Elise and 540i replacement... Cayman S/Z4M/M5? Help.

[petrolveins]

JetskiJezz said:

edc said:

If you've tried a Boxster S and liked it why not get one? Roof down/top off opportunities like the Elise and handlng almost identical to the Cayman. Arguably, more practical with 2 boots. At £15k you are comfortably in 987 territory which is more refined and daily like than 986 with a more spacious cabin. However, I would consider a 986 550 Anniversary. It has as standard the factory option M030 sports suspension so possibly brings you closer to the Elise for handling than a regular Boxster. You should be able to get one at £10k or less which leaves you plenty left over for the inevitable modifications or upgrades or just a bit as contingency.

I would agree with the above, if you really are after just one car to try and fit all situations then surely be Boxster S ticks pretty much all of the boxes.
Open-air motoring with the sun out.
Big enough double boot space
Relatively well built
Plenty of different options
Perfectly comfortable cross country on relatively rough roads

Having said this I too don't think the one car can really do everything perfectly, but with up to £15 K to play with and wanting some level of practicality it's what I would do.

I'm beginning to think this is an option I should be exploring. Just not very keen on the look of them. The Cayman and Z4M look more special, and ultimately I want something I've wanted to own if that makes sense? Something that will give me a great deal of pleasure just saying that I own one.

SuperVM said:

I've had an E39 M5 and would think it very heavy for track work, though I appreciate you only plan to do the occasional track day. They are great cars and do handle better than their weight suggests they should, but I still found mine a bit wallowy for b-roads and I imagine that would only get worse on the track. Having said that, mine was on reasonably old suspension and I believe a refresh makes a vast difference. The noise with custom straight through back boxes was phenomenal above 4.5k RPM and always put a smile on my face.

I appreciate you've said E46 M3s aren't for you, but I've had two E36 M3s and I haven't owned anything else that has done everything as well, I think you should probably drive one before dismissing them. Your budget is starting to touch E90 M3s, so perhaps those are worth considering, though reasonably heavy again.

Weight isn't the issue, I quite enjoy a heavy car, and the 540i was fine down the back roads, just a little slow with the gearbox. Wouldn't want to go as old as an E36 for a daily, too dated inside now for me. How long did have your M5 for, how were maintenance and running costs?

[edc]

I'm on my second Boxster now which happens to be a 550. I hear what you are saying re aspiring to a car. I never, aspired to a Boxster but it does what I need and want pretty well.

[JetskiJezz]

petrolveins said:

JetskiJezz said:

edc said:

If you've tried a Boxster S and liked it why not get one? Roof down/top off opportunities like the Elise and handlng almost identical to the Cayman. Arguably, more practical with 2 boots. At £15k you are comfortably in 987 territory which is more refined and daily like than 986 with a more spacious cabin. However, I would consider a 986 550 Anniversary. It has as standard the factory option M030 sports suspension so possibly brings you closer to the Elise for handling than a regular Boxster. You should be able to get one at £10k or less which leaves you plenty left over for the inevitable modifications or upgrades or just a bit as contingency.

I would agree with the above, if you really are after just one car to try and fit all situations then surely be Boxster S ticks pretty much all of the boxes.
Open-air motoring with the sun out.
Big enough double boot space
Relatively well built
Plenty of different options
Perfectly comfortable cross country on relatively rough roads

Having said this I too don't think the one car can really do everything perfectly, but with up to £15 K to play with and wanting some level of practicality it's what I would do.

I'm beginning to think this is an option I should be exploring. Just not very keen on the look of them. The Cayman and Z4M look more special, and ultimately I want something I've wanted to own if that makes sense? Something that will give me a great deal of pleasure just saying that I own one.

I know that all of these things are purely personal opinions, but why would a Cayman be any more appealing than a Boxster, essentially that the same car but with one you can take the roof off and enjoy some open-air motoring just like you've done with your Elise. I know I might be in the minority, and every time I see someone driving one I wonder why on earth they didn't buy the Boxster and have the best of both worlds.

