i am getting a new car and its going to be my only car so its going to be a my DD, but im stuck between getting a 996 or a e46 m3, what do you think, i am single, no kids, and no need for grocery space, i am still in school, so what do you think i should get, 996 or e46 m3?

 

Honda Accord.

 

yeh thats definitely what i was leaning to but i heard they have muffler bearing problems and they drink blinker fluid....

 

LOL

well.. ur asking on a 996 forum.. so wat do you think the answer will be?

Theres a pretty big price difference imho, but if you have money, go for 996.
realistically though, my buddy has an e46 m3 n i have a 996.

 

Depends on what you like, it's all personal. Just be sure to have some extra $$ on the side to do general maintenance, on both. Also keep in mind, repairing either is not cheap, so maybe the first responce was actually correct since you're still in school.

 

E46 M3 all day.

Sorry to say this, but 996 is the ugliest 911 ever made... whereas the E46 is a classic, beautiful design.

Both are similar in power, both RWD, maintenance costs are about the same... I would take the M3

 

Hmmm... have to disagree with MTV on this one. I love the design of the 996 (and all 911's) although the interior is not the best. However, in my area a BMW 3 series (even an M3) are all over the place and looks common by comparison. A 996 will usually stand out in a good way and is considered by most a true sports car versus the M3 being a tuner sedan. As a daily driver though, I would probably go M3 for comfort. If that is not as big a deal as handling and wow factor then go 996.

 

Around here theres alot of them gays driving M3's....how bout in your neck of the woods?

 

I would say a lot of us are biased but I actually faced the same question that you are contemplating when I purchased my car. I also am still in school but keep a job as well. I went with the 996 because near where I live, M3's are quite common to see and I wanted something that is different. I drive the car as much as possible but with that being said I also have another car to drive if needed. I have driven M3s and was dead set on getting one for several years until I drove a 911. You should test drive both cars and see what you like better. Also, if you play golf, getting clubs into the back seat is a major pain in the ***.

That being said, if I was to trade both of my cars in for just one to DD, I would prob buy a C4, C4s or turbo so there wouldn't be any issues in winter.

 

Isn't this like going south of the Mason Dixon line and asking what's better, fried chicken or tofu? Pretty sure we all know what the answer will be, except for MTV, who is Canadian, so he's not too up on trends. In 10 years, he will think they are fashionable

 

I've had them all and wish I would have gone with the 911 earlier. Neither is for a student on a budget so put some cash aside or go with the accord as brando mentioned.

 

Ive owned both.

M3 looks similar to 3series which are everywhere, where i live anyways.
People mod there 3series to replicate the M.
996 will only look like a 996, nothing less, nothing more unless its a turbo, gt3, gt2, etc.
996 is what a sports car should be compared to the M3, IMHO.

However for me the 996 is here to stay for the long haul.

 

Let's see - a full-time student, daily driver, only car, in New York?..... I would be a little more practical and get a mustang or Jeep or something reliable that's easy on the wallet in case of problem. Otherwise, as has been previously stated, everyone here has chosen Porsche for a reason. Get what you like.

 

M3 IMO looks better, the 996 careers look dated more than the m3. For some reason I could not get myself to buy any Porsche until I can afford a Gt3.

 

Having driven a 330i e46 I couldn't bring myself to stare at the same interior again.

Both are nice but I think the 996 is more fun to drive and has a more timeless design. There are definitely some ugly 996s. Not meant to be a personal attack on anyone but picture a dark green 1999 996 with amber lenses, scrambled egg headlights and inset 17" wheels. Now compare that to balefire's 40th AE with Dectanes LEDs and DRLs which I consider to be a narrow body benchmark.a. A nicely finished 996 is beautiful and I think sexier than an m3. A tastefully put together 996 looks expensive and unique. An m3 is a wider, prettier, pinnacle 3 series. An m3 rolls by in Huntington beach and no one even notices. The 996 done right draws attention and many a "can I go for a ride?" I paid 30k for my 2002 with 16,000 miles on it 2 years ago. It hasn't dropped much in value if at all. I am not sure if the m3s are on a similarly flat resale trajectory? Have you considered a 335i? My wife has a 335i with m sport bumpers and it looks great and can pretty much run with an m3.