Am I doing the right thing? Trade in question.

[TW]Fox;18489723 said:
As you are no doubt aware yes, I have covered several thousand miles in a 2011 Mustang ands several thousand miles in various E9x 3 Series. I'm not going to discuss the performance orientated specifics - ie handling and performance - but more the cars as a day to day tool. You know, the daily grind. The drive to the mall. The 150 miles back home, the sitting in traffic. That sort of thing.

It is here where there is a marked difference between the two. The M3 has a considerably better interior, is more luxurious, is made from better quality materials, is filled with a better standard of technical equipment - its just better as a day to day car. The Mustang is cheap and nasty in comparison - it feels like a far, far cheaper product.

I'm sure you will argue until the ends of the earth how on a track the Mustang comes close to the M3. I'm sure it does. But life involves more Walmart trips than it does trackdays.

For day to day use, the Mustang isn't even on the same page as the M3. I fully expected you to now rubbish my experience of the Mustang because I drove a 305bhp V6 not the V8 but there is absolutely NOTHING in the V8 that improves on the normal day to day experience. It has the same cabin...

Now in isolation the Mustang is a fantastic car. But it isnt in isolation here, it is being compared to an M3. The Mustang is half the price and in many areas this shows itself quite clearly. For the money, the Mustang is excellent. But the OP has the money for an M3, therefore he should purchase one and leave the Mustang to those who don't have the money for the M3.



That sort of logic would also imply that a Mustang and a Mercedes CL500 compete with each other! You kinda missed out the big important thing here - price.

Lets think of some other cars that compete using this unique weird logic.

How about the Toyota Camry and the Porsche Panamera? Both have 4 wheels. Both have a steering wheel. Both have V6 engines. Both have 4 doors and a boot. There we go chaps, the Camry - competition for the Porsche Panamera!
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I am sorry but for me whether I am driving to the mall in a Mustang or an M3 I fail to see how it differs?

Both will get there in relative comfort, yes the BMW will have a better interior and more refinement, plus more toys if spec'd to do so.

Also the Mustang you drove was a V6 with the auto box which unless remapped kinda ruins the driving experience, the manual is so much better unless the AUTO is mapped to cure the factory issues.

It depends what Dave wants, if he wants the M3 for its DCT box then the Mustang has nothing that comes close, as the AUTO will never be as good as the DCT in the M3 when you in attack mode.

Just Dave mentioned saving money and having something he'd not have to worry about on campus, I'd have thought the BMW would be a worry, its a lot of value, it will depreciate heavily and cost quite a bit of money to run.

The Mustang offers very similar performance/handling and fun factor at the expense of interior quality and some refinement and I say some refinement because a Mustang cruises perfectly well. Difference is the Mustang is less likely to be touched, cost far less initially and is cheaper to run.

But as performance cars its my oppinion they are very alike and infact compete directly with each other, they are not marketed as such but when you look at the basics they are similar from a performance aspect. :)
 
[TW]Fox;18489800 said:
Gibbo's needs and wants are different. He wants the ultimate in performance, handling and presence. Thats what he enjoys. Thats why he has the Evo, its why he liked his Mustang.

It also makes the benefits of an M3 over a Mustang something Gibbo has no requirement for.

I suspect the OP is different.

Oh, and the Mustang doesn't cruise on the interstate 'brilliantly' either, not better than a 3 Series. I suspect you think it does simply because the engine revs lower or something, which is a bit of an odd metric to use.

As a cheap performance car the Mustang is fantastic. When proper money is involved, if you want an ALL ROUNDER, then the M3 is just better.
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In all honesty I found mine a joy on the motorway and mine was the older version with even cheaper interior, but cruise control on, some 300 miles later I still felt fresh and comfy, it was fine. It was comfortable and quiet which is good enough for myself. :)
 
Gibbo said:
I am sorry but for me whether I am driving to the mall in a Mustang or an M3 I fail to see how it differs?

Both will get there in relative comfort, yes the BMW will have a better interior and more refinement, plus more toys if spec'd to do so.
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I'm a bit confused as to how you can not get the point I was making here. Sure both will drive to the Mall but that wasnt my point. Using your logic nobody would ever buy a 7 Series as a 1 Series would cruise just as well?

