[michaeldorian]

Thought exercise. As a primary road street car experience.

Limited Edition. BMW M2 CS with Carbon Ceramics and manual. MSRP. 94k. Only 400 or so cars coming to the states. There are only a handful of cars left in the country before they are gone. Predicted to be an instant classic and one of the best drivers BMW yet. You also get a modern car with modern things that’s not approaching 7 years old.

Stretching your budget a bit into the low 100’s gets you into a 14/15 .1 GT3 moderately specced. Is the GT3 that much better and more fun as a road car.

I understand they are in different classes hence the thought exercise. What would you spend your 100k on and why? I’m sure Porsche fans were once BMW fans at some point in our lives.

Discuss!

[to_riffic]

Keep saving your money, and get a .2. That'd be where my money would go. Plus, it's PDK only and I'd only get a GT3 if it's a manual.

[ptgltw]

100k budget....just remember no one builds a car like Porsche

All depends on what you want to do. Those here in the forum, unless they own a GT3, obviously chose to get the M2 CS.

[Higgs Boson]

There are a lot of trashed GT3's out there, squeaky and rattley, tracked, etc. Going for the cheapest GT3 is not going to be a great idea. Figure 130 for a semi-decent GT3 and 160 for a nice one (maybe a couple years newer).

Bumping from an M2cs to a GT3 is not a 10k dollar proposition, especially considering the M2cs is very nice, brand new, feels a lot better on the road (I drive GT3's on a fairly regular basis), etc.

The Porsche premium is real but they do operate in a niche. Rear engine layout, they don't have direct apples to apples competition so they can charge more and people pay it all day. Porsches are great, I love them and I plan to add a GT2RS to my garage once I hit a couple more financial goals, but getting a GT3 over the M2cs is not going to "make you happier."

PS, GT3's don't feel fast either. They have no torque and even up around 7-9k rpm they don't hit you in the chest like a lot of modern cars, even NA V8's. I wouldn't go around corners on the street fast enough to feel an advantage between a GT3 and M2 either.

On track, that's another story where you can push it, but this is a street thread.

[msmatt]

Had a Signal Green .1 GT3 (replaced w/ .2), still have the CS, so here's my take:

GT3's are hard to enjoy on the road, they are so darned fast and competent, really you can't do much at US road speeds or slightly more. Can you daily this car, yes, but I think you can get away with more in the CS.

From a technical perspective the GT3 kills the CS:

• 9K rpm redline, and when you hear that motor shift there, the hair on the back of your neck stands up. CS, is better than F80, but this motor doesn't sound great.
• PDK is much better than DCT, really feels like a clutch that you control with your hands. More rev and slip, shifts better and you can do a dual paddle pull to rev the engine.
• I think the ride is slightly better in the GT3, firm but supple. CS is much better than recent M cars, but still not like the older stuff.

The CS looks great and the steering is really bright, so it just works around town and all the carbon is beautiful plus you don't have to deal with Centerlocks although they aren't really that bad.

The perfect combo is both..... but one can't have too many cars in my opinion.

[mfarrzhp]

Definitely two different cars. You can pick up a McLaren MP4-12C for about $110K, so why not through that in the mix? You've got a track weapon that runs the 1/4 in the 10s and beats the CS by a large margin in every metric except rear seats. Well, that and maintenance expense.

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

There are a lot of trashed GT3's out there, squeaky and rattley, tracked, etc. Going for the cheapest GT3 is not going to be a great idea. Figure 130 for a semi-decent GT3 and 160 for a nice one (maybe a couple years newer).

Bumping from an M2cs to a GT3 is not a 10k dollar proposition, especially considering the M2cs is very nice, brand new, feels a lot better on the road (I drive GT3's on a fairly regular basis), etc.

The Porsche premium is real but they do operate in a niche. Rear engine layout, they don't have direct apples to apples competition so they can charge more and people pay it all day. Porsches are great, I love them and I plan to add a GT2RS to my garage once I hit a couple more financial goals, but getting a GT3 over the M2cs is not going to "make you happier."

