E46 M3 or Boxster S

philw696

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25,119
Okay all you Petrol heads I'm after something for the Summer and thinking of the above up to £10,000.
I'm sure a few of you have had experience of these cars.
Opinions and experiences welcomed.
Phil.
 

rockits

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I enjoyed my time with the 987 Boxster 3.2 S manual I had. Heartily recommended. Would be infront of an M3 for me. Should have kept it. Would always fancy another Boxster, Cayman or maybe 911 at some point.
 

philw696

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Cheers Dean
2 seats or 4 but they both still look good and a lot of car for the money.
 

Oneball

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I’d pick the M3.

An M3 is the BMW you always wanted and a 911 is the Porsche you always wanted. Not a Boxster!

Boxster engine issues especially with the S really scare me, whether that prevalent or not.

My E46 Alpina was the best car I’ve ever had. M3 is similar in many ways. Vanos and boot floor issues are the only weak points. Both well documented and neither are car killers.

E4261723-FBD6-4902-8010-80DA88B4110E.jpeg9CD38C6A-620E-477B-BC80-8E8DF3BCEF8E.jpeg
 

philw696

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Have had a E36 M3 and a Z3 M Roadster and that one ripped its 2nd boot floor out which really annoyed me.
The E36 was only a track pony that cost next to nothing.
Would only want an early 911 like my Father had and can't afford one of those.
At the minute a Boxster has me especially an Anniversary one might be a future classic.
 

philw696

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Read a fair bit about that as been doing an afternoon of research.
As we know all cars have their own little vices.
 

Contigo

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Honestly make sure you can drive the Boxster as I can't. The woeful steering position means knees either side of the wheel and then when on full lock the hands hit the knees. Plus the clutch are super stiff and horrid.

Drive before you buy Phil as you are tall.

I'd be getting a nice E46 M3 Manual (or SMG if budget is not enough) as they just drive much nicer and are more practical than the Coxster.
 

philw696

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Cheers Phil will try before buying.
Happy with a manual M3 but not driven the SMG one and was thinking are they worth having.
 

Oneball

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Cheers Phil will try before buying.
Happy with a manual M3 but not driven the SMG one and was thinking are they worth having.

I don’t like the SMG. Lots of people say “it’s great, just like a race car”, I drive race cars, it’s not! It’s like being in a car with my brother in law who side steps the clutch every time he changes gear.
 

Oneball

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If the IMS worries you just change it. Time consuming but you’ve got the skills.

It’s bore scoring that’s expensive
 

Keano

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Had the 987 Boxter S which was a great car and huge fun to drive. Great stopping power and much more enjoyable than a beemer especially as a summer fun car IMO
 

rockits

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The Boxster I bought had the upgraded bearing done by RPM so I wasn't too worried. Sh1t happens on any car....they all have their foibles and design flaws.

Go with you you want and forget all us muppets. Unless of course as Phil says there are physical issues. I'm only 6ft and not large so fitted in a Boxster fine I think they are cracking cars and never see them as a poor man's 911. What a loads of tosh that is. Like saying a Maserati is a poor man's Ferrari....total cr4p.

I just find most M bimmers a bit underwhelming and not special in the cabin. Just a dull boring samey 3 series. I've driven most M cars and had a couple. Preferred the 5's to the 3's. Always fancied a 4.0 V8 M3 though but it never fell into place.

I got 2 sets of golf clubs in a Boxster and bags in the front on a long journey golf weekend. Had a great weekend and great drive there and back. All for 10k.

Took me ages to get used to how sharp and responsive the Boxster front end was. Especially after coming out of a TT 3.2 V6 Quattro S-Tronic. Nearly hit so many inside kerbs turning in too early as used to cars less sharp and pointy.

Plenty of slip on the Boxster chassis with aids on and great balance. Not silly fast but plenty fast enough. Slow enough you can ring it out to get the best out of it. I'd certainly have another. I would have bought one instead of the TVR but need to get that TVR hankering out of my system.
 

philw696

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25,119
Cheers all.
Would happily take on a project here in France as all my gear is here and its what I do.
No rush on my part other than I would like something for the nice weather coming.
 

zagatoes30

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20,759
At the minute a Boxster has me especially an Anniversary one might be a future classic.

My mate Boxster S Anniversary and as some of the guys know he is a driving instructor a CAT @ Milbrook, other than oil surge (sorted with a baffled sump) he thinks it is as quick as anything around the Handling and Alpine tracks at Milbrook. I have been tempted by a Cayman S many times and I know at some point I will buy one.
 

philw696

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Doesn’t matter what you get, at some point you’ll be overtaken by a geriatric Frenchman in a Citroen AX with a missing front wing and no indicators.
I'm currently a pom running around in our little Renault 4 and the Jaguar XF for long distance hauls :)FB_IMG_1549220299743.jpg
 

Oneball

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That looks remarkably intact for a 30 year old French car. I’m assuming the obligatory dent is in the boot?

Have you seen the interior colour of the anniversary Boxsters?
 
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philw696

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Totally rust free the 4 and a couple of little dings.
Character we call it.
Most of the interiors on the Boxster seem to be very German being black and grey etc.
I would fancy a nice brown or dog knob red for me ;)