993 VS. M3

[blinkmeat]

What would you buy and why?

[sameerrao]

993 - a real drivers car.

The M3 must be certainly be fun car but for the most part - city driving, driving at 7/10ths, etc - it is not that much more different than a 330ci.

The 993 at any speeds must be a treat under any circumstances (except perhaps in a 5 mile traffic jam).

[fabro_s]

A porsche, definitely, cant compare a BMW with a Porshce, I know that the M3 is a great car, but common, a 993 is very sexy!!

[N.J.]

I wouldn't knock either of them back, that's for sure :wink:

I love the -current- BMW M3 (great value! - In Australia M3=140K -vs- 911=180k) - but very simply, I'm a 911 man...993 thanks :D






p.s

I've got an article somewhere on the previous M3 -vs- the (993) 911.

Just for the record, the journo chose the M3 as he liked the fact is was a 'street-sleeper' or in other words - a 'wolf in sheeps clothing'.

[lakatu]

I could be wrong but I think this post may belong under the relatively newly created Q&A Porsche Discussion section. As a result, I am afraid all of the responding posts will soon be eliminated but I think from at least a performance comparison it depends on which M3 you are referring to.

If you are referring to the E36 that was produced at the same time as the 993, then the 993 has better performance. For anyone interested there is a magazine scan that tests these two cars along with others by Car & Driver at http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12004

If you are referring to the current E46 then the I believe that the performance is basically the same.

The thing I like I like about the M3 is the practicality of a sedan combined with the performance of a sports car. It is like two cars in one.

[cooperluke]

WELL... I like the M3 very much... but I am a Porsche fan, and a nine eleven is always a nine eleven!!! Specialy the turbo!

[Tomerville]

in driving, there is little difference between a 993 and 996...and who would take an M3 a 996? My point, get a 993...plus, it will be worth a great deal since it wa the last of the air cooled models. Just watch out on hot days...the engine temp. gauge WILL rise!

[mindgam3]

993 - a real drivers car.

The M3 must be certainly be fun car but for the most part - city driving, driving at 7/10ths, etc - it is not that much more different than a 330ci.

The 993 at any speeds must be a treat under any circumstances (except perhaps in a 5 mile traffic jam).

I dont understand how you think the M3 is for city dricing etc. The M3 is one of the most commonest track day cars you see... why? Because its a fantastic car, has a real screamer of a straight six and its handling is awesome.

As to the original post if your're comparing the E36 with the 993 id have to say 993, but if your thinking of the E46 over the 993 id go with that. You get just as much fun and performance, but with the practicality of a saloon. Tough decision though

Maybe you should've posted this in the car chat forum as some views may be slightly biased ;)

[sameerrao]

I dont understand how you think the M3 is for city dricing etc. The M3 is one of the most commonest track day cars you see... why? Because its a fantastic car, has a real screamer of a straight six and its handling is awesome.


I am refering to the sense of occasion here. I also the M3 is a great car but from inside it looks a normal saloon. Its only when you pushing that you realize that Wow this is nice.

[5vz-fe]

993 for sure......it's my favourite 911 body after all. Adding to the scale of course is the fabulous air-cooled Horizontal 6.......

[blinkmeat]

I am referrin to the E46 and I wanted to hear a little bit more of a biased approach to the 993 Carrera because I like it so much which is why I didn't post in the Car Chat Forum... what a difficult choice though, I hate that. If I had to decide today I'd go with the 911 myself but the M3 is oh so tempting. In the end It'd be so hard to choose.

[Vansquish]

in driving, there is little difference between a 993 and 996...and who would take an M3 a 996? My point, get a 993...plus, it will be worth a great deal since it wa the last of the air cooled models. Just watch out on hot days...the engine temp. gauge WILL rise!

What makes you say that, I've driven and been driven in both at one point or another and found them to be pretty different experiences. The 993 was by far a more "special" feeling vehicle and felt the nimbler of the two as well. Looks far better too hehe.

[bmagni]

id go with the M3 i think its a great car, if it was 1 996 id keep the porsche...




The M3 must be certainly be fun car but for the most part - city driving, driving at 7/10ths, etc - it is not that much more different than a 330ci.



WTF ?? bet the 330ci and the M3 theres a lot of difference !!! and the m3 doesnt look like a saloon in the inside !! man ur totally wrong...

