My story: The M road to Porsche

[ES_TRADER]

I used to be an active member of this forum but life and work just got too overwhelming these past years. Been extremely busy and fortunately have gained a little free time with all stay at home orders in place giving me more time to check in on the forums. I wanted to take some time to document my progression to the Porsche brand so maybe in the future i can look back and remember these feelings.

Ever since high school, my best friend at the time drove an e36M3. It was coolest thing I thought i ever saw at the time and it's where my desire for BMW cars stemmed from. It wasn't until college i was able to purchase an e46 330ci, ordered brand new from the dealer. It was the greatest feeling, my first Bmw. I remember going to the dealer that day and saw the e46 M3 on display and boy was it a spectacular sight but around 60k at the time, it was not affordable for me. The E46 was my daily driver during my college years and ill never forget the time i saw a 997GT3 in speed yellow parked in the lot everyday. I was in awe and dreamed of owning one everytime i saw it. The pipes in the center, the massive wing, its low stance. Amazing!

The thing about Bmw cars i love is the firmness of the ride and chassis and the "thud" it makes every time you change lanes and it goes over those bumps. To me it just feels like a rock solid sturdy car. The near perfect weight distribution and nearly flat cornering; no other brands I've driven at the time felt as good as BMW, even the non E46. Prior to Bmw i was driving an import car and constantly tuning the suspension and exhaust to achieve something close to the feel of a BMW. No matter how hard i tried, it just wasn't satisfying. Looking back, should have just bought an M car to begin with and be done. I hated the constant desire to tune a vehicle and never be satisfied in the long run.

Fast forward to 2010 and this forum helped me a lot and got me in touch with Steve Thomas BMW where I purchased my first M car, E92M3, ZCP DCT. My review is probably here still. I loved this thing, the roaring high revving V8, the lighting speed shifts of the DCT, and the rock solid steering and suspension. That "thud" feeling from the E36/E46 was just as good. My only regret with this car was that it wasn't a manual. The more i drove it i wished and lusted for a manual because the DCT just got too boring and numb. While i had the E92, my desire for a manual car led me to search for an E36 M3. I found one with 80k miles and purchased it. Amazing car in 2010 when you think about how old it was. It was a blast to drive.

5 years later, garage was getting full, work was getting busy, and reaching in a two door to load/unload an infant was just not working. Sold the two M cars and ordered a F80M3 in 6MT. When i saw the car, i felt in love with the look. The aggressive stance, the rear fenders (LOVE), the front end. It was also a blast to drive, since finally in got my 6spd. The torque on this is incredible. I though i would miss the screaming V8 but I didn't. The torque was just right and a pleasure every time. I dont know if its because i had the first year model but i did wish i had the ZCP. The suspension i felt was soft and hollow feeling. Even in sport mode, it just wasn't great. The steering was light and loose, e92 m was far better. The whole car just didn't feel as planted at the past generations of Ms I've owned. I told myself i was going to wait for the new generation coming around the corner before i made a decision on what to do with this car. I just loved the manual though. It got to a point where i was driving this thing from once a week to one a month and just sat in garage for the past 3 years. Just hanging on waiting for the new release. During this period I bought an X5M for the wife to haul the kids around and recently traded it in for a F90M5. I got the 2020 Sienna for myself and was more interested in driving that than my f80. Priorities just change when you have kids. To me it was more awesome to push a button and have the doors slide open to load the kids than it was to tool around in a 6mtf80.

Due to COVID19 and the closure of the world, we sat at home on the weekends with nothing to do but shop online and drive aimlessly around the backroads. I started surfing the internet for Porsches with no intent to buy one. just browsing...Ive always been apprehensive to test drive a Porsche because of fear of how much i would like it. Reading a lot of reviews and watching videos on YouTube, i always thought i would want it the moment i drove one, so i never test drove one. It would make the M car feel like a regular sedan. Three weeks ago, i happen to come across a CPO 18 GT3 that barely had miles on it. Had free time and went down to the dealer to check it out. WOW, it was a Beauty. I mean still smelled brand new inside. Took it for 20 min test drive with the salesman and i was hooked! Wow what a car. I mean, its not even a car, its a RACE CAR.

M cars are amazing but the Pcar is on another level. Thanks for reading my post, here are some pictures.

TLDR: it took me 10 years but i finally got the GT3

[Aaaaaaaaa]

I mean we’re all doing this when the G80 comes out and it’s too ugly right.

[Maitre_Absolut]

Good write up.

Kids do change priorities but I dont know about that Sienna phase lol. F80 does the job well enough.

Porsche is a natural progression, I did it but came back, will eventually land in a 911 GTS 4 in a couple of years. GT3 is the pinnacle you have only Fcar left lol.

