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      09-03-2006, 06:40 PM   #1
CobraChamp
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New M3 v. Cayman S or Boxster S

I am considering the above cars. Currently own a '03 330Ci w/ Sport pkg and 18"s. Great car & very reliable. Have always wondered about P'cars. Want to step up to a higher perf german car. I've heard really good things about the Cayman and Boxster models.

Anyone with any thoughts on this????

Thanks,
Paul
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      09-03-2006, 07:27 PM   #2
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im assuming you want a coupe car. so i'd go with the cayman S if you could afford it. the boxster S is very good too.

too early to judge though, since m3 isn't out yet.
best bet is to test drive all 3 when you get the chance.
but generally porsche is more sport then BMW.
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      09-04-2006, 01:57 AM   #3
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If you're not dying to get a new car, I say wait for the new M3. After which you can do a comparison between them, I would either go for the new M3 or Cayman S, not a fans of the Boxster S.

Yeah as previous post says, the Porsche is generally more sportier than a BMW.
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      09-04-2006, 10:48 AM   #4
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I'm not dying to get a new car, just looking to make some early comparisons.
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      09-04-2006, 03:29 PM   #5
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the power alone in the e46 M3 is better than the both porsche cars you mentioned. If the 08 has handling like the e46 ZCP, there is no comparison...M3 hands-down. I sell both P cars and BMW. The brakes are better on the M3 currently and should be better on the 08. In the handling department, I think the Cayman with PASM & ceramics and the e46 M3 ZCP are pretty much on par. The 08 M3 will be more in the league of a 997 S, if not better.
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      09-09-2006, 02:10 PM   #6
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Cayman and Boxster both have world class 6 cylinder engines, but the new M3 will have that V8!! That for me makes the choice clear. You can take it for granted that the M3 will handle as good as any M model ever has, and pair that up with a BMW V8, it will be something amazing.
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      09-12-2006, 09:49 AM   #7
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M3 will walk over Cayman S..
Cayman S needs 3.8 boxer in there, but Porsche won;t do it until 911 gets refresh and possibly engine upgrades..
Caymans S with 3.8 would be a good competitor, but as of right now, e92 M3 will be a faster car in a straightline... (those those of u who r into this).. Handling dept will have to wait until official release and test drives are available for next gen. M3.
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      09-13-2006, 03:07 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by david06M3 View Post
the power alone in the e46 M3 is better than the both porsche cars you mentioned. If the 08 has handling like the e46 ZCP, there is no comparison...M3 hands-down. I sell both P cars and BMW. The brakes are better on the M3 currently and should be better on the 08. In the handling department, I think the Cayman with PASM & ceramics and the e46 M3 ZCP are pretty much on par. The 08 M3 will be more in the league of a 997 S, if not better.
don't all 3 cars have about the same 0-60 and quarter miles???

I really doubt the e46 ZHP has the same handling as a Porsche that weight 400 lbs less and has bigger stickier tires on it.

There's a reason the P cars can post higher slalom and skidpad numbers in every mag.

M3's a good car, but c'mon give me a break
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      09-29-2006, 07:54 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ward View Post
don't all 3 cars have about the same 0-60 and quarter miles???

I really doubt the e46 ZHP has the same handling as a Porsche that weight 400 lbs less and has bigger stickier tires on it.

There's a reason the P cars can post higher slalom and skidpad numbers in every mag.

M3's a good car, but c'mon give me a break
ZCP (M3) with 19", not ZHP (330). I was really looking forward to driving the Cayman when it first came to our dealership. I must say that I was let down because I really wanted a Porsche. I ordered another M3 instead. These are my impressions based on actually driving the the cars. I could care less about what a magazine says because I'm making the payment not Car & Driver. The brakes on the cayman are not as responsive as the ZCP, and the power isn't as good as the M3 either even for a car that weighs 400lbs less. So when I came out of the turns which were even by my judgment the M3 left the Cayman behind. A co-worker dusted me in a 335 while I watched in vain from the Cayman I was driving. Porsche could make the cayman so much better by just adding some hp and torque, but they didn't.
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      10-05-2006, 12:13 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Terps View Post
Cayman and Boxster both have world class 6 cylinder engines, but the new M3 will have that V8!! That for me makes the choice clear. You can take it for granted that the M3 will handle as good as any M model ever has, and pair that up with a BMW V8, it will be something amazing.
agreed. you don't want to miss out on a bmw v8!
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      10-05-2006, 08:46 PM   #11
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I would say Cayman or a boxster would be a good pick over the M3. The driving feel is different. I have a 986 Boxster and i love it. On the track....the driving feels different from any other cars. The mid engine let you gas during the turn....
Quote:
Originally Posted by CobraChamp View Post
I am considering the above cars. Currently own a '03 330Ci w/ Sport pkg and 18"s. Great car & very reliable. Have always wondered about P'cars. Want to step up to a higher perf german car. I've heard really good things about the Cayman and Boxster models.

