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Got the Porsche bug...

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#41 ·
gwmermel! said:
You're only punishing yourself. Deprive yourself from a car you'd enjoy 'cause a community doesn't suit you? I doubt they care. Meanwhile, if someone judges you negatively for the car you drive they ain't worth your time......
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I've had 'em, enjoyed 'em but never miss them. Other than my 89 E30 325is which I bought new in 1990 and just recently sold, I typically turn cars like hot potatoes and never look back. Too many cars, not enough time.

The majority of the community I live in suits me just fine but nobody lives in a bubble. I could give rat's a#s how I am perceived by other people. As I s said, vandalism, theft & carjackings are common place and these statistics are not going down (insurance goes up). Now, I do happen to live in a Wild West state where you don't need a permit to carry a concealed weapon - but that takes you down an even deeper rabbit hole. The R checks all my boxes and I would have bought an R32 when it came out had they offered a DSG. I used to fly above the radar, now fly below it and enjoy it immensely.

Back on topic, the Cayman GTS has got to be an insanely great car. I always thought the Boxster & Cayman were Porsche's answer to reviving the mid-engined 914/6 design (like BMW finally making a car with the soul of the E30 M3 - the new one series M2). The 924 was a miserable predecessor to the 914.
 
#43 ·
alan.domme said:
I bought a CRX si new in 1986- my first new car purchase and man, I loved that car. Mine was black and I put black mesh wheels with polished rims on it. If I remember, it weighed about 2100lbs. I never auto crossed it but it was a blast on the streets.
"Handles like a go kart" was coined for that car, I'm sure[emoji1]
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Other than video games, first time I drove a stick was a test drive of an '86 CRX Si. Came so close to buying it, but it had been really ragged on. Found an '89 HF for $2800 I think (this was 1991). It had been in an accident and had no head unit, but was fixed well and was otherwise awesome. 43 mpg city, about 60 on the hwy. Loved that underpowered, super simple car. A few years later bought a '90 Si with 122k miles on it. Beat the living hell out of it for about 30k miles, it never skipped a beat and was an absolute blast to drive. Had synchro-matching down pat, and could e-brake into a parking spot between two parked cars (yes, I was young and dumb).

I was all excited when they said the "CRX was coming back". They gave us the CR-Z. WTF.
 
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#44 ·
Drive some and decide. I have a 2014 C4S manual and a 16 Golf R manual, 911 driving experience is much more rewarding but takes more effort. Golf R is the ultimate hot hatch for those who value understated quality. I enjoy both.
 
#45 ·
ShrekSquatch said:
Other than video games, first time I drove a stick was a test drive of an '86 CRX Si. Came so close to buying it, but it had been really ragged on. Found an '89 HF for $2800 I think (this was 1991). It had been in an accident and had no head unit, but was fixed well and was otherwise awesome. 43 mpg city, about 60 on the hwy. Loved that underpowered, super simple car. A few years later bought a '90 Si with 122k miles on it. Beat the living hell out of it for about 30k miles, it never skipped a beat and was an absolute blast to drive. Had synchro-matching down pat, and could e-brake into a parking spot between two parked cars (yes, I was young and dumb).

I was all excited when they said the "CRX was coming back". They gave us the CR-Z. WTF.
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OT - Did you ever test drive one? I bought and drove a 6-speed manual CR-Z for 3 years as a fun commuter car to keep the miles off my WRX STi (RIP, death by ringland failure :banghead:). I even took it down to the dragon where I learned I don't have the balls of most other drivers. The car had a very ridged chassis from the factory and with a rear sway bar would rotate nicely for a FWD car; the hybrid battery in the back gave it a nice weight you could toss around in the corners like a pendulum. It wasn't fast in a straight line, but the mild-hybrid electric motor gave it nice low-end torque that unfortunately died up top (where's my VTEC yo?!).

Honda was definitely trying to creating something special for the millennials that want hybrid technology, I had multiple young people come up and ask me about it while I owned it (and I always commented I wished it was faster). It wasn't a terrible car by any means, but I still found myself trading it in for my R so I could get back into the AWD turbo club. Also I had 0 problems in 80k miles, VS my Subaru that was constantly in the shop until it gave up the ghost at 135k.

Anyway, I'm digging this thread for the Porsche discussion and Golf R praise for what it is. I think I'll be looking for a used 911 SC after the R is paid off as a nice weather weekend car while the R does daily driver duty.
 
