Age old questione of porsche or m3

[dshin]

Hi All,

Been debating on a new daily driver for a while. I have narrowed my choices to 3:

e46 m3 convertible
e46 330ci convertible w/ ZHP or
2002-2004 carrerra convertible

I will be driving this car about 15 to 20k a year and will probably never be tracked. I currently drive an e46 325i sedan which I absolutely love, however, is being replaced for something more fun due to the long hours in the car.

I am really concerned about reliability as "my car broke down" is unacceptable. Maintenance doesn't seem to be that much different, with the exception of the zhp car which is dirt cheap from experience.

What would you folks get? i would especially love the opinions of those who have had a 996 in the past or present.

Thanks!!!

[cjwheeling]

Hi All,

Been debating on a new daily driver for a while. I have narrowed my choices to 3:

e46 m3 convertible
e46 330ci convertible w/ ZHP or
2002-2004 carrerra convertible

I will be driving this car about 15 to 20k a year and will probably never be tracked. I currently drive an e46 325i sedan which I absolutely love, however, is being replaced for something more fun due to the long hours in the car.

I am really concerned about reliability as "my car broke down" is unacceptable. Maintenance doesn't seem to be that much different, with the exception of the zhp car which is dirt cheap from experience.

What would you folks get? i would especially love the opinions of those who have had a 996 in the past or present.

Thanks!!!
Having had both of your E46 choices and currently in a Porsche (Boxster, not Carrera) I can try to help out. First of all, I'm assuming that price isn't the determining factor as there is around a $15K spread between these cars. If this is not the case, please let me know how? :)

330 ZHP Vert - great all around vert, more ponies than a 325 for sure, but still seems to be lacking after a couple of months of ownership. Suspension is very good, almost M3 class. Other than lack of HP in a relatively heavy small car, a great car.

M3 Vert - Fixes above issue (HP) but introduces much higher maint costs and less reliable. I loved my M3 Vert, but the fear of something going wrong with it as the miles piled up made me sell it. I normally don't care about miles on a car at all, but after hearing some of the horror stories with SMG and rod bearings, I sold it.

Porsche - Not all that familiar with the Carrera, but I love the Boxster S that I'm currently driving. Unbelievable handling, great looks and good motor. Makes around 10 more HP than the 330 ZHP, but in a much lighter package. Feels about 90% as fast as the M3 with much better sounds! The downside of the Porsches is that they tend to be louder and stiffer than the BMWs. However, at least in San Diego, not everyone is driving one.

[dshin]

Wow, you've had some great cars and being in southern cal i can see that you appreciate a good convertible. fortunately, the spread is not that big of a deal at this point, but i get pretty attached to my cars and want something that i can drive to 100k+ without much problems. I would love to buy the new 997, however, that's way beyond what i want to pay at this point. The zhp vert seems like the safe choice as i have always loved the looks of that car and love the everyday practicality and reliability of the 3 series. But the 911 is def a blast to drive and i'm getting so many conflicting stories about the reliability of the 996 that i'm not sure what to believe...

[cjwheeling]

Wow, you've had some great cars and being in southern cal i can see that you appreciate a good convertible. fortunately, the spread is not that big of a deal at this point, but i get pretty attached to my cars and want something that i can drive to 100k+ without much problems. I would love to buy the new 997, however, that's way beyond what i want to pay at this point. The zhp vert seems like the safe choice as i have always loved the looks of that car and love the everyday practicality and reliability of the 3 series. But the 911 is def a blast to drive and i'm getting so many conflicting stories about the reliability of the 996 that i'm not sure what to believe...
Well, if money wasn't that big of concern, I think you have to go with the Carrera, if for no other reason to be able to say in your best Tom Cruise voice, "Porsche, there is no substitute" :thumbup:

BTW, I will say that the BMWs are MUCH easier to work on than the Porsche, so if you do any of your own maintenance or repairs, the BMW might get the nod. I'm replacing a coolant expansion tank on the Boxster and it took me 3 hours to remove it!!!:mad: I've replaced the same component a couple of times on BMWs and it takes less than an hour for removal and replacement. And no, I'm not incompetent, Porsche charges $700 in labor for this job!!!

[MJS]

I'd probably go for the 330 conv as a daily driver. It'd be the easiest to live with and the cheapest to maintain.

