Used, non-bank-breaking Porsche or similar - what are you experiences?

FreddieVanHalen

My experience was of a car that generated bills of almost 50% of the value of the car, specialists that were booked months in advance, occasionally did questionable quality work and had to be chased regularly to make progress, basic servicing that never cost less than a grand a visit and a handling feel of trying to drive something with a navy frigate hanging somewhere out the boot.

Keep the tank full and there is the nagging fear of what will happen if you crash into something whilst travelling forwards. Let it run low and have the knowledge that you’re about to crash into something going backwards.

It was a nice looking car though.

I now have a visceral understanding of the phrase “the two happiest days of my life”

The day that I bought it, and the day that I sold it.

Edit:  to give you an idea of how bad my Porsche experience was, I bought an MX5 straight after I got rid of that awful piece of shit Porsche and I’m still happily driving it seven years later .

p90fool

Adi said:

p90fool said:

TimmyO said:

I wouldn't be seen dead in an MX5 

My boss ten years ago had a nearly new 911 and always nagged me to use it for running errands, I always took the Ford Focus instead. 

I did try it once and it drove ok, but I spent the whole time sliding down in the seat in case anyone I knew saw me. I would definitely have felt slightly less of a cock in an MX5.

I'm sorry but this is a complete bs, why would the fact that you drive a 911 (or any other car for the sake of the argument) be something to be ashamed of? Especially that 911 is a great driver's car and very well respected in the motoring community. It seems to always come from people who can't afford such cars, insecure much?

Insecure? Not really. I was the manager of a classic car hire company, the fleet consisting of a Ferrari 308 GTB, a Jaguar E-Type, an MGA, a Triumph TR6, and a BMW 3.0CS, all of which I also maintained and drove daily.

I got the job because I'd spent three years rebuilding Jaguar race engines of all ages, all the way back to mid-50s D-Types.

The owner of the company drove the aforementioned 911 and my own personal transport at that time consisted of two Harley-Davidsons, two late '60s Alfa Bertone GTVs, and a pair of fun but rusty Alfa Giuliettas. 

So no, I'm not insecure about the affordability of modern sports cars tbh @Adi , in fact ALL cars bore me these days quite frankly. 

chotu495

I drove a 986 boxster that was pretty rough looking, yet was great to drive (noise and handling).

I then started looking at the 987 (2005 on) Boxster and have owned a 2.7 for the last couple of years. It had a big service when i bought it, and has been a total pleasure to own.

Very capable and under-rated, thanks to the “its a poor-mans 911” brigade, who I have to thank for keeping the prices down 

Feels special to drive, looks nice, sounds very good and handles the B roads with ease. Roof lowered adds another dimension. I really like the Cayman, but would miss the roof-down aspect after a Boxster.

its probably worth about 8.5k, so wouldn’t break the bank. 

OP - go look at and drive a few well-maintained and presented cars. No regrets here!

WindmillGuitars

I'd look at a Lotus Elise or even a Vauxhall VX220 - I owned the later for about five years and had a hoot with it without breaking the bank. I only sold it as I had the opportunity to buy a wide-bodied factory Westfield

Snap

TimmyO said:

danishbacon said:

Cayman S is a seriously good car

Noted, ta

Get a Cayman, brilliant car, better handling and balance than a 911. You won't regret it.

strtdv

To be fair, it's not the only example in which the "junior" sports car holds its own against the bigger "proper" models. The BMW M2 is the best car they currently make

fields5069

Be careful. Some Porsches come with bricks instead of tyres, I've seen a fair few around over the years.

gusman2x

goldtop said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

Pity. You're missing out on a great car. 

TimmyO said:

I wouldn't be seen dead in an MX5

+1. If/when I sell the NSX, I'll most likely get a warmed-up MX5. Maybe one of the BBR versions. It has always been a superb car. My first had (I think) about 133bhp and something closer to 200 would be about perfect.

I had thought about the TT Quattro Sport (Mk1 for the Bauhaus looks) as that's a sure-fire future classic. Less fun than the MX5, though.

You have a NSX? Man, I'd love one. I'm a dc2 owner, and a genera Honda fanboy.

Mate ran a Cayman S for a couple of years. Very capable car, but maybe a tad boring? Took it round Knockhill, and it was very neutral. My civic was more fun. He ended up getting rid as it cost him >£1,000 just to keep on the road. £1,000 on servicing, and the same on Tyres every other year. And that was with very light use. Although, it did get thrashed when it was out.

