M3 vs SC, buy which?

Kmatts · 12-09-2002, 01:34 PM

Hey all, i know there are a lot of people on the board that own BMW's as well as Porsche's. I've been thinking of buying another car sometime soon because the market is just flooded with cars. I've seen some great prices on nice SC's, but i already have one.
I'm really thinking about buying an older BMW M3, there are tons of them for sale around seattle for very reasonable prices. 95-98 15-22K or so. Does anyone at all have any experience with these cars? Can i rack up a lot of miles on them? I know this should probably be non the BMW board, but no one ever goes there. Any opinions appreciated.
Kyle.

lendaddy · 12-09-2002, 01:36 PM

This outta be good!

911boost · 911boost's Garage

What are you looking for? 2 door? 4 door? Practicality? Fun? Both...

You already have one SC, why buy another?

Bill

Kmatts · 12-09-2002, 01:45 PM

O boy, here we go huh? I'm thinking of a 2 door, mostly for fun and the ocassional drive to work. I'm not looking to compare an SC to an M3 in terms of performance. Seems pretty illogical to comapare 2 cars with 20 years between them. have any experience with an M3? (my dad has an older BMW and has been pushing me for years to buy one). Kyle.

arcsine · 01:57 PM

I considered an M3 before I bought my SC but in the end, the M3 just didn't do it for me. Great driving car, fairly attractive design, could get an automatic so the wife could drive it and ultimately uninteresting. I wanted something I could feel good about working on and making my own. I wanted something different than the masses and around Seattle, 3-series BMW's are as common as Civic's.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I can't believe you even aske...er... ahem...ahem...

I've driven both and while the M3 appears somewhat more civilized, frankly I found the interior someone uninspiring and the (stock) car was a bit more than a 3-series with some umph..

The SC has a better interior layout for driving, and much more character...

Both are good cars so no one is going to be able to offer you a definitive answer on one being soooooo much better than the other for any other reason besides subjective reasoning...

That being said, sounds like you're looking for a toy, in which case, but the one that makes you grin bigger, it's a toy, not a vacuum cleaner...

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

M3 coupe was originally on my list, but dropped not too long after starting to look. Common car out here (then again, so are 911s). Seemed there were lots of wrecked/beat ones, and they didn't feel as solid as a good older 911 (with regard to creaks, etc).

For me, a 911 has style and vibe, so much so that I can look beyond the stigma of the Porsche owner. For me, the feel, look and performance of the M3 wasn't enough to get me past the BMW rep. Nice car, but not a time machine.

yelcab1 · 12-09-2002, 01:59 PM

Don't ask. Buy what you want.

Kmatts · 12-09-2002, 02:14 PM

let me clarify. I own a nice 78SC that i've worked on for the last 5 years. I have no plans to sell it, unless it's to buy another Porsche. The M3 would merely be for giggles and an addition to the auto family. thanks for the honesty.
Kyle.

82SC · 12-09-2002, 02:18 PM

i've driven my SC for a year and my friends E36 and E43

if you want the "perfect" sports car M3 come VERY VERY close

but it lacks character...I mean everything is so erogonomically perfect, the car has no interesting quirks, the pedals are in perfect position, the shifter is smooth as silk, handles like it's on rails...you could close you eyes and wouldn't know what kind of car you are driving...it could be a audi S4 or some 2 door (awesome) sports car

but I get a kick out of driving them...awesome cars

SC on the other had are filled with character...the controls, the styling, thye lay out, everything seems to be a little off...different from every car out there...but that is what makes them 911...they are NOTHING like other cars...you close your eyes and you'll definately know you are driving a 911....I love my SC for all its shortcomings and quirks...if not it wouldn't be a Porsche

performance wise you'll get your pants spanked by an M3

good luck on your endevor

MJ

BTW don't try to close your eyes while driving!!!!

JonT · 12-09-2002, 02:24 PM

I say buy the M3. Live with it for awhile. Then decide. It sounds like the decision is not financial and little damage can be done by doing this with prices the way they are so depressed. Do it! Then you can post on this board your experiences with both.

MrKJBlue · MrKJBlue's Garage

Your obviously not afraid of older cars and you want to keep a bit of character so why not.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by yelcab1
Buy what you want.

And perhaps more importantly, want what you buy.

pete98m3 · 12-09-2002, 03:12 PM

i had an m3 for a long time...

fuggin awesome car... mine was dropped on koni CO's (threadeds not yellows), with an intake, exhaust, and some hartge wheels... once you've done that (the basics) you won't ever be mistaked for a standard 3 series... well, actually i took all the badges off mine and i used to tell ricers it was a 318 just for the precious look on there face when i pulled 2 carlengths through 1st gear :-D... but... i'm evil so what can u do...

chicks DIG them... i mean, its such a joke. roll up to the bar with one and get seen and you'll have no problem filling it with girls. the cars handling is insane, perfectly balanced and easily over 1g of lateral with a decent set of tires (bf goodrich hit 1.02 with springs, shocks, sways, and a set of s-02's)... top end its a 165mph car, and the brakes will throw anybody not belted in right onto the dashboard...

as for the interior being plane, yeah, the dash is a little boring all one color with no trim strips or other crap... but, what can i say i don't like big wood trim anyways. i'd rather have that then some gaudy fake wood lexus crap.