PS, GT3's don't feel fast either. They have no torque and even up around 7-9k rpm they don't hit you in the chest like a lot of modern cars, even NA V8's. I wouldn't go around corners on the street fast enough to feel an advantage between a GT3 and M2 either.

On track, that's another story where you can push it, but this is a street thread.

Thanks for this feedback. Totally why I was asking here.

I was looking at a fully optioned super clean never tracked 991.1 that we agreed to 110k on. Super clean. 25k miles. Just doesn't have buckets cause it's a 2015. The idea was to drive it and try to win the lotto on a G6 motor.

I drove a .2 but it was at the track and it blew my mind. But never a .1. No matter what most say, you spend so much time driving on the road. It has to be fun!

[ryem3]

Drive the .1. Yes, they have great redline but no torque. The .2 was a major improvement. The values are lower, because they aren’t worth as much. On the street, an m2 is more fun.

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by ryem3

Drive the .1. Yes, they have great redline but no torque. The .2 was a major improvement. The values are lower, because they aren’t worth as much. On the street, an m2 is more fun.

That much of a difference? You've driven both? Yeah I'm actually leaning towards the m2 CS as it's limited, cheaper and from the sounds of it more fun.

I've always wanted a GT3. Literally desktop wallpaper car for years. But wonder if I'm making decisions too emotionally.

[medphysdave]

My thoughts owning a CS and having driven a well worn GT3 on track. The GT3 had rattles and squeaks, but there was no denying how great the car felt. I can tolerate the imperfections for a track car, but not on a daily. The usability of the CS is ridiculously great for what you are getting. Very capable, 4 seats, full trunk, etc. The CS gives me a very similar feel to the GT3 I drove. Different limits, but the visceral feel is there in both. The GT3 exhaust howell is amazing. I'd get one with PDK. My CS is a 6MT.

If you don't need the usability and a two seater is acceptable.

1. Are you planning to start building a stable of cars?
2. Are you interested in limited run collectables?

You won't be able to pick up a new CS in the future. GT3 will be around and new ones will be produced.

The GT3 is kind of a rare bird anyway. Yes, it's not a special addition, but it's not an M4 either.

Would I own a GT3? At some point I probably will.

At $160k I'm likely looking at a used 458. At 110k-120k I might give the GT3 a go.

The CS IMHO is not the ego stroker that is. GT3, 458, mclaren. It's for the folks that know themselves, and know what they want. A lot say it costs too much, but I say it's quite the bargain.

[ChiTownM]

I agree on CS being a bargain. I love the GT3 and have a deposit down for a future allocation. I would make very sure that you won't have buyers remorse buying a gen 1 vs gen 2. I agree with previous posters that they are two very different "feeling" cars.

As funny as it may seem to some people, I was cross shopping the gen 1, gen 2 and GT4 against the CS. Once I realized how inflated the market is for gen 2 and used GT4, I didn't even think twice about the CS. During that process I also decided that a gen 1 will eventually create buyers remorse. I do have a good friend with a gen 2 and the prices for those, especially manual or touring, have dramatically risen.

I am stocked that I got the CS in my exact spec, while a used GT3 would most likely require compromises.

Either way, good luck!

[mchart]

I'd spec the CS with the standard steel brakes if being used a track car, which increases the price gap. The carbon ceramics offered here on this platform just don't have the cooling to be worth it.

On an actual track, yeah, the GT3 is the better car. No question. Most people cross-shopping these two cars are doing most of their miles on public roads, however. On a public road, the CS is the better choice if you value comfort, functionality, and cost of ownership. Not to mention being rare. The CS is going to be desirable for years, and rarer than any R8, McLaren, etc you see on the road.

The reality is that you'd be better off just getting a M2C for real track duty anyways, given the amount of changes you'd need to do on a real track car anyways. Or just get the M2 CS Racing which sits at around $100k anyways, granted, not street legal.

