Porsche

Fun toy is exactly the term you can use. Unlike the 3 various air cooled versions I owned and drove during the week and re-tuned on the weekends, the water cooled versions were designed to be trouble free daily drivers, and they are. Even the A/C systems are ice cold. But make no mistake. when service is needed, remember it is a German vehicle so parts and labor will be over and above Japanese and American toys.

On your first drive, cruising or letting it stretch its muscles, look in the rearview mirror at your smile. This car, once a rear heavy, oversteering (but still lovable) machine, now acts an behaves like any sports car. But, brake into the curve and DO NOT accelrate until you are just about to exit the curve. Sorry, I am a driving instructor to those learning their track cars, so to me every one is a student.

Before you buy, I recommend you test drive a Cayman, the coupe-based Boxter. It is by far the most well balanced in Porsche's sport lineup.

Would I make the leap? Absolutely.

I'm not really sure what you're asking...:P



All I can say is that my dad has a 2006 Cayman S and it's awesome to drive. I'd go for a Cayman over a 911 unless you just need the extra power. The Cayman is really the better handling car, it isn't as common as the 911, and it costs less! You can get a pretty nice used Cayman within your budget.

If you are buying a 2008 or older Porsche be sure that the IMS bearing has been upgraded. The earlier cars had a potentially fatal flaw in the IMS bearing and if it fails you will be looking at an engine rebuild to the tune of $20k. I bought an 03 911 last year that had experienced this failure at 25k so I have the benefit of a new engine. Don't take a chance. I am 71 and loving every minute behind the wheel of this car.

Excellent point about the IMS bearing. The only exception is the Turbo version as a different (read "better") bearing was used since a lot of owners upgraded to higher performance turbos. They can take up to 650 hp easily. But the 911 Carerra and Carerra S - ask about the bearing replacement.