motor

DUR · 02-10-2007, 09:03 PM

Hy,

As I have previously stated, I currently own a '95 M3 e36, which I absolutely love.

I've been thinking on changing it for something more "modern" as a Golf V R32... But last week came across my life a marvellous 964 C2, very well kept...

¿would you change the M3 for the 964?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers.

RC45 · 02-10-2007, 09:43 PM

Both cars are fun engaging cars - that involve the driver and his skill all the time

Tough choice there.

gman911 · 02-10-2007, 10:06 PM

It must be a difficult decision to sell the M3 e36, but I spose like any car once youve had it a while its time to take lots of pictures, then move on

The 964 is very nice tho...

DUR · 02-11-2007, 12:42 PM

It really is a tough choice... I feel like I want to try Porsche, since all my last cars have benn BMW's, but on the other hand I enjoy my M3 so much...

Does anyone know how much of a difference there is between the maintenance of one and other??

Thanks.

Cheers

TopGearNL · 02-11-2007, 01:15 PM

In general Bimmers are very reliable cars, that is if one knows how to treat it right.

I can't really say anything about the 964 but hearing TT over it it does seem like a nice reliable car that you can use every day.

TT is the man you should be directing your questions

StanAE86 · 02-11-2007, 02:58 PM

I've currently got a '93 964 and had a '91 E34 M5 that I was forced to sell, to make the move. I miss the M5 dearly, but do not regret making the move. I've only driven an E36 M before and haven't had the privilege of owning one, but I'll try to help out here...

Maintenance-wise, I think you'll find that day-to-day costs are fairly similar between a BMW and Porsche. The Porsche will be slightly more, assuming you take your cars to an independent or do home maintenance versus dealer service. Both marques require religious following of maintenance schedules unless you want to drop bucket-loads of money later, because you neglected maintenance until you needed repair.

When you come up for major services, the Porsche will cost more. The parts are expensive...period. Consider it like another step up in costs of maintenance. BMW maintenance is more than a Japanese car and the step between a BMW and Porsche is like that. Keep good care of your Porsche though, and the really expensive "repairs" will be far between. They are solid cars.

The main difference I've found between the two marques is that the BMW is an excellent all arounder. It's tough finding such a balanced package in any other car...especially an M car. It's comfortable, solid, smooth, seats passengers fairly comfortably, has good luggage space and packs a load of performance and when a clean example, gets its fair share of looks and compliments.

The Porsche is much much much more compromising. It's a true sports car. The older cars (pre-996) are bumpy, low and loud. You really only have space for one passenger and the trunk won't fit anything of notable size, like golf clubs or more than one banker's box. But damn...it's so much fun to drive. The steering is just that much more connected. The chassis talks to your butt in the seat that much more and shifting the transmission is that much more fun. As far as sports cars go, it's one of a short list of sports cars you can really truly drive on a daily basis. Corvettes are another daily driver sports car that comes to mind.

If you've had your BMW for a while, and have had enough time to really enjoy it, I would seriously consider moving forward and buying the Porsche, if everything checks out. I think everyone should own a sports car at one point or another. Many cars these days will be faster than a 964, but the driving experience is much more than simply acceleration. It boils down to the entire package and experience. I've driven STis that would spank my 964 and leave it for dead without thinking twice. But I would never trade my Porsche for one...the driving rewards in the Porsche, compared to the Mitsu and Subie...are undeniably more.

If your BMW is super clean, low mileage, etc., it will be a hard decision for you to give it up...because you just might not like the Porsche and you might not find another BMW just like yours. It happens. You may sell the BMW, buy the Porsche and think, "That stupid Repost Stan is a flipping MORON!" But...unless there is something truly unique about your BMW, all cars are replaceable. It's better to move on a try something new, than stand stagnant with that which you already know. It may be that you will own a 964...then truly understand what I'm talking about when I say "experience"...and that may make you long and work for something even more...like a newer Turbo variant or something with a prancing horse on the hood, etc.

A few last words of advice, a Porsche pre-purchase inspection by a reputable shop is money well spent. Avoid pre-1992 cars unless they've already had the "patch" work done. The early 964s leaked oil from the heads. Porsche thought they didn't need gaskets if the head and block were surfaced really really well. Wrong. The "patch" is putting in a gasket. Easy, but without the patch, you won't know if the motor is leaking from somewhere else. "All Porsches leak." But some leak from places that are more expensive to attend to. My car is currently leaking a little, the fix is dropping the motor to reach these stupid little rubber o-rings that dry out and get brittle. Once you do that, you might as well rebuild everything because it's going to cost $6,500 pulling all the crap apart to get that damn o-ring.