#46 ·
Back on topic, to the OP:

I've had a bunch of Golf Rs (two Mk VI, one MkVII currently) and a bunch of Porsches (3 997s of different years/models and a Cayman). There is NOTHING that drives like a Porsche, especially a 911. If you can afford to do it, and you don't need the practicality of the Golf R, you should absolutely do it. You will not be disappointed. I would advise getting a 2007-2008 Carrera S with a manual trans, sport seats, and not much else if you want the "legit" Porsche feel. They are just honest, pure, drivers' cars. If you want a little nicer interior and more power, then a 2009-2012 Carrera S is the ticket. And don't be afraid of the base Carrera, esp. the 997.1 (2007-2008 again). I'd avoid 2005-2006 cars because of the increased, albeit small, possibility of the dreaded IMS failure.

I'm currently looking for the best of the best 997 Carrera S I can find since I miss mine so much. I promise you can't go wrong. Good luck!!



And for those knocking either of these cars (Carrera or R), you are crazy. They are incredible. I even told my wife after I brought the R home that it felt like a Carrera 4S in a boxy package.
 
Discussion starter · #49 ·
Thanks for all your replies!

As I mentioned in my original post, speed and track times are not a factor to me so the tweakability of the R means nothing to me.

I test drove a 2014 Cayman S and a 2009 997s, both manual, and enjoyed every second of it. There is something about these cars that puts a smile on my face, irrespective of specs or how fast they can go. Just looking at them triggers an emotional response that I, unfortunately, don't get from my R.

My R has been a weekend garage queen and that was my "mistake" in purchasing the car. I put too much emphasis on practicality when I don't even daily the R. Heck, the rear seats on it have never even been used since I picked up the car in January 2017.

Still trying to decide between the newer Cayman and older 997, but it seems like the R is going to go...

Anyone interested in a non-tuned babied, garage queen, Limestone grey R with only 4,400 miles? :)
 
#51 ·
Macan is still a crossover and won’t give you R thrills . I/wife have an Macan S and almost replaced my R with a GTS, still might if I can rationalize double the R lease. But will miss the R as it’s apples to oranges.
 
#52 ·
Blurum said:
Macan is still a crossover and won’t give you R thrills . I/wife have an Macan S and almost replaced my R with a GTS, still might if I can rationalize double the R lease. But will miss the R as it’s apples to oranges.
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Agreed - Macan is still too tall even though it can do incredible things. I drove a Turbo at Summit Point for the Porsche Roadshow with an instructor from Porsche. He kept coaxing me to go faster and I actually got the thing sideways coming out of a tight right-hander!! Awesome stuff, esp. from an SUV/crossover. The R is still more fun....
 
#53 ·
I think you're headed in the right direction!

Amiroquai said:
Thanks for all your replies!

As I mentioned in my original post, speed and track times are not a factor to me so the tweakability of the R means nothing to me.

I test drove a 2014 Cayman S and a 2009 997s, both manual, and enjoyed every second of it. There is something about these cars that puts a smile on my face, irrespective of specs or how fast they can go. Just looking at them triggers an emotional response that I, unfortunately, don't get from my R.

My R has been a weekend garage queen and that was my "mistake" in purchasing the car. I put too much emphasis on practicality when I don't even daily the R. Heck, the rear seats on it have never even been used since I picked up the car in January 2017.

Still trying to decide between the newer Cayman and older 997, but it seems like the R is going to go...

Anyone interested in a non-tuned babied, garage queen, Limestone grey R with only 4,400 miles? :)
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This time last year, I was dead set on a Golf R. My Mk II VR6 TT was getting old, and this seemed like the obvious choice, since Audi no longer makes any manual transmission cars. Like you, I always dreamed of a Porsche as a kid, and so I started researching them. Couldn't afford new, but the 997s were right in my price range. They also seemed to be the last of the "analog" Porsche cars. I liked the Cayman but I also missed Quattro, so I set my sights on a 997 C4S. Found one last year and haven't looked back!

Image


I would also agree that the 911 is more rewarding but also requires the most work. There is so much feedback flowing through the controls that it's a bit overwhelming at first. You really have to learn how to focus with it. I like that. When you take your first corner in a 911 and feel that pendulum effect, you know you've got to take some time to re-calibrate everything you used to do in driving. I feel like I'm driving an Audi in reverse sometimes, lol, because of that weight transfer.

