Hey Gang,

Many of you guys here might remember me. The guy who complained about the notchy transmission, the excessive oil soot my exhaust produced. I must say people were always very cool to me with helpful hints and in the end; I must thank everyone for all the help and advice.

With that, I must reveal I sold the Porsche back to a Porsche dealer in the beginning of the month. After all the issues, and good and bad days driving the car, I realized it was time to move on to another car. This particular 911 just wasn't making me enjoy the ride.

So now I have the "pleasure" of looking for a daily driver that suits me better. Its gotta be RWD, has to have manual transmission and needs at least 300 HP. I use quotes because its a tough act to follow the power of a 911 to a practical sedan...

Where would you guys turn to for the next car? What are your daily drivers? I have a feeling the 911 should have never been a daily driver for me. Sort of had my dream car a bit too early. We all make car decisions, some rationale, others a little irrational. So what do you drive every day that puts a smile on your face similar to the 911?

Here are the contenders: 335i sedan, 535i, 550i, Audi S4. Am I missing anything? I know this is the Porsche 911 board, but what about daily driving automobiles… what do you guys enjoy when its not the horizontally opposed 6 wailing?

And I don’t want to come across the wrong way, the 911 was an experience I will never forget. I am a better driver for owning one. I am being truthful that it just wasn’t the right time for me to own such a beast. In a different time and place, it might have worked out… For now, I need a daily driver that can give me 75 percent of the thrill the 911 did… ideas?

 

try the BMW M5 or the Audi RS4. Both are very nice cars, well established brands and will still give you enough fun factor to want to drive it every day. The Audi A5 is also a very nice looking car.

 

Of all of the ones you mention, my choice would be the S4 in station wagon guise... I think its a gorgeous car, and to be honest, you cant beat forced induction and 4 wheel drive. The sedan seems too ordinary for me.

Having said that, I have to include the 335 which is a supercharged engine as well, and I hear its a very potent car, but comes second in my pref against the S4. But not the 535 which is heavier, looks more tired, and I believe is up for replacement soon...

Why not the S5? Two door, 2+2 seats, nice aggressive line.

 

Having just said that, if an S5 would be an option, why not a Cayman or a Boxster? If the 911 wasnt for you, it doesnt mean that the Cayman or the Boxster wouldnt be either...

 

panamera

 

I think the Cayman is a fine car. Just not sure it would be a great daily drive.

S5 is nice, and it is avaliable in a stick. In about 6 months, the s5 will have a supercharged 6 verses the 8 currently in the car too..

I love BMWs, owned 5 so far n my life. 335i is a great car. Its just based on a 2006 platform. New thinking from BMW in the 5 series...

But then I get into the v8 verses 6 cylinder issue... which is more sporty...

So good ideas though...

 

All day if it had a 6 speed manual. Gotta have the 6 speed manual again. I am old school. Even the 911 was a stick with PDK being out...

 

m5 might be a little too much HP for a daily drive. 550 is about 400... but its still a bit of a thirsty car.

911 was decent for me. Averaged 18 miles per gallon. mostly city driving for me...

 

If you want thrills forget about Audi! I drive an Audi S5 daily, and boy is it boring... The handling is good, the suspension is stiff enough. The car has power but the AWD and automatic transmission make it boring. On the street when I am turning slowly the RPM drops and the car looses all the power, it slows down immediately almost to a complete stop. At low speed the drive is not involving.

I'd suggest something RWD like BMW M3 or C63 AMG. Much more fun and involving!

 

M3 sedan

 

I'd second the vote for an M3. Great car, plenty of power and more than comfortable enough for a daily driver. You have the choice of 4 door or 2 door.

I tested the new one before I bought my 911 earlier this year. For me the 911 was the right decision, but the M3 was the second choice.

Good luck.

 

I suspect you might enjoy a 335i.

 

335i is a dog.

They took the 328i block (a very dependable engine) overbored it + added twin turbos.

The result - lots of reliabilty issues in the turbos + alot of fuel pump failures.

Do your research before considering a 335i.

 

Good and bad days in an '09 911????

The contenders you are listing are pretty boring to me.

I loved my '99 996 cab, never even a so so day in 7 years of ownership. My DD is a Jeep Cherokee with 3" lift. Living at the base of mountains with lots of snow, I need 4x4. 11th year with Jeep and I love it, banged around off road for nearly 100 miles last weekend in the desert. I trade off DDs between Jeep, Harley, Suzuki DR650, Suzuki GSXR. Still have a Lexus (boring) and Boxster (fun) looking for a nice TT Cab now.

Look at the Minis, oh need 330+ hp? how about Ferrari? and you thought you had issues with the P car?

Hope you find what suits you, GL

 

Turned in the 335 after getting the 2009 Porsche C2S. I believe the Porsche is a better ride with the 335 being a bit rough. I test drove an M5 thinking of getting rid of the Q7 S-Line but the M5 seemed big and the transmission was soft. Of course it didn't help that I drove the Porsche to the BMW dealer and then got into the M5. I had a X5 4.8is prior that @ 40,000 the trans went out which took forever to get back along with numerous other issue's. Also had the fuel pump failure with the 335! I would go RS4.