There's no soul in any Porsche that costs less than $90 for an oil change. So Cayman because it's the best handling car they make. And who cars about dogs and kids. You presumably have other cars, or a Kona Ute, for those.
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There's no soul in any Porsche that costs less than $90 for an oil change. So Cayman because it's the best handling car they make. And who cars about dogs and kids. You presumably have other cars, or a Kona Ute, for those.
Try one with three pedals. I believe that the Cayman still has the old 6 speed. Otherwise, I would (I did) find a lightly used 997. I think the 991 manual has 7 gears. It's a gutted PDK. That's just too many gears for me to handle. Funny how I have no problem with Di2 11-speed!
Kind of unrelated: Look at prices for '68 to '73 non-S 911's, if you want to see what a bargain 997's are.
The latest Car and Driver is pretty heavy on 911 stuff and perhaps good for someone who wants a quick primer re: the various iterations through the years. I am always kind of thinking ahead to the day when budgets continue to go down and my grandfathered status in the company/test car program goes away - and what I would get. An older, cosmetically challenged (paint, dings, etc) 911 is always at the top of that list.
The 991 is a great car, but for some reason the sharing of interior bits and theme between that and the Panamera didn't sit well with me. That same theme has now worked its way down into the Boxster and the Cayman too.
Regular Cayman/Boxster disappoint at the light. My mantra.......sports car has to be noticeably faster in a straight line than our MB V8 wagon. The S models should do the trick........then there is this firm (TPC Racing) north of Laurel, MD that offers turbo kits. Met the owner at the drag strip as he and his engineer were sorting a 997 GT2. I think he hit 129mph on his first run.
Didn't like: poor handling, disconnected road feel, heavy, poor gas mileage, automatic trans, air suspension (crapped out so I replaced it with tradition spring/strut--helped the handling considerably but not enough), psychotic climate control system, coolant and oil leaks that were poised to cost a lot of cash to fix. Did like: having a wagon that was cosmetically ragged enough to not care, proper ergonomics, AWD, AWD with snow tires.
There are a ton of Allroads around here (2nd largest Allroad market behind Denver) and people do like them. But I laugh everytime I see one that's been parked overnight and is sitting on it's shock bumpers because the air bag has leaked out. Had a mechanic buddy to try explain to me that everything I don't like about the car is exactly why the original owner payed so much for it. We were hoping to find an AWD, manual trans, wagon with under 70k miles, under $25k, and isn't a Subaru. That ain't easy to do. The A4 sedan is a compromise on the wagon part, but it does open up the prospect of getting back on the track. This car goes exactly and predictably when and where I want it to go--that is essential criteria in a car.
A moment to sound like the retrogrouch I am in light of these Allroad/old Porsche comments:
A modern version of my 1985 Audi 4000CS Quattro would be a lust car for me. 5 speed manual, great powerband, AWD, no screen in the dash, no suspension settings other than "damn good suspension," no dashboard doodads beyond the differential lock selector and the audio. Just for driving and super fun. Maybe even a wagon.
As you were...
I think this one might satisfy your criteria. For Audi content skip to about the eight minute mark although I wouldn't turn my nose up to an RS 200.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDCE4FjVHOU
Talked with a sales guy the other day when I saw the new Allroad siting on the lot. Based now off the A4 platform. No body armor. Asked him if they were still using the air suspension and he laughed and said noooooooo. Was told that basically every allroad that had over 100k on it were driving around on either a new air suspension or retrofit to standard issue stuff. I still watch for the first year model that was offered with the 6spd manual, but damn hard to find.
Funny how things move in the orbits of the zeitgeist around here, I've been debating the pros/cons of Cayman S (2009-2012) as compared to a 997 Carrera 2 S (probably a 2008; don't think I want to fork over the extra coin for a 2009) and keep coming up with it being a push. All considered have 6 speed MT. All come in at roughly the same price. I've considered the earlier 911's but this car needs will be a daily driver that goes to the track occasionally. Put gas in it and go. Change the oil. Rinse and repeat.
I'm still doing a lot of reading and talking but the best advice came from a car-nut colleague who has a 997 cabriolet in his lineup, "Go drive them both and decide. One has more horsepower, one has more neutral handling. One has more space inside. The other doesn't. Really can't make a wrong decision with either."