964s should also have the distributor vent kit installed. The motors run hot and can fuse the distributor parts together. The vent kit is a simple hose. You'll find references about it on the net.

Good luck!

TT · 02-11-2007, 05:52 PM

Well, the 964 is an eccelent 911 IMO! Still pure and so on. I was looking for a C2 myself when I stumbled upon the C4 I ended up taking home, and IMO as long as you have a second car you could use when you need to carry lot of stuff (I often had to take the 944 not only because I liked it, but because it was impossible to stuff everyhing in the 911), IMO the 911 experience is to be lived one day!

DUR · 02-11-2007, 06:52 PM

Thanks for your opinions, specially Stan and TT.

Actually, I also own a diesel compact car (my wife's) so the second car option is no trouble.

Regarding my M3, I can proudly assure it is in very good shape. Ill try to post some pics on the "What you drive" section (I need to take a custom shot). It's a 95 Hellrot M3 with 150.00 km on the clock (apparantly "real" kilometres as stated by my mechanic). The thing is I love the car because of its versatility: I can travel with it (2, 3 or 4 people with ease), it can take me to the office when needed (I'm lucky enough to walk to my office everyday), it can make me enjoy the most amusing secondary roads, and it can allow me to cruise at "hyper" speeds... All this with farily enough comfort...

But, I feel I want to try "something" else (eventhough I've only enjoyed the M3 for one year). I recently got married, and it won't be very long (maximum 2 years) until little people arrive... Therefore, I somehow think my Porsche moment is now or "never" (at least not until far after the kids come...).

My only fright is doing without the extra rear seats and the boot space... (which is why I though of a more modern car in first place - Golf R32 -). Therefore, I have mixed feelings: need of living the Porsche experience, and fright of making a m
mistake...

On the other hand, I've always enjoyed rear wheel drive cars, which is why I'd rather buy a C2 964. But, surprisingly, here in Spain there are more C4's offered on the market than C2's.

¿Is the C4 as much fun to drive as the C2? ¿Is it worth the buy? Not that I always drive sideways, but I sometimes enjoy having my "butt" slide in slow corners or roundabouts...

Thanks again for all your valuable help!!!!!!

Cheers.

StanAE86 · 02-11-2007, 07:11 PM

I can't comment on a C2 vs. C4 since I have a RWD 911 and have never driven the AWD version. I would assume the additional weight will show in the performance, but I can't imagine that anything will be lost in translation. The C4 may have more maintenance due to the AWD drivetrain, but I do not know.

Is it possible to get rid of the wife's car and keep the M3 instead? Once you have children, you will want a larger car than a compact. Especially when you think about how much safer a larger car is.

I was lucky in that I got my Porsche just before my son arrived. If not...I think you are right. The practical thing would be to wait until they are older...because there will be other things to spend the money on...

Good luck!

DUR · 02-11-2007, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by StanAE86

I can't comment on a C2 vs. C4 since I have a RWD 911 and have never driven the AWD version. I would assume the additional weight will show in the performance, but I can't imagine that anything will be lost in translation. The C4 may have more maintenance due to the AWD drivetrain, but I do not know.

Is it possible to get rid of the wife's car and keep the M3 instead? Once you have children, you will want a larger car than a compact. Especially when you think about how much safer a larger car is.

I was lucky in that I got my Porsche just before my son arrived. If not...I think you are right. The practical thing would be to wait until they are older...because there will be other things to spend the money on...

Good luck!

I guess a C4 will indead be more expensive than a C2... Anyway, I'll see if anyone can give me more opinions.

Regarding my wife's car, we don't want to sell it because: in Madrid, a compact car is much more "driveable" around the city. Besides, an 11 year old car as a "everyday" car for my wife might be a bit of a waste. My idea would be, in case we get the Porsche, to keep the 964 and the compact Seat. Then, in a couple of years, sell the Seat and get something like a BMW X3 or similar...

bmwdriver · 02-13-2007, 08:34 AM

LOL, I see you're not looking into a Golf anymore

can't help you with the Porsche :bah: