Will I regret selling the M?
Yes but back then I didnt have what I have now. I got out of 2 lotus espirits and one 993tt. I needed a work car so I went for a M3. It had lots of Rpms but just didnt pull. It was too docile.
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2001 996TT 3.6L and stock ECU
9.66 seconds @ 147.76 mph 1/4 mile click to view
160 mph @ 9.77 seconds in 1/4 mile click to view
50% OFF ON PORSCHE ECU TUNING BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL
2001 996TT 3.6L and stock ECU
9.66 seconds @ 147.76 mph 1/4 mile click to view
160 mph @ 9.77 seconds in 1/4 mile click to view
50% OFF ON PORSCHE ECU TUNING BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL
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Originally Posted by MARKSKI
Yes but back then I didnt have what I have now. I got out of 2 lotus espirits and one 993tt. I needed a work car so I went for a M3. It had lots of Rpms but just didnt pull. It was too docile.
That car is unbelievably sexy, but I've always heard to stay far far away!
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I personally made the switch and my personal opinion is that if you don't mind the $2k-3k extra in maintenance / year, another $1k-2k extra in insurance / year, and the lack of a trunk, there is no comparison. The TT is a better car hands down.
I think my only gripe is the interior. Every few days, I seem to notice a new squeek or rattle in the car. Granted that my car is an 01, it only has 28,000 miles. At 50,000 miles in my old M3, the car was rock solid on the inside, not a single noise.
Reliability wise, I think the M3 and the TT is comparible, I haven't had any major problems in either.
I think what it boils down to is what do YOU want. If you're looking at performance, a TT will smash an M3 into little pieces in almost all regards.
Do I miss my M3? I'd say every once in a while I see one and it brings back those life/death experiences all over again. But seeing that everyone, their cousins and parents have an M3 puts everything back into perspective. The M3 is too common, and is simply not in the same playing field as the TT.
an M coupe on the other hand, might do well for me = )
I think my only gripe is the interior. Every few days, I seem to notice a new squeek or rattle in the car. Granted that my car is an 01, it only has 28,000 miles. At 50,000 miles in my old M3, the car was rock solid on the inside, not a single noise.
Reliability wise, I think the M3 and the TT is comparible, I haven't had any major problems in either.
I think what it boils down to is what do YOU want. If you're looking at performance, a TT will smash an M3 into little pieces in almost all regards.
Do I miss my M3? I'd say every once in a while I see one and it brings back those life/death experiences all over again. But seeing that everyone, their cousins and parents have an M3 puts everything back into perspective. The M3 is too common, and is simply not in the same playing field as the TT.
an M coupe on the other hand, might do well for me = )
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 289
From: Dallas
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impo as far as fun cars to drive...
ferrari
Mcars
pcars
until i drove a ferrari, the 01 m3 with dinnan mods was the most FUN i had in a car. it was not the fastest, but with out a dought the most fun. it is hard to beat the balance of an Mcar for a DD, especially one that NEVER rattles and revs to over 8k.
ferrari
Mcars
pcars
until i drove a ferrari, the 01 m3 with dinnan mods was the most FUN i had in a car. it was not the fastest, but with out a dought the most fun. it is hard to beat the balance of an Mcar for a DD, especially one that NEVER rattles and revs to over 8k.
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Originally Posted by notquitefob
I personally made the switch and my personal opinion is that if you don't mind the $2k-3k extra in maintenance / year, another $1k-2k extra in insurance / year, and the lack of a trunk, there is no comparison. The TT is a better car hands down.
I think my only gripe is the interior. Every few days, I seem to notice a new squeek or rattle in the car. Granted that my car is an 01, it only has 28,000 miles. At 50,000 miles in my old M3, the car was rock solid on the inside, not a single noise.
Reliability wise, I think the M3 and the TT is comparible, I haven't had any major problems in either.