[cgardnerma]

I cross shopped a 996 Turbo with the M3 I bought. I drove a lot of both and ended up with the M3, which was about $20K cheaper with fewer miles. My next car will be a 997S in all likelihood, but I do not regret the initial decision. Why?

- $20K cheaper for a lower miles and a 2 year newer car (2003 TT vs. 2005 M3)
- Better back seat. I daily drive 2 of my kids to school and have occasional adult rear passengers.
- MUCH nicer interior in the M3. Not even close. The 997 is nicer or at least equal to the M3, but the 996 interior is dated and cheap looking.

Reliability should be similar between the two cars (fair) and repairs are equally pricey. Mileage is nearly identical.

In short, I have a master "list" of cars I will own and both are on it. If you can afford the 996 or the M3, I would skip the 330. :-)

[cjwheeling]

in short, i have a master "list" of cars i will own and both are on it. If you can afford the 996 or the m3, i would skip the 330. :-)
+1

[edogg1]

I also went through this same thought process, and it was my wife that figured it out for me with a simple question: "Where are you going to drive it?"

If it was to the country club pool, I'd want to have my kids with me, so the M3 convertible makes that much easier and more comfortable.

If it's to work, then there's no way I can drive a porsche into the office. As a consultant, people will think I'm getting paid too much. An M3, on the other hand, is just a BMW, and while there are no porsches in the parking lot, there are already plenty of Bimmers.

The "drive by myself on a windy road" situations were going to be few and far between, and a car I couldn't take the kids in or take to work wouldn't really be worth having. So we got the M3, and we love it. I'm still envious of the porsches I see out, but I'm also glad that I can at least take mine anywhere without an issue. It's far more practical than a 911.

[bobbigham]

I have had 911's, Boxsters and now drive a 06 M3 vert.

IMHO:
Porsche's are very reliable but more expensive to fix than BMW's.
911's don't have a decent back seat and the trunk is almost worthless.
Boxster has 2 trunks but no back seat, but the top goes down much quicker than the M3.
M3 runs a bit quicker than the Boxster, has a drop top, back seat, a trunk and you can spend less and get a newer model than the 911. The 05 or 06 still has a warranty.

If you like the look of the Boxster and don't need the back seat I would go that route, but if you need the seat, the M3 is a great way to go.

Luckily my wife drives the Boxster (so I still get Porsche time), I drive the M3 and I have the older 01 740 sport when I need real back seat or trunk space.

We all love these cars, just depends on what you really need it or want it for.

[john1in2]

I have had an E36 325 since new in 1995. In 2005 I bought a new 911 cause the BMW dealer would not open the door of the M3 without a big discussion about my salary. I am not talking about failure to let me take a test drive; I was ready to buy and he would not even unlock the car without making a bid deal of it. And I was dressed very nice if I do say so myself. Jerk. Forget BMW, lets get a porsche 911. Well I hated the 911 and sold it 2007 with less than 14K miles on it. In 2008 I got my (used) E46 M3 and love it.

The 911 feels like it is made of balsa wood, the doors and trunk will ding in with just the push of a finger. It is not firm and secure, it vibrates like the engine is coming off. I worry about every potential for a ding or scratch. I feel like a jerk when I drive it cause I'm an a** in a porsche. It is not as fast as you think. Incredible handling though. Amazing cornering.

I love the M3, its extremely fast, handles great and blends in with the other cars here in So. Cal. I don't want to stand out but that's just me. Maybe I'm just a BMW guy having had the E36 for so long and loving every minute; but I am glad to be rid of that awful 911 and into an M3. For me, the BMW is a great fit and the porsche made me feel like a tool whenever I took it out. But I'm 41 not 61 so who knows, maybe its personal image problems?

I think when you drive each you will know what to do.

[BMWofBloomfield]

All three are nice choices, for a long 100K miles ownership experience I'd probably go the route cjwheeling said, 330Cic ZHP. Much lower maintenance cost thru the years than the other two and it is still a fun car. I've owned a 996 C2 Coupe/HIGHLY Modified 986 (Boxster)/E36 M3 Coupe previously and I think I enjoy 330Ci ZHP's more than my old E36 M3. Strictly from a driving experience, I'd go Boxster S but, I don't know how practical that would be for you spacewise. Regarding Porsches, I like Carreras in coupe form otherwise Boxster S' for top down motoring.