Resurrecting an old post...I got a negative rep point as someone told me to "take it to bimmerfest". Who ever told me that, well, you sir a "fanbois ****** bag". I responded to a post that was "E90 M3 or 997C2", gave my opinion and hence the response.... Its not that I really care about these points, but expressing an opinion on a on topic post to be given a negative rating, well lets just say it chaffed my hide a tad.

Dave

 

My sports car history: 97 M3, 03 G35 (horrible choice on my part), E92 07 335i (great balance between sport and some luxury), and now I have a 09 C4S. The Porsche is the purist sports car I've owned. I debated between the M3 and the C4S, in the end I went with the Porsche. But I will also add that I also have a suv that I use for my DD. I'm sure I couldn't live with the Porsche for my DD though.

 

Two years ago, I sold my 2008 M3 for a 2007 C2 and never looked back. The M3 is faster than the C2, but the Porsche (IMO) has much more character.

GL with your decision.

 

Not sure the OP is still around but, since this thread was resurrected, I thought I'd note that I spent a lot of time comparing the M3 vert with the C2S cab. In the end, though the 911 costs much more, it was the easy winner.

The 911 is lighter, lower, wider, and has higher limits, and is thus a real sports car. Though the M3 is very good too, by comparison it's more like a heavy sedan which is missing two doors and has a folding metal roof.

 

I just got out of a E90 M3 and an E93 M3. (Sedan / Convertible) Hi Dave!

I had an 03 996 cab and I now have an 09 C2S. the M3s are great cars. I spent about 2 minutes pulling the car seats out of the M3 and about 2 hrs trying to get them to fit my 09 C2S. What a pain. It will be a lot easier when my kids end up in booster seats, but my Britax Roundabouts seem to be doing alright.

Performance wise, the C2S blows away my modified M3. Much better midrange, more accessible power, lighter, more nimble handling, better brake feel, better stopping power. The C2S is almost 500 lbs lighter than the e90 M3 with only 25 less horsepower, so I'm not surprised at any of the above.

I was surprised at a couple of thing:
- M-DCT is a clear winner over PDK. First off, and most obvious, PDK is backwards! forward for upshift back for downshift is just wrong. Second, it's slower reacting and has more of a delay when you hit a button than M-DCT. It's not as quick shifting, either. Still a very good transmission and very minor differences, but it's not as good.
- The Porsche 6 speed is way better than the M3's. The M3's transmission is mushy and vague feeling with long throws compared to the Porsche.

The M3 is an easy car to drive fast, if you are willing to rev it out, but the Porsche is more exciting. I like the Porsche better, but it sure is a pain to get the kids in and out

 

My wife and I had the same feeling about the M3 manual trans, plus you do have to work harder to keep the revs high in the M3. For those reasons, in an M3, I'd go with DCT over manual.

 

Hey Kit,

Don't get here much anymore but I just wanted to say enjoy the Porsche in great health. I loved my 997.1S, I got out of it mainly for financial reasons as I could only have one car. The M3 is just a much better DD than the 997 IMHO. You nailed the difference between the 6spd in both cars. The 997 was like a rifle bolt while the E92 M3s switch gear is just a step above a E46 M3.

I don't think the weight differential is as great as you say...my E92 M3 comes in right under 3600lbs while my 997.1S was just under 3300lbs. I know BMW quotes 3700lbs for the E9X but in that was with luggage I believe and most of us showed our weight to be lighter than this.

Dave

 

only one way to settle this - get both!!

 

Agreed!

 

Oh I wish....I'll be back into a 911 again...already told my wife so. Have to start prepping her now...

Dave

 

haha, my garage looks very similar! Although, my M3 is going away.

 

Got a 2006 C2 with under 40K for $43K in at an Orange County, CA Audi dealer a few weeks ago. I never considered the M3....my neighbor has one, but I just see it as a supercharged 3 series.

 

BTW Kit, my kids fit great in the 997. I just removed the seat bottoms and I had a Recaro Vivo at the time for my kids. They will love the Porscheee. Thats what my boys use to call it...my oldest Sean, at the time was 8 when I sold it...he balled.

Dave