I think what it boils down to is what do YOU want. If you're looking at performance, a TT will smash an M3 into little pieces in almost all regards.
Do I miss my M3? I'd say every once in a while I see one and it brings back those life/death experiences all over again. But seeing that everyone, their cousins and parents have an M3 puts everything back into perspective. The M3 is too common, and is simply not in the same playing field as the TT.
an M coupe on the other hand, might do well for me = )
I think my only gripe is the interior. Every few days, I seem to notice a new squeek or rattle in the car. Granted that my car is an 01, it only has 28,000 miles. At 50,000 miles in my old M3, the car was rock solid on the inside, not a single noise.
Reliability wise, I think the M3 and the TT is comparible, I haven't had any major problems in either.
I think what it boils down to is what do YOU want. If you're looking at performance, a TT will smash an M3 into little pieces in almost all regards.
Do I miss my M3? I'd say every once in a while I see one and it brings back those life/death experiences all over again. But seeing that everyone, their cousins and parents have an M3 puts everything back into perspective. The M3 is too common, and is simply not in the same playing field as the TT.
an M coupe on the other hand, might do well for me = )
As far as the M3 being common I would say it is the opposite up here. I see far more carreras, TT's and new 997 tt's than M3's.
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Let me also add that my E46 is 2002 model and now has 81,000 miles. It was bought brandnew back in 01 and drive the car everywhere and it's also ROCK solid. It becomes weekend warrior for two years now. It is semi-stripped (as you can see in the picture) and added more performance. And, still everything is holding strong. The only thing I'm wishing at this moment that my new P car will be just as good if not better because if you guys ever roadcourse racing, you'll know how much stress, wear and tear it put to the car.
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Originally Posted by datax
Let me also add that my E46 is 2002 model and now has 81,000 miles. It was bought brandnew back in 01 and drive the car everywhere and it's also ROCK solid. It becomes weekend warrior for two years now. It is semi-stripped (as you can see in the picture) and added more performance. And, still everything is holding strong. The only thing I'm wishing at this moment that my new P car will be just as good if not better because if you guys ever roadcourse racing, you'll know how much stress, wear and tear it put to the car.
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So here's my situation, I also am having the dilemma of either an e46 M3 or a 996 Turbo:
1. Purchase an '04 M3 ($40k), buy a Turbo Kit which will produce 750hp ($18k), and get a new set of rims, suspension, and exterior appearances ($8k)
2. Purchase a 996 Turbo ($55k-$65k) and drive around stock for the first year and then slowly start modifying (Software, Intake, Exhaust, Rims, and Suspension)
I know some might be saying stuff about me being too young (I am now 23) to own a Porsche Turbo, but you must please understand I love cars, especially the Porsche Turbo's and BMW M's (My Uncle owned a 996 Turbo, until he traded it for his CGT). I have been driving an M3 since I was 19 and Supercharged it at the age of 21 until I sold it; so I do understand the Power the Turbo produces. But could you all please help me with my decision and what to do. Thanks very much.
Also you are saying the reliability of a M and a Turbo is the same? Just have to be on top of maintenance (Oil Changes, etc), right?
1. Purchase an '04 M3 ($40k), buy a Turbo Kit which will produce 750hp ($18k), and get a new set of rims, suspension, and exterior appearances ($8k)
2. Purchase a 996 Turbo ($55k-$65k) and drive around stock for the first year and then slowly start modifying (Software, Intake, Exhaust, Rims, and Suspension)
I know some might be saying stuff about me being too young (I am now 23) to own a Porsche Turbo, but you must please understand I love cars, especially the Porsche Turbo's and BMW M's (My Uncle owned a 996 Turbo, until he traded it for his CGT). I have been driving an M3 since I was 19 and Supercharged it at the age of 21 until I sold it; so I do understand the Power the Turbo produces. But could you all please help me with my decision and what to do. Thanks very much.
Also you are saying the reliability of a M and a Turbo is the same? Just have to be on top of maintenance (Oil Changes, etc), right?
