Replace my E46 M3 with another E46? or new shape boxster??
Discussion
I find myself in abit of a dilemma. The time has come to sell my m3 coupe smg (2003) and replace it. Initially i was going to go for a 04 or 54 plate m3 cabrio smg with all the extras like my present m3 has and hope to spend no more than my budget which is around 28-29k. But i was scanning autotrader and realised you can now pick up a new shape boxster for that money and it would be no more than 18 months to 2 years old although it would only be the 2.7 (245bhp) as apposed to the faster boxster S version. Got me thinking would that be the better buy........the new m3 is about to hit our roads late this year and if i bought a new m3 now id plan to have it at least 2 years so when the time comes to sell it surely im gonna see a big hit in the price as in 2 years time id imagine there would be a few second hand new shape m3s floating about on autotrader etc. But then there is that whole sterotypical image about boxsters being cheap mans porsches etc which may i add is complete crap as they are fantastic cars in there own right and these comments usually come from men who drive white vans for a living....ohhh i dunno.....?
would i be mad to sacrifice a 343bhp supercar beating beast for a 2 seater 245bhp boxster just because it may retain its value alittle better over the next 2 years than an m3??
what would you guys go for?
would i be mad to sacrifice a 343bhp supercar beating beast for a 2 seater 245bhp boxster just because it may retain its value alittle better over the next 2 years than an m3??
what would you guys go for?
Audi RS4. Not cheap but an amazing piece of engineering, very fast and will hold its value. Boxters are very small inside and the build quality can be suspect. Finding the right spec is pretty hard too if not buying new. New M3 will be a great car but yes you will lost upto 40% of your money over two years, ouch!
40%?!?! ouch indeed! I didnt think it would be that bad but i can see how it would be possible. So you think a 04 plate smg m3 cabrio worth 28k now with around 35k on clock would be worth roughly around 17k with around 60k on the clock in 2 years time? a 11k loss in 2 years, hmmm where as a porsche boxster 2.7 05 plate with 15k on the clock valued at 28k now is bound to be worth around 20-21.5k with around 40k on clock in 2 years.....hmm yeah looks like the porsche will definetly retain value better. I guess this is just a bad time to buy a pricey second hand m3 at the mo.
I agree, you'll struggle with the 2.7 Boxster after owning the M3! It would have to be the 3.2 minimum, currently facing the same dilemma with my E46 M3. I have been playing with the idea of a CSL, but I just don't like that SMG gearbox and for 99% of it's time will be on the public roads so I won't really have much benefit over my current M3 for the best part and they cost a fair whack more.
I have started considering the the late old shape Boxster 3.2, and newer shape 3.2 as an alternative, the only other idea is a 111R or Exige + a dull Vectra or similar for the day to day stuff but that means the majority of my driving will be spent behind the wheel of something that doesn't put a grin on my face
plus the added hassle of 2 x insurance premiums, 2 x road tax etc.
As much as I would love too, really can't stretch to an RS4. £25-35k would be all I am willing to part with, with the emphasis on the £25-30k figure ideally! That said I am fairly sure I have a NIP due in the post any day now, so may well have to totally re-think all choices again, maybe just buy something normal to get my license back on track.
I have started considering the the late old shape Boxster 3.2, and newer shape 3.2 as an alternative, the only other idea is a 111R or Exige + a dull Vectra or similar for the day to day stuff but that means the majority of my driving will be spent behind the wheel of something that doesn't put a grin on my face
plus the added hassle of 2 x insurance premiums, 2 x road tax etc. As much as I would love too, really can't stretch to an RS4. £25-35k would be all I am willing to part with, with the emphasis on the £25-30k figure ideally! That said I am fairly sure I have a NIP due in the post any day now, so may well have to totally re-think all choices again, maybe just buy something normal to get my license back on track.
Edited by markda on Saturday 24th March 23:45
I have had 2 Boxsters and one M3.
I actually managed to make money on the M3 and have been truly rogered by Porsche residuals.
Boxster 1 a 986 2.7 Which cost £35K was 4 months later £27K
Boxster 2 a 987 2.7 Which new cost £44K (I bought it for £41K at 3 months old) was 7 months later £31K
I actually managed to make money on the M3 and have been truly rogered by Porsche residuals.
Boxster 1 a 986 2.7 Which cost £35K was 4 months later £27K
Boxster 2 a 987 2.7 Which new cost £44K (I bought it for £41K at 3 months old) was 7 months later £31K
The boxster is a decent car if you're after that sort of thing but i'd personally spend the money on a BMW disel instead for a few years and then swap into a used new M3, if you need to change now that is. RS4 is a decent car, cracking grip and very neutral but doesn't handle as well and it's no faster than the current M3 in reality (around a track), does hold its value well though, i've been considering one as a replacement but i can't justify the extra for no real improvement
The old Boxster 3.2S is a better drive than an M3, handling wise and just because the engine is behind you, feels like more of an experience. However would do BMW as more of an allrounder. If you Go down the porsche route then go for a 911. More practical on the space front and reaLLY GIVES YOU SOMETHING BACK + LOOKS BETTER THAN A BOXSTER.
Tiger20 said:
The old Boxster 3.2S is a better drive than an M3, handling wise and just because the engine is behind you, feels like more of an experience. However would do BMW as more of an allrounder. If you Go down the porsche route then go for a 911. More practical on the space front and reaLLY GIVES YOU SOMETHING BACK + LOOKS BETTER THAN A BOXSTER.
second that. Spent a while looking at e46 M3s but couldn't stomach the sizeable depreciation. went for a 3.6 996 which is significantly more than I had budgeted for. will see what the depreciation is but I suspect it's less than that I forecast on current M3s.
what's the story with trading in the current m3 though? had a bit too much fun in it...
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