prices... well, first of 15k will NOT get you a good one... either its going to have 150k+ miles on it, or its got a rough history... 22 is enough to get you a high miles but still in decent shape car... if you want a real mint, preparre to spend closer to 30.

mine is for sale for 27.9, its got 19k miles, no dents or scratches inside or out... absolutely perfect, all maintence done by bmw... its alpine white / black leather 5spd 2 dr all options except heated seats and the lamer luxury package.

as for it being too perfect and not having any character... hmmm... sometimes you just have to live with things that are perfect :-D

P.S. for character try listening to one with teh exhaust uncorked up against a highway divider or under an overpass... ahhh, divine.

kristian85 · kristian85's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by pete98m3
i had an m3 for a long time...

as for it being too perfect and not having any character... hmmm... sometimes you just have to live with things that are perfect :-D

Hmm...I disagree with all the above statements to the effect that E36 M3s are sports cars. They're fast, tweaked sedans that perform very well by objective measures, but not so well by subjective measures.

They have comparatively poor road and steering feel, leaving you to guess what's going on. Antiseptic. Good thing you can simply trust it to do the job, which they will do, and quickly.

They never were the excellent pure driver's car that the original M3, as pictured above, are. THAT'S a special car. I'd definitely get one of those for the purest BMW driving experience apart from, maybe, the new Z4 and E46 M3. Plus, they were actually handbuilt by the M-Division from scratch, not modded assembly line E36s.

Boxsters, 911s, 914s, 944/968s, 356s, non-456GT Ferraris, Miatas, MR2 Spyders, Ginettas, (Z-06s), TVRs, NSXs, Lotuses, AC Cobras--those are examples of sports cars.

Gus Berges · 12-09-2002, 04:17 PM

Try looking at the M Z3 Coupes. Definitely have more character than the M3s and a lot more challenging to drive fast. Just an idea.. I have one in case you want more info (NOT for sale!

)

jim72911t · 12-09-2002, 04:53 PM

If you want a car that's completely different from your SC, is comfortable, extremely capable, and perhaps a little boring (take it to the track however, and you won't think that for long), buy an E36 M3.

If you want a car that is quirky, a bit tempermental, and a hoot to drive, buy an E30 M3. Problem is, decent ones are going for about the same price as the '95s.

Why buy another SC if you already have one? If you want to stay in the Porsche family, buy an early 911 or a 914-6.

Jim

rs911t · 12-09-2002, 05:11 PM

I have a '98 M3 (little over a year) and '72 911 (almost three months). I've had a 750il, wife has a 740i. Driven the new M5, E36 M Coupe and Roadster. Wanted the M Coupe for the "daily driver", but need room for the wife and kids - M3 is car #2. So, a M3 sedan.

All BMW's are uniformly awesome cars, each in their own very different ways. The M Coupe has way more character than the others. The M5 has this unworldly Jeckel/Hyde personality - drive one if you haven't ...

The M3 sedan does it all pretty damn well. Quiet, loud, roomy, cold/warm when you it, comfy, fast, agile, scares passengers on demand, seats five when necessary, etc. At my recent HPDC, the car all the instructors talked about from the previous day was an M3. Then again, my instructor recommended I learn to drive the 911 before tracking the M3 because the M3 would be too easy.

But, the M3 will never be the 911, nor the 911 an M3. Didn't buy one to compete with the other. On any given day I'd rather drive the 911. But I never regret driving the M3.

As long as I can drive either, I will. If I had to choose one over the other (based on today's requirements), I'd choose the M3. If you can do both, do.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

You'd fit right in with the other 2 bazillion on the Eastside - which is really the world's biggest BMW only parking lot in disguise. Those and the Audi TT are Bellevue / Kirkland / Redmond version of the Honda Civic! Beware!

rjp

racea911 · 12-09-2002, 09:49 PM

I have a '99 M3 as my daily driver and have had it for about 6 months. Let me tell you, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE CAR! I also have a couple of 911's that few would argue don't have more of the above mentioned "character" than a stock SC.

I have a very clean 70 T with a 2.2 S motor that is totally upgraded in the suspension department. This is a very clean car, and is great handling. It has been featured in a national magazine. And, it will put the spank on a stock SC.

I also have a 73 RS look track car with a 2.9L MFI motor. This car is just rebuilt and restored and is very quick, lightweight, handles awesome and is very fun to drive and look at.

Back to the M3.... "it's too perfect"? Gee, that's a really tough argument AGAINST the M3.

How could you ever settle for something that is perfect?

The M3 interior is uninspiring? Compared to an SC's? The SC is not exactly known for the coolest available interior colors now is it? Sure, black looks great in an SC and so does.... and so does... and so does, well black looks good.

Of my 3 cars, if I could only keep one of them, and practicality played no part in the decision, I'd still have the M3 in my garage. I'd have two very nice 911's for sale and next to no regret. Take that for what it's worth and everyone flame away.

3-series BMW's are very common, but M3's are not VERY COMMON. And since someone else brought up the "common" comment, isn't the SC the most common 911 of all time?

Guys, I am not a Porsche hater. I am a long time Porsche fan and only a very recent BMW fan, but I'll tell you the M3 has won me over in ways I never expected it to be able to.

I wonder how many of the people who have said that an M3 was too common, or not exciting or inspiring enough, feel excited when they hop into their daily driver Camry or Accord or SUV or pick-up truck?