I'd prefer 4 doors as I have four kids and frequently have 2-3 in my car (karate drop off, ballet pick-up etc). BTW, icon, your black X51 Carrera S looks very very good indeed .

 

enough overpriced german metal.why not just go for a fun car?
a mini cooper S made my porscheless days a hoot. plus, at 22 K it instantly became the beater car.

 

thanks much!
it's only got two doors though!
i guess next you would have to decide whether you wanted a practical, economical four door,
or a four door super car like the m5, or something in b/t.

 

I agree with PTpeecar, for a daily driver a Mini Cooper S its a great car. I bot one for my wife (yeah, right) last year and she (me) loves it.

 

I still have my 340 HP. 32v 4-cam V8 powered uber-missle. Very different cars... and no I don't think it dilutes it at all. Then again the 4-door is for sale!!

 

Just go drive all suspects and see what fits in your comfort zone. See how you fit in each car, start playing with it. You can look at all the magazine which are biased.
There is a old saying in the car buzz. Du you feel sexy in your car? Then buy it. Make sure thought that you be feeling that way for the car for 10 years, avoiding expensive divorces when you find this car was what you expected it to be.

 

ChipAZ,
Your comments hit the nail on the head. The reason I'm perseverating over this, and the reason I am here asking for advice, is because I'm hoping that whatever I buy will have the same "enduring appeal" of my 2002 996 C4S. I've been through way too may cars in the last 3 years .

 

John, as an owner of 997C2S and a M5, depending on your whims, you'd either be addicted to 500hp at your toes or the flick and twisty lightness of the 997 (which has 380hp). The M5 is a great handling car for a beast. The tail will slide out on power and it's predictable blah blah. I find I drive the 997 less and less because of the M5 for the family. Sure it's still a sedan but unless you drive a lot and can use both cars, one of the cars are going to be idle more often than not. You obviously have a practical mind and don't want to see either car idling. I'd wait for the 997 to get a power boost before you pick one up. 2008 or 9 should see it go up slightly. Or maybe wait for the Panamera which would fill both shoes.
Or you could be REALLY practical and commandeer the wife's extra vehicle. I use my wife's Prius for most of my city driving. It's a quiet car with no engine noise. Consider the lexus GS400h or the RS400h too. You're not going to save much on gas but it's quiet and has surprising kick. I actually want to buy one but the wife likes the Prius more.
Good luck in your choice. It's tough and personally I've sworn not to buy another car after next year for at least 6 years. It gets ridiculous after awhile, this inconspicuous consumption.

 

doesnt sound like you want an economical or practical car then!
i'd still go w/ the m5 or something like an rs4.
cheaper but still a four door thrill ride!

 

[QUOTE=johnlee] My question is this: as the new M5 is faster than my 911, would it significantly diminish the appeal of my 911?

Since you mention speed in the question, I'm quessing thats the most important factor fro you. I can say I would be less enthusiastic about the 996 speed after spending all week in the M5.

The M5 is the steroided up monster of the BMW line. The 996 C4S is not the Turbo S of the 991 line up. Great problem, get the M5 and see how it goes...maybe you'll end up with a M5 and supercharged 996 C4S or turbo!

 

Eggplant Cab,

I thought about commandeering my wife's CLS 500, but she got a black one with red (!) interior. Are you driving the 997 S less and less because, after driving the M5 all week, you are finding the 997 S doesn't provide the thrill anymore? This is what I fear because right now I really like my 996 C4S. On the other hand, I want something special enough I won't be trolling for a new daily driver in 6 months.

 

I used to have a Mini Cooper S too. Great fun for the money. Great resale value. Bought mine new for $22k and drove it 17k miles and sold it a year later for $20k

 

I have a 996 C4S as a weekend car and a 2005 Audi S4 for a daily driver. I know one is a sports car and one a sports sedan, but they both have similar performance numbers. The S4 does not dilute the 996 C4S driving experience. I love having a performace car I can drive for every situation.

I need the S4 because I'm in Real Estate and I can't show up to an important showing/meeting with a client in a porsche. Most people think the S4 is just an A4. I also play ice hockey and need a car with a decent trunk to fit two large hockey bags and my sticks.

Since I do a lot of driving, I like to have a daily driver with plenty of performance. If I was able to drive the C4S more often, I might upgrade to a 997 S or a 996TT and buy a cheaper car as a daily driver.

 

On another forum, a member describes driving his 997 C4S as an almost sexual experience. Figuratively speaking, I completely concur. I'm coming to the conclusion that, while a faster daily driver might diminish the thrill of driving a 911 slightly, it cannot fill my senses in quite the same way a 911 does.

 

Go with the RS4. I have one and love it, and I plan on adding the 911 in some form in the next year.. Presuming I don't go for the R8.

But the RS4 is an excellent 4 door sports sedan. its much more fun to drive than the M5 In my view, because its a) got a manny tran, b) has a much more responsive and amazing sounding engine (even if after 95mph its not as fast as the M5), and c) damn, it looks hawt, compared to the M5 which to me is blech.

good luck whatever you do.