Looking a E92 M3s now.
Looking for comp pack, DCT and EDC on a 2011 or later.
997.2 C2S PDK or E92 M3 DCT, man that is a tough choice!
Having driven both I can tell you the 911 is the better handling car, changes direction better, more grip and vastly better in wet conditions. The 911 weak points are less power and though the flat 6 sounds good, it is generally only at full chat in the upper rpm range. What I will say for Porsche is the way they build them, it feels like a 911 particular is built by taking a solid block of steel and they then cut the car from it, they feel so solid and well put together. Also 911 with PDK is hugely quick off the line if that floats your boat, rear engine mechanical traction is huge and the PDK means despatching 0-60 in sub 4s comes with ease.
Now over to the BMW, you get a newer car for the money with more toys and technology, though the quality of the E9x interior was never overly impressed me, nothing particular wrong with it, though the little maids handing you your seatbelt every time you get in are a little flimsy. It just when I get in the interior lacks sense of occasion or styling, its good quality but something lacking, though its a major major step up from S2000. For me the E9x M3 is really all about that engine and gear box. The engine is an absolute peach, you will love it as well as it is like the S2000 you gotta rev it hard. When you first drive one the first two things you notice is the throttle is beautiful smooth whilst be razer sharp and precise, the second thing you notice is how it feels somewhat lacking in torque/power, its not slow but for a V8 you expect more but then you wind it past 6500rpm and all of a sudden you forgive it, the thing pulls like a freight train past 6500rpm right beyond 8000rpm. Then the DCT is so much fun, PDK is a bit smooth, DCT in full sport mode gives you that hard shuff in the back, unlike SMG its not a mechanical BANG that feels like the gear box just fell out as its a programmed ECU kick in the back that feels great. Also to make them sound totally awesome cost like £200, just remove the stock backbox, remove 2 or 4 of the internal chambers and the car sounds wonderful it really does.
You said you drove a stock Mustang and liked that, well if you enjoyed that, I think you will love the M3, at first the engine in the M3 feels weaker, but once you wind it up it feels as strong if not stronger, combined with the DCT the M3 is actually a touch quicker than a stock Mustang. Throttle modulation is better in the M3 as well and the handling stock for stock, the M3 is better again, plus you can adjust suspension via EDC depending what kind of drive you want.
I did seriously consider an E9x M3 myself before Mustang, I still do wonder as the M3 does beat the Mustang in certain aspects, particular DCT and both engines have their unique characteristics, handling wise the BMW is better for sure, the stock Mustang needs some work to kill the rear-end float, of course once that is done they are both comparable. Mustang won me over on looks, interior, yes I prefer the interior more of an occaison and nicer in my view, but hey each to their own and the Mustang was a whole lot cheaper on the modding front and a lot more available, plus brand new witih good residuals. Still back to M3 the specification your looking at is spot on, they are great, I'd say the only thing I disliked, was the handling though good the car did not seem to make any attempt to hide its size or weight, it felt a heavy car to drive, I thought from driving it the weight was around 1700kg, but on paper it seems to be around 1580kg so was surprised by that, it felt heavier behind the wheel and I've driven a few of them now, though I bet it is easily sorted with some uprated bushes or maybe ARBs but it was just something I noticed whilst trying to throw one down some lanes.
911 or M3, such a tough choice but great to be in such a position. Heart would say M3 for that cracking V8 and soundtrack plus DCT, brain would say 911 for the sensational handling and mechanical traction levels in all weathers.
Just make sure both come with a warranty as the BMW does have some issues on the engine side and bills can be big, the 911 well they are much better now but things do break and they can be costly.
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