What Porsche for sub 30k?

[ryallm]

I sold my C2S on Saturday for 25k. Picked the buyer up in dunfermline after the trackday, took him to see it and he left happy as a pig in the proverbial.

It was a genuinely good car, but i really really didn't like it.

I have always quite fancied a 997 although I have never driven one. Curious to know why you didn't get on with it apart from the potential engine weakness you mentioned.

Mark

[Gooldie]

Just done 600 miles across Lewis, Harris, north uist and Skye in the boxster last weekend and it was epic, even though it is a bit under powered just meant you had to work it a bit harder which made it even more enjoyable. The funny thing is I think I would look an idiot driving round Glasgow with the roof down in a boxster but out on the open road and in brilliant sun shine I was loving the convertible, even when driving through the rain late on Saturday night.

I had a full spec cayman S, at the start of the year while the TVR was being repaired and although it was brilliant didn't think it was massively better than the boxster.

I think Boag might be right save your money and get a 2005/2006 boxster s. can be picked up very reasonably, enjoy for a while and you will loose very little on it.

[Gooldie]

if it were me, a cayman S. But the boxster S is 99% as good, and a good chunk cheaper for the same age of car. I reckon 911's will be money pits if used properly.

as you say a boxster is 99% as good, but also has the advantage of been able to get the roof down and hear the glorious flat 6 engine note, and enjoy open top motoring.

[point n squirt]

if it were me, a cayman S. But the boxster S is 99% as good, and a good chunk cheaper for the same age of car. I reckon 911's will be money pits if used properly.

as you say a boxster is 99% as good, but also has the advantage of been able to get the roof down and hear the glorious flat 6 engine note, and enjoy open top motoring.

Agree with the roof thing but i think the 911 soft tops look crap. I like the idea of the 996/7 tagra but seemingly this is the one you dont want according to the forums.

[DJ]

No Boxsters allowed. They're only for ladies and gentlemen of questionable sexuality ...

Oi!

..... who live in Crieff.

Ahh... that's OK then.

if it were me, a cayman S. But the boxster S is 99% as good, and a good chunk cheaper for the same age of car. I reckon 911's will be money pits if used properly.

as you say a boxster is 99% as good, but also has the advantage of been able to get the roof down and hear the glorious flat 6 engine note, and enjoy open top motoring.

[DDtB]

Wasn't expecting all these replies... !!

Just at the research phase just now really but will be bookmarking some of the links, thanks guys!

Main actual reason for not considering a Boxster is that I want something a wee bit more practical. Have the Elise for roof off B-Road fun (when I get round to fixing it), so for the everyday car I want something a bit more 'sensible' and comfy. Also means I've ruled out the older classics, like 964s and 993s etc.

Heated seats, air con, sat nav, proper roof .. that kind of thing is important here, as is reliability. I'm aware reliability is a relative term though

Doesn't need to have more than 2 seats but definitely has to be something I can stick a push-bike into or on top of.

I think where I'm at is that although the Cayman is probably a better choice in a lot of ways on paper to the 911, I'm just not sure it gets me excited when I see one on the road. Plus there's a new one due out soon iirc. Similar kind of logic applies to an M3. Great on paper but doesn't really give me the horn.

Starting to think more and more that something like Smitsui's one he just sold would be perfect for my everyday sensible transport. Just the wee matter of my job situation to sort before I go spending that kind of cash on another car though...

Off to spend some hours browsing those links now ... this is fun..

[tut]

jeezus, you lot are getting old way before your time..........

tut

[DDtB]

jeezus, you lot are getting old way before your time..........

tut

You're up late. Did you have to pee?

[point n squirt]

[smitstui]

I have always quite fancied a 997 although I have never driven one. Curious to know why you didn't get on with it apart from the potential engine weakness you mentioned.

Mark

It just didn't give the kind of feedback an elise or exige would. It felt wallowy and soft. I just didn't feel in control like i did when driving a lotus fast.

As i get older I am also starting to think that 350 bhp is too much for the road( but still bought the 's' evora!!!). The speeds that you do if you are really pushing on really can be a bit silly in comparison to, say, an elise.

I felt exactly the same about e36 m3s and most imprezas. They could obviously handle but I just couldnt get the feel for them.

I have said before, I am fairly sure this has more to do with my driving abilities than the cars.

[j2 lot]

that caused screen/coffee interface.

[smitstui]

Not sub 30k but I would love to try a GT3 at some point to compare.

[a4drk]

996 - 911 C4S with sports exhaust
My friend had one & i've been wanting one for years...........

After having the Boxster S, I said if I was getting another Porker it would need to be 4WD.
Scary in the rain......

David

[shooomer]

996 - 911 C4S with sports exhaust
My friend had one & i've been wanting one for years...........

After having the Boxster S, I said if I was getting another Porker it would need to be 4WD.
Scary in the rain......

David

Why was it scary?

IMHO 996 C4S is dull

[keevster]

There is not a huge amount of DFI engined Cayman S about for under 30k. Not sure what kind of deal you could haggle with a OPC, as i know some folk have walked in and got 3-4k discounts on used cars, but probably slightly higher up the price range.
A good 2009-2010 Boxster S DFI is within that price range easily, and defo a good proposition. However if i was gona track the car, i'dh opt for the stiffer Cayman S. I nearly had 38k down on a Cayman S the day before i bought the Elise. I love everything about the Cayman and would still have one in a Minute, but deep down i really wanted the Cayman R, but it was just too much out of price range.
As for the Generation 1 Caymans, i researched these intensely, along with 996-997, C2S 911s. The 911 never really appealed, and most comments i had read, or people i had spoke to said, Go for the Cayman, much better drive in most areas, more nimble, better turn in and just a more exciting fun drive than the 911 variants, not counting GT3.

As one of the previous posters mentioned, the bore scoring also scared me a little. Its only happening to a very small % of cars, however its a worry i don't really need in the back of my mind travelling across Europe. Obviously with any Cayman/Boxster/911, you'd be silly not to souce a Porsche warranty. A Female Traffic cop over on the PHs just recently had her 09 Cayman S Engine go on her, Gen 1 Car. It only had 10k on the clock, never over revved and driven with care. Luckily Porsche UK have stomped up the bill, despite her not having the OPC warranty(which she will now get.lol).
But it just brings it home to you, that regardless of how your car is treated, this can still be the outcome.

So defo a Cayman Gen 2 the DFI or Boxster of the same Age.