[Chingachgook]

I like both. The 993 is a great driver's car, more than the M3.
But I think it's more difficoult to drive if you are not used to the rear mounted engine.
The M3 is more all around car, with a great engine(but be careful, it has problems that can be DANGEROUS, look here http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/d/63711 and here http://members.roadfly.com/jason/m3engines.htm

BTW, if the problem is fixed by the dealer, it's a great car, only the brakes are not so strong after hard use.
But remember, you can become a drift expert :wink:

PS: If you have the SMGII gearbox, and use it a lot in the fastest setting, you gearbo and differential will break very very soon :cry:

[st-anger]

I could be wrong but I think this post may belong under the relatively newly created Q&A Porsche Discussion section. As a result, I am afraid all of the responding posts will soon be eliminated but I think from at least a performance comparison it depends on which M3 you are referring to.

so true... :!:

plz guys read the rules, you know, i won´t delete this topic now, because there are so many replies now, maybe some time later it´ll be moved into Q&A after i´ve asked the posted...
i´d have moved it earlier, but my JW time these days is about zero because of my work, so plz guys help me out a bit and post in the right section....thanks :wink:

[IgotWRXed]

ive rode in/drove an m3 and that car is amazing!

but the porsche.........welllll..........hahah its buttah!

[ae86_16v]

But the M3 (both E36 and E46) have nicer interiors ;).

[ARMAN]

993 turbo! Its hard to compare Porsche and Bmw. Porsche - theres no substitute :mrgreen:

[zmydust823]

i have a 1996 993 carrera, and my friend has picked up a new 2002 bmw m3, with the ac schnitzer package,. smg tranny, all loaded...its a sweet car dont get me wrong, but the carrera is somethign else, it drives incredibly different and the engine makes such a cool noise, the M3 is more of a luxury car, compared to porsche...racing wise, i would think the M3 would win considering it has 333 Hp, vs. the 993's 280...although, we raced and it was dead even...both are wonderful cars...German engineering is the best no doubt...

[Dthree]

I also have to say the 993.

There are practical drivers reasons, but its also got quite a retro 911 charm :]

[X-ale]

As far as porsche win factor is almost total, 1 little thing will always remain. Survival in the wet. Since i'm not a pro driver... yet :mrgreen: ... i'll go M3 for this one. If it was a 997... i'd die but hey, at least it'll be a great 6 seconds.

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

Id get the porsche straight, once the 911 with the engine in the back is much more complicated to get used than the BMW M3, on the other side, i love the good traction that the 911 has(due to the rear engine setting), the hard pedals to push, the reliability of a 911, the built quality of it....

[pilone]

BMW M3 is a very great car but Porsche is the winner for me.
Not just for the speed but for the style!!!!
993 is an old car but 10 years ago was one of the best car on Earth!!

[caugb]

993. Born sport, not converted.

[crayzayjay]

993 is the best looking 911 ever and is that much more special than the M3. Both fantastic drivers' cars though :)

[mclaren_Gt]

Definitely a Mclaren
becoss is the best car of the world
:D
2 cars are so good
i thin m3 i better

[zmydust823]

yea haha bring the Mclaren in this ..thats realy fair haha :wink:

[nurbrun]

my dad used to have a 993 4s till he got his 996 carrera 4. ive ridin in a M3 and it dosnt compare to the 993's sound! i go with the 993 :D

[Anonymous]

Two totally different cars. Can't really compare them.

[tekwar]

m3 please! luxury sport anyday! when you dont want to drive like your pants is on fire, you still have a very pratical car to use....

but on the track my money on the 993

[dingo]

Two totally different cars. Can't really compare them.

was it worth dragging up a 3 month old topic to say that?

[bmwmpower]

M3 ,but im not 100 % sure

[redrider1100]

I used to own a Porsche 944 turbo and it was a fantastic driving car as I'm sure you all know. The feel and the quality of the Porsche was most excellent.

A co-worker of mine let me drive his 2003 M3, and the power and handling were fantastic! That being said, the next sportscar I plan on getting will be a 993. My intent is to have my daily driver and a toy. The BMW is more of the daily driver type of vehicle, while I think the Porsche 993 cannot be mistaken for anything but a toy and a fun sportscar.

I'll take mine as a C4S in blue!

