TexasRider

My 1986 951 is mostly re-done now. It took a while but at 92,000 miles it is mostly new or redone mechanically except a few items like the block, crank, etc and it is freshened cosmetically enough to win at 2 shows here in the fall. My 951 does a few track days, a couple of shows and a few drives a year. It sometimes makes a downtown run in a week, or a month. This year it did have to do two weeks as a daily use car. But overall it is just an older somewhat classic Porsche.

So in spite of all that work and time and expense I stil keep looking for something along the lines of a newer car. Something with less maintainance is a big criteria for me.

So what else suits us?

Corvettes are mostly out for me. Mustangs are good, but everybody here has them all. And I called on a 302 Boss. $78,000 for a car with a MSRP of $50,000 from Ford. The dealer is charging for the factory installed items that are already on the car. Skip it.

I thought maybe a Viper would be it. I went and looked and they are super cars for what they are. They have the look I like with the long front on them. They too are pretty expensive. Enough so that I would likely sell the 951 to have one. But overall I can tell I dont really want a Viper. They sure are fun to look at though.

I continue to browse and look for a 930. I must be crazy. I have one Turbo already. And the $60,000 prices used might not be the best buy , especially if it gets problems. I dont really want to do all this again either. Even then I dont know about taking it up on the road for a 2 month trip to come visit all of you.

So how about a regular 911. I see them but many of them are Cabriolets or Targas. And the prices are all over the place. But in general the SC's seem like a car more normal guys like us can work on. But the handling will just be so so.

I have been over on the 911 Forum trying to see how much work these are. Yeah I am one of those guys who wants it tops. So figure a $15,000 car, and another $15,000 in it. Then it is probably as less work and less hassle car.

Or a 993. These probably are the best investments and wil do well in the future too. Great looks and solid performance. Strong enough to drive regularly but some less maintainance work I think. The prices on good ones are enough that again my 951 might be gone.

On the way home my bud and stopped at Nissan. Gasp! I took one of the 370 Z's for a drive. Man I tell you I could do one of these as a regular driver. Its fast, it looks good, and although a Nismo would be $41,000 , and a Touring about $37,000, a base and sport can come home at $33,000 or so. So it sounds good. 350 Hp and bullet proof too. Runs hot on the track though so would have to check for an oil cooler. But it has to be more reliable than many Porsches - maybe the Caymans included.

But the 370 lacks something. One is back seats to put little stuff like your briefcase. And what woud I do with all these Porsche decorations I have. And the community is more racer "boy." My little girl who only goes in the car once a twice a year was worried that she would have no place to sit . And it cant be that high school students have them. I mean a recession is on. They can take the school bus!

A couple of my buddies say get a Subaru. Get a Volkswagen. Are they kidding me. I am not a Viper or Corvette snob, but I am sure as hell am not a Volkswagen guy if they give me one.

So it brings us back to the 911 if I keep my 951. Or forward to some of the other exotics. They are likely another fix it all the time, haul it to the shop but look at me car.

Hmmmmmmmm.... has the 951 worked it's way in so that now I cant get another "fun" car ?

What else do you guys have or want that works?

One way or another if I keep the 951 a new shop is going to have to be in order for me though. Thats for another thread and discussion.

Think about it. We better keep these 944's and 951's and 968's and Porsche cars churning out there fellows. Or you might be here like me . Happy Holidays to you all.

67King

The Boss must have been a Leguna Seca. There are several on ebay for sticker.

Otherwise, the Cayman.

David Floyd

996 GT3

TexasRider

In one way I am talking about a new car. But in another it is surpsing how capable these 951s are. But the work is going to be there to keep it that way.

Why would the Cayman be better ? Mid engine of course. Cost not as much as a 911 too. But what about its maintainance over time? And it has about zero we can do I would guess.

m73m95

This.

I would take a Cayman R over just about any other vehicle Porsche makes right now (Save the GT2RS)

TexasRider

The S right ?

But it is somehow less Porsche like on its maintainance schedule??

Van

My 996 has been surprisingly low maintenance. It's a drive-and-enjoy-it type of car!

V2Rocket

after february 4, 2012, 997s will get very cheap, very fast.

TexasRider

I have to ask why? New models, End of the World as As We Know It, or other?

It is still a pretty good chance that I would not go past the 993's in the Porsche line.

I guess I can go test a Cayman S and compare it to the 370Z or maybe the Boss which has some serious performance for cost too.

kingston944

BMW M3 or Z3 or Z4 maybe RX 8, sounds nice winding them up to 9000 rpm. The Vette with LS engine moves good and sounds great, got to like traction control on them . Viper yup it would be one to look at and reliable. I know that I like the european cars the best but LS block push rod motors work sooo good.
Love to put one in my 944. Maybe you should keep what you have and do install LS in your 951 . Only my 2 cents. LOL Good luck keep us informed on your search.

Van

New model. The 991 (next gen 911) will go on sale.

May I ask: what are your favorite features of the 944? What do you like best about it? If it's raw power and sound, I'm sure you'll enjoy the Mustang very much. If it's build quality and driving feel, you might be more at home in another car...

SamGrant951

I dont buy new cars so M Coupe, Lotus Elise, S2K, NSX, 964/993. Lots of great choices out there.

m73m95

No Cayman "R"

Granted, its not much different than the S....but different enough for me

V2Rocket

i think ill pick up a second-hand 997 or jag XJR (the last one, not the current one) in the next few years...

odurandina

high output Cayman. love the idea. changing/upgrading ims bearings after 35 k miles, not so much.