Test Drive

[MMM3PWR]

Test drove this bad boy at cap cities in upstate NY , I think my final decision has been made, keep my E90 M3 and buy order this one only saloon style 6 speed cloth seats , lighting package, moon roof, m suspension, azurite over cohiba with CC brakes....birthday present

Drives great but can't get rid of the v8

[fbm3cab]

I hear Ya! Good choice to have both.

I'll be keeping my N/A V8 too and add a F82 M3 as a daily in a year or two.
I Traded a Dinan stage II 335is for my E93 M3 last year so I could have some fun with the last N/A M3 but must admit I still miss the 400 plus torque in the 335is. It was a lot of fun too and I always wondered how good it could be with a M chassis and less turbo lag.

This new turbo M3 is a whole new game.

[MMM3PWR]

Originally Posted by fbm3cab

I hear Ya! Good choice to have both.

I'll be keeping my N/A V8 too and add a F82 M3 as a daily in a year or two.
I Traded a Dinan stage II 335is for my E93 M3 last year so I could have some fun with the last N/A M3 but must admit I still miss the 400 plus torque in the 335is. It was a lot of fun too and I always wondered how good it could be with a M chassis and less turbo lag.

This new turbo M3 is a whole new game.

There is noticeable lag upon mashing of the gas

[///M///]

Originally Posted by MMM3PWR

There is noticeable lag upon mashing of the gas

Not that I noticed maybe because I was in sport plus mode?

[jphughan]

For the cost of keeping both, I think you can have a more interesting variety of cars than 2 M3s, personally. I'm definitely not advocating getting rid of the E90, just spending that $75K on something more different from what you already have.

Also, why CC brakes? You don't get any weight savings here because the reduced weight of the rotors is offset by the additional weight of the larger calipers, so unless you really hate brake dust or occasional brake service, they don't offer any benefit on the road. And at the track, CC brakes don't last longer by an amount that justifies their higher cost, and that's before considering that you might prematurely ruin a rotor by chipping it during an off-road excursion or even a wheel swap. CC rotors are $3K each....

The new steel setup looks to be a huge improvement over the E9x, so on that setup you'd likely just need better pads and you're good on the track. Take a look at Porsche forums and you'll find that track people who buy used cars with CCB often go back to steel for the above reasons.

[M3 Esq]

Same here. Keeping my V8 and maybe add an F80 down the road as a DD.

I bought my 335i at Capital Cities. Nice people over there and good service too. They took care of me.

[BrewRifle]

I agree on not having 2 M3's. I'd keep the V8 and go for a Porsche 911 or give up the M3's altogether and get a GT3.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

I agree on not having 2 M3's. I'd keep the V8 and go for a Porsche 911 or give up the M3's altogether and get a GT3.

Actually I'm looking very carefully at a Cayman GTS. Something about mid-engine and 700 fewer pounds calls to me. I'd probably get a 991 GT3 or a Cayman GT4 if I could afford it, but then again either would be tough as a DD and I don't want to deal with the crazy sticky tires (or buy the car and then permanently downgrade it) or those stupid centerlock wheels. But I'm in no hurry because I still love my M3.

I'm also bummed that Porsche got rid of the quick-change caliper design on the front. :

[BrewRifle]

Those Cayman GTS' are pretty sweet as well. Like you said, that mid engine and a car that is on a diet would be a lot of fun on the track and twisties.

[izzyM2]

I've had a first gen cayman and it was great but hard to justify with its price specially if you have more than two in the family but together with an M3 e90 that would be a great combo.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by izzyM3

I've had a first gen cayman and it was great but hard to justify with its price specially if you have more than two in the family but together with an M3 e90 that would be a great combo.

Can't afford to keep both, and if I had a Cayman for track/fun I wouldn't be able to justify keeping an M3 to myself since purely DDing an M3 would be a waste of that car IMHO. But right now it's just the wife and me with no immediate plans to expand -- nice way to rationalize getting the Cayman now rather than later.

The price is definitely about $15K higher than I'd like (and not having a car payment at the moment sure is nice....), but that's just Porsche. And when you're picky about options and considering a custom color (might actually try to get BMW's Tanzanite Blue), going used is tough. Total first world problem, of course.

