Purgatory until 991 RS!
#1
Purgatory until 991 RS!
So I sold my RS. Miss her dearly. But she's in good hands.
So now I have an empty garage and am patiently waiting for the 991 RS' to come out. However, in the mean time, I need a toy to play with... not for track, but for fun on the streets. I need some help deciding what to buy to keep me occupied until the 991 RS arrives.
Option 1:
I have reserved 1 of the 15, Final Edition Lotus Elise SC's. It's Ardent Red. These cars are loaded with every conceivable option. And are literally the last Elise in the current style with the sought after, high-revving Toyota power plant. They are all sold out. I snagged one. They are 1900lbs of pure sporting fun. Cost is only $59k. Downside, it won't be here until mid-Sept.
Option 2:
Porsche Boxster Spyder. I found a Silver on black with sport buckets and manual with about 800 miles. Not my 1st choice in color, but has the seats I want and manual. I think I can snag it for low-60's. For some reason, this option doesn't apparel to me as it's less toy-like vs. the Lotus. But it is available now, is a Porsche, is safer than the Lotus and more comfortable for cruising, etc.
I am torn. Any feedback or experience with any of these cars would be helpful.
Thanks in advance!
So now I have an empty garage and am patiently waiting for the 991 RS' to come out. However, in the mean time, I need a toy to play with... not for track, but for fun on the streets. I need some help deciding what to buy to keep me occupied until the 991 RS arrives.
Option 1:
I have reserved 1 of the 15, Final Edition Lotus Elise SC's. It's Ardent Red. These cars are loaded with every conceivable option. And are literally the last Elise in the current style with the sought after, high-revving Toyota power plant. They are all sold out. I snagged one. They are 1900lbs of pure sporting fun. Cost is only $59k. Downside, it won't be here until mid-Sept.
Option 2:
Porsche Boxster Spyder. I found a Silver on black with sport buckets and manual with about 800 miles. Not my 1st choice in color, but has the seats I want and manual. I think I can snag it for low-60's. For some reason, this option doesn't apparel to me as it's less toy-like vs. the Lotus. But it is available now, is a Porsche, is safer than the Lotus and more comfortable for cruising, etc.
I am torn. Any feedback or experience with any of these cars would be helpful.
Thanks in advance!
#3
Read Pete Stout's effusive praise of the Boxster Spyder. Makes me want to get one even though I don't like the Speedster style bumps in the least and would rather the top of the normal Boxster ... or a clip-on hardtop like a normal Boxster ... I've been meaning to go over to the Boxster forum(s) and see if people have figured out how to jettison the "leotard" roof and put on a hard top (factory or aftermarket.) Plus I'd want it for the track, so it would need a roll bar and harnesses ... maybe I should retain the services of Savy Motorsport to "upfit" a Boxster Spyder? Or better yet, you throw money at it and I'll buy it when this imagined 991 RS eventuates ... when's that? 2015? Who knows what the world will be like by then! I'm guessing the US Dollar will be worth 1 Chinese Yuan, a loaf of bread will cost $100, which, coincidentally, will also be the average daily wage ...
Last edited by Carrera GT; 07-13-2011 at 03:28 PM.
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#9
Laguna Dude,
My thoughts on the car: http://www.excellence-mag.com/issues...s/spyder-sense
Additional follow-up after a week with a production example in British Columbia: http://www.excellence-mag.com/of-not...ill-impressive
Having driven Elises in the past, and noting your "toy" observation (which I agree with), it would still be a no-brainer for me. Spyder all the way. I'm not kidding when I say that it's my favorite new Porsche since the Carrera GT, and that it might be the best-handling factory Porsche I've ever driven. Spyder is stupid good.
My thoughts on the car: http://www.excellence-mag.com/issues...s/spyder-sense
Additional follow-up after a week with a production example in British Columbia: http://www.excellence-mag.com/of-not...ill-impressive
Having driven Elises in the past, and noting your "toy" observation (which I agree with), it would still be a no-brainer for me. Spyder all the way. I'm not kidding when I say that it's my favorite new Porsche since the Carrera GT, and that it might be the best-handling factory Porsche I've ever driven. Spyder is stupid good.
#10
Cayman R
1/2 price of a 2011 GT3, as fast or faster than Boxster Spyder without the inconvenient top. Get A/C and a nice radio with ipod link.
Randy Pobst lapped Laguna Seca in 1:42 with the 2009 Cayman S on regular street tires. The same test had the 997 GT3 at 1:39, but the GT3 has the sticky r-comp tires.
Cayman R on Sport Cups should be capable of 1:40s at Laguna Seca, that close to a 997 GT3, but cheaper, a full warranty and new car smell, plus there won't be many Cayman R on the streets.
None of the Elise/Exige can touch a Cayman Gen 2 at a track day, and they are inconvenient as daily drivers, depreciate badly, and no matter what they do, it's still a crappy engine (I have a 2003 Celica GT-S with the same engine).
1/2 price of a 2011 GT3, as fast or faster than Boxster Spyder without the inconvenient top. Get A/C and a nice radio with ipod link.
Randy Pobst lapped Laguna Seca in 1:42 with the 2009 Cayman S on regular street tires. The same test had the 997 GT3 at 1:39, but the GT3 has the sticky r-comp tires.
Cayman R on Sport Cups should be capable of 1:40s at Laguna Seca, that close to a 997 GT3, but cheaper, a full warranty and new car smell, plus there won't be many Cayman R on the streets.
None of the Elise/Exige can touch a Cayman Gen 2 at a track day, and they are inconvenient as daily drivers, depreciate badly, and no matter what they do, it's still a crappy engine (I have a 2003 Celica GT-S with the same engine).
#11
I have a 997.2 Cup for track. So not really looking for another track-oriented car. I like the prospect of a light-balance fun-to-drive convertible for cruising around SoCal. Plus, I want to keep it under $100K, as I do plan on getting the 991 GT3/RS variant if and when if comes out.
#13
Spyder for sure. I have over 15k miles on my Spyder now, and I absolutely LOVE it. It is by far the best handling car I have ever driven, and the fun factor is just off the charts. The top really isn't that bad to take on and off, and the car is fairly practical too (front and rear trunk). I have had the Spyder at Laguna Seca, Infineon and Thunderhill, and it is fantastic on the track too. No brainer.
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Last edited by zellamsee; 08-09-2013 at 05:08 PM.