Nice sleuthing on the tires! Good catch indeed. Sure, buying a car that's been tracked isn't going to send the new owner down a bad path. But me personally, would never buy a car that's been tracked. Seen way too many dumb things and even if nothing stands out who knows what kind of abuse the car has been through. Rather just avoid them altogether. Plenty of options out there as well.

 

There's another thread that discusses multi-function versus sport steering wheel. In my experience, and if your lady will want to frequently switch stations/tracks and use the phone, then the multi-function wheel is the better choice. Looking down to the PCM to find the right buttons can be distracting; with the multifunction, it is right there without moving hands from the wheel or eyes from the road. The buttons v. paddles is easily learned and the PDK is so good I rarely use them anyway. As to color, just get one that floats her boat -- she will be the one to look at it every time she's ready to drive it -- and all of the factory colors are nice. Plus one for cooled seats; they are important if she parks in the hot sun.

I imagine you already know all this anyway.

 

I was looking at a E36 M3 at a South Denver BMW dealer about ten years ago. While on the test drive I asked the salesman about the cars history and what records he had that I couldn't see because of privacy rules. He told me about work that was done. He also told me the car hadn't been tracked. I thanked him, gave him the keys and bought a different car. He couldn't know for sure it wasn't tracked. He lost all credibility with that statement. How can you tell other than a statement from the owner that he did track it or a forensic investigation?

I sat shotgun in many cars that have been tracked. Bottom line is most people that track their cars take better care of their cars than weekend canyon carvers mechanically and cosmetically. But that is for another thread.

 

My vote.. for HER is the Base 981 w/PDK. Car has plenty of slap-n-tickle in manual mode + sport mode.

Low to mid $40K depending on mileage and/or CPO.
Plenty to choose from on the market. Should be able to find one close to home (no shipping!).

Good luck. She's gonna leave you anyway.

 

LOL, so true...

 

Thanks everyone for the input. If we buy a car from a non-Porsche dealer, is it possible to get a Porsche extended warranty? Or are we better off going aftermarket?

 

I usually stay out of these and just watch from the sidelines. I'll chime in this time.

She's a girl. Unless she's a leadfoot racer type, S or base model is not an issue. If you have to brag or feel good about having that red S on the hatch and red calipers, or feel that the extra cash layout is worth it to beat a few people off the light and still get your *** handed to you by luxo sedans and Mustang GTs, then go for the S.

Get the MT. They are going out of style. Drive one while you can. There's some history and nostalgia there.

Warranty? Again, she's a girl. Get a Porsche CPO. You get treated like you bought a new car. Aftermarket warranties are risky. Do some searches, there are horror stories.

Don't get a black one.....unless you want to learn how to properly wash and detail cars, have unlimited funds to pay someone to keep it looking pristine, or keeping it looking it's best is not a priority.

 

What does being a girl have to do with getting a base or an S?

 

She isn't worried about beating someone in a street race, I can assure you. After driving a base and an S, if she wants the S, more power to her. I would want the S, regardless of whether I can use the power on the street or not. Is that irrational? Totally, but I have no room to judge her making irrational automotive decisions. Does one man need two race cars and another old sports car that he rarely drives, in addition to a pickup? Not exactly sane logic on my part.

I would love for her to get a manual. Problem is, she has never driven a manual. So I would have to teach her on one of my cars. And then she would have to determine that she wants to deal with that every day. And at the end of the day, PDK is mind blowing-ly good. I love driving a manual car, but damn PDK is a really really good alternative.

I am going to urge her to look at CPO cars first. If we can't find something that she likes, then we will maybe adjust that parameter.

 

Probably going to ruffle some feathers here, but the PDK is miles ahead of any manual. Manuals are so old school and I totally get the nostalgia. But it’s almost 2020, and manuals are very much horse and buggy. Porsche’s PDK isn’t just the best on the market, it’s also an involving masterpiece that produces a visceral experience that is far more addicting then rowing through gears. Especially if you are planning to actually drive the car, rather than use it for a weekend high, all by yourself on some lonely path, to reminiscent the past!

 

I'd have an S, GTS, or GT4 is the budget allowed me to. I just hate when that happens. And even though I could have stretched to an S, the base I ended up in just couldn't be passed up to wait for the right S.

You know her better than any of us, so you're probably on the right track regarding the tranny. The stick ain't for everybody, and I've driven the PDK for a few days in a loaner, so agreeing with it being a really really good alternative is no problem. Still wouldn't want one for myself yet.

If she has time she should take a quick look-see at the close ones, then look for CPO if y'all think that brings more value. Going non CPO with some sort of warranty demands a close look at the terms.

Good Luck. Hope she ends up in one.

 

Shouldn't ruffle feathers. It just illustrates how we are all different and like what we like.

I need a manual. I need to feel like I'm doing some of the work. Thinking about it, that applies to lots of things that I do. I drive a truck to work all week and can't wait for the weekend to get a little busier behind the wheel. I keep forgetting we're almost to 2020. It makes sense that some won't be nostalgic about MTs. Last I checked there wasn't a flood of interest in rotary dial phones vs smart phones.

 

 

The only way to get overrevs with a PDK is to flash it with a higher redline. You can flash it back to stock but those overrevs still remain. Also consider DME reports can be "inconclusive" and marked as such when they don't make sense.

Check for door panel warping, it's an expensive out of warranty fix. Door panel warping

My number one must have option is PSE. Love being able to change the attitude of my car with the press of a button. Some folks don't like the dash wart of sport chrono, but it's my second must have option, especially with PDK. Three settings, Off, Sport, Sport Plus, including launch control if you are so inclined. Also a PDK fan, in M, it's like the best / fastest manual transmission you ever had except there is no clutch. In Auto and Sport or Sport Plus, it's faster than I am by far. After buying a new 987 base Boxster manual, 987 CS manual, and current 981 GTS I ordered with PDK, there is no doubt PDK is far superior. You mentioned DFW, can't imagine driving a manual in that traffic. PTV would also be nice, IMO it feels like the hand of god helping when it kicks in on corners. People who track extensively report PTV leads to premature rear brake pad wear. Top down driving is superior, significantly adds to the enjoyment of driving, but my first car was a Camaro drop top and I have ridden a motorcycle 50 years. I like the elements, the sun, the sounds, and yes, even the smells if not stuck in traffic. I wouldn't buy a tracked car either, but then again I have never tracked my cars so that influences my decision.

Love my 2018 Macan S, you should both drive one, might surprise you. Good luck with your search.

 

Some serious latent misogyny going on in this thread.