Anyone with any thoughts on this????

Thanks,
Paul
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      10-05-2006, 08:47 PM   #12
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BUT! for daily i would still say go for the M3.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CobraChamp View Post
I am considering the above cars. Currently own a '03 330Ci w/ Sport pkg and 18"s. Great car & very reliable. Have always wondered about P'cars. Want to step up to a higher perf german car. I've heard really good things about the Cayman and Boxster models.

Anyone with any thoughts on this????

Thanks,
Paul
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      10-21-2006, 08:27 AM   #13
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Hi,

Please also consider the BMW Z4 M Coupé. It beats both Cayman S and Boxter S on the track and in straight line, has an excellent, mature inline six with 343hp and 365Nm of torque, and it is probably the most fun BMW to drive of all the currently available BMW's. It would be more in line as a competitor to these two cars (or the Z4 M Roadster if you wish to compare to the Boxter), as they're all 2-seaters.

The M3 will be a totally different show, it will tear the heart out of the Z4 M Coupé in terms of technology and performance, as the Z4 M still uses cockpit technology from the E46 series, it's not a very high-tech car. I believe the Z4 M Coupé was compared to a very hot chili pepper, and I'd have to agree, that's what it is. If you can't afford or don't want to spend on the Z4 M Coupé (or don't want to wait for it - currently the waitlists for it in Europe are quite long), the 130i with the M Sport kit and all options would be your second choice. Do NOT make the mistake of going for the Z4 3.0si Coupé, as it has electronic power steering (that the M models do NOT have), and the electronic power steering makes it a very bad car as far as drivability - it does not feel like a BMW at all. The same applies for Z4 Roadster 3.0si and 2.5si, 2.5i and 2.0i, they all have the electric power steering and they're horrible for it.

It tells you a lot how bad the electric power steering is, because when M GmbH took the Z4 to make the M model, the power steering was the first thing they threw out, to replace with a normal BMW rack and pinion traditional hydraulic steering.

Best regards,

Jussi
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      10-21-2006, 08:46 AM   #14
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Thanks guys for all your comments. I drove them all and decided to get an '06 M3 ZCP w/ SMG, Nav. This definitely handles and brakes on par with the P-cars and has much more seat of the pants acceleration. I drive so much, I'll probably be looking for new car in '09.

Thanks for all your help!!!



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      10-21-2006, 09:05 AM   #15
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What a shame you didn't consider the Z4 M's. You should have looked at the Z4 M Coupé, because they're in the same class as the Cayman or Boxter. And it is what the E46 M3 should have been - much more fun. Anyway, E46 M3 is still kind of fun these days (even though I enjoy even a 130i M Sport more, the E46 chassis is just too boring and heavy after all these years)

Best regards,

Jussi
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      10-21-2006, 09:34 AM   #16
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Jussi,
I did (extensively) consider the Z4 M. It is a fine car, but it just looks wrong in my opinion. I don't care for the rear of the car. Also, this is my daily driver, so it is nice to have 4 seats when needed. My real race car is a track prepared, Factory Five Cobra roadster with 450HP & TQ at all of 2100lbs. So for real performance, I'm not driving the e46 M anyway.


I'm sorry you're not happy with my decision. Sounds like you're either a current or future Z4 M owner and thats what makes the world go around.

Paul

PS I'd love to visit your beautiful country one day. I love the way you guys stay out of all the worlds power struggles.
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      10-21-2006, 09:47 AM   #17
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Hi, Sorry if I hurt your feelings,

No, I am not a current or future Z4 M Coupé owner, I just liked it much better when I test drove it for 2 days some time ago, than the E46 M3 which is getting old (in my mind.) What is important is that YOU are happy with your decision, it's your car after all. It just seemed from previous posts you hadn't considered the Z4 M. If you did, and think the M3 fits you better, all the more power to you. After all, cars should be about what we want individually. I'm waiting for the E92 M3 myself.

Happy driving with the E46 M3, it's still a mean machine, no doubt. The S54B32 is probably one of the best engines of all time. 6 Engine of the year awards so far, every year since it's release. I love it.

Best regards,

Jussi
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