E92 M3 or 996 C4S

[dewolf]

Will be in the market for a new performance car in a couple of months. What does the brains trust think. E92 M3 DCT or 996 C4S M. I'm aware of the issues with both cars and would suggest that the M3 will be costlier in the long run.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I would personally be scared of owning any variety of complicated automanual gearbox on an older used car with no warranty. What are the E92 M3s trading for in Oz? The 996 C4S tends to be in the $30k ballpark here in the states, a price range that makes a 997 (non-S) a possibility as well.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I would personally be scared of owning any variety of complicated automanual gearbox on an older used car with no warranty. What are the E92 M3s trading for in Oz? The 996 C4S tends to be in the $30k ballpark here in the states, a price range that makes a 997 (non-S) a possibility as well.

Both cars here are around the $70-80K mark. I've also thought about the M3 in manual but it's only a six speed and marginally slower than the 7spd DCT. Plus that M3 V8 is a beautiful sounding motor.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I cringe every time I see what you guys give for cars. Ouch.

I don't know the E92 M3 very well, but BMW hasn't exactly been cranking out cars with Honda reliability over the last few decades. Except for the insanely over documented IMS issues the 996 is a very solid car, simple and easy to DIY. At the core the M3 is still a derivative of one of BMW's cheapest models, not a sports car designed to a higher price point like the 996.

[Rot 911]

Damn that M3 is a nice looking car!

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I cringe every time I see what you guys give for cars. Ouch.

lol...look at what we pay for a 991 Turbo

2014 Porsche 911 991 Turbo S MY15 Porsche Doppelkupplung All Wheel Drive - carsales.com.au

[livi]

The M3. Its a remarkably competent car and way more practical than the Porsche.

[will944]

I've had two E92s.....both very reliable.

[sand_man]

I had it narrowed down to an E92 M3 or a 993. After I sold the 930, I really missed the "Porsche experience" (particularly air/oil cooled) and that weighed heavily on my decision. I previously owned an E46 M3 (6 speed manual) and really enjoyed that car, but was starting a long daily work commute that forced me into more economical transportation. Given your two choices, I'd have to go with the E92!

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by dewolf

lol...look at what we pay for a 991 Turbo

2014 Porsche 911 991 Turbo S MY15 Porsche Doppelkupplung All Wheel Drive - carsales.com.au

Well that cured me from ever wanting to live in Austrailia.

But my opinion? Get the C4S. I loved mine.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Probably also worth telling us what you are looking at for years/mileage. The experience with a 2012 M3 with 10k and a warranty may be much different than a 2007 with 80k. We can pretty safely assume that the C4s will be 10 years old and have zero warranty.

[kaisen]

Why a C4S? Wouldn't a C2 be a better comparison?

[porsche4life]

But the C4S is a better looking car by several orders of magnitude.

[sketchers356]

C4S is way overpriced.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

But the C4S is a better looking car by several orders of magnitude.

Totally agree. The widebody makes it look like the business.

[speeder]

I'd take the M3 eight ways from Sunday. And I've owned a much sportier 996. I drove a low mileage, cream puff 996 C4S and it was a heavy, slow pig. Sorry.

The only fair comparison to a V8 M3 in desirability/performance would be a 997.2 S.

[Typ616]

Neither? (despite both being nice cars).

IMO the 996 is too dated inside now, and I won't even mention the 3 letter engine issues.
The E92 sounds fantastic, but kinda low on torque, the Nav is required to fin the next gas pump every 15 minutes, and DCT is not a nice gearbox...
In that vein the B8 Audi S4 is also fantastic (and torquey) but the DSG gearbox is also unreliable and $$$...

If it was me, E92 stick if you must (or 335i, torquier and more mod friendly if you can live without that sound), or better yet S4 Stick, or cheapest 997.2 on the market. Depends how much you need backseats.

[Nate2046]

Originally Posted by Typ616

, and DCT is not a nice gearbox....

You're a bit out on a limb there. My 2011 e92 is my first ever automated manual and I think its a pretty brilliant contraption. I really didn't have a strong desire for an M3 when I was looking for a replacement for my Z4M coupe, and I definitely didn't want anything to do with a DCT. I went to CarMax to get a baseline for the trade in value of the e86 and figured what the hell, I'll test drive that e92 you got there. That was that, hooked on the s65 and DCT combo. Found the cleanest one I could within budget and haven't regretted it one bit. In fact, I may have to sell this winter for an overseas move and am strongly considering getting another, which would be a first for me to buy the same car back to back.

[speeder]

So Nate, what is the real world fuel economy/mileage on that car?

[Nate2046]

Originally Posted by speeder

So Nate, what is the real world fuel economy/mileage on that car?

I would say I average around 16mpg. Most of that is around town driving. I think I've gotten in the 19 range on a mostly highway tank. A Prius it is not.