Personally, I like convertibles. A lot of enthusiasts are very anti-vert, feeling that dropping the top somehow ruins your enthusiast street cred. I feel otherwise, however, as losing the roof only increases and enhances the experience of driving a sport car. Two cars that drive that idea home excellently are the E46 BMW M3 Convertible and the 996.2-generation Porsche 911 Cabriolet, two cars that go head to head in this new comparison test from WhichCar.Au.
What’s interesting is that both of these cars are probably in their least likable specification. Both are not only convertibles but they both use their automatic gearboxes, so it’s the infamous SMG for the M3 and the PDK for the Porsche. To make matters even less enthusiastic for the Porsche, it’s all-wheel drive. Nevertheless, these are incredibly fun cars.
They both also have six-cylinder engines. The E36 BMW M3 gets a 3.2 liter inline-six, with 333 hp, and the Porsche 911 gets a 3.6 liter flat-six, making 315 hp. So the Bimmer is actually more powerful, depsite being the smaller engine. But which one is best?
Honestly, it’s the Porsche 911 Cabriolet. It’s the sharper car, the more exciting car to drive, the one with the better steering and the better chassis dynamics. The E36 M3 ‘Vert is great fun to drive, and might even have the better engine, but its chassis isn’t as sharp and it feels a bit more disjointed, especially over rough bumps. The 911 feels like the tighter, lighter and more connected car.
Any enthusiast would be happy with either of these cars, if we’re being honest. They’re both superb sporty convertibles that can be had for decent money nowadays, even if the 911 was the more expensive car by far at the time. They both offer great thrills, exciting dynamics and sensational engines with top-down experiences. But the Porsche 911 is better. Isn’t it always, though?
[Source: WhichCar]
Agree with you about the drop top sports car… for a car that only sees the street. If only race tracks and track safety weren’t so strict. Btw, it’s tipronic (eww) not PDK. And your article writes E36 in a couple places.
Sorry, you’re right. I’ll fix those.
“tiptronic” not “tipronic”…. 8^)
What?
I am beating my meat like it owes me money.
I have a e46 M3 Vert SMG and love it, I am thinking if doing SMG to Manual Conversion, but I am not in a rush. The ride becomes more fun with the top down. You are not going to take this to the track, its a road car with speed limits. So for fun sunny days nothing beats a top down ride. Like I say I like my women like I like my car…topless.
BMW 2004 CONVERTIBLE VERSE MY 2003 Porsche Cabro the Porsche is a fine machine corners great is easier to throw into corners its raw BUT my M-3 is different it’s tame but not lame. Had to change out many things on M-3 from camber mods in suspension upper & lower arms to even Turner race breed bushings & DIFFERENTIAL also on all 4 corners cross drilled brakes SS lines to CSL type intakes & holy cow BMW came alive yes I spent $15 grand or more but the dollar smiles/miles is insane & ate my Porsches dust. The Boxer is a dated engine doesn’t rev as fast of freely. I’m ouching over 400 hp out of 3.2 litter BMW while Porsche, yes I worked on her too, but 3.6 maybe has 360 now its no longer the leader in my garage. Hands down m-3 3,2 liter inline six with CSL package is crazy fast. Only thing that is crazer is M-B’s AMG 6.3 LITER which I miss but does not turn as much heads & is not as good in corners even with 315 on rear. BMW has 20 inch 295’s & out corners them all. The newer BMW’s are not the same all my friends tell me & can tell when we go to track. Usually lap them after 18-19 laps when things go right. I know 240M is questionably near it but nothing replaces natural aspirated engine verse turbo. I own 135i with mods but it’s noo way close to E-46 M-3 SORRY Porsche as much as I love you my e-46 M-3 Convertible is my favorite car even over Lambo’s & Austin Martin’s (well I do love older A-M
s with good old supercharged 6 Vantage or DB7