[JSal335is]

Congrats on the COVID-19 purchase! I myself was apprehensive of going for a test drive for a car. Although with the amount of provided free time browsing dealer inventories online and snacking watching YouTube videos until late nights, one weekend i just went for a test drive and later that moment I was leaving the dealership in an M3. Love the color!

[TrauCon]

Originally Posted by Maitre_Absolut

Good write up.

Kids do change priorities but I dont know about that Sienna phase lol. F80 does the job well enough.

Still keep the F80 but going to get a Sienna myself soon. The 2021 model just got announced a couple of hours ago.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by SD ///M3

I mean we're all doing this when the G80 comes out and it's too ugly right.

Well yeah. And when g80 comes f80 price will drop like a rock. I got a good number on my sale.

[65fastback]

I am beginning to wonder if something is terribly wrong with me, i dont lust after P cars at all.
Maybe someday i guess?

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by Maitre_Absolut

Good write up.

Kids do change priorities but I dont know about that Sienna phase lol. F80 does the job well enough.

Porsche is a natural progression, I did it but came back, will eventually land in a 911 GTS 4 in a couple of years. GT3 is the pinnacle you have only Fcar left lol.

Here's the sienna with nighthawk pkg. we have a thing for white cars and black wheels...the f80,f90,and sienna all matched. Tried to get the gt the same but GT silver was just too tempting

[swagon]

991.2 GT3 either with or without wing, in Miami Blue and with three pedals, has been my number one fav car ever since its release... alongside the F80.

Congrats and enjoy.

[DanG]

I also have never had an inkling to get a P car. Very happy with my M2.

[Mar48]

Awesome man! Congrats on the GT3! If I didn't have a young kiddo that would be my ideal fun car.

[Keca10]

Did you trade the F80 in for the GT3?

[VisualEcho]

Beautiful GT3, save for the brakes and gargantuan rear spoiler.

[Flacht3]

Nice pickup and congrats!

GT Silver is an amazing color...but then again I'm very biased.

Only thing you're missing are bucket seats

[///M///]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

I got the 2020 Sienna for myself and was more interested in driving that than my f80. Priorities just change when you have kids. To me it was more awesome to push a button and have the doors slide open to load the kids than it was to tool around in a 6mtf80.

I was with you till I read this. I understand priorities change but seriously dude what are you smoking? You just stated you prefer to drive a Minivan over a 4 door M3? . I have a minvan and never once would I ever and I mean ever would I prefer driving it over the M3. And yes it's a manual.

Onto the P car, the GT3 is twice the price of a new M3 so no comparison there. My only issue with it was that it was really not usable on the street. Amazing car but boring as hell below 5500 rpm. It's a track car and that's where you can truly enjoy it. Not so much on the street without hitting triple digits constantly.

[Funf6cyl]

Congrats! There are so many things about Porsches that just satisfies the way few other cars can, and, in fact, ruins pretty much everything else that isn’t one. They are as fun at 5 mph as they are at 75 mph, or lapping a track with insane capability.

It’s also nice to see a manufacturer who can still build a screaming NA engine. I much prefer NA to most of the boring turbo engines that sounds bad (by and large) and don’t deliver anything but low end torque and a lackluster experience otherwise.

[Point2Point]

Congrats on the GT3!

I got a F80 M3 as a daily last year. It’s garage mate to a 997.2 GT3 that I’ve owned for the past four years. The GT3 is my weekend car. Its plate is a clue to what’s in the tail.

[..Rush..]

Congratulations on buying a fine vehicle !

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by ///M///

I was with you till I read this. I understand priorities change but seriously dude what are you smoking? You just stated you prefer to drive a Minivan over a 4 door M3? . I have a minvan and never once would I ever and I mean ever would I prefer driving it over the M3. And yes it's a manual.

Onto the P car, the GT3 is twice the price of a new M3 so no comparison there. My only issue with it was that it was really not usable on the street. Amazing car but boring as hell below 5500 rpm. It's a track car and that's where you can truly enjoy it. Not so much on the street without hitting triple digits constantly.

I know it sounds crazy but Constantly loading babies in car seats in and out of the 4dr killed me. Was such a relief to not have to bend to get them in the car. So the van was my relief vehicle. Just made life easy.

Man I love the white. Let's the see more shots

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by Flacht3

Nice pickup and congrats!

GT Silver is an amazing color...but then again I'm very biased.

Only thing you're missing are bucket seats

Awesome car and photo. I love that angle!

Like the mirrors is that a wrap?

[Flacht3]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

Awesome car and photo. I love that angle!

Like the mirrors is that a wrap?

Nope, CF option from the factory. I believe you can get the trim from Suncoast if you're interested.

[tdott]

We need to know.

PDK or manual?