Why m3 over Porsche 911 997?

[AdM1nsarEas$]

Prices are relatively similar, wondering why people would buy an m3 if they could buy a Porsche 911.

Looks? Sounds? More comfortable? More practical?

[shimmy23]

Where are you finding them priced similar? The 997 is still a good 10-20k more:

[tigermack]

I'd like to know where you see them for similar price... 15k+ isn't quite relatively similar?

[AdM1nsarEas$]

I think you can pick up a 997 for 25-35k, similar to a e90 m3 (20-30k) no?

[911r]

Originally Posted by AdM1nsarEas$

I think you can pick up a 997 for 25-35k, similar to a e90 m3 (20-30k) no?

I think the 997 you'd be able to purchase for $30k (low-tier) compared to the E9x M3 you'd be able to purchase for $30k (top-tier) would be completely different cars.

Price aside, the 997 is a better driving experience in my opinion. The M3 is probably a tad quicker. The M3 can be made to be extremely quick on track (GT3 territory)—while the 997 has limited suspension/power modifications available.

Stock for stock sound & looks are subjective. E9x is more practical than the 997. Stock for stock the M3 is also more comfortable in my opinion.

[RedScytheM3]

Originally Posted by AdM1nsarEas$

Prices are relatively similar, wondering why people would buy an m3 if they could buy a Porsche 911.

Looks? Sounds? More comfortable? More practical?

Seems like a troll question to ask. What makes you assume that anyone who bought an E9X M3 chose it over the Porsche? Also, your question has the stance that anyone who chose an M3 picked the lesser car - which could turn the thread into an M3 vs 911 thread. So, do you want honest answers or are you trolling?

[AdM1nsarEas$]

Originally Posted by RedScytheM3

Seems like a troll question to ask. What makes you assume that anyone who bought an E9X M3 chose it over the Porsche? Also, your question has the stance that anyone who chose an M3 picked the lesser car - which could turn the thread into an M3 vs 911 thread. So, do you want honest answers or are you trolling?

honest answer, no need to get defensive. never owned an m3 so genuinely curious to hear from owners.

[SYT_Shadow]

This has been asked and answered 40 times. Go to the 'M3 vs ...' section which is the appropriate one for these topics

[wyatth]

I think it’s a fair question, albeit thoroughly discussed. Both great cars, but condition/miles apples to apples, the M is cheaper. It’s simply more car for the money (performance, practicality, reliability...).

[Cyberdemon]

Some of us bought the 4 door because we put tiny humans in the back.

Otherwise I'd more seriously consider a 911.

[tdott]

Probably because M3 owners, typically look at GT3s as a comparison or the next step up which is in another league price wise.

The closest comparison would probably be a 997.2 GTS, but even those are more than double the average price of an e9x m3.

[Richbot]

A) this conversation is really only worth having for 997.2's IMO - I have recently done a relatively deep dive on what is necessary to get the M96/97 to regular old german-car reliability levels (talking with builders and other enthusiast owners who I know won't BS me) and IMO the juice isn't worth the squeeze and you should just skip to the 9A motors - the prices seem to agree with me, but if you're willing to Raby-fy et al. the motor, there's also no reason not to make a rad earlier car it's just there's no such thing as a $20,000 911 - much as I wish it was true. Yes plenty of people pull it off, but I'm not risk tolerant enough to be one of them. And this is from somebody who has put 130,000 miles and counting on an S65, and voluntarily purchased a W212 E63, and do all my own work on my cars. That's already pretty risk-tolerant and handy by most people's standards, and I STILL got scared.

B) Because the market is aware of the .2 engine upgrade, and the downsides of the M96/97, whether you get a .2 or upgrade your early car to avoid ALL the potential pitfalls, a decent 997C2 can easily be twice as much money as a well maintained E9xM with similar mileage

C) And they're not any more fun to drive, IMO

I have been desperate my whole life to love the 911. Along the way in that quest, I have now tried:

early 1970's (I think) 911T
1984 Carrera
1999 and 2002 C2's
2004 911 Turbo Cab
2006 Carrera S
2017 Carrera S

All manuals

Every single time I get out of a 911 and back into my car, I wonder why I would want to drive my E90M less.

I was REALLY sure the 991.2S would be my sweet spot, torque, 2wd, manual! It was great, compared to most cars, but it was still just sortof...ok I see why people like these, but I don't want one, compared to my car.