I think the new MX-5 looks fantastic. Right muscular looking thing. If I was looking for a posing machine (no judgement), I'd probably get a Mustang too.

As it stands, I'm after an M3 next year I think. Although, and old shed of one.

JohnnyPlectrum

I ran a 964 as my everyday car for many years. Wasn't too dear to run, looked after it using independent specialists and sold it for what I paid for it 8 years later.
These days there's no place on the roads for supercars, they're sat in the same queues as Dacia Dusters and the prevalence of PCP means they're not the status symbol they once were.
I bought a cheap Cooper S for larks and switched to posh bicycles rather than super cars as I can at least get to use their performance to the best of my ability!

octatonic

Cayman S would be the top of my list of 2 door sports cars to drive hard.

Unfortunately I need to carry drums, guitars, amps and sometimes people so I ended up with a Macan S.
I haven't driven the two back to back but the Macan feels 'sporty for an SUV', which might be damning with faint praise but it is as close as I can get for now.

strtdv

@TimmyO did you get the Porsche in the end?

Dominic

Macan and Cayman are great cars but they don't say Porsche to me neither do any of the more modern cars - true Porsches died with the 993 and the introduction of water cooling.
 I had a 1973 RS .....white ,ducktail, Can Can red leather comfort pack,red Fuchs alloys and pre G50 gearbox .....that was a proper car.......small and light with steering as heavy as hell .
Worst mistake ever to have sold it ........did myself out of £250k

hollywoodrox

fandango said:

goldtop said:

fandango said:

goldtop said:

Sounds like you've got the Porsche itch and there's only one way to scratch it.

On the Cayman... there'd always be that nagging feeling that it's not 'the' Porsche. No matter how good it is.

That’s what folk said about the 924 and 944. But looking at their prices now proves otherwise.

I wasn't talking about value/price as much as the 'feeling'. It's a big part of the mid-life-crisis car. That moment when you park up, walk away to wherever you're going, but something makes you turn around and look at it. You do that because it's under your skin somehow. (Silly - it's just a car, after all, but...)

No boy today is growing up with a Cayman poster blutacked on his bedroom wall. For those of us old enough, the 911 was a poster hero.

It's a bit heart-vs-head.

For me, it’s italian cars. Show me an older (but not that old) Alfa, Ferrari or Maserati, and i go weak at the knees.

I’m more of a cuntash fan

Axe_meister

A couple of phrases spring to mind.
If you an drive it, fly it, sail it, fuck it, you are better off renting.
And better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
Maybe be think of a new/nearly new Z4 M if you want speed and comfort.
Lotus Elise (boy I miss mine). Caterham, etc, if you want smile per mile and smiles per £.

And being a mid life crisis car you do need some money left over for that leggy blond half your age.

andy1839

Axe_meister said:

A couple of phrases spring to mind.
If you an drive it, fly it, sail it, fuck it, you are better off renting.
And better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
Maybe be think of a new/nearly new Z4 M if you want speed and comfort.
Lotus Elise (boy I miss mine). Caterham, etc, if you want smile per mile and smiles per £.

And being a mid life crisis car you do need some money left over for that leggy blond half your age.

I got my Z4M Coupe in 2007, they're brilliant cars. 
Replaced it with the V6 F Type, which was a bit different, but lovely in its own way. 

Axe_meister

Forgot about the F Type. Gorgeous.
Such a pity TVR is no longer around.
You may be able to get an second hand Aston for similar money.

TimmyO

strtdv said:

@TimmyO did you get the Porsche in the end?

Oh the irony - no - I came close to having to sell my existing car to get by in lockdown! 

guitargeek62

You'd get much more fun from one of these anyway, and more bang for your buck too:

stonevibe

I've always liked Walker's 911s, but they will set you back a fair few quid

suspiciousminds

I have a 944 cabriolet sat in my garage which i bought in october 2004.
Since my mrs has been ill its been off the road so will need a full checkover first and ive noticed a bit of rust appear on the sills which will need looking at but i’ll get it on the road at some point again.
I’ve had a couple of 924’s previously - i really wanted the 924s version with the 944 engine in it, but this cab popped up for sale and i went for it.
I’ve had the customary poormans porsche jibes, but that never bothered me.