Poll: e46 m3 vs. p-car 964?

[ragnar]

I realize this is like comparing apples to oranges, but taking a poll (why not, since I've got nothing better to do with my free time!) to help me decide whether to go through with an opportunity to swap my e46 m3 with a Porsche 964 Carrera 4. Car values aside. Feel free to comment your reasoning after answering the poll!

[Obioban]

Well, depends what you're looking for. The M3 is...
Faster
brakes better
cheaper to run
has a functional back seat
has a bigger trunk
safer
better engine
more comfortable
has more modern tech

The 964 is...
more characterful
more feedback
smaller (which I mean as a compliment-- smaller cars drive better all else equal).
150 lbs lighter (should be more, but... awd)

If you're going that route, an awd car seems like a misguided starting place IMO.

[Arith2]

I'd buy and drive it simply for the heritage.

[ethan]

Price point is so different that if you can afford the 964, you can probably also have a beater E46 M3. That way you have the M3 for driving and the 964 for whatever 964 people do.

[r4dr]

If you want a 964, I'd hold out for a RWD example...

[jbfrancis3]

Its not a Tiptronic, is it?

[ragnar]

Its not a Tiptronic, is it?

manual e46 and manual 964.

[ragnar]

Well, depends what you're looking for. The M3 is...
Faster
brakes better
cheaper to run
has a functional back seat
has a bigger trunk
safer
better engine
more comfortable
has more modern tech

The 964 is...
more characterful
more feedback
smaller (which I mean as a compliment-- smaller cars drive better all else equal).

If you're going that route, an awd car seems like a misguided starting place IMO.

Great list! I guess now it's a matter of putting some relative weight on each item on each list.

[ragnar]

...and the 964 for whatever 964 people do.

LOL

[BMW_QAS]

I have an ‘83 911SC. Though it’s worlds apart from the Carrera 4, there is nothing like driving a 911 variant. The M3 does handle great. The M3 looks great from every angle. The M3 is convenient if it’s your only car. The M3 will never be the 964 though, and vice versa.

If it were me having driven air cooled cars and various M3s I’d go for the 964 at the end of the day every day.

Just my humble opinion from one car person to another.

[Altaran]

I would not swap M3 for an AWD car, no matter which one. (unless it is one which is stupid expensive and I can sell it and buy another M3 and keep the profit😎)

AWD is great, but a fun car for me should always be RWD.

On another note I am eyeballing to buy a 993 Carrera 2, but that would be in addition to the M3...