Performance car choices circa £30k

Having been firmly in the BMW M3 corner for a number of years, I fancy a change. What I’m after is not just performance, looks and excellent build quality, but good resale value, long service intervals, minimal known manufacturer faults and something unique about the car. Of course, I am sticking German!

So, the current line up includes: –
BMW M3 (E46 CSL)
3.2 litre straight six with around 360 bhp, fantastic handling, acceleration but not very comfortable and only available with an SMG box.

BMW M6
5 litre V10 with 507 bhp, comfortable, good looking, high quality interior but looks boring standard and have heard of issues with the vanos and again SMG box.
BMW M6 Convertible

BMW Z4M Coupe
3.2 litre straight six with 340 bhp (same engine as E46 M3), 2 seater, real sports car feel, fantastic handling, available with a manual. No complaints really, a bit more noise would be nice as can be said from the E46 M3,

Mercedes SL55 AMG
5.4 litre V8 with 500 bhp, amazing acceleration noise (sounds like thunder!), good looks, very comfortable but Mercedes build quality which includes issues with wheel sensors, interior trim rattle, pumps and very minor parts. I could live with this for the noise alone.
Mercedes SL AMG

Porsche 911 (930 turbo)
3.3 litre flat 6 with 330 bhp, reasonably high servicing/running costs, however they do look fantastic.
930 Turbo

Porsche 911 (964 turbo)
3.3 or 3.6 litre engines ranging in power from 330 bhp – 380 bhp, phenominal road presence (Bad Boys film), little known faults with the car but you sit very close to the windsreen and in right hand drive, sit a little sideways.

Porsche 911 (993 C2s, C4s or turbo)
3.6 S engines with 285 bhp and the turbo with 380 bhp, last of the air cooled 911’s and prices seem very stable to on the increase. Not much interior differences to the 964 but everything feels very well made and nearly over engineered – certainly not a complaint.
993 Carrera

Porsche 911 (996 GT3 or Turbo)
3.6 litre 380 bhp (GT3), 420 bhp (turbo), 3.6 litre engines of similar design to the 993 engines and therefore no engine issues. Not a fan of 996 interior quality or the over sized head lights but at current prices these cars offer alot for the money. The reason for not including the Carrera’s is that I hear they are prone to engine troubles.

Porsche 911 (997 C2s)
3.8 litre 380 bhp, best looking 911 in my view with very good interior quailty and finish – feels like the old air cooled days of over engineering. Porsche 911 Carrera S

There is certainly, good reasons to stick with the E46 M3 or move to the E90 as I’ve never had any problems but I do fancy a change.

Any thoughts or other recommendations welcome.

2 thoughts on “Performance car choices circa £30k”

  1. Porsche 911 info from the UK’s largest Porsche dealership: –

    Mr Srivastava,

    Thank you for your recent enquiry. There is some truth in the matter regards Rear Main Oils seals on the 996 model rather than the 997 models, the problem occurred with the pre face lift models thus pre 2001 models. the latter engines more refined and better reliability being the 1st water cooled engines in the 911.

    I would not have any concerns regards the 997 model but with there being over 100,000 997s in circulation now and the engine was a development of the previous model of which a similar number were produced. There is no inherent fault with the engines and either model of car should provide the driving enjoyment you desire.

    Regards

    Stefan Loots

    Porsche Specialist
    Porsche Centre Guildford
    Woodbridge Meadows, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1BD
    Telephone: 01483 408800
    Direct Dial: 01483 408854
    Fax Number: 01483 408822

    Email: stefan.loots@porscheguildford.co.uk
    Web: http://www.porsche.co.uk/guildford

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