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I'm a huge fan of BMW M's and a not so big fan of 996 Turbo's, however,
I really don't think I would go the M3 route as opposed to the 996. Especially, when it comes to reliability, the Porsche was built turbo'd and the E46 would be tuned within a couple inches of its life.
If your looking for big horsepower then you should really look no further than the 996 turbo-
I really don't think I would go the M3 route as opposed to the 996. Especially, when it comes to reliability, the Porsche was built turbo'd and the E46 would be tuned within a couple inches of its life.
If your looking for big horsepower then you should really look no further than the 996 turbo-
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Originally Posted by Pourky
I know some might be saying stuff about me being too young (I am now 23) to own a Porsche Turbo, but you must please understand I love cars, especially the Porsche Turbo's and BMW M's (My Uncle owned a 996 Turbo, until he traded it for his CGT). I have been driving an M3 since I was 19 and Supercharged it at the age of 21 until I sold it; so I do understand the Power the Turbo produces. But could you all please help me with my decision and what to do. Thanks very much.
Also you are saying the reliability of a M and a Turbo is the same? Just have to be on top of maintenance (Oil Changes, etc), right?
The Turbo is expensive, however. Reliable, but expensive. Two days into ownership, I had to replace the clutch, flywheel, slave cylinder, and do the 30k service. $6k. You have to be ready for that sort of thing. Any time you drop the engine, that's 18 hours by the book. A set of rears can be $850 if you get PS2s.
But it's a much better car than the M3
And I don't know much about M3 turbo kits, but the Turbo engine is amazing. I imagine you'd have to significantly lower the compression ratio of the M3 to turbo it, and even then I can't see it being as reliable as a carefully tuned Turbo.
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I went from the e46 m3 to a Turbo.... Huge difference.. Turbo all the way... Wished I bought the turbo back in 2001 over the M3... But.. I couldve bought 3 m3's for the price of the turbo...
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From: Stevenson Ranch, Ca
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Originally Posted by justinmm2
Don't worry about age. I'm 24, and I somehow manage it.
The Turbo is expensive, however. Reliable, but expensive. Two days into ownership, I had to replace the clutch, flywheel, slave cylinder, and do the 30k service. $6k. You have to be ready for that sort of thing. Any time you drop the engine, that's 18 hours by the book. A set of rears can be $850 if you get PS2s.
But it's a much better car than the M3 And I don't know much about M3 turbo kits, but the Turbo engine is amazing. I imagine you'd have to significantly lower the compression ratio of the M3 to turbo it, and even then I can't see it being as reliable as a carefully tuned Turbo.
The Turbo is expensive, however. Reliable, but expensive. Two days into ownership, I had to replace the clutch, flywheel, slave cylinder, and do the 30k service. $6k. You have to be ready for that sort of thing. Any time you drop the engine, that's 18 hours by the book. A set of rears can be $850 if you get PS2s.
But it's a much better car than the M3
And I don't know much about M3 turbo kits, but the Turbo engine is amazing. I imagine you'd have to significantly lower the compression ratio of the M3 to turbo it, and even then I can't see it being as reliable as a carefully tuned Turbo.Surprisingly, compression ratio is stock and no internals need to be touched. It's a bolt on Turbo Kit. And the company is backing their product up real good with reliability...they said they did over 120 hard pulls on the car at 800hp and no sign of any damage. I'm not trying to sell anything here, but check it out give me your thoughts and opinions.
Here are a few videos of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yRwAR0ZMhA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTQTNdh9w28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo3XVTQWUyA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8are4OVjE1A
Here is the Company's Website:
http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/pric...s/part/HPF_750
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From: Stevenson Ranch, Ca
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Originally Posted by 05997S
The number of us who are previous M3 owners who now have Porsches speaks for itself.
Last edited by Pourky; Jun 6, 2007 at 05:54 PM.