Always wanted 1

I've started several threads here and started a few wars already on my new 996. The 996 will be strictly a "fun" car, only for weekends, nice days, and maybe occasional visits to the track. Now I need to purchase a daily driver. I'd love to hear some comments in case I've missed something. I've got a somewhat unique situation. I work from home and I don't need to commute any longer, but, I have to visit customers from time to time in my local area. I've more or less had the same type of position my entire career. In the past I was required to drive my own car and I'd do it to the tune of 35k miles a year or so. Over the past 12 years I've owned a 2005 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V, a 2012 Mazdaspeed 3, and I currently own a 2015 Ford Focus ST. Over that time period I've amassed 350,000 miles on said cars. I chose these cars because they were relatively cheap and I could sell them for a very high percentage of the original purchase price, even with a lot of miles. My situation has changed and, due to company policy, have to rent cars on a near weekly basis. I've put on about 3,000 miles on my personal car in the last six months. I'm going to get rid of the Focus and buy something to replace it. I don't need anything new and want to buy the most interesting and fun car I can but have a few must have parameters-

-it must be automatic. All three cars were stick but a condition of buying the Porsche was I must replace the Focus with something auto. It was a spousal agreement in buying the Porsche.
-it has to be able to carry demo equipment. What this means is it must have a passthrough large enough to carry a six foot long by one foot by two foot piece of gear and have a decent trunk/cargo area. Cars with fixed rear seats are a no go
-it must be able to handle Midwest winters.
-it must be nice enough to transport clients on occasion. These clients are typically regular guys, so impressing them is not a requirement.
-no front wheel drive
-it must be relatively reliable, no 996 type failure modes that cost five times what the car is worth. That being said, I am willing to work on my own cars. Mileage is not as important as condition.
- here is the kicker; I don't want to spend a ton of cash, I'm looking between $5-10k.

So far I'm looking at 2006 and newer 3 series xi's, 3 and 5 series wagons, Touaregs, old Cayennes, Audi a4's and 6's

Suggestions?
-

Kalashnikov

Or if you want to dominate the streets and local highways....if you tune the NOS timing down to millisecond, you'll run 9s.

gnat

Hmmm... 996 Targa (rear glass opens for your pass through requirement) with a Tip




Cayenne is what I was going to suggest until I saw your 5-10k limit. You aren't going to get a Cayenne worth having for that price. You can find some 955 base examples that low and the occasional S, but they are always sad/storied examples. In the 15-20 range you can start to find 955 Turbos that are worth considering.

Unlike the 996 (and I know I am in the minority) I don't think the 955/957 interior design has aged very well. It's complicated looking with tech, but it all looks/feels like old Tech while the spartan-ness of the 996 has helped it age better in my opinion.

gnat

Always wanted 1

I've never driven a Cayenne. I'm near Chicago and there are tons of private party Cayennes for sale below $10k. As I haven't seen one in person I can't comment on the condition/sad story aspect, but if I could get a few years out of a nice looking example for that money, I'd just drive it into the ground. The tech doesn't bother me on a car like that. I'd just tear out what's there and put in something aftermarket that has what I want.

Always wanted 1

is that the vaunted Viggen!?

Kalashnikov

Rumor has it...they had to use SR-71 with ultra-mega-high-speed camera to capture this image. ^^

Always wanted 1

here's an example of a turbo with 117k. If I brought $3500 in cash and an armed wingman, the seller might take it. It might be worth it if it runs and drives. The pics show no lights on the dash..
https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/6109908954.html

gnat

If you are serious about a Cayenne being a possibility, go spend some time in the Cayenne forum. Lots of good info there.

Lots of dual Cayenne and 996 owners, so you'd be in company if you did it

Always wanted 1

Hey, why not? I'm not your typical Porsche owner. I do "well" but I'm not in the demographic of the new Porsche owner. I've spent a lot of my life in the nominal mold. I've got friends, family, and neighbors that buy Toyotas, Hondas, and Chevys because that's what they are "supposed" to do. I woke up one day and realized you only live once. If I can buy a used Cayenne for the price of a really used Honda Civic, why wouldn't I do it? A few thousand in maintenance here and there isn't really going to make a hill of beans.

Woodman71

Damn, a purple Porsche truck for $7,500? Wonder if it was a rolling studio for adult videos.

Always wanted 1

you never know. Maybe it's in decent condition and the f$cktard that owns it hasn't had the chance to destroy it yet. He's willing to "negotiate". This means he doesn't have the skill or stamina to withstand the $3500 flash of cash. If it checks out ok, what's wrong with owning a porno purple "Porsche truck"?

gnat

Bought her 996 when I was 26/27 and making 35k/yr (Internet bubble), never had a garage, it's been street parked its entire life, drive it in any and all conditions, barely done maintenance on it. So yeah, not a "typical" Porsche owner

Actually it was a legit color you could order. The 996 had a similar color available too. I think it's incredible in person.

I couldn't do it on a P!g though as I'd think of Barney every time I looked at it.

Volkert

I have got an A6 quattro stationwagon, perfect combo with a 996!!

Volkert

Majdomo

Audi allroad?