ms3 compared to a porsche 911

[nextcar]

well, i got to drive a friend's 2005 porsche 911 carrera 2 S stick shift today. maybe my expectation was too high, but i was thoroughly underwhelmed by the experience.

i expected the acceleration to be much faster than my ms3, but it actually felt about the same. i did floor the gas and nearly redlined the 911, but there wasn't much thrust. i'm sure the actual 0-60 should be faster than the ms3, but it didn't feel faster. maybe it's because of more linear power delivery vs the turbo surge?

as for handling/suspension, the 911 is definitely more firm and would handle better if i were able to push it closer to the limit, but i'm not a skilled sports car driver, so i wouldn't know.

in conclusion, i actually prefer my ms3. it FEELS as fast as the 911 non-turbo, it has a more comfortable ride, and of course seats 4 people more comfortably. i guess i won't be getting a porsche. if i wanted to pay $40k-$60k for a car, i would get a bmw 335, which felt very fast to me.

i just wanted to share this, so that we can all congratulate ourselves on getting a great car.

 

[mo08ms3]

Thanks for sharing, thats always nice to hear.

I have never driven a Porsche, but if I do, I'll have to set my expectations low

 

[MicaSp33d]

we have more torque that a regular 911. They have 273lbs while we have 280lbs im assuming at the crank for both

 

[tiagotiago]

It very well maybe the turbo surge vs. the more linear power of the 911, even though the porsche might be a tick faster, it doesnt feel that way.

Also, I'd expect the Porsches forte to be in handling, and in traction out of corners in a mountain road/track, but like a smart man you no dobut are, you didn't want to be the one responsible for damaging his Porsche

Glad you feel pleased with your purchase!

 

[saranya]

as far as Porche. it's got to be a 911 turbo. all the others are just watered down crap for old folk who wish they could afford the good stuff...so to speak.

 

[Vindikacione]

I ran circles around my Dad's 911, but then again his is the last year of the "classic" air-cooled boxsters (1985?). I like the fact that they don't have power steering, it takes serious muscle and concentration to drive that car in the twisties of the North SD county mountains. Talk about hugging the road... Oh, and he loves driving my car so much he wants to trade. I told him, yeah right. Dad and his toys...

 

[TonyMS3]

I ran circles around my Dad's 911, but then again his is the last year of the "classic" air-cooled boxsters (1985?). I like the fact that they don't have power steering, it takes serious muscle and concentration to drive that car in the twisties of the North SD county mountains. Talk about hugging the road... Oh, and he loves driving my car so much he wants to trade. I told him, yeah right. Dad and his toys...

I also own a Porsche. It really depends on the model when comparing performance. You said the last air cooled boxter was 85, that is incorrect. They did not start water cooling the 911 until 1998.

http://www.sikhworld.co.uk/Porsche 911/Porsche911page2.html

 

[hilmar2k]

I ran circles around my Dad's 911, but then again his is the last year of the "classic" air-cooled boxsters (1985?).

The 911 was air cooled through 1998.

 

[nextcar]

after i drove the 911, i drove my ms3 home. i thought i would never say this, but the ms3's clutch felt so light, the steering was also light, and the ride was so soft and comfy. i guess i'm glad the ms3 is my daily commuter and not the 911.

the right role for the 911 is as a weekend car, driven through twisty mountain roads.

 

[Vindikacione]

The 911 was air cooled through 1998.

Well then, I guess I meant first non-carburated. Can you please check that one for me? Thanks in advance. (boom06)

 

[Vindikacione]

I also own a Porsche. It really depends on the model when comparing performance. You said the last air cooled boxter was 85, that is incorrect. They did not start water cooling the 911 until 1998.

http://www.sikhworld.co.uk/Porsche 911/Porsche911page2.html

Yeah, my mistake, wasn't sure, hence the question mark after the year. Sorry, not an expert with all Porsches. Never claimed to be. But its such a different ride, like a lowered supped up VW Bug (I'm gonna get drilled for saying that). The clutch can't be hydraulic cause its a bear to push in, if you aren't used to it. And getting into second gear can become a pain. The smell, gawd, air cooled cars smell like Jiffy Lube. I like how the keys go in the left side and putting gas in is like filling up an SUV! What's up with that? Anyway, no expert with Porsches, but whatever year it is, its a hoot to drive. You just have to appreciate the technology of 20 years ago. Air cooled cars are amazing.