[Anonymous]

Two totally different cars. Can't really compare them.

was it worth dragging up a 3 month old topic to say that?

Didn't notice the date. It was still on the first page.

[T5]

It´s a difficult choice....
But I will prefer the 993,my favourite porsche series of 911. 8)

[inso]

993 is my the least favourite 911. 964, 996, yes very nice and also 997, but the 993 looks like a toy. People tend to think that M3 is just one too expensive 330ci, i know 3 330CI owners, and all of em wish their cars were M3s(all have driven them). E46 M3 vs E90 335 will be different story, as 335 might have turboed 3liter engine and also 4x4, direct competition for RS4 until new M3 comes along. E36 was not slow neither, only in america, remember Europe got 286hp and it was upped to 321hp. That makes a lot better power to weight ratio, than with 240hp(i think later bmw shipped overseas also the faster cars). Mk1 M3s are also more than their speed, it is my favourite of M3s, not as much speed, but there is more soul.

I have driven M3 SMG2 Kelleners quite long distances, transmission doubles as an auto, as you might have noticed when Tiff was testing the new M5 in Fifth Gear tv program. And no problems with transmission or diff. 330ci owners and 330d owners have plenty of problems with diffs, because tcs does some braking to get traction while accelerating. And engine is not bad, it is more like dealer issue, if they dont do the recall that is ordered from the factory, they suck, not the car.

Don´t get me wrong, I have always loved 911s, and probably will be buying one some day. But it is not because it is a better car than M3, but because it is after all one of the biggest and oldest legends there is in the automotive industry. If you in the market for M3 or 911, you know which ever you choose, you can´t go wrong :wink:

[Cigarette1]

We used to have a polarsilver 993 4S, sold it to get the GT3, but since we can't drive the GT3 in winter also bought a E46 M3.

If I had to chose between the 993 4S and M3, I'd definetly take the M3, because of the looks (exterior & interior= a 993 is sooo old inside)

But I never drove the 993, we had it untill 2000, just 14 back then.

My dad regrets it he sold the 4S, he says the brakes aren't good enough, suspension ain't stiff enough...

[dingo]

993 is my the least favourite 911. 964, 996, yes very nice and also 997, but the 993 looks like a toy......

you would be one of the few people to say that - alot of people have called the 993 the best looking 911 of all-time (and I agree, although the 997 is very close) :D

[DJF1]

993 is my the least favourite 911. 964, 996, yes very nice and also 997, but the 993 looks like a toy. People tend to think that M3 is just one too expensive 330ci, i know 3 330CI owners, and all of em wish their cars were M3s(all have driven them). E46 M3 vs E90 335 will be different story, as 335 might have turboed 3liter engine and also 4x4, direct competition for RS4 until new M3 comes along. E36 was not slow neither, only in america, remember Europe got 286hp and it was upped to 321hp. That makes a lot better power to weight ratio, than with 240hp(i think later bmw shipped overseas also the faster cars). Mk1 M3s are also more than their speed, it is my favourite of M3s, not as much speed, but there is more soul.

I have driven M3 SMG2 Kelleners quite long distances, transmission doubles as an auto, as you might have noticed when Tiff was testing the new M5 in Fifth Gear tv program. And no problems with transmission or diff. 330ci owners and 330d owners have plenty of problems with diffs, because tcs does some braking to get traction while accelerating. And engine is not bad, it is more like dealer issue, if they dont do the recall that is ordered from the factory, they suck, not the car.

Don´t get me wrong, I have always loved 911s, and probably will be buying one some day. But it is not because it is a better car than M3, but because it is after all one of the biggest and oldest legends there is in the automotive industry. If you in the market for M3 or 911, you know which ever you choose, you can´t go wrong :wink:

Sorry to say but it seems you have not driven a 993... I'm priviledged to have both an M3 and 2 993's and I can tell you that there is no comparison in the feel. Straight line speed is not everything, the 993 comes alive at the twisties, communicating everything to you, its like the car is really talking to you. The steering is razor sharp, direct , the braking is perfect, no overboost feeling , you really become one with the machine. Dont get me wrong I love my M3 to death, its an awesome car, but I have never felt like one with it as I feel with the 993.
My mechanic said to me ones that when you learn to drive fast a 911 nothing else compares. At first I did not get it, but oh boy do I get it now...