Thoughts in getting a M6 instead of a 996TT?
What other cars do you also have? Or is the M6/996TT your only car?
I just got rid of my '08 M6 SMG Coupe 6 months ago and picked up '03 996TT a few months ago.
I will say the M6 is a more "practical" car (trunk space, 300+ mile trips, bluetooth, heated seats and steering wheel, heads up display, adjustable shocks, iPod integration, etc...) Stay away from the 6speed manual, as many have mentioned the car/engine wasn't really designed for it.
However, we have other more practical cars and I wanted something even "sportier" than the M6 so its gone. 996TT is 400-500 pounds lighter in a smaller package with around the same horsepower and lots more torque (I have intake/exhaust/ecu on mine) so you can imagine the difference in driving dynamics. Also, 6speed manual on this car with a short shift kit just feels right!
But I can tell you the 996 really doesn't have a lot of storage space, even driving to work, I end up throwing my laptop bag in the passenger seat... But the commute is definitely more fun.
Side Note: the gas tank is too small in both cars - with both I always have/had to get gas every week (~200 miles)
I just got rid of my '08 M6 SMG Coupe 6 months ago and picked up '03 996TT a few months ago.
I will say the M6 is a more "practical" car (trunk space, 300+ mile trips, bluetooth, heated seats and steering wheel, heads up display, adjustable shocks, iPod integration, etc...) Stay away from the 6speed manual, as many have mentioned the car/engine wasn't really designed for it.
However, we have other more practical cars and I wanted something even "sportier" than the M6 so its gone. 996TT is 400-500 pounds lighter in a smaller package with around the same horsepower and lots more torque (I have intake/exhaust/ecu on mine) so you can imagine the difference in driving dynamics. Also, 6speed manual on this car with a short shift kit just feels right!
But I can tell you the 996 really doesn't have a lot of storage space, even driving to work, I end up throwing my laptop bag in the passenger seat... But the commute is definitely more fun.
Side Note: the gas tank is too small in both cars - with both I always have/had to get gas every week (~200 miles)
Last edited by sammyf; Feb 10, 2010 at 10:05 PM.
The 6 seriers is a GT cruiser designed to be a very fast GT cruiser in the form of a M-6. The 996TT is sports/track car detuned and softened up into a GT cruiser. You can always turn the 996TT back into a sports/track car but you can't turn the M-6 into anything other than what it started life as, a very fast GT car.
My wife has an X5 which is the family car. I have a RX300 as my daily beater and also an office mini-van for my second daily beater. My daily commute is only 2 miles but I drive around town during the day. I don't really care what I drive during the day as long as I have something fun at home. The M5 will be sold for the fun car so practicality is not important for me.
I didn't see the last vid (3 of 3) posted previously.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsJhu...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsJhu...eature=related
If you want a "fun" driving car, get the 911...
From my personal BMW experience, I would say my e36 M3 > e39 M5 > e62 M6 in terms of driving fun (in terms of sheer speed it was definitely the other way around)
Course you may need to convince the wife, mine liked the M's more than the 911 but its growing on her (she doesn't appreciate the "rawness")
But yeah, having a good place for service is critical - have you checked with the PCA?
From my personal BMW experience, I would say my e36 M3 > e39 M5 > e62 M6 in terms of driving fun (in terms of sheer speed it was definitely the other way around)
Course you may need to convince the wife, mine liked the M's more than the 911 but its growing on her (she doesn't appreciate the "rawness")

But yeah, having a good place for service is critical - have you checked with the PCA?
If you want a "fun" driving car, get the 911...
From my personal BMW experience, I would say my e36 M3 > e39 M5 > e62 M6 in terms of driving fun (in terms of sheer speed it was definitely the other way around)
Course you may need to convince the wife, mine liked the M's more than the 911 but its growing on her (she doesn't appreciate the "rawness")
But yeah, having a good place for service is critical - have you checked with the PCA?
From my personal BMW experience, I would say my e36 M3 > e39 M5 > e62 M6 in terms of driving fun (in terms of sheer speed it was definitely the other way around)
Course you may need to convince the wife, mine liked the M's more than the 911 but its growing on her (she doesn't appreciate the "rawness")

