E92 M3 or 911 C2S?

[KillerM5]

Guys,
New to this board but have spent a long time on the M5Board. Im a huge BMW fan but have also been in love with Porsche since I was a kid. Here is my dilema. My most recent M, E60 M5 with a ton of mods, is such a beast but Im looking for something lighter and more nimble. The car will be a weekend warrior and will see many mountain runs and a few track days a year. After looking into a number of different cars Ive decided on either a E92 M3 or a 997 C2S. I know they are completely different which is why Im looking for your insight. To keep this apples to apples Im leaning towards a 6 speed so no DCT/PDK.

Please give me your thoughts and personal experiences if you have them with both vehicles.

Thanks

[thegeneral101]

I considered the same cars (and a Z06) but ended up with the M3 (with asp) for three reasons: 1) I still like to have a lot of room in case I need to take people etc 2) I love the sound of a V8 screaming more than the porsche sound 3) its a bmw and I'm used to them (safe choice). I don't think you need to worry about point 1. In your case if you don't care about the V8, probably the porsche..but its a win win

[i001947]

The C2S is the better driver's car compared to the M3 according to Motor Trend 2012 Best Driver's Car of the Year.

http://www.sourceinterlink.com/motor...-car_2868.html


Personally it's just a more efficient type of M3 than the M3. But it comes with a price premium over the M3.

I wanted a C2S. But with a second child starting college this fall I really couldn't swing the additional costs over the M3. But if money was not an issue, I would have went with the C2S hands down. Who knows, I may take another look down the road. So, leave the C2S door open for me.

Go for it if you can.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by i001947

The C2S is the better driver's car compared to the M3 according to Motor Trend 2012 Best Driver's Car of the Year.

http://www.sourceinterlink.com/motor...-car_2868.html


Personally it's just a more efficient type of M3 than the M3. But it comes with a price premium over the M3.

I wanted a C2S. But with a second child starting college this fall I really couldn't swing the additional costs over the M3. But if money was not an issue, I would have went with the C2S hands down. Who knows, I may take another look down the road. So, leave the C2S door open for me.

Go for it if you can.

This Motortrend article is about the new 911, the 991, OP wants the older model, the 997!

[Jamerikan]

I owned a 997 C2S prior to buying my E90 M3. My main reason for the switch was because of a new child on the way. So if passenger space is not an issue I would go C2S. Yes, I love both cars, but if you already have a daily driver the Porsche is the way to go.

You can't go wrong either way

[Hothonda]

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by KillerM5

Guys,
New to this board but have spent a long time on the M5Board. Im a huge BMW fan but have also been in love with Porsche since I was a kid. Here is my dilema. My most recent M, E60 M5 with a ton of mods, is such a beast but Im looking for something lighter and more nimble. The car will be a weekend warrior and will see many mountain runs and a few track days a year. After looking into a number of different cars Ive decided on either a E92 M3 or a 997 C2S. I know they are completely different which is why Im looking for your insight. To keep this apples to apples Im leaning towards a 6 speed so no DCT/PDK.

Please give me your thoughts and personal experiences if you have them with both vehicles.

Thanks

Personnally, if money was no object and the lack of rear seats too, I'd go with the C2S in a heartbeat!! Even more so since you're looking at buying a manual, the 6-speed in the 911 is supposely one of the best manual tranny on the market if not the best, the one in the M3 is just ok(I have one, it works great but does'nt feel that smooth)! Also the 911 looks and perform better then the M3 and is probably a good bit cheaper on gaz! The only advantage that I see for the M3 is the price! Also the 911 have bulletproof reliability which is a big + when you buy used!

p.s. Have you considered a new Cayman S for about the same price as a used C2S!? I saw one at the dealership and it is just gorgeous and it performs pretty simularily to the new 991 C2!!

[yoelev]

if you don't need the extra room. i'm in awe of my m3, with a few mods (diff, suspension, tune, etc) of just how civilized it can be. and a huge trunk. with seats folded down? it gives station wagons a run for their money.

[bga23]

I owned a 997.1 C2S 6-speed and now have an E90 DCT, so not exactly your choices but pretty damn close.

I'd go with the 911, even though cost is higher. While I really do enjoy driving the M3, I'd say I loved driving the C2S.

Drive em both and see which you prefer though.

[jphughan]

A 997.2 C2S owner friend and I swapped cars on a few drives through Texas hill country roads, so I got to drive probably 100 miles total in his car in that setting. I liked it -- but not nearly as much as I thought I would given the hype. I enjoyed the fact that it felt lighter and lower to the ground, and driving a rear-engine car feels completely different from anything else, but somehow that car didn't excite me the way my M3 does. It did feel more raw and mechanical in terms of inputs (clutch, shifter, steering, etc), which was cool, but I think the engine difference was a big part of why I still didn't like it as much as I'd expected. The C2S owner mentioned that he was initially unimpressed with my car until he figured out that he needs to keep the revs higher than he's used to in the Porsche, at which point he had a blast. Although despite having that revelation, one of my favorite comments of his was, "My car has a fair amount of power up top -- your car, it's just got a lot of power."