Even ignoring the practicality sacrifices, I like the E9x a lot more. The crazy thing is, every single boxster and Cayman I've tried, from base 986 to GT4, I have loved. Not more than my car, but definitely on equal footing with my car in the case of the GT4. The practicality considerations still make it "worse" but I totally understand it and wanted a Spyder immediately after trying my friend's GT4. The 911 and I still don't jive. I tried to make it work recently with a really nice 1999 996 C2, the literal poster child that came out right when I became truly "car aware" in the late 1990's, but even that emotional connection didn't spark anything like a "must have". And when I say raelly nice I mean, REALLY nice, collector quality car, it was almost perfect down to the last detail.

Maybe if I ever drive a 993 I'll "get it". IMO, the 993 was the first time the 911 was really any good as a "car" anyway (not a 911 specific criticism, as cars did kindof suck across the board deep into the 1990's)

If I didn't have my car for some reason, I'd go get another M3 right away, it wouldn't even be a hard decision.

This is why there are multiple car manufacturers.

[AdM1nsarEas$]

Originally Posted by tdott

Probably because M3 owners, typically look at GT3s as a comparison or the next step up which is in another league price wise.

The closest comparison would probably be a 997.2 GTS, but even those are more than double the average price of an e9x m3.

Interesting way to view it but not the way I see it. Even tho the base/S 997 is compatible to an e90 in performance, the next step up is viewed as a gt3?

If I had a gt3, would I only upgrade to an f430 scuderia? Probably not - a base f430 would be fine in my mind. That said, I can understand how people prefer the highest trim package.

[Richbot]

for comparison purposes, the price and performance difference between a .2 S and a .1 base car is pretty significant. They can't really be "slashed" together.

Another thing to love abouit the E9xM - 2008-2013, same engine and trans, basically the same exact performance on a track, within a couple tenths of eachother, except for the 'vert. Comp package doesn't make much difference, options don't make much difference, you get what you get and no matter what you get, you won't be upset

2008 to 2013 for the 911 went from the M97 997.1 to the 991.1 with the 9A1! Sport chrono, PDK, PASM, How do you even keep track!

You can almost have a 991.1 base car for the same price as aa decent 997.2S

[smyles]

Hard roof and somewhat usable rear-seat and trunk space on E93.
Never liked 911 sounds.
Price of a well-equipped.

[serranot]

I shopped the 911 and M3 at the same time 10 years ago. The 911 was more hard core sports-focused--limited seating, flinty ride, low seat position, etc. It is a great car, but the E90 has been way more flexible and practical for me and my family. I can have a ton of fun in it and still put a family of four in it if I need to.

[GRUESOM3]

You pull up with a Porsche your automatically perceived that you got money whereas the m3 can downplay it because it's a 3 series Bmw. To some people that matters.

[JuanK20]

Most people that drive M3's, drive their car more often than people with 911's. I had a 997.1 before and its not a great daily. The interior is super outdated, anything bigger than a watermelon would not fit in the rear seats, and the suspension was a bit rough (I didn't have PASM). It's fun for the weekends but the E9X is way more practical if you need a day to day vehicle.

The 997 did bring way more attention. The 911 (even my base model) was more of a "head turner" for non-car people than the M3.

[Redd]

Friend of mine with an E92 M3 got himself a 997.1 Turbo. Tracked both cars. Sold the 911, still owns the M3. 'Nuf sed.

[HadesM3]

Personally, I think a 987 Cayman S is a better comparison to the e90/92 M3 overall. The Cayman obviously handles better, acceleration similar with slight nod to M3, but M3 is more practical with back seats.

The 987S has been on my radar for a couple of years, since I typically never have passengers in my car. However, the M3 is still in the garage.

[JRF]

in terms of driving experience, the only Porsche that I would compare to the e9xM is a 928. .... certainly not a 997.

[neilum]

Originally Posted by JRF

in terms of driving experience, the only Porsche that I would compare to the e9xM is a 928. .... certainly not a 997.

Of course, one is a rear engine sports car, and one is a front engine RWD sporty car.

To answer the post however, I think the E90M is a better overall car than a 997 911, that's why.

It sounds way better, and is way more practical. An E90 M is also way faster than a lof of the 997 models.

There are a lot of reasons one would choose an E90 M over a 997. The way the question is phrased it sounds like a loaded question though when its actually a pretty close comparison even if you have a 2009+ Carrera S.

I don't think 997's are all that special unless you really get a turbo or gt3.