E92 M3 or 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo?

[dechoong]

Originally Posted by Pancho

It is not practical, getting in and out is troublesome, the ride is stiff, clutch is hard, if roads are not good then it becomes worse. Also the M3 will retain its value.

I have not driven the E92 M3, but a 997 with PASM rides significantly better than the E46 M3 without compromising handling. I'm quite surprised you find the ride stiff.

From where I'm residing, a Porsche holds its value way better than a M3.

[BMW //MPOWER]

The 996 turbo won't depreciate anywhere near as quickly as the M3, however a lot of that saving will go in servicing and maintenance costs, hence financially there is pretty much no difference.
So it pretty much comes down to which car you prefer more.

[devo]

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

The 996 turbo won't depreciate anywhere near as quickly as the M3, however a lot of that saving will go in servicing and maintenance costs, hence financially there is pretty much no difference.
So it pretty much comes down to which car you prefer more.

In the states, a 996 turbo's value sinks like a big rock in deep water. The 997tt will likely follow suit. However, from a $65k pricepoint the depreciation will slow dramatically. E46 M3's held up far better than any NA 996 or 997. That might not be the case with the E9x, but who knows yet.

[devo]

Originally Posted by Pancho

The decision depends on the expected use of the car. If you want a daily driver that can give you a high level of adrenalin when you want it but also comfort and practicality when needed then certainly I will go fo the M3. If you want the car only for weekend use to exploit all its abilities then go for the Turbo. I personally had a 911 Carrera 997 and decided to change for an M3 E92. I made an excellent decision. I really got tired of the Carrera as my daily car. It is not practical, getting in and out is troublesome, the ride is stiff, clutch is hard, if roads are not good then it becomes worse. Also the M3 will retain its value.

I thought the 997, too include any variety, was a great DD, however, I understand if you didn't like the stiff ride and difficulty getting in and out.

Personally,those things didn't bother me at all. (In fact, I feel that the 997tt is too soft; in Porsche's attempt to attract some of those rich MB posers.) I like knowing that I am in a sports car. There is something to be said for a minimally compromised sports car feel.

[Pancho]

Originally Posted by devo

I thought the 997, too include any variety, was a great DD, however, I understand if you didn't like the stiff ride and difficulty getting in and out.

Personally,those things didn't bother me at all. (In fact, I feel that the 997tt is too soft; in Porsche's attempt to attract some of those rich MB posers.) I like knowing that I am in a sports car. There is something to be said for a minimally compromised sports car feel.

I should clarify the Porsche is not adequate for Mexican streets for obvious reasons but certainly for the Autobahn or American highways.

[centexm3]

interesting thread - im in the same boat - .. i really love the way the 996 turbo's look - and performance speaks for itself - .. but the maitenance really scares me - ... it would be my daily driver - and i just dont know how it would hold up - i put about 18k a year on a car - .... o well - im a while off - because im going to wait till the new m3's actually GET to the state before i make any real decision .

[devo]

Originally Posted by centexm3

interesting thread - im in the same boat - .. i really love the way the 996 turbo's look - and performance speaks for itself - .. but the maitenance really scares me - ... it would be my daily driver - and i just dont know how it would hold up - i put about 18k a year on a car - .... o well - im a while off - because im going to wait till the new m3's actually GET to the state before i make any real decision .

Turbo's are relatively reliable, but as the miles increase so do potential expensive problems. High mileage turbos suffer huge hits in their resale values. A 5-6 year 996 turbo with over 70k on the clock might only return you about $43,000 from a price new of $125,000, or more.

A freind of mine had a two year old Cayenne with about 65k on the odometer. The best trade in he could get was $35,000. It was $105,000 new. He buys cars frequently and knows how to negotiate a deal. Granted, it was wholesale, but he couldn't sell it retail, either. And, I know of a guy, who sold his '05 997S ($88,000 MSRP) for $50k with 38k on the odometer, because he couldn't do any better. These prices dropped severly due to miles.

So, if anyone here is considering a 996tt, get the car CPO'd if possible and don't use it as a daily driver.

[SP330]

First and foremost, I despise the 996's interior. That generation itself is at the bottom of many Porsche aficionado's lists.

The turbo in my opinion is the poser 911. What with the heavy curb weight, four wheel drive, and turbos.

Not to mention, the service costs associated with Porsche ownership.

In this case I would spring for an E92 M3. But if you don't need backseats and want a pure driving experience go for the Cayman S. I've advised people stuck between the M Coupe and Cayman S to take a look at very lightly used Cayman S's.

[330ionMaui]

I realize this is off topic, but can anyone recommend a Porsche forum so that I can pick the brains of current 911 Turbo owners?

[southlight]

Try www.rennteam.com.

Best regards, south

[jworms]

Originally Posted by 330ionMaui

I realize this is off topic, but can anyone recommend a Porsche forum so that I can pick the brains of current 911 Turbo owners?

rennlist.com is good too