So I have stopped commuting and now work exclusively from my new to me home in Southwest Florida. As part of the purchase I sold my 2012.5 911; my 1965 Corvair and my 2001 BMW M5. Partly to raise some cash and partly because the new house only has a 2 car garage (but plenty of parking space for more cars). We kept my wife's 2017 Cayenne. To get to work i ended up buying a 2016 BMW M4 DCT vert for $43k. I have owned these before and they are nice cars. A month later I was gifted (bittersweet) a 2006 Ferrari F430 Spider. It is an F1 transmission model. I miss having at least one manual car (my Corvair was a 4 speed and my M5 was a 6 speed). I have owned a 996 coupe in the past and there is a 996 Turbo manual for sale near me so I was thinking I would trade the M4 for the 911. That way I would have one manual and one auto. I would have to park the 911 outside. Thoughts? Is this a bad move? Will probably cost me about $17-18k plus my car.

The Turbo has 65k miles (my M4 has 68k); clean carfax and good service history.

Also, does anyone know this car: https://www.deboldauto.com/vehicle-d...70b5181f5c8e35

 

I have an M4 GTS for track duty and a 996 4S. If you want a car that drives like a analog sports car, the 996 is gonna be a fun choice. I have owned two 991.1’s and they were great cars, but didn’t have the sports car character of the 996.

 

I would have serious reservations about parking a convertible outside full time.

 

I have to agree with this. If it was a coupe I'd say go for it, but I'd be worried about a cab leaking water, especially when you get those heavy tropical storm rains. Now to qualify this, the newest convertible I have ever owned is a 1977, so tops have certainly came a long way since then, and it's probably not a big of a worry with the 996, however you have a lot more electronics to potentially fry if it does leak.

 

Let me get this straight. You have a new house with a Porsche Cayenne and Ferrari F430 in the garage. You now "work exclusively from my new home" in south Florida and... you purchased a BMW M4 to... let me quote... "To get to work"??????

What is that like a 10-15 sec drive to work? Like... From the driveway to around the back of the house?

Now you want to trade the BMW for a Porsche Turbo??? What you trying to make it to work 2 sec sooner?

I don't think you'll benefit much from a manual car cause with a 10-15 sec drive, you can easily just stay in 1st gear.

 

b3Freak, I bought the M4 in October to drive to work (I had a commute back then, and I also did not have the Ferrari back then, it was my only car). I am not looking for a daily driver. Also, all cars are paid for. I either keep the M4, sell it and get nothing or trade it for something else.

 

I was kidding around!

Seriously, if you want pats on the back, they're a dime a dozen here on Rennlist. But if you want serious advice, happy to give it... but when you ask a question like "Is this a bad move?", then it involves more to me than just comparing cars.

Obviously, you like expensive sports cars or you wouldn't have a Ferrari F430, BMW M4, and Porsche Cayenne on your property.

But you need to ask yourself that is bringing another expensive sports car into your family the most financially responsible decision to make just to satisfy the manual tranny itch? Would it be wise to sell the Ferrari and BMW and get something that satisfies both issues with the goal of saving some money for other priorities? Maybe you have some debt that needs to be paid off and consolidating your vehicles is a better course of action? You have to admit, a Ferrari F430 and Porsche 911 Turbo are not the most practical cars to own. BMW cars have been well-known for a good balance of practicality and performance. You're also talking about a gulf in performance and safety technology between the old '04 996 and the more modern 2016 M4. Knowing the common issues with a 20 year old Porsche 996 Turbo are easily found here on Rennlist and other forums, but the deeper issue could only be answered by you. The 996 Turbo is an amazing car with the proven rock solid Mezger engine, but don't kid yourself into thinking it would be cheap to own nor ever have serious issues to be addressed. Sometimes the thought of buying an old Porsche clouds the reality of owning one.

Cheers!

 

Agree with this thought. Water in the cabin has been known to, among other things, fry expensive electronics.

Concerns aside, they are great cars. Get a thorough PPI!

 

b3freak, you sound like someone's dad. I am lucky enough financially that these are not issues and I have no debt except the house. Both the M4 and Cayenne were purchased used and for way less than 50k. The Ferrari was actually a bittersweet gift (not something I would buy on my own). I have owned a 996 before, understand the maintenance issues (though at least you don't have to take the rear bumper off to change the air filters like my 991.1). I also would only put 1-3k miles per year. That said i agree about the leaving a convertible outside issue. Perhaps a high quality cover (though I know there are cons). I think I can fit and autostacker, my garage is almost 10' high inside (though I think I might have to relocate the garage door opener.

 

Good news on the garage door opener relocation. They make side mount openers and they work great for your application.