C2 hands down best. Get the latest engine you can afford. (GT3 strongly prefered for the engine and dry sump). My 3.4 destroyed itself by allowing coolant into the engine. I've instructed with C2; C4 and M3 (and GT3) on the track. The stability management for the M3 is somewhat more intrusive. Drive the Porsche C2 well enough and it doesn't kick in; lets you 7% slide for best grip (and further if you want), but will save you if you really screw up, (unless your in a "perfect" 4 wheel drift into a wall). (Don't ask me how I know). The C2 has plenty of all you need, even in the snow with snow tires, it's really fun. Then again if you need a real back seat, and don't mind a little less road feel through your seat and feet....M3.

 

Yep

 

Superpimpalicious indeed!

 

first let me say to REDRIDGE, "Holly crap that interior is awesome!" I am not normally a fan of anything but dove grey or pure black for an interior but the GT3 seats set it off.

Secondly, to REDRIDGE again, my notes show that the C4 is WAY more than 110lb more than a C2. Maybe I am wrong. Explicitly on the 2003 996, the C2 is 2959 and the C4 is 3240 which in my math is more like 281lb or about 10% more weight. The Turbo is 3388 which is 429lb more than a C2. You can easily drop the C2 to 2880lb (est) with a light battery, gt3 seats, aftermarket exhaust and taking out the rear seats.
Add an exhaust and a K/N air cold air intake for about $1100 (combined) you (could) get a 12% hp increase (315bhp * 1.12 = 352.8).

hp to weight ratio (2003)
C2 with exhaust and cold air (est hp) and some minor weight reduction (est)
353bhp at 2880 = 8.158

Turbo (stock)
415bhp at 3388 = 8.163

I am not saying that doing this will allow you to beat or meet a totally stock turbo. Although I would also point out that turbo's have more drag, especially with the wing, and they have turbo lag. Also turbo has much more potetial for total HP, but just saying... for a few grand you are at turbo's power to weight ratio if you get a C2.

The C4 widebody is sexy though.

 

You have to remember that looks are simply subjective and many people convince themselves that a more exotic car (...and I do not consider a Pcar exotic.....nor a Bimmer) looks better because of what badge is on the hood.

I think the E46 is phenominal looking and looks better than any narrow body Pcar. The Pcar has to have a rear wing of some kind otherwise the *** looks sooo droopy. Once again, my SUBJECTIVE opinion.

The interior in an '03-'06 E46 is considerably better than the Pcar.

I have never driven a narrow body Pcar but I do own an '03 996tt and owned an '01 E46..........and for all around performance/style/appearance/daily driver comfort/road noise/etc. the E46 is damn near unbeatable.

 

Redridge....

WOW!! You're interior is incredible!!

 

I completely agree with you 100000% along all fronts except the one about the interior. The base interior on the 911 even the 997 I don't like much at all. But then you start checking off those boxes... the 911 even the 996 looks much flashier and sportier than the M3 will EVER be.

 

gotta disagree...I'll take this anyday of the week over ^^^^^^^^

Just tap on the top of the dashboard of the 996...even the $126K 996tt....it is hard as a rock and feels cheap.

 

Mine's not hard as it has full leather which the M3 never had and won't ever have.

The M3 in the photo is flattering. Once you sit inside, it's not much diff than your 330i. Plus the driving position is also very commuter sedanish... which is is based off.

 

If that is yours in the picture, that is not full leather. That looks just like mine which is not full leather and is hard as hell.

My 996tt interior is NO different than a regular 996....although it cost a helluva lot more.

I'm just telling you my opinion of owning an '01 M3 and now owning a 996 Pcar (albeit a turbo) and the M car has a better interior and is more modern looking. Here is mine

 

It is full leather and yes that is my car. I come from an M3 and I know the differences. Agree to disagree, bud. The M3 interior is nice, but not as nice as a well optioned 996 interior and yours isn't a well optioned 996 interior.

 

to be completely honest, a c2 coupe or C4s coupe i think stock for stock, look better than an m3, hands down. not many of us do roll stock.

 

WOW! no other word but stunning can be used to describe that gorgeous interior.

 

This is funny. I had an M3 ZCP with Premium and while I agree it was a nice interior, I would take a full leather 996 over it in a heartbeat. The quality of leather is great and smells fantastic especially if you have natural or natural gray or added pieces like the steering wheel or center console etc.

My Cayman is a pretty basic car but has leather sport seats and 6K in Makassar wood treatment that really pulls together nicely. The cool thing is that it is nice, but its exclusive, prolly not many guys will spec a 60K Cayman S with 6K in exclusive wood trim so unlikely I will run across another one just like it. Same with the 911, full leather and exclusive treatments set it apart and make it unique, not something you see a lot in M3's.

Thats why I dig redridge's car, really cool options, not likely to run across another C2 with 5K-8K in natural leather and wood treatment. Even if you don't like it, its unique.

 

Yes, totally agree 05. A barebones 911 interior doesn't stand up to the barebones M3 interior because the M3... you pretty much get the same thing in every car. But the 911 can be optioned out to easily surpass the interior of the M3 such is the case with my car and others in this very thread.

I still think the M3 on the outside, badges aside, is a better looking car out of the box than the 996/997.