 

[Super Unique]

as far as Porche. it's got to be a 911 turbo. all the others are just watered down crap for old folk who wish they could afford the good stuff...so to speak.

You couldn't be farther from the truth in regards to porche.

I have owned an early 911, and even the non turbo model out now is a very respectable performance car. The speed 3 might hang with them on the straights for a little while, but when things get curvy even the mighty speed3 will fall to the wrath of stuttgart

 

[///M Compact]

You couldn't be farther from the truth in regards to porche.

I have owned an early 911, and even the non turbo model out now is a very respectable performance car. The speed 3 might hang with them on the straights for a little while, but when things get curvy even the mighty speed3 will fall to the wrath of stuttgart

I agree 110%. If I didn't need a usable rear seat '07 MS3 would have been dumped yesterday for a 993 on an E36 M Coupe. As it stands now it will almost certainly get pitched for either an E46 M3 ZCP or a 330i ZHP- depending on how practical I feel when I decide to pull the trigger.

 

[hilmar2k]

Well then, I guess I meant first non-carburated. Can you please check that one for me? Thanks in advance. (boom06)

Still way off there. The 911 has been fuel injected since 1972.

On a side note, my '76 911S will make a MS3 look silly on anything but a straight road. Don;t get me wrong, I love my MS3, but it ain't no 911.

 

[jbiird317]

so the ms3 > porsche now too?

I got a chance to drive a 911 (2006 i think) very briefly and i was defintely impressed. If you are used to driving the ms3 every day, there is no way you can drive the porsche correctly without instruction. The power bands are in totally different ranges. With the ms3, you arent gaining any power past ~5500 rpm, meanwhile the porsche begs to be driven up to redline, at 7 or 8000 rpm the motor roars to life and gives out bury you in the seat type of power.

when I drove it, I kept shifting like I was driving the ms3 and my uncle (the owner) would yell at me and say no, take it all the way to redline! It totally changed the feel of the car. He had 19x10's in the back and a sport tuned exhaust, so that helped too

anyway, not trying to pick a fight here or anything, but if someone gave you the choice between a 911 and a ms3, you would pick ms3?? cmon....

 

[Hyun]

I have never driven 911 but my gut feeling tells me it is better than ms3 in almost every possible way.

 

[daonly1around]

The 911 was air cooled through 1998.

and after that just the heads are water cooled

 

[stevekt]

Duh! Everyone knows the 911 was air cooled until 1998! (RTM)

Why, just the other day I was talking to some friends and said, "Hey remember back in 1998 when the 911 was air cooled? That was awesome!". (poke)

 

[lil_red_wagon]

the porche is built for handling, not speed. that is the main deal with them. they are built to handle well and speed is just the bi-product of that.

 

[pointysticks]

this is truly my most passionate subject. the porsche 911. here is my car. a 27 year old 911SC. it is fuel injected, and aircooled. i track it regularly. the pic is me doing the corkscrew at laguna seca. i will be a infineon on the 19th.

i absolutely adore my MS3. fast as hell, nimble, comfy, power windows, AIR CONDITIONING! love it. but it doesnt give me the stupid dumb grin my 911 does. it feels like a fast buggy. i dont drag race anything, so i dont know a thing about straight line stuff. i suspect my MS3 would leave my 911 stupid-like.

now in the corners, no mazdaspeed can hang (with equal drivers, i did get passed by a blk MS3 that very same laguna day) with me driving both cars. i am so much faster in the porsche. throttle steer with a rear engine car is absolutely poetry in motion. nothing like it. it is raw unadulterated fun.