A £10k (ish) 325i sport or Porsche 911

[bss325i]

996 head lights are just so tragic.

What were they thinking?!

[BMG]

It's the E36 M3 of the 911 range.

[DanThe]

A 911 is a nice thing to have on the drive but when its time for new tyres its no good thinking you can get a pair of nankangs off ebay for a hundred quid like you can with an E30 325i

[Rodderz]

996 head lights are just so tragic.

What were they thinking?!

Plus the interior.. and choice colours

[jonb]

A 996 C2 is like the 4dr 320i auto of the 911 world.

I'd rather have a nice E46 M3 manual coupe but they are hard to find now at £10k.

That's a terrible analogy. I've no doubt the 996 is great to drive, while a 320i auto....

E46 m3's have still got that £4999 knob chariot reputation. Suck in the abyss of old car and not yet a classic status. An tidy e36 m3 on the other hand...

[bss325i]

A 996 C2 is like the 4dr 320i auto of the 911 world.

I'd rather have a nice E46 M3 manual coupe but they are hard to find now at £10k.

That's a terrible analogy. I've no doubt the 996 is great to drive, while a 320i auto....

E46 m3's have still got that £4999 knob chariot reputation. Suck in the abyss of old car and not yet a classic status. An tidy e36 m3 on the other hand...

Hardly a terrible analogy. Regardless of how they drive, they are both the least sought after and least valuable of their respective type.

Indeed, the E46 M3 still has a bit of a poor image but prices are on the up and they are better than an E36 M3 in pretty much every respect.

[Mitchen]

A 996 C2 is like the 4dr 320i auto of the 911 world.

I'd rather have a nice E46 M3 manual coupe but they are hard to find now at £10k.

That's a terrible analogy. I've no doubt the 996 is great to drive, while a 320i auto....

E46 m3's have still got that £4999 knob chariot reputation. Suck in the abyss of old car and not yet a classic status. An tidy e36 m3 on the other hand...

Hardly a terrible analogy. Regardless of how they drive, they are both the least sought after and least valuable of their respective type.

Indeed, the E46 M3 still has a bit of a poor image but prices are on the up and they are better than an E36 M3 in pretty much every respect.

YEAH JON!!

Lets have it right, the 320i is a great drive.. smooth with adequate power. Granted the value may be low, but that's only down to preference of the scene. A B20 is as reliable and useable (even in this day and age) as the rest of them.

[bss325i]

That's a terrible analogy. I've no doubt the 996 is great to drive, while a 320i auto....

E46 m3's have still got that £4999 knob chariot reputation. Suck in the abyss of old car and not yet a classic status. An tidy e36 m3 on the other hand...

Hardly a terrible analogy. Regardless of how they drive, they are both the least sought after and least valuable of their respective type.

Indeed, the E46 M3 still has a bit of a poor image but prices are on the up and they are better than an E36 M3 in pretty much every respect.

YEAH JON!!

Lets have it right, the 320i is a great drive.. smooth with adequate power. Granted the value may be low, but that's only down to preference of the scene. A B20 is as reliable and useable (even in this day and age) as the rest of them.

Stop crying Nick. It was a long running opinion on the zone (way before you joined) that a 320i auto FOUR DOOR was about as desirable as bum cancer.

Little has changed.

[Mitchen]

Hardly a terrible analogy. Regardless of how they drive, they are both the least sought after and least valuable of their respective type.

Indeed, the E46 M3 still has a bit of a poor image but prices are on the up and they are better than an E36 M3 in pretty much every respect.

YEAH JON!!

Lets have it right, the 320i is a great drive.. smooth with adequate power. Granted the value may be low, but that's only down to preference of the scene. A B20 is as reliable and useable (even in this day and age) as the rest of them.

Stop crying Nick. It was a long running opinion on the zone (way before you joined) that a 320i auto FOUR DOOR was about as desirable as bum cancer.

Little has changed.

Jon didnt mention 4 doors.. and the operative word being 'opinion'

[bss325i]

Jon didnt mention 4 doors.. and the operative word being 'opinion'

No but I did and he quoted me.

Let me rephrase opinion, the general consensus is that the performance of an 318i with worse fuel consumption than a 325i and the surplus of doors made for it being the runt of the litter.

Whens the eta bottom end going in?

[Mitchen]

Lol well it suits me just fine.

There will be no molestation of my treasured engine.. you saw how distressing it was for me to put that B25 manifold on.. it took me a couple of hours just to give the thumbs up.