The 3 is just a nicer place to be - it's more comfortable, it has a better interior, it has better equipment, it's more refined, as you'd expect for a higher end car. A 7 Series is better again, for example.

Also the Mustang you drove was a V6 with the auto box which unless remapped kinda ruins the driving experience, the manual is so much better unless the AUTO is mapped to cure the factory issues.
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Which is why I've not commented on the dynamics, handling and performance side of things and focused instead on the day to day practicalities.

As a performance car - ignoring day to day life - I am not doubting how good the Mustang is.
 
[TW]Fox;18489748 said:
Troll is fast becoming the worst word on the internet. It used to have specific meaning, these days it seems to be used against people who simply disagree with an opinion.
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wasn't referring to you :)
 
[TW]Fox;18489829 said:
I'm a bit confused as to how you can not get the point I was making here. Sure both will drive to the Mall but that wasnt my point. Using your logic nobody would ever buy a 7 Series as a 1 Series would cruise just as well?

The 3 is just a nicer place to be - it's more comfortable, it has a better interior, it has better equipment, it's more refined, as you'd expect for a higher end car. A 7 Series is better again, for example.



Which is why I've not commented on the dynamics, handling and performance side of things and focused instead on the day to day practicalities.

As a performance car - ignoring day to day life - I am not doubting how good the Mustang is.
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I guess we all differ but you see for me the 3 series will offers me nothing as in nicer place to be then a Mustang. They can both be spec'd with navigation, bluetooth and fantastic sound systems and the interior quality is adequate on both, its not like either are like French tit tat. For me thats more than enough. :)

Unless I was buying for the DCT box or a spec'd add-on you can't get in the Mustang I'd buy the Mustang.

Both are truly fantastic there is no denying that but if Dave is leaning more towards the performance aspect and even tuning the Mustang is the one. :)

If he is thinking more DCT box, toys, top quality interior and small maids who hand you your seatbelts then the M3 is a must. :)
 
No cuchalian or whatever his name is with the comments about the Mustang going into the nearest tree at the soonest opportunity

The 5.0 GT mustang with Track Pack was only 1 second a lap down on the M3 when tested at Road Atlanta back to back. Thats nothing !
 
[ui]ICEMAN;18489649 said:
This was actually my intitial idea but even with the best aftermarket warranties, there are exclusions. This idea also only solves my issue for the next 4 years max, that's assuming I don't hit the mileage cap first which I probably would if I don't find a place this summer.

I'd be just as nervous about my car if it didn't have the aerokit on it, I love my car and I take great care of it. I did look into buying a new 911 but as I mentioned before, I have a huge issue with the pricing at the moment and in all honesty, it's still a Porsche that all I'm going to be doing is ploughing on highway miles.

I'll get 90% of what I paid for the wheels back and the steering wheel issue can be resolved easily anyway. The only real loss I'd take is on the aerokit and actually since I got it so heavily discounted, it's not really a gigantic loss.
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Aren't you going to have all these worries with your M3

Its still a nice car you're going to want to take care of ? You arent going to be happy if somebody keys it, you arent going to be happy if people decide to park close to you in it etc..

And you're still going to attract hate from some, driving an expensive "import" car. Peoples perceptions of how expensive it is will be just as bad as with the porsche.

The mustang seems the most likely to slip under the "hate" radar and possibly even get more respect in the car park because its a muscle car. Less idiots parking 2cm away from your door etc..
 
[TW]Fox;18489896 said:
I still like Mustangs though, I'm hiring another one this year :p
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Do yourself a favour and hire a 5.0l manual. :p

Or an old Shelby 350 GTS. :)

Yes the new V6 is good, but you should treat yourself too a V8, even if just for a day or two, then use V6 for remainder. :D
 
MrLOL said:
Aren't you going to have all these worries with your M3

Its still a nice car you're going to want to take care of ? You arent going to be happy if somebody keys it, you arent going to be happy if people decide to park close to you in it etc..

And you're still going to attract hate from some, driving an expensive "import" car. Peoples perceptions of how expensive it is will be just as bad as with the porsche.

