

porsche will steering and brake better, has a better badge.

The M3 has four seats for practical and very mundane reasons

The coupe has 5 and if my friends weren't drunk at the time, with me the only sober driver, I doubt they would have agreed to pile 5 deep in my car. We even made the fat ass sit bitch as punishment to the other two drunks in the back seat. :evil2

They are two different animals I don't care what anyone says. The Porsche is more expensive to own/operate and also comes with a RMS issue for that year (rear main seal)... which will cost you a new motor.

The question "Which one is better" is too vague to answer...

If they both cost the same, where equally reliable and at the same cost to maintain I would have the Porsche. But they are not, the back seat in the Porsche is useless for anything other than throwing an empty Gatorade bottle in.

I will have the M3 however, because of its price and its step up over the Porsche practicality.

kthxbai

The Porsche is more expensive to own/operate and also comes with a RMS issue for that year (rear main seal)... which will cost you a new motor.

That's a bit extreme. :confused
I haven't owned a 996, but most available info on the RMS leak issue states that it is annoying, but liveable as long as you watch the oil level.
Replacing the RMS is expensive, largely because it's so labor-intensive, but there are even DIYs out there if you're willing to get dirty.

That's a bit extreme. :confused
I haven't owned a 996, but most available info on the RMS leak issue states that it is annoying, but liveable as long as you watch the oil level.
Replacing the RMS is expensive, largely because it's so labor-intensive, but there are even DIYs out there if you're willing to get dirty.

It requires a new motor man...

It requires a new motor man...

No, it doesn't.
There may be isolated cases of RMS failure leading to motor damage, but in most instances it's just an annoying problem that is time intensive to repair.

m3 is slightly faster, m3 is more versatile seating/carrying wise, m3 is probably cheaper to maintain, m3 looks better IMO (but i dont like porsches that arent gt versions), will be cheaper and newer.

porsche will steering and brake better, has a better badge.

M3 faster than a 911? Are you serious?

M3 faster than a 911? Are you serious?

haha i almost opened up that bag of worms

A non turbo 1999 911 is not faster than the m3...


The M3 is a great sports sedan, offering the versatility of that configuration.


wait what?

A non turbo 1999 911 is not faster than the m3...





wait what?

Haha... well drivers race I'd say

wait what?

Call it "saloon." Same thing. Its what the M3 is. Doesnt necessarily mean it has four doors.

OP - try taking a 993 out for a spin.

I would choose the e46 M3 over the 996, but I would choose the 993 or 997 over the e46 M3.

A 99' 911 , is it the 993 or the 996 ? coz this is the year of the start of the 996 and the finish of the 993 :S , so which one are you talking about ?

Anw, i have an experience with the 993 Carrera 2 , a FUN car. The steering is pefect, the engine response is awesome, the charisma of this car is off the hook , you will sit low but well fixed in your seats , the sound is amazing , the handling Superb .It is a true Sportscar. But the rear seats are a joke honestly , you can put a small bag or something ,but no human beeing will fit comfortably in them .

On the other hand you have the M3, awesome sports coupe, very well built, it is a bit faster , but heavier . i have weakness towards this car coz i love it so much ...

As long as they keep my 911 and M3 i'll be happy til i die !

911 if you have extra cash to throw around.

I've owned a 99 996 with GT3 aero kit and LSD, with an E46 M3 at the same time. Currently, I have an '02 996 C2 with GT3 aero kit, and am looking to get a daily driver like the M3 again (most likely a 'vert). The 02's have the 3.6L engine and 99-01's had the 3.4L.

a) I think the porsche and M3 cost the same to maintain. I have 36K on my porsche right now. I spend on average about $600 a year for maintenance. This is not required; but, I do a complete checkup every single year. Just for good insurance. People 'are' right -- the porsche 'can' be a money pit if not well taken care of; but, if it is taken care of .. you should have no problems. I do this maintenance whether it needs it or not. I am averaging about 3K miles per year on the car since I bought it CPO'd. The CPO expired early february; but, never had to take it in for anything other than oil change every quarter .. and then one year maintenance.

b) I never had an RMS issue with my '99. The car was driven in OLOA, HPDE's, etc. It did not burn oil, etc. However, maintenance was done once a year, whether it needed it or not.

c) M3 is a great car: hands down. Put it this way, if I get a 'vert, it would be my 5th E46 M3. So, you can say I like them. I've tried other cars to no avail. I am not impressed with the E92 M3. That's just my bias. Bang for buck, E46 M3 is hard to pass up. For practicality, the M3 provides a useable rear seat, excellent trunk space, and is a very nice combination of sportiness, aesthetics, and luxury. The M3 will feel more luxurious and plush in many ways. M3 is just as costly to maintain in my opinion. I would say they are about equal in price to maintain ... The M3 'might' be a 'tad' cheaper; but, parts wise - same cost as porsche's and hourly labor rate was same.

d) The porsche - just a different driving experience. It is more raw (although the '99 was rawer than the '02 I have). You feel tuned in to the road. However, it is very spartan. It's not meant to be plush ... interior is rather bland and non-luxurious. Paint on the 996's seem to be softer than BMW's - so, would recommend clearbra on the car.

In short, the 2 are comparable; but, kind of world's apart on whom they target. I think the porsche 911's are to people who want to have a fun weekend car. I do not know many people that daily drive their porsche. In winter, most of them sit. So, this is like a 3rd/4th car for them. The M3 is the daily driver -- very fun to drive, does great in snow with snow tires, looks great and handles well.

For both cars - it boils down to maintenance. Did the previous owner take care of it? Did they properly warm up the engine or just rag on it? Do they have all maintenance records? One way I gauge people is looking at their other cars ... although I have the porsche, and it is pristine, if you look at the 4 other cars on my driveway, all of them are the same -- you can eat off the engine bay. So, whether it is my E36, E39 or E60, both are meticulously maintained. The other car does not count since it is virtually brand new.

I am not a porsche fan-boy ... I love BMW's ... as my garage indicates ... and hopefully, will be adding the E46 shortly . But, it's not a fair comparison -- M3 might be 'straightline' faster; but, the porsche is more fun to drive. Porsche weighs a good 200-300 lbs less than the E46 M3. The lesser weight is noticeable when you take some nice twisties -- you just feel planted. Even when I modded the E46 M3 to TCK/DA's ... just did not feel the same. There are always faster cars anyways -- I'm sure the STi, Evo, mustangs, etc... could blow the doors of the E46 M3/Porsche; but, you get to the point that you do not care anymore .. you buy the car because 'you' like it and it's fun to drive. That said, you will not be disappointed with either car.

http://community.webshots.com/user/kekua69 <-- here's my '02. If you can find one, try to get one with an aero kit. MKI aero has the taco wing and my car is MKII ... I like the MKII; but, many like the MKI ...

m3 is slightly faster, m3 is more versatile seating/carrying wise, m3 is probably cheaper to maintain, m3 looks better IMO (but i dont like porsches that arent gt versions), will be cheaper and newer.

porsche will steering and brake better, has a better badge.

but it will be a porsche

The Porsche is a more uncomfortable ride. I think the M3 looks a lot better as well but that is just taste.