It's had 25 years of pampering and it'll continue to get that for the rest of it's existence.

[jimbom30cab]

Good to keep these old chariots original, you'd never catch me skipping an auto box.......much...

[HairyScreech]

The M20B20 is a lovely engine compared to other makes offerings, compared to a 1.2 multi air lump it's a RR engine.

But compared to the more efficient M42/44 or the B25 it is hard to justify its power and economy.

I did see a 996 with the lights masked and painted, it seems the one exception where that actually improves to look of the car.
Possibly because the original ones look so out of place?
A car in need of aftermarket headlights to improve the melted 911 headlight look?

Edit - looks like this might actually be a "fix" for the 996.
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/996/ ... ion-4.html

[pacerpete]

Hardly a terrible analogy. Regardless of how they drive, they are both the least sought after and least valuable of their respective type.

Indeed, the E46 M3 still has a bit of a poor image but prices are on the up and they are better than an E36 M3 in pretty much every respect.

YEAH JON!!

Lets have it right, the 320i is a great drive.. smooth with adequate power. Granted the value may be low, but that's only down to preference of the scene. A B20 is as reliable and useable (even in this day and age) as the rest of them.

Stop crying Nick. It was a long running opinion on the zone (way before you joined) that a 320i auto FOUR DOOR was about as desirable as bum cancer.

Little has changed.

You're nasty !!!!

[Cypriotgeeza]

Give me one of these please:



If not ill settle for this





Neither near the 10k mark but I'd still love them alongside my E30

[jonb]

Lol well it suits me just fine.

There will be no molestation of my treasured engine.. you saw how distressing it was for me to put that B25 manifold on.. it took me a couple of hours just to give the thumbs up.

It's had 25 years of pampering and it'll continue to get that for the rest of it's existence.

Must be hard knowing that the Proton Preve gsx has more power than you.

[beautymeanswheels]

If you don't need 4 seat then 10k buys a lot of car. 10k is now the bottom end of the Z4M market. V10 M5s fall into that as well as lots of ageing merc AMG stuff.
However there are still older and nicer looking 911s for 10k out there than the 996.

I can't understand why anyone would pay the kind of prices E30 M3s go for, at £30k and likely needing a load of work you can get a first generation dodge viper.

I wouldn't pay £30k for an e30 m3 either unless I had tried everything out at that price and then really wanted one. Even then I would only get it to store away for a couple of years and then sell lol. Z4M coupe only for me but a good one is 13-14k+.
E55 AMG though...

[Hellbound]

I remember reading an interview with a Porsche specialist regarding 911 prices, he was of the opinion that it won't be too long before it will be impossible to find a naturally aspirated manual 911 for under £20k. Especially when all 911's will have a turbo of some description. Even the rumored NA manual 911R(991R?) will be a limited edition model and stupidly expensive. As more builders fettle with the 996 and Boxster, people will start waking up to the potential of these cars. Despite the costs the unique ownership prospect is hard to ignore.

For £10k - £15k you could probably find a decent 996, factor in some preventative work via fixed price servicing/repairs from various specialists (great for knowing what you're getting yourself into) or for even more peace of mind you can sign up to a maintenance plan for a monthly fee.

A clean 325i is definitely not something you'd want to use as much as a 996 that's used to being driven hard and improved over the years. The 325i is pretty much what it is out of the factory, and if it's that mint it's done all the appreciating it's going to do. You'll end up just looking at it and taking it for a gentle drive on a sunny Sunday. Thrashing a £10k 325i and using it as intended is the quickest way of making it a £5k 325i.

I've looked into 996 ownership and it doesn't seem all that hazardous. Specialists with good reputations do make prices easier to stomach. RPM Technik, Revolution Porsche, JMG Porsche, Autofarm, RSJ and Hartech, to name but a few, help shine a light on the unknown.

If I had garage space I'd buy a cheapo Boxster off ebay and pull it apart just to learn more about the set up. I've personally always preferred a mid/rear engined layout. The light front end is hard to replicate with anything front engined, and the weight/noise/surge of acceleration from behind is heavenly (that's what she said!).

In the latest Evo magazine's 'market watch' section, a previous E46 M3 owner says their 911 is a completely different animal. I can believe that. The 3 series is essentially a three box saloon primarily designed for practical duties first and foremost, and adapted for more sportier applications, but still essentially compromised.