[ScullyD]

Originally Posted by mfarrzhp

Definitely two different cars. You can pick up a McLaren MP4-12C for about $110K, so why not through that in the mix? You've got a track weapon that runs the 1/4 in the 10s and beats the CS by a large margin in every metric except rear seats. Well, that and maintenance expense.

Not unless you have another $10k per year of ownership (at least) to maintain it. Maybe more if something goes wrong.

[ptgltw]

I turned down a gt3 allocation at $20 k over

The “problem” with gt3 and Porsche in general is their next generation is always better

Your always chasing a better car

You won’t be doing that if you owned an m2 CS and liked the m2 body style.

But the new 992 gt3 is a game changer. It’s that good but their next one will be a step above it for sure.

[msmatt]

Originally Posted by ptgltw

I turned down a gt3 allocation at $20 k over

The “problem” with gt3 and Porsche in general is their next generation is always better

Your always chasing a better car

You won’t be doing that if you owned an m2 CS and liked the m2 body style.

But the new 992 gt3 is a game changer. It’s that good but their next one will be a step above it for sure.

Totally true, next GT car is almost a definite better car, but next BMW is always a crap shoot.......

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by medphysdave

My thoughts owning a CS and having driven a well worn GT3 on track. The GT3 had rattles and squeaks, but there was no denying how great the car felt. I can tolerate the imperfections for a track car, but not on a daily. The usability of the CS is ridiculously great for what you are getting. Very capable, 4 seats, full trunk, etc. The CS gives me a very similar feel to the GT3 I drove. Different limits, but the visceral feel is there in both. The GT3 exhaust howell is amazing. I'd get one with PDK. My CS is a 6MT.

If you don't need the usability and a two seater is acceptable.

1. Are you planning to start building a stable of cars?
2. Are you interested in limited run collectables?

You won't be able to pick up a new CS in the future. GT3 will be around and new ones will be produced.

The GT3 is kind of a rare bird anyway. Yes, it's not a special addition, but it's not an M4 either.

Would I own a GT3? At some point I probably will.

At $160k I'm likely looking at a used 458. At 110k-120k I might give the GT3 a go.

The CS IMHO is not the ego stroker that is. GT3, 458, mclaren. It's for the folks that know themselves, and know what they want. A lot say it costs too much, but I say it's quite the bargain.

1. I was not planning on building a stable of cars. I'm usually a 1 fun car 1 practical super beater car type of person. Don't have the kind of money where I can spread it out like that.

2. Yeah, not looking at either car as an ego type of car. Like you said. Plenty of other cars are better for that. Of the 2 that are the least, GT3 and M2 easily fall in those categories. Most non car people think there just regular cars. I kind of like that. For flossing, so many other choices!

3. Yeah. I would get one in PDK too. I actually think the manual in that car doesn't fit it's character.

[Bimmed Out]

Get the M2 CS or save a bit more for a 991.2 GT3 with better engine and the correct number of pedals.

[mfarrzhp]

Originally Posted by ScullyD

Not unless you have another $10k per year of ownership (at least) to maintain it. Maybe more if something goes wrong.

I know. I was exaggerating. The cost of ownership is killer. And it's nowhere near a daily driver.

I'd love to add a GT3 as a third car one day, but I've also had plenty of seat time in one and it's just not as much fun unless you can really push it. It's nearly impossible to do on the street unless you go out to the middle of nowhere.

For now, the CS is the most car I can get for what I want/need.

[kyrocks]

GT3 is my favorite. By far.

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by kyrocks

GT3 is my favorite. By far.

What a garage!

[kyrocks]

Originally Posted by michaeldorian

What a garage!

Thank you. The CS is the better daily driver and more practical. It is the best all around sporty car.

[msmatt]

Originally Posted by kyrocks

GT3 is my favorite. By far.

Great combo!