e46 m3 + FI or 996 Turbo....who has(or had) both and can compare?

[turboaddiction]

Who here has owned both a 996 turbo and e46 m3 + FI? Please tell me your comparison. My friend can't make up his mind. Costs aren't too far off from eachother. Thanks!

[krenar]

never drove any of these cars but i would go for the 996

[jabrel3]

I drive an AA stage 2 e46 m3 and my dad drives a 996 turbo with the x50 package. The 996 is a little quicker but the m3 is much more comfortable. For a daily driver I would say m3.

[JJR4884]

OEM FI > Aftermarket FI

imo....

[Dhohn]

What does your friend want to use the car for ? I would imagine with the kind of money your talking about this wont be a daily, what are the intended uses of the vehicle ?

[LagunaBlau///M3]

Ive driven a 996tt and thought it was very nice. Although I havent driven a FI'd M3........yet :4ngie: :rofl:

[turboaddiction]

Thanks for the input.
What does your friend want to use the car for ? I would imagine with the kind of money your talking about this wont be a daily, what are the intended uses of the vehicle ?
Street driving the car a few days per week with freeway boosting runs. Maybe a track day once in a blue moon. He loves the look of the Porsche 996 Turbo but understands he might not be able to afford to mod it much until he saves up because the entry price is about all he can do.

How about maintenance on the 996TT? Annually does it rape you?

[AfghanScarface]

I love the E46 M3 to death, but even I would take the 996

[pastE36prsntE46]

I had to make the tough decision myself. I have driven a few 911s and love them to death. For me the insurance cost at 23 yrs old was the deciding factor. Under 200 a month for 250 deductibles for E46 and about 450 a month for the 911. If that isnt an issue, look at other small things such as maintenance and even the space inside. M3 has a small backseat but can still fit people, where as the porsche wouldnt be so comfortable for more than 2.

[turboaddiction]

I had to make the tough decision myself. I have driven a few 911s and love them to death. For me the insurance cost at 23 yrs old was the deciding factor. Under 200 a month for 250 deductibles for E46 and about 450 a month for the 911. If that isnt an issue, look at other small things such as maintenance and even the space inside. M3 has a small backseat but can still fit people, where as the porsche wouldnt be so comfortable for more than 2.
Thanks. Yeah he is worried about the insurance being 28 I think he is. Also the maintenance. He read that the stock clutch barely holds the power and you have to practically drop the engine to change the clutch in those cars. Is that true? Some BS about a $4000 clutch job or something. He is spooked about that. It's sort of like buying a $2 million house. It's not just the cost up front but the bills to maintain like landscaping, irrigation, etc. He might be broke as a joke but have a sick car.

The HPF e46 m3 Stage II could be had for $45k and after that hopefully maintenance is pretty low plus insurance in comparison. Something to think about.

[Dhohn]

This may seem silly, but I think another good question will be how big of a guy is your buddy. I dont find the seats in the porsche to be terribly comfortable. It was definitely something that I would have replaced if I owned the car, but then again Im a bigger guy.

[SEI]

i've had both stg 3 hpf m3 and a gemballa 996 tt i'd go for the porsche unless ur willing to do extensive work on the m3.. you'd need larger fenders tires rims subframe reinforcement (althought i dont think he's going stage 3 is he?) but in general i'd go for the porsche, might take some time for you to mod the car but i think its worth it.. nothing against the m3 or anything but you get a different feeling with the TT

[turboaddiction]

i've had both stg 3 hpf m3 and a gemballa 996 tt i'd go for the porsche unless ur willing to do extensive work on the m3.. you'd need larger fenders tires rims subframe reinforcement (althought i dont think he's going stage 3 is he?) but in general i'd go for the porsche, might take some time for you to mod the car but i think its worth it.. nothing against the m3 or anything but you get a different feeling with the TT
Ardika is the man! :bow:

Thanks buddy! I hope that you are doing well!

I think that he is gearing more toward the 996 but might wait to save up more money so he could mod it when he gets one. If that is the case he might purchase another e36 m3 for $5000 and jsut swap his built s50 plus turbo kit into that. Then he can part the rest of the stuff from his wrecked e36 m3 and the stuff he took out of the $5000 e36 m3. That way he would have a cheap turbo e36 m3 to putt around in for a while and then save up for a nice (possibly modded) 996tt. Plus the 996tt will only come further down in price as well. Hrmmmmm.

[HPFMTRE]

i've had both stg 3 hpf m3 and a gemballa 996 tt i'd go for the porsche unless ur willing to do extensive work on the m3.. You'd need larger fenders tires rims subframe reinforcement (althought i dont think he's going stage 3 is he?) but in general i'd go for the porsche, might take some time for you to mod the car but i think its worth it.. Nothing against the m3 or anything but you get a different feeling with the tt

betrayal!!!!