The mustang seems the most likely to slip under the "hate" radar and possibly even get more respect in the car park because its a muscle car. Less idiots parking 2cm away from your door etc..
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To be honest, we don't get the same "hate" stuff out here that I was used to back in the UK. Its more that people can be careless. I have friends that park R8's on campus but they have uber parking permits that allow them to take the Dean's spot if they so wish!

There are a lof of BMW's on campus, an M3 is in every way shape and form, more subtle than a 911. I'm not going to deny that I'll face similar issues in terms of my own worry but it's a two fold decision based on presence and getting out while I still can/having a reliable car.

I like the Mustang but god that will feel like a downgrade to me if that's the way I go. I don't want to lose everything I have put into the Porsche/BMW to end up driving a fairly generic car and I'm not going to go the tuned Mustang route because they depreciate like a rock. The M3 I listed is less than a year old and a $30k discount (almost) which is probably going to keep me safe from any major depreciation for a while anyway. I'd agree, buying a new one would be madness but I feel for the price of this one, I'd be doing ok.

I'm listening though guys so keep up the suggestions!
 
If the M3 can slip under the "hate" radar then do it. The E92 M3 seems to be pretty reliable from what i can see from the forums ?

And you get 3 years more warrantied driving. Win Win.
 
I should probably list what it has too so you can critique anything missing :)

Competition package
Premium package
Cold weather package
Technology package
7 speed DCT
Parking sensors
Carbon trim
Auto highbeams
Ipod/USB
Enhanced premium sound system
Moonroof

This includes the Nav/BT/adjustable dampers/HRE P40 look a like wheels/10mm lower suspension etc etc.
 
Personally I would get rid of the 135 and keep the Porsche, extend the warantee on it and keep the rest back in reserve incase the worst *should* happen. You'll be driving the best car, you won't have to worry about it, and you'll be driving the car you want.

I know the values arent the same, but when I had my R34, I constantly worried about leaving it parked for three years, and in all that time I had one ding on a door where someone wasnt being careful. Looking back I wish I had used it more and worried less.
 
If you really want to slip under the radar why not keep the 135i while you're at uni? If you want an m3 go ahead, it'll be brilliant, but I share the opinion that an e92 m3 will attract just as much attention as your 911. Saying that, you won't have time to drive an awesome car while you're training in the states anyway, at least with our 48 hour week we have got time off to drive around the place. Buy another 911 when you've got more time.

EDIT: or just sod it and keep the 911 which you clearly love.
 
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[ui]ICEMAN;18490013 said:
I should probably list what it has too so you can critique anything missing :)

Competition package
Premium package
Cold weather package
Technology package
7 speed DCT
Parking sensors
Carbon trim
Auto highbeams
Ipod/USB
Enhanced premium sound system
Moonroof

This includes the Nav/BT/adjustable dampers/HRE P40 look a like wheels/10mm lower suspension etc etc.
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The only thing thats missing is your ownership. ;)
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
The only thing thats missing is your ownership. ;)
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For what it's worth I think you should get rid of the 1 series, keep the porsche and do your best to get a place closer to uni.

I don't see the worry with leaving the porker in the uni car park if there is other decent metal around. Life's too short to not have the car you want because of car park fear.
 
The car park fear is only a small part of it. The overwhelming part is that I'm about to drop $9k on warranties and my 911's not going to get any younger. It'll be 5 years until I change my car again after this, it has to last which is why I'm even entertaining this sidegrade.
 
[ui]ICEMAN;18491822 said:
The car park fear is only a small part of it. The overwhelming part is that I'm about to drop $9k on warranties and my 911's not going to get any younger. It'll be 5 years until I change my car again after this, it has to last which is why I'm even entertaining this sidegrade.
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Its not going to be 9k if you ditch the 1 series, and why do you have to wait 5 years, keep the Porsche till you cant warranty it.

Anyway that Porsche will still be going in 20 years never mind 5, your driving yourself mad for nothing.

Live the life mate, your dads caked, your on the way to being caked, this is why you knock yourself out so if an engine blows up, well yea it hurts, but not much in the bigger picture.
 
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