Anyway, after all those miles I decided that I not only preferred my car as an all-purpose car (I'm a one-car guy), but I'd also probably rather have the M3 as a dedicated fun car. Maybe if I'd had the Porsche on-track and/or been driving a GT3 I would have thought differently, but I honestly didn't see what the fuss was about. On those same drives I had a third friend who owned a BRZ and I actually had more fun overall in that car than the C2S. It's definitely down on power, but there's magic about that car, part of which is probably the fact that you can exploit more of that car's potential on the road rather than the M3 and C2S where you need to be on a track to really appreciate what it can do.

[Tfk]

PORSCHE: Proof Of Rich Spoilt Children Having Everything.


but not the carrera! especially not if it isn't the 991! and since it's a "weekend" car...

PORSCHE GT3 997.2
or the M3.

[zamboni]

Since you already had the experience with M5 why not go with the C2S for a change?

[skins333]

Originally Posted by zamboni

Since you already had the experience with M5 why not go with the C2S for a change?

Agree!

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by Hothonda

but again that's not what OPs shopping for!

[Hothonda]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

Yeah, but he got to show off his 991 though...

Excuse me.....

BTW....Your reputation preceded you. You were banned from this site for being such a nice guy right?

I thought since you became a 991 owner that you might have matured a bit...

[mlambert890]

Agree that if the OP is talking about 997.2 then linking 991 articles, showing 991 pics, and generally extolling the virtues of a 991 is pretty irrelevant since thats a major redesign.

Now... that said... I actually *prefer* the 997.2 to the 991 (sorry 991 guys! LOL), so IMO if interior room is a non-issue then go 997.2.

If the budget starts sliding though, do *not* go 997.1 IMO. Whether its BS, over stated, or whatever (and I do think it is), the spectre of IMS still haunts the 997.1 and as a two time former 996 owner I can tell you that is all just best avoided.

The 997.2 and 991 share the new engine platform and (so far) there don't appear to be any potentially catastrophic design flaws

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

Yeah, but he got to show off his 991 though...

Understandable, not to many chances to show your 911 on the M3 forum, I think I would've done the same if only I had one!

[Da Hapa]

Originally Posted by KillerM5

Guys,
New to this board but have spent a long time on the M5Board. Im a huge BMW fan but have also been in love with Porsche since I was a kid. Here is my dilema. My most recent M, E60 M5 with a ton of mods, is such a beast but Im looking for something lighter and more nimble. The car will be a weekend warrior and will see many mountain runs and a few track days a year. After looking into a number of different cars Ive decided on either a E92 M3 or a 997 C2S. I know they are completely different which is why Im looking for your insight. To keep this apples to apples Im leaning towards a 6 speed so no DCT/PDK.

Please give me your thoughts and personal experiences if you have them with both vehicles.

Thanks

Former 2008 997S owner here who now has a 2008 E90M3. I special ordered my P car and owned her for a little over three years until my son was born. I absoluely loved that car.

I've only had my M3 a short time but as you've already acknowledged, you're kind of comparing apples to oranges.

If it were my money, I would only buy a 997.2 C2S or 991S. The Direct Injected motors (and all the benefits thereof) are worth it (unless you're buying a GT3). IMO, the driving dynamics of the Porsche are superior to the BMW in every meaningful way (go ahead and blast me, it's my opinion). And that includes fuel efficiency.

However, from a usability standpoint the BMW is much better. Ingress/egress is easier the car doesn't scrape anywhere near as easily as the Porsche. The BMW has a real backseat and a real trunk. And even the M3 can be parked just about anywhere without drawing the attention the Porsche will get.

[Hothonda]

To the OP....unfortunately I lumped the 997 & 991 in the same category, so forgive my oversight + photo post.

Owned a 2013 M3 DCT prior to this car. There is no comparison. The M3 (IMO) is a nicely done, but warmed over 3. The 911 is not warmed over from anything.

The 911 started from scratch to be what it is today + they charge $$ accordingly.

My M3 below:

[Trip3's]

Not to get in the middle of this, but OP asked about a 997 and even if you didn't realize that, you JUST posting a pic of your car doesn't really help him. Had you followed the pic up with your driving impressions I'm sure Team Plutonium wouldn't have busted your balls. Internetz is srs bsns.

[Majin Buu]

Originally Posted by Hothonda

The 911 is not warmed over from anything.

The 911 started from scratch to be what it is today + they charge $$ accordingly.

Not really. It started off as one of these:



And they charge $$ because their loyal fanboys will pay it, not because it actually costs them that much to make the car.

I'd say the M3 is way better value for the money and a much more utilitarian and versatile car. If the OP wanted a dedicated sports car, there are way better options for the money than a Porsche.

[Titanium Silver]

If price wasn't an issue I would pick up the new 991 body style 911 C2S over the M3 any day.