Bye bye M Coupe

Bye bye M Coupe

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jamieo

Original Poster:

180 posts

218 months

Thursday 17th August 2006
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After over 80k miles and 6.5 years I said goodbye to my M Coupe this week - now replaced by a Boxster S.

It's been really sad to let it go, it was a wonderful car - if anyone is thinking of getting one that I'd highly recommend it. Very practical to own and run - I used it every day and for all occasions. And of course v quick.

How does it compare to the Boxster? It's a mans car, the Boxster is a bit girlie in comparison. The M Coupe feels a lot faster, it always feels like it's got more urge, the Boxster doesn't deliver the same, it's got some initial thrust, but then it peters out a bit, the M always felt like you had more to go. In reality I expect they're not that different on the road. The M's brakes felt a lot more positive, again it's more of a feel thing.

The steering is a hard one, the M has a much more weighty feel to it, you feel the width of the front tyres and you have to work a bit at steering. You felt like you muscled it into a corner - not that it understeered a lot, just that there was weight in the steering. The Boxster is far lighter, and very much quicker to turn in - in a way that makes it feel less stable. The Boxster doesn't feel like it has the same grip and is as planted - but it performs as well. In that way it's a bit more exciting to drive hard. I've been surprised that the Boxster is much more ready to break the back end away that the M. With the M you could kick the back end out with power, but it v rarely happened due to the car being unsettled. The Boxster is quite easy to unsettle and have it swing round on you I've found.

I've also found the Boxster to be surprisingly quiet - you have to get it about 5k revs before you really hear the engine/exhaust.

V different cars and experiences, both pretty great.

In summary though, my girlfriend hated driving the M Coupe, found it difficult and stressful, the Boxster she finds v easy. Like I said, girls car

J

dick dastardly

8,316 posts

269 months

Thursday 17th August 2006
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6.5 years? Well done, I'm currently 10 months into M Coupe ownership and am loving the little thing. I'm having trouble thinking about what to upgrade to in the future because for the money there isn't much which offers the same performance.

jamieo

Original Poster:

180 posts

218 months

Thursday 17th August 2006
quotequote all
That was why I had it so long - how to replace it?

I got a Porsche 964 RS about a year ago, amazing car but you really can't live with it day to day, it's just a toy and fun thing. Got Boxster too now as every day car - M was getting old. Only competition was a 996 911 - but so much more $$$ to buy and run. Not much else compares to M. Even then, nothing compares to wacky looks and attention you get - apart from TVRs, but you can't really run those in the same way.

I took a look at new Z4 M Coupe. Didn't have that same charisma of wacky looks and boot space was a lot less and not as practical. Cayman S is good competition for that though.

M Coupe is too overlooked a car I reckon. Enjoy yours

rob05

1,194 posts

234 months

Thursday 17th August 2006
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Good choice the boxster is a great car.
I've had three and the 987s was the best handling car I've ever owned and would keep up with almost anything on a country road my M3 is very lardy by comparison.
You will find all Porsche's are rather light at high speeds and no where near as planted as the m cars apart from the 4WD drive versions.
Lots of mods you can do if you want to go down that route enjoy your new toy.

bmwdrivernigel

8,596 posts

230 months

Thursday 17th August 2006
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jamieo said:
That was why I had it so long - how to replace it?

I got a Porsche 964 RS about a year ago, amazing car but you really can't live with it day to day, it's just a toy and fun thing. Got Boxster too now as every day car - M was getting old. Only competition was a 996 911 - but so much more $$$ to buy and run. Not much else compares to M. Even then, nothing compares to wacky looks and attention you get - apart from TVRs, but you can't really run those in the same way.

I took a look at new Z4 M Coupe. Didn't have that same charisma of wacky looks and boot space was a lot less and not as practical. Cayman S is good competition for that though.

M Coupe is too overlooked a car I reckon. Enjoy yours


Jamie are you from Windsor, there used to be a Blue M around the corner from my outlaws, and now a porker on his drive?

BRoCceRs

3,236 posts

259 months

Thursday 17th August 2006
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Good write up

Plenty of people keep their Ms a long long time. Mines in for a total respray next week as I plan on keeping it a while yet.

jamieo

Original Poster:

180 posts

218 months

Friday 18th August 2006
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bmwdrivernigel said:

Jamie are you from Windsor, there used to be a Blue M around the corner from my outlaws, and now a porker on his drive?


No I'm not, but not far from there. It was a silver one. Always liked the estoril blue colour though, had an E36 M3 in that colour.

Gibo993

963 posts

271 months

Friday 18th August 2006
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I went from a 993 C2 to an M Coupe then to an M5 (e39) and now have a 996

M Coupe was my fave by a long shot, but I did love the M5 too, not so happy with the 996 it just feels too slow after the punch of the M5