[TaZaM3]

i've had both stg 3 hpf m3 and a gemballa 996 tt i'd go for the porsche unless ur willing to do extensive work on the m3.. you'd need larger fenders tires rims subframe reinforcement (althought i dont think he's going stage 3 is he?) but in general i'd go for the porsche, might take some time for you to mod the car but i think its worth it.. nothing against the m3 or anything but you get a different feeling with the TT

Why do I have the exact opposite feeling of what you are saying? You have a Stg 3 turbo M3 (800rwhp claimed), you should be laughing away about driving a 996tt compared to that. Ive driven quite a few P-cars, had a 996tt modded and i have 2 in the garage now.

The M3 is so much more raw fun.

[turboaddiction]

Why do I have the exact opposite feeling of what you are saying? You have a Stg 3 turbo M3 (800rwhp claimed), you should be laughing away about driving a 996tt compared to that. Ive driven quite a few P-cars, had a 996tt modded and i have 2 in the garage now.

The M3 is so much more raw fun.
Quoting you just in case you go through with the sale. Don't make me use this quote! You better not sell!

[HPFMTRE]

Quoting you just in case you go through with the sale. Don't make me use this quote! You better not sell!

hes got you there hahaha :rofl:

[SEI]

erm, let me rephrase that a little bit.. most of you guys love drag racing, belive the stage 3 m3 will rape everything on the street. i say it really depends what you want to do with the car.. i've always loved small tight tracks and not drag racing or what you guys like to do the highway runs from 60 to 120 sorta thing.. with 800whp m3 im 100% sure u can take a veyron easy (if u have traction) in a tight track power isnt everything.. the m3 is retardedly fast on a straight. but for me i love to be able to floor it and cut in and out of traffic (yes i know this is dangerous and no one should do this). with the m3 and my stock tires i am able to do this too but its amazingly dangerous (although i cannot deny its the most fun i've ever had in my life). since i got the car before hpf got their traction control system i literally am sideways every time i overtake which is a of fun but you really really have to be able to handle the car well or else well.. think u can figure that out.. so my recommendation is if you are going for drag racing (or a really big F1 like track) go for an FI m3. but if you'd rather go to a small tight track i'd still say the porsche (although i think the gt3rs would be better for this).. (before anyone says anything i DO NOT regret having that m3. im 100% sure i'd end up with another hpf turbo soon enough).

i wanna add that with the stage 3 i kinda end up driving more like a sane sensible person since i know i have so much extra power if i need it rather then what im doing right now in my 335 which is flooring it wherever i go and i ended up with 5.4km/l which is really really bad.. i do save alot more on fuel with that m3 though haha. but to me i'd prefer to be slower then others because i enjoy chasing people with more power then me because its so much more of a challenge.. with the stage 3 you know no one can touch you so most of the time im alot more sensible on the roads.. back in l.a i used to drive with ford gt's 911 turbos f430's that kinda thing and no one can catch up to me on the highway. to me having a car so good and so poweful is great if you can find others around the same power as you.. if not its kinda boring since no one wants to play with you cuz ur so damm fast..

[Jeffxxx]

^^^

Did HPF end up buying your car from you?

[SEI]

^^^

Did HPF end up buying your car from you?

hpf is helping me sell the car.

[Dr. Wonder]

The M3 maybe more of a fun car to drive modded but at the end of the day if this is going to be his only car/daily I would get the Prosche. Its a more grown-up car imo

[SEI]

The M3 maybe more of a fun car to drive modded but at the end of the day if this is going to be his only car/daily I would get the Prosche. Its a more grown-up car imo

dunno about that.. i've sat in the hpf stage 1 and 2 and i think those cars are alot better as a daily then the porsche.. they are unbelievably quiet. if u were going to stage 3 hpf id reccomend you to have another car.. because everytime i drive mine im always scared of cops since it is quite loud..

[turboaddiction]

Ardika and everyone, thank you for the information. My friend and I have spoken a lot about this and he is pretty decided on the 996tt. He has always wanted one and since he has already owned an e36 m3 turbo, he thinks it is time for something different. He loves the e46 m3 though and of course I have hammered him on the HPF kit. He will probably take his turbo system, built engine, suspension, etc. from his wrecked e36 m3, purchase a $5000 e36 m3, swap it in, part out what's left and save up to purchase a 600 or more 996tt in the next couple of years.

[pastE36prsntE46]

Where is he getting a 5k M3 at?

[HPF Chris]

hpf is helping me sell the car.

I've spoken with several buyers. :) I just need the paperwork from you and your car will be sold!

I'm looking forward to seeing the next owners impressions. If anyone else is interested in purchasing Ardika's M3, send me a PM.

Chris.

[///M3Turk]

For a daily driver I would say m3.