Needless to say, I'm biased, but I've really grown to love this car more every day. If it's a fun, weekend car, then it should be a no brainer for you.

Here's a great video from Matt Farah's One Takes that highlights the differences between the Cayman and 911:

Good luck with your decision! :thumbup:
 
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#54 ·
There was another Porsche thread a few weeks back. I'm very lucky to have a 991 C2S (currently hibernating for the winter), along with my Golf R.

They're such different vehicles. The Golf is fast in a very practical/usable way. Especially here at elevation, where turbo cars have more of an advantage. The 911 needs high revs to make power, and with the tall gearing, you're already breaking speed limit laws at the top of 2nd gear.

The Golf R falls well short in driving feel, suspension, steering, braking. But, it's a great car to park wherever without caring, it hauls lots of stuff, and when my 3 year old grinds his shoes into the back of the passenger seat, I don't get too upset. I make him take his shoes off in the p-car :laugh:
 
#55 ·
This title is so confusing. What does it mean? Do you want a Porsche badge, or the Porsche driving experience? Are you talking computerized water cooled, or real driving air cooled? Please define what you’re looking for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #56 ·
rickandshana said:
This title is so confusing. What does it mean? Do you want a Porsche badge, or the Porsche driving experience? Are you talking computerized water cooled, or real driving air cooled? Please define what you’re looking for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Porsche driving experience is what I am after. I know that the air cooled ones are the more purist Porsches but I still like modern amenities and features, which is why I am now actually entertaining the notion of getting a base 991, electronic steering and other modern "pains" considered.

True Porsche driving experience or not, the 991 and 997 were still considerably more entertaining for me to drive than the Golf R. That is enough for me to want to upgrade on its own. The Porsche badge a bonus, fulfilling a childhood dream and checking off a significant box on my bucket list.
 
#57 ·
Amiroquai said:
Porsche driving experience is what I am after. I know that the air cooled ones are the more purist Porsches but I still like modern amenities and features, which is why I am now actually entertaining the notion of getting a base 991, electronic steering and other modern "pains" considered.

True Porsche driving experience or not, the 991 and 997 were still considerably more entertaining for me to drive than the Golf R. That is enough for me to want to upgrade on its own. The Porsche badge a bonus, fulfilling a childhood dream and checking off a significant box on my bucket list.
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997 is the best compromise of modern amenities but still feeling old-school. 991s are very mature, still amazing to drive, but the rough edges are smoothed off. 997s still feel a little raw. Test drive both if you haven't already.
 
#58 ·
Chris from Cali said:
997 is the best compromise of modern amenities but still feeling old-school. 991s are very mature, still amazing to drive, but the rough edges are smoothed off. 997s still feel a little raw. Test drive both if you haven't already.
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^^^THIS^^^

I did the Porsche Driving Experience here in Atlanta at Porsche Headquarters in a 991 Carerra S and it was really awesome, but felt so different from my 997. Also got to take out a Cayman GT4 for a few laps. With the same engine as my car, it sounded and felt more familar. It also had some of that rawness of my 997 dialed back in. So much more capable than my C4S, especially with turn-in. Really danced. Phenomenal talents and so easy to drive fast, but at the end of the day when I got back in my 997 in the parking lot and started driving home, I realized I made the right decision for me. If my 911 was a daily, then I would probably have gone with the 991, since it was much more refined and comfortable...
 
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#59 ·
Silver Stealth said:
^^^THIS^^^

I did the Porsche Driving Experience here in Atlanta at Porsche Headquarters in a 991 Carerra S and it was really awesome, but felt so different from my 997. Also got to take out a Cayman GT4 for a few laps. With the same engine as my car, it sounded and felt more familar. It also had some of that rawness of my 997 dialed back in. So much more capable than my C4S, especially with turn-in. Really danced. Phenomenal talents and so easy to drive fast, but at the end of the day when I got back in my 997 in the parking lot and started driving home, I realized I made the right decision for me. If my 911 was a daily, then I would probably have gone with the 991, since it was much more refined and comfortable...
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Yep. I had a 2009 C4S but with PDK. I didn't like PDK or I'd still have that car. Enjoy yours forever!!!!
 
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