knfeparty

Current stable is 40th anniversary 86k miles and '04 cayenne turbo 152k miles. The 40th is mostly for auto cross but gets some trips and street driving.

I have all but given up on being competitive in auto cross now that all of the national talent is moving into AS with me. I don't want to mod the car into another class.

Options I am pursuing:
Add an e39 m5, budget $20k. DD condition, not collector.
Add an e60 m5, budget $30k. Nice DD condition.
Sell 996 and get 996 turbo, run as an SP car. Budget $25k.
Sell 996 and get e90/e92 6 speed m3, sunroof delete competition package, run in FS. Budget $15-20k.
Sell cayenne turbo and get lower mileage 08-09 cayenne turbo. Budget $30-35k.
Add a new Chevy SS, 6 spd, sunroof delete. $50k?
Add a new focus RS and potentially sell 996 depending on how good it is. $45k?

VivG

I love the E39 M5 - pretty robust, fantastic driving car and very comfortable. That was really the golden era of BMWs. If you can find a nice one for 20k, that's an awesome way to go. I've seen higher mileage DD E9x for around the same 20-25k range, which may be an interesting alternate to the E39. That's not really the same as an E92 ZCP to go racing with, though.

The E60 scares me, I have so little faith in the S85's durability/upkeep costs so my instinct has always been to just avoid that platform.

The Focus RS looks absolutely crackers, I can't wait to drive one. It's a little boy racer-y though, especially in that neon blue colour (love it, but far from subtle). What turned me off was dealers asking $2-5k above sticker to wait for the opportunity to pay $40k for a Focus. A fast as hell Focus, but still a Focus.

It's funny, my four options for a car earlier this year were 996, E39, E90, and the Focus RS waitlist. Happy with my choice, but I still very much want an E39.

gnat

Do it for fun then and just place where you place. The best part of AutoX is learning the limits of you and the car.

If you want to stay in AutoX but want more than the 996 can give, look at 986/987 Boxsters and Caymans. Crazy handling that makes them quite the cone eaters.

Or go nuts, get a spare set of wheels/tires and take the P!g AutoXing. That is a blast and a half

kmagnuss

996tt

kromdom

buy a Vette

knfeparty

NEVER

docmirror

You seem interested in the M cars. They've never done anything for me, but I admit I haven't had much time with them. Meh. If you don't need 4 seats, just stay with the Porsche family. I would do the 996TT for mixed track/fun/pleasure use. It's a ton of perf for adding $25-30k over the 996.

Keep the Cayenne for tootling around.

FRUNKenstein

A bit off topic, but if you had to do it over again, would you still buy the Cayenne Turbo over some other SUV? The wife's Saab 9-7x is getting long in the tooth. She loves it, but its got 170k miles so on borrowed time. Thinking about an '09 Cayenne.

gnat

Oh hell yes! Mine is "only" the diesel, but I'll be pissed if I don't manage to hang onto it another 6 years or so (3.5 done) at least.

It has things I don't like, but in the end it is still a Porsche. It's an SUV that is not out of place at the track or AutoX, what's not to like?

Flat6Music

I'm under the impression this is for a dd. If not, please disregard the following.

This is like "Which one is better, redhead or brunette?" And since beauty is in the eye of the beerholder, I typically choose the blond. So having said that, I'm straying off your list and suggesting a gently used CLS55. They make adequate power, they're durable, and in my humble opinion, they look great. But of course, I'm partial. Careful shopping will keep you in or under budget. My .02

Dennis C

I agree with doc. The 996 turbo is a fantastic value in a high-performance car. That's what I'd buy from your list.

knfeparty

I had a suburban for awhile. The cayenne tows better, is luxurious, is actually fun to drive by any measure, turns heads, and is faster than most cars on the road. Did I mention it easily off roads with the right tires? I'm spoiled by it and couldn't go back to a normal
SUV. My only complaint is mine is getting high in mileage.

FRUNKenstein

^ Thanks knfeparty. And gnat.

FWIW, if you buy a 996tt and change your mind later, you aren't going to lose any money on it. And may actually make a little if you buy it right. That may not be a big factor for you, but worth considering.

Also, I don't know that I've ever heard anybody say "Dammit, I really screwed up buying that 996tt - I hate the damn thing." Just sayin'.

dereifelfahrer

I love my 996 Cab 4, having said that, you need to look at a Maserati coupe. I have an 04 with the V8 Ferrari engine naturally aspirated which revs like well a Ferrari. If you want a change of pace, drive one you will be impressed.

alpine003

If for some reason, you don't wanna go TT route, another option would be to sell your 996 and get a new M2 instead, especially if you don't really need the extra space of the e90 M3.

As much as I like all the NA M series, any used DD condition one could cost you quite a bit in maintenance cost over the long run. This time and additional $ for maintenance could go into paying the difference on a M2 with no down time and max drive time instead.

I got 125k reliable miles out of my N54 TT motor on my e60 and counting. Glad I went that way instead of e60 M5. With a couple bolt ons and flash, I could easily get it over 400, not to mention the better low end torque. BTW, if I ever decide to push the 480 mark, n54 long blocks are dime a dozen and as low as $2k. That's peanuts compared to the M96.

My $.02