When I was about 11 I went for a ride in a porsche turbo convertible and I remember the noise, feeling of getting sucked into my seat and looking at the world going by from the back seat.

When I was about 15 I saw this other piece of beautiful german engineering in a Motor Trend article. It was the e46 BMW m3 being tested against a Corvette, Porsche, and SLK AMG, and the M3 was voted, the best because it finished right behind the corvette in ever preformance test, but had a back seat to bring your friends along for the ride.

Every time I see or hear the e46 I still think its gorgous powerful and usuable as an everyday driver. But I look at the Porsche and think 4wd and "Porsche" I think risky business "except no substitutes" and how its just sooo good.

So my question is, I'm almost 25 now, Ive been working since college and I want to get one of these cars. They are both in the price of what I am looking to spend and I think are still so great looking cars so as a daily driver which one wont let me down?

I have never driven either of them...so I'd really like your insight into problems or issues and reasons why you prefer one over the other.

 

This might help, In 2004 I had just sold my summer house in Andover NH, I was 55 and wanted to treat my self. I had two desires, the MB roadster that looks killer and a C4S Cab. Test drove the MB and was first disappointed that it only came in auto. It was so quite that I turned the ignition twice making that griding noise. When I told the salesman that I wanted to check out the new C4S Cab down the street before we would close, the look on his face spoke volumes. Pulled up to the Porshe dealership the salesmen just tossed me the keys ...and within 5 minutes I was your age.

 

I had an E46 M3 and hands down i love my C4S much more...b/c of these 3 simple factors...

1.) Handling and Drivability of the C4S. I live in Chicago and with the winters the RWD M3 did not handle as well as the C4S AWD (with winter tires ofcourse) It really does make a difference.

2.) Even though on paper the M may have comparable numbers, it just didn't quite pull through the gears and have that "go faster" fealing that my C4S gives me everytime i press the gas.

3.) It's a Porsche!...If i had an option and i picked the C4S i wouldn't have any regrets about not getting the Beemer. I'm not sure if i could say that i would have no regrets choosing the M. I'm sure the percentage of drivers that "upgrade" from a M3 to a P-car is much higher than the otherway around.

IMO..never-the-less they are both still very solid cars! GL

Alec

 

There you go...Porches make you 30 years younger.

I used to drive an E46 M3 and the C4S is much more entertaining. The Porsche is lighter and you feel more connected to the road. But the M3 is unbeatable for it's versatility--the back seat and trunk are actually usable. For a daily driver the M3 might be easier to live with. Going from bimmer to p-car is a natural progression--but skipping the bimmer step is perfectly acceptable!

Best advice: drive both, it's a buyer's market and there are amazing deals to be had!

 

I have no experience with cabs and verts but comparing 996 C2 vs. E46 M3 the biggest difference is the weight difference. The Porsche is much more fun to drive and it feels much lighter while the E46 M3 feels more like a lux car. I do think the M3 have more low end torque than my 3.4 liter 996 but that may not be the case for 3.6 liter 996.

 

I get the sense that C4/C4s are a step up from the M3 based on your guys experiences. I mean I understand Porsche is a "Porsche". But do you get the viseral experience from the Porsche like the "wild child" M3?

Clarkson on top gear always refers to Porsches as "passionless". But I just took it as him being a RARI lover...thoughts?

Also from a maintence/usuability standpoint...the M3 seems to be a tank with no service issues. What about the Porsche?

I do live in NY and the 4wd is a BIG plus but if the maintance issues are a problem I could live with beemer, I plan on moving to the city soon anyway.

let me know what you guys think...

 

Based on what you've wrote and where you are in life the E46 is speaking more to you after all it's got that back seat for your buddies, the "wild child' factor for the mid 20's set, and if you get one still under BMW's free maintenance plan your set. You can always upgrade to a Porsche when you're in your 30's!

Do yourself a favor and get behind the wheel of both of them but then again it may make it more difficult to choose.......nevermind.


FYI:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....5&print_page=y

 

I did the E46 M3 --> 996 C4S switcheroo back in October. The only things I miss are the tech gizmos (Homelink, compass, auto-dimming mirror). The steering is tight and the seats are more comfy than the M3. Even my fiancee says she could fall asleep in my 996 -- she never said that about the M3.

Having said all that, if I had only one car, then it would be an M3. The 996 is not very practical.

///Michael

 

Funny experience at the BMW dealer. . . I went in just a couple weeks ago to look at the M3 (and, even more interesting, the new Z4). I had a nice dealer show me various options, but at the end he actually asked me "why would you want to trade your 911?"

Actually, kind of a good question. . .

By the way, no question that the M3 is a great car!

 

I have a 996 c4 cab as a daily driver and absolutely love it! Same climate as you, btw.

 

My buddy drives an M3 and he is looking to trade up to a Porsche ... enuf said

 

It's not a great comparison, but I went from a 2006 Caddy STS V to a 2003 996 C 2 cab (CPO car - bone stock 6 speed). The caddy is on the bitter end of a lease (where I'm paying for each mile), so I've driven both over a period of time.

It's wonderful having 450 hp on tap - and sometimes I appreciate the quiet cabin, but driving the Porsche is the closest thing to the fun level I had flying helicopters for the Navy.

 

Back in 1996 my senior year in collage i did a term in Europe. On this tri[ we as a group visited the Porsche and BMW in Stuttgart. Porsche was so clean it looked like the workers eat off the floor at lunch. BMW was dirty with little lighting. Also at BMW workers stations there were coke can holders and what looked like a 40 oz holder. So we as a young collage group were interested in the 40oz holders at the worker stations and the guide said this is Germany and beer is drunken often, I guess at work too. I never did see any beer holders at Porsche.


So my choice is Porsche

 

I had a M3 before I bought My 996 cab. The M3 is a great car but a very different driving experience. I enjoy driving the Porsche far more. To me It's the difference between driving a sports car and a great sports sedan.

 

What is the purpose for the car? Daily Driver, Track Toy? Autocross? All of the above? Planning on modding?

This info helps,