The Porsche Boxster/Cayman/911 are sports cars from inception.

[Gert_8]

The choice is very simple - Porsche for the history, prestige, engineering and design. It may not be the best of the bunch, but it's a PORSCHE!!

[jon-m42]

In this situation I would choose the Porsche. It really is a no brainer. The Porsche is younger and has much more technology installed for a better/safer ride.

No E30 is worth more than a couple of grand. Spending more on an E30 are for those who have money to burn the only exception in this case would be the E30 M3.

Cars really are just a waste of money - temporary pleasures until your mind has had enough. The sad truth

[bss325i]

Rule number one, a car is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

And people are paying over £10k for non M3 E30's now.

[ross_jsy]

The Porsche is younger and has much more technology installed for a better/safer ride.

This is the exact reason I drive an e30.

[universal]

The Porsche is younger and has much more technology installed for a better/safer ride.

This is the exact reason I drive an e30.

is this also why you had a POS Subaru?

[ross_jsy]

No I had a POS Subaru because I am funding myself through a degree. Name something for £1200 that was as fast and fun on a tight budget and I am all ears.

Now do one, bell end

[universal]

[quote="ross_jsy"]No I had a POS Subaru because I am funding myself through a degree. Name something for £1200 that was as fast and fun on a tight budget and I am all ears.

Now do one, bell end [/quote
insults over the internet, how mature!

[ross_jsy]

Going back to a car I owned 5 months ago which I didn't spend a penny on and sold for profit in some vain attempt at a dig. How mature

[universal]

ok then, you win.

[Topblag]

I'd recommend buying a 996, I've made £5k on the value of mine in just over a year, which is nice. None of the two wheel drive variants, unless it's a GT variant, it's the 4wd versions you want.

[jon-m42]

The Porsche is younger and has much more technology installed for a better/safer ride.

This is the exact reason I drive an e30.

As long as the op shares the same views then he has his answer.

Other than that Ill allow the porsche to burn my money if i had any at all lol

[Jon_Bmw]

I'd recommend buying a 996, I've made £5k on the value of mine in just over a year, which is nice. None of the two wheel drive variants, unless it's a GT variant, it's the 4wd versions you want.

Why do you say you wouldn't want a 2WD variant?

I'd have thought it was the 2WD was a better long term financial prospect.

The 2WD cars keep the 911 core principle at heart. The only 4WD worth having is the Turbo surely.

[ross_jsy]

The Porsche is younger and has much more technology installed for a better/safer ride.

This is the exact reason I drive an e30.

As long as the op shares the same views then he has his answer.

Other than that Ill allow the porsche to burn my money if i had any at all lol

If money wasn't part of the equation I would have a Porsche. But it would be an early narrow bodied air cooled car. Followed one a few weeks ago, the distinct thrum of the engine and long punctuated gear changes really got me excited

[rh306]

[youtube][/youtube]

[Topblag]

I'd recommend buying a 996, I've made £5k on the value of mine in just over a year, which is nice. None of the two wheel drive variants, unless it's a GT variant, it's the 4wd versions you want.

Why do you say you wouldn't want a 2WD variant?

I'd have thought it was the 2WD was a better long term financial prospect.

The 2WD cars keep the 911 core principle at heart. The only 4WD worth having is the Turbo surely.

If you have a sense of self preservation, you take all the grip you can get when you have that much power, great aero and lower weight. I don't want a widow maker, I want lots of fun and making it home afterwards. The 4wd's are quicker in acceleration and cornering. It's usually a 95%/5% split until you need it. That 5% makes a big difference.

[Jon_Bmw]

It's only 300 ish bhp...

Lower weight? the 2wd must weigh less! I think a c2 will be worth more than a c4 in a few years time.

I'd take a turbo over both for future value as the GT3s and GT2s are already mental money, although they are a cracking drive.

[Topblag]

It's only 300 ish bhp...

Lower weight? the 2wd must weigh less! I think a c2 will be worth more than a c4 in a few years time.

I'd take a turbo over both for future value as the GT3s and GT2s are already mental money, although they are a cracking drive.

I wasn't comparing weight from 2wd to 4wd, my point was that with a quick car (because it has power, good aero and is lower weight in comparison to e.g. an M3 or an Audi RS4) you want as much grip as possible.

If the appreciation trend between C2s and C4s changes I'll be surprised. Turbo's are making strong money and show no signs of slowing down.