BMW M3 Touring vs Porsche 718 Spyder
Compare the BMW M3 Touring vs Porsche 718 Spyder. The Porsche 718 Spyder is £13,000 cheaper. The BMW M3 Touring is 0.4s quicker to 60mph. The BMW M3 Touring is more fuel efficient. Full performance, cost & ownership breakdown.
The BMW M3 Touring is priced from £85,000, powered by a 3.0L Twin-Turbo I6, producing 503 hp, with 650 Nm of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.6s, a top speed of 180 mph, sent to the road via all-wheel drive. The Porsche 718 Spyder is priced from £80,000, powered by a 4.0L Flat-6, producing 414 hp, with 420 Nm of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4s, a top speed of 187 mph, sent to the road via rear-wheel drive.
The BMW M3 Touring offers a 500-litre boot, folding rear seats, runs on petrol, returns around 26 mpg, is covered by a 3yr / unlimited mi warranty. The Porsche 718 Spyder offers a 150-litre boot, a usable front boot, runs on petrol, returns around 25 mpg, is covered by a 4yr / 50k mi warranty.
On cost of ownership, the Porsche 718 Spyder is £13,000 cheaper than its rival, both require around £1,200 per year in maintenance, the BMW M3 Touring is the more fuel-efficient choice, a full tank costs around £75 for the BMW M3 Touring and £70 for the Porsche 718 Spyder.
Driving Character: BMW M3 Touring vs Porsche 718 Spyder
The M3 Touring masterfully combines S58-powered fury with practical estate packaging. Its AWD system, featuring a dedicated 2WD mode, allows it to put down its immense 650Nm of torque with relentless efficiency in any weather. Despite weighing over 4,000 lbs, the chassis control is immense, with adaptive damping that keeps body roll impressively contained. The steering is quick and accurate, though it prioritises stability at high speeds over the fine-grained feedback of lighter machines. It is arguably the most versatile performance vehicle in the current market, bridging the gap between a family hauler and a track-ready super-saloon.
The Porsche 718 Spyder offers a purist’s approach to roadster dynamics, retaining the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six and a manual gearbox for maximum engagement. The mid-engine layout provides exceptional balance, allowing the driver to feel every nuance through the steering wheel. Its handling is defined by a lightness of touch that differentiates it from the heavier convertible segments, making it exceptionally agile on winding backroads. While it shares much with the GT4, the open-top configuration adds an extra layer of sensory connection, making it an incredibly visceral and rewarding machine for the true enthusiast.
Head-to-head, the division is clear: the Porsche 718 Spyder takes our 0-100 driving character grading, 82 against 88. Characteristic of the BMW M3 Touring: The M3's engagement in a genuinely practical estate body. For the Porsche 718 Spyder: Naturally-aspirated flat-six purity in an open-top mid-engined chassis. In outright terms it is 503 hp against 414 — a 89 hp gap — and the BMW M3 Touring reaches 60 mph 0.4s sooner.
Interior & Cabin: BMW M3 Touring vs Porsche 718 Spyder
Inside, the cabin is dominated by a modern, tech-rich dashboard that includes the impressive curved display interface. While the interior is packed with high-end carbon fibre and robust leather, some buttons and plastics feel inherited from the standard 3-Series, which may underwhelm at this price point. The M-specific seats are supportive and offer excellent adjustability for long journeys. Space is the defining trait, with a generous rear seat providing genuine comfort for adults, complemented by a versatile, user-friendly load area that expands into a cavernous 1,510 litres with the seats folded down.
The cabin remains strictly driver-focused, with Alcantara accents on the contact points and a simplified dashboard layout that emphasises function over technology. Lightweight door pulls and minimal luxuries maintain the stripped-back, enthusiast spirit of the Spyder. Because of the manual roof mechanism, interior storage is at a premium, and the cabin environment can be quite noisy when the top is up. The seats are excellent for long-distance support, but the overall feeling is one of purposeful simplicity, catering to those who prefer the tactile interaction of a pure sports car over digital sophistication.
Head-to-head, the division is clear: the BMW M3 Touring takes our 0-100 interior & cabin grading, 82 against 62. Characteristic of the BMW M3 Touring: Spacious, well-finished cabin with proper 4-adult seating. For the Porsche 718 Spyder: Motorsport-flavoured cabin with genuine everyday livability.
Daily Usability: BMW M3 Touring vs Porsche 718 Spyder
This is a remarkably practical performance car, boasting a 500-litre boot that easily swallows bulky cargo, making the school run or holiday trips effortless. The inclusion of M xDrive provides the confidence to use the car year-round, regardless of road conditions. In Comfort mode, the suspension is compliant enough to mask its heavy weight, although the low-profile tyres can still transmit significant impact shocks from sharp potholes. Parking requires extra care due to the extended estate body, but the rear-view cameras and sensors mitigate the challenges of manoeuvring such a long, wide vehicle in confined spaces.
As the lightest member of the 718 family, the Spyder is remarkably nimble in urban settings, though the manual roof operation requires significant effort and patience compared to power-operated rivals. The dual trunks—front and rear—provide decent storage for a weekend getaway, which remains its primary use case. The ride is firm, though manageable, and it lacks the daily convenience of power-folding roof mechanisms, reinforcing its role as a machine to be driven intentionally. It is not an ideal city car, but for the enthusiast driver, it offers the perfect balance of roadster freedom and mid-engine practicality.
Head-to-head, the division is clear: the BMW M3 Touring takes our 0-100 daily usability grading, 90 against 65. Characteristic of the BMW M3 Touring: Genuinely does everything - family estate space with supercar-baiting pace. For the Porsche 718 Spyder: Surprisingly civil for an open-top track-focused Porsche. that means 500 litres of boot space against 150, plus a usable front boot in the Porsche 718 Spyder, and everyday running costs that favour the BMW M3 Touring at the pumps.
Ownership: BMW M3 Touring vs Porsche 718 Spyder
As the first factory-produced M3 estate, this model enjoys exceptionally strong residual values and high demand from enthusiasts. The service network is extensive, and standard BMW warranty terms provide peace of mind for the first three years. Maintenance costs are higher than standard models, especially when considering the rapid wear on high-performance tyres and the complex braking systems. However, the prestige and versatility of the package make these costs easier to justify. It is a car that thrives on daily use, provided the owner is prepared for the inevitable premium associated with running an elite performance machine.
As the final naturally aspirated flat-six Boxster variant, the 718 Spyder holds a special place in the Porsche hierarchy, which has helped sustain strong residual values. Ownership is backed by the comprehensive Porsche dealer network, ensuring that maintenance is straightforward and well-documented. Parts and support for the 718 platform remain easy to obtain, though the limited production run means that Spyder-specific aesthetic components may become increasingly difficult to replace over time. It is a reliable, high-value ownership proposition that rewards careful maintenance and consistent usage throughout the warmer months of the year.
Head-to-head, the division is clear: the Porsche 718 Spyder takes our 0-100 ownership grading, 76 against 78. Characteristic of the BMW M3 Touring: Backed by strong BMW ownership/reliability reputation. For the Porsche 718 Spyder: Mechanically simple, Porsche-grade reliability. On the wallet the two diverge at £85,000 versus £80,000 — a £5,000 difference, and warranty cover of 3yr / unlimited mi versus 4yr / 50k mi.