which to buy used? (911 / M3 / C63 amg)

[porterror]

Need some help deciding. Currently looking to spend $40-$50k on a used car in the area. CPO or non-CPO, still deciding. I've come up with a list of 3 cars that I think fit my needs.

My situation

- Children: One girl (2 years) / One boy (on the way in Jan), wife has a new SUV that we use 100% of the time for going out with the kids

- car purchasing ~Spring 2013

- invited to at least 3-5 member only track days a year. Currently have to borrow my manager's Cayman S, but would like to get a track worthy car for sessions.

- only drive about 10 miles a day to work, but would primarly use this car on weekends for fun

Needs

- to be track worthy

- between $40-$50k

- obviously looking for lowest mileage / best maintained

- some sort of backseat room for car sets (if I had to transport my kids in emergency)

- not sure if CPO would help if I'm keeping this new car low mileage and if tracking the car would void CPO?

My opinions on the 3 choices I've come to...

Porsche 911 (996/997)

Pros:

- Most Balanced of the bunch

- Probably quickest on the track

- Actually a good amount available in the area

- Already fimiliar with driving Cayman/911 around the track

- Best styling

Cons:

- uber small backseat

- most expensive to purchase / maintain

- will probably have to buy higher mileage to get within $40-$50k range

- not sure it will pass the wife test

BMW M3 (e92) - Coupe/Sedan

Pros:

- Amazing engine sound

- Backseat Room in both Coupe/Sedan

- Great track times

- Probably best daily driver

Cons:

- lots of M3s around here

- becoming hard to find

- $ marked up / popular

Mercedes-Benz c63 AMG

Pros:

- More amazing engine sound

- Most backseat room

- Most HP/Torque, Raw power

- Fastest strait line performance

Cons:

- Auto only

- gas mileage (but, not too concerned)

- very heavy car and probably least track worthy

I've test drove all of them and love each one. But, which one fits my situation the best? Sorry for long post...

[phillipj]

Man that is really hard to say...Why not get all three! As much as I'm a Porsche fanatic I would think the M3 might suit your needs best. It a great car. Kids and the Porsche may not work that well...

That being said Lots of peoplle have 911's and kids and get along just fine..

And for $50k you can get a sweet 997 S with relatively low miles....Might even want to look for a 4S. look at 2006+ cars.. Too many issues with the 05's...

Here is an example riight on this very site... http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/42589-2006-carrera-4s-for-sale/

Good luck with whatever you decide.. Those are all great cars. But the Benz is kind of a pig...(handling wise.)

Edited September 20, 2012 by phillipj

[biopsea]

regardless of which you choose, go with a CPO car. The Merc is my least favorite.

[brendel]

I have 2 kids, 4 and 7 and we go everyday to school with the 997C4S, I bought inflatable seat boosters ( bubble bum or something like that) they fit nicely and don't damage the car

Regarding the choice of cars, the porsche will be more sportive and less comfortable for everyday use than a Mercedes or audi or BMW...

If you want a week end car for occasional track days the porsche is the best choice

Best value for money is the 997 C2S with manual gearshift, models after 2006 seem not to have the IMS issue, in all cases buy it at porsche with the guarantee, so you can sleep at night, I had many free fixes on my car and some could have been very expensive

The essential options are Porsche Sport Exhaust, Sport Plus mode, all the rest is a question of taste and frankly not needed ( leather dashboard though is beautiful )

A 996 is also a nice car, but look at this this way, the 996 is the gen 1 and the 997 is the gen 2 with many touch ups that makes it even better, in which the interior

If you intend to sell the car after a couple of years, best is to choose, black or silver, no fancy interior colors, manual gearbox, and most import low mileage, high mileage porsche are simply not selling