But yeah, having a good place for service is critical - have you checked with the PCA?
yup. if you want a fun BMW get the late 90's M3. light, great little engine, lots of fun.
Got it. I knew that both would seat 4, but I figured that you were just saying that you needed the extra room in the M5. Didn't really think you would need the center rear.
So yes, of course thats Ok

I'd take an M5 over an M6 every time if I had to make a decision. Extra room, same performance, lower price tag.
Another vote for the 996TT.
Coming from a BMW family and having owned 2 generation of M3s myself, I just don't think the M6 is a better buy than the 996TT.
Depreciation: As others have noted, don't be so sure that the M6 will not drop below $35k. Plenty of recent M cars have taken major hits in resale. E36 M3s in the low teens, E46 M3s in the low to mid $20ks. You can also find clean examples of E60 M5s being priced in the high 30s - low 40s with seemingly no takers.
Once the '07 M6s come out of warranty and/or free maintenance, it will most likely take another hit.
Another thing against the car is the transmission. The 6 speed simpy doesn't work well with the V10 (Car and Driver had a review of the 6sp M5 and they were disappointed by the car). The SMG III still isn't as smooth as the more modern PDK/DCT transmissions.
Servicing: Dealer charges an arm and a leg and many independents don't have the knowledge/experience/necessary tools to work on these newer M cars that are needlessly complicated.
Online community: There does not seem to be as many active M6 specific forums as there are for the 996TT. After having owned so many "enthusiast cars," I find this area to be very important to my ownership experience. Enthusiast forums can be a rich source for spare parts, aftermarket parts, technical information, support, etc.
Coming from a BMW family and having owned 2 generation of M3s myself, I just don't think the M6 is a better buy than the 996TT.
Depreciation: As others have noted, don't be so sure that the M6 will not drop below $35k. Plenty of recent M cars have taken major hits in resale. E36 M3s in the low teens, E46 M3s in the low to mid $20ks. You can also find clean examples of E60 M5s being priced in the high 30s - low 40s with seemingly no takers.
Once the '07 M6s come out of warranty and/or free maintenance, it will most likely take another hit.
Another thing against the car is the transmission. The 6 speed simpy doesn't work well with the V10 (Car and Driver had a review of the 6sp M5 and they were disappointed by the car). The SMG III still isn't as smooth as the more modern PDK/DCT transmissions.
Servicing: Dealer charges an arm and a leg and many independents don't have the knowledge/experience/necessary tools to work on these newer M cars that are needlessly complicated.
Online community: There does not seem to be as many active M6 specific forums as there are for the 996TT. After having owned so many "enthusiast cars," I find this area to be very important to my ownership experience. Enthusiast forums can be a rich source for spare parts, aftermarket parts, technical information, support, etc.
i had to read that twice. You think the M6 is a woman's car, and you daily a 3 series convertible?
As I said before, the SMG is garbage and others will agree. However, I do disagree about the forums. There are VERY active forums at the M5board, bimmerfest and bimmerdrivers that all cater to M drivers. I lived over there while I owned my M6 and they were very supportive when I went over to the 996tt. Heck, they still want me over there some to talk about the 996 some!
John
John
another vote for the p car. i'm coming from a household of bmw's-we've had a 3series, x5, and a m3. 996 tt is more fun to drive, is better looking (in my opinion), and is a good bit faster in a straight line with just a chip and an exhaust. if your going to track the car, then i think that makes your decision even easier.
while I would pick the 996tt, there is no doubt that an M6 can be made fast. check this vid of one absolutely crushing a GTR that got the jump on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XemaJ...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XemaJ...eature=related
Is it mod M6 or problem GTR? Stock to stock should be close and winner flag go to GTR.
while I would pick the 996tt, there is no doubt that an M6 can be made fast. check this vid of one absolutely crushing a GTR that got the jump on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XemaJ...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XemaJ...eature=related




