All this Porsche talks got me thinking...a few years down the road if I have the garage space and some idle money, which one would you buy? Budget wise using today's dollar I believe a good example of either one will cost anywhere from $15 - 20 K and either one will only appreciate in value. I am leaning toward the Porsche, not by much, just from the looks, racing pedigree and uniqueness (rear-boxer-engine vs. front-4cyl-engine). What do you guys think? Let the bench racing begin....
Well in my opinion the car with the best looks is the E30 by far, and call me crazy but the 911 really is not that unique, i mean there are billions of them and they all look the same. But thats just my opinion and i have been wrong before. Once.
I would take the 911 in a heartbeat. I have never driven a E30 M3, but I can not imagine that it can be more fun or more rewarding to drive then the Porsche.
The fact that there are billions of them is a plus when it comes to parts.
There was an immaculate E30 M3 parked outside at work today. It was actually the first time I've seen one up close. Awesome looking machine, much more impressive in the metal than in photos. The punched-out guards really help distinguish it from a regular E30. Looked superb in white, too.
Having said all that, I think the allure of the 911 would be too much to resist.
I'm more of a BMW guy than a Porsche guy. That said... I'd take the Porsche. 
I like the E30 M3. Both cars have a lot going for them. But to be honest, my childhood dream car was not the stereotypical Ferrari or Lamborghini, but a Porsche 911.
Completely biased opinion here.
I am the other way... I prefer the porsches. but unless you were talking about a short nose 911 or a Turbo.. I would jump on the M3 in a heartbeat. Unlike the Porsche, the original M3 was build and designed to take BMW racing. It is a homogulation special that was only build in small numbers.
It is rare, exclusive, beautiful, and has an exquisite racing pedigree behind it.
I imagine the M3 might be a BIT easier to drive, but is probably just as fun
The 911 will be a better, easier street car. When I got my E30 M3, I was sort of meh-apathetic about it. I bought it early one spring before track season started, so the first couple months of street driving was unimpressive. Then came my first track day. All of a sudden, I "got it." The car doesn't come together until the suspension is loaded up leaning into a corner and you're a hair off redline.
My 911s, on the other hand, both air- and water-cooled, were great street cars and great track cars. When I needed to run to the grocery store for milk and beer, I'd pass the E30 and grab the keys to the Miata. When I needed to run to the grocery store while I had a 911, I realized I never grabbed the keys to the Miata anymore.
+911
A standard 911 is going to be a better all-rounder, the E30 M3 was built to do one thing properly and that's put in some decent lap times.
I'd probably go with the e30 M3. The ownership experience of a 911 just scares me for some reason. But this is coming from someone who has had one old BMW or another consistently for the past 10 years.
The M3 has the better HVAC so it would have to be the BMW for me.
In reply to JohnW:
The ownership of either is pricey if something big goes wrong. It costs 6-10k for a pro to build the S14 in the E30 M3 and they do seem to go pop every 60k racetrack miles. Those trick suspension parts... $280 each for a control arm.
Take your pick - both are superb track cars and can handle much abuse, cost about the same to replace the inards and hold their value.
I've had one of each and driven lots of both... and I can't say which I like better. Both are awesome for different reasons... the 911 is a better street car.
With the M3, you know that you are getting one of the best BMW's available, but the 911 seems like just another Porsche to me.
This is coming from someone who has never been in either, though.
You know we have both in the fleet, right?
Yes, but "both" wasn't an option for the original poster.
walterj wrote: In reply to JohnW: The ownership of either is pricey if something big goes wrong. It costs 6-10k for a pro to build the S14 in the E30 M3 and they do seem to go pop every 60k racetrack miles. Those trick suspension parts... $280 each for a control arm. Take your pick - both are superb track cars and can handle much abuse, cost about the same to replace the inards and hold their value. I've had one of each and driven lots of both... and I can't say which I like better. Both are awesome for different reasons... the 911 is a better street car.
Yeah, I basically agree with you. I'm just used to working on BMWs and it seems that everyone I've known with a 911 that has more than 50k miles just ends up getting frustrated with it.
Honestly, I'd buy neither if it was my own money. That's why I have an $1100 91 318is as my daily driver. It's 90 percent of what an M3 is as a street car. (Of course, on track, there's a much more significant difference.)
White_and_Nerdy wrote: Yes, but "both" wasn't an option for the original poster.
I know, but I meant that we could always do a little head-to-head comparo.
I know, but I meant that we could always do a little head-to-head comparo.
That would solve the conundrum...
..if you think about it, both are of the same vintage, in approximately the same price bracket and each has a cult status/followers...Tell me any other magazine where a question on the magazine's forum is considered for its article??? Cool...
What a dilemma to be in. Both are just pure gold and you couldn't go wrong with either. If I had to choose...........it would be the 911 by a hair.
I think the M3 would be a better investment in the long term due to its rarity. Something to drive often, I'd go with a porsche.
wannabewrench wrote: The M3 has the better HVAC so it would have to be the BMW for me.
HVAC efficiency is not a criteria that I ever used to judge a sports car.
David S. Wallens wrote:White_and_Nerdy wrote: Yes, but "both" wasn't an option for the original poster.I know, but I meant that we could always do a little head-to-head comparo.
Now.
The M3 is already appreciating, while the 911 is still on a downward (though slight) trajectory. If you're already a BMW guy, the M3 will make you more friends, but if you're not already a Porsche guy, the 911 will make you new friends... but they'll be Porsche owners.
My vote would be to take half your budget and get a turbo Miata, which would smoke both of them by any performance measure... remember, you're posting to this board instead of Classic Motorsports, so the answer is always Miata.
A good E30 M3 already costs somewhere around $16k and that's not a cherry car, that's just one that doesn't need thousands of dollars.
If it were me, I'd get the 911...
If you are considering an M3, at least drive an Alfa Milano Verde first. IMO they are comparable to the other 2 cars (although maybe not as fast as the porsche) and far cheaper.
David S. Wallens wrote:White_and_Nerdy wrote: Yes, but "both" wasn't an option for the original poster.I know, but I meant that we could always do a little head-to-head comparo.
Do it. Please!
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