I dunno, part of me wants to go test drive one with the expectation that I'll acknowledge that it's great but not great enough to justify the cost, and then I'll have it out of my system -- but of course that plan could backfire horribly....

[Petros]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

I agree on not having 2 M3's. I'd keep the V8 and go for a Porsche 911 or give up the M3's altogether and get a GT3.

OR even better, trade in both M3's for one C7 Z06!

[W///]

Originally Posted by jphughan

For the cost of keeping both, I think you can have a more interesting variety of cars than 2 M3s, personally. I'm definitely not advocating getting rid of the E90, just spending that $75K on something more different from what you already have.

Also, why CC brakes? You don't get any weight savings here because the reduced weight of the rotors is offset by the additional weight of the larger calipers, so unless you really hate brake dust or occasional brake service, they don't offer any benefit on the road. And at the track, CC brakes don't last longer by an amount that justifies their higher cost, and that's before considering that you might prematurely ruin a rotor by chipping it during an off-road excursion or even a wheel swap. CC rotors are $3K each....

The new steel setup looks to be a huge improvement over the E9x, so on that setup you'd likely just need better pads and you're good on the track. Take a look at Porsche forums and you'll find that track people who buy used cars with CCB often go back to steel for the above reasons.

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

I agree on not having 2 M3's. I'd keep the V8 and go for a Porsche 911 or give up the M3's altogether and get a GT3.

Then both you guys would completely laugh at me for wanting 3 M3's (E36 coupe, E92 and F80).

There's quite a few scenarios that will play out in the next couple of years for me. I'm 90% sure the E92 will still be there:
1) F80 used + E36 + E92
2) Stripper F80 LCI new + E92
3) E92 + 997.1 Turbo
4) E92 + 997.1 GT3 (very unlikely)
5) Absolutely no change from what I have now
6) F80 + Gen1.2 Cayman S
7) F80 + Boxster Spyder ?

I love the new Cayman, but I can't justify the price of them brand new. I've been playing with all sorts of different combos ever since I test drove the M4, but I just can't think of anything else that interests me other than the combos I listed.

But then again, I also ask myself where I'll get money to fund this silly hobby of mine

[BrewRifle]

You sir (W///), have an illness! I wish I had kept my E36 M3 considering they only gave me $2,500 trade in for it 5 years ago. It was a 95' Dakar yellow with 160k miles.

[W///]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

You sir (W///), have an illness! I wish I had kept my E36 M3 considering they only gave me $2,500 trade in for it 5 years ago. It was a 95' Dakar yellow with 160k miles.

Oh I know, I've heard that before haha. Personally, I think there's enough difference between all of them to warrant space in my garage. E36 = raw, E92 = screaming V8, F80 = torque monster. I love the idea of a 997 Turbo as it's one of my dream cars, but I'm also scared of Porsche taxes and potential maintenance cost.

$2500?? Geez, that car on today's market is probably worth 3-4 times that much. I paid low E46 M3 money for my E36 and I think it was definitely worth it. For this kind of money, I can't think of a car I'd rather have than an E36 M3. I wasn't a believer until I finally test drove one

[BrewRifle]

People always give flak to the E36 M3, but it's the car that got me hooked on BMW and M3's specifically. Was it the fastest car on the road, no, was it a quick and fun car to drive on any road given its price point, you bet your ass. I still love the looks of the E36 M3 and debate on picking one up again. I do wish we had gotten the proper 321hp S50 Euro motor though.

[W///]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

People always give flak to the E36 M3, but it's the car that got me hooked on BMW and M3's specifically. Was it the fastest car on the road, no, was it a quick and fun car to drive on any road given its price point, you bet your ass. I still love the looks of the E36 M3 and debate on picking one up again. I do wish we had gotten the proper 321hp S50 Euro motor though.

Actually, the fact that it had a non Euro motor is what drew me to it. Less maintenance and cheaper costs. Plus like you said, people gave it crap, but I don't see why. The thing makes 240 ft lbs (only 55 less than E9x), but it weighs 600 lbs less. It's not lethargic like say and FRS is.

To me, it's the perfect DD/track beater. And boy have I missed that I6 sound too!