[JetskiJezz]

petrolveins said:

JetskiJezz said:

edc said:

If you've tried a Boxster S and liked it why not get one? Roof down/top off opportunities like the Elise and handlng almost identical to the Cayman. Arguably, more practical with 2 boots. At £15k you are comfortably in 987 territory which is more refined and daily like than 986 with a more spacious cabin. However, I would consider a 986 550 Anniversary. It has as standard the factory option M030 sports suspension so possibly brings you closer to the Elise for handling than a regular Boxster. You should be able to get one at £10k or less which leaves you plenty left over for the inevitable modifications or upgrades or just a bit as contingency.

I would agree with the above, if you really are after just one car to try and fit all situations then surely be Boxster S ticks pretty much all of the boxes.
Open-air motoring with the sun out.
Big enough double boot space
Relatively well built
Plenty of different options
Perfectly comfortable cross country on relatively rough roads

Having said this I too don't think the one car can really do everything perfectly, but with up to £15 K to play with and wanting some level of practicality it's what I would do.

I'm beginning to think this is an option I should be exploring. Just not very keen on the look of them. The Cayman and Z4M look more special, and ultimately I want something I've wanted to own if that makes sense? Something that will give me a great deal of pleasure just saying that I own one.

I know that all of these things are purely personal opinions, but why would a Cayman be any more appealing than a Boxster, essentially that the same car but with one you can take the roof off and enjoy some open-air motoring just like you've done with your Elise. I know I might be in the minority, and every time I see someone driving one I wonder why on earth they didn't buy the Boxster and have the best of both worlds.

[barchetta_boy]

How much will you be looking for for your 111S?

[petrolveins]

barchetta_boy said:

How much will you be looking for for your 111S?

Around £16k

[petrolveins]

Just read about cmoose and his Cayman S experience, the bore score new engine experience. I realise this doesn't affect every car but this IMS/RMS/Bore score issue seems widespread across all the Porsche content I am looking at, is it really worth the risk?

[edc]

What about swirl flaps on diesels and Nikasil liners etc. All problems. Get a 986 and no bore problems. My new one had a new IMS when I did the clutch but it already had 105k on it. Between them mine have done 190k.

[petrolveins]

edc said:

What about swirl flaps on diesels and Nikasil liners etc. All problems. Get a 986 and no bore problems. My new one had a new IMS when I did the clutch but it already had 105k on it. Between them mine have done 190k.

Swirl Flaps and Nikasil to me seem to be well documented and easy to find out about on a car. This IMS business has confused the hell out of me, granted most say its a small number of cars affected, but it's risk I'd rather not take. I don't think £15k will get me a Cayman with a warranty on it :/ I'd love to be wrong, but I feel more comfortable in the BMW world. Perhaps I need to venture to a Porsche specialist and talk to them about IMS and all these things, reassure myself.

[edc]

petrolveins said:

Swirl Flaps and Nikasil to me seem to be well documented and easy to find out about on a car. This IMS business has confused the hell out of me, granted most say its a small number of cars affected, but it's risk I'd rather not take. I don't think £15k will get me a Cayman with a warranty on it :/ I'd love to be wrong, but I feel more comfortable in the BMW world. Perhaps I need to venture to a Porsche specialist and talk to them about IMS and all these things, reassure myself.

There are plenty of horror stories on the Internet but you should be able to find out about the IMS quite easily. Bear in mind most stuff you will read is not of a person's actual experience but something that they have heard and are now repeating. RMS is not worth worrying about. I was similar to you when i bought my first one but in then end I couldn't be bothered to read through all the crap and just bought a car anyway. On a 986 you can mitigate your risk by changing the IMS bearing. Depending on what bearing you use and whether you opt to change the clutch at the same time then it will cost you something in the region of £700-1200.

[petrolveins]

edc said:

There are plenty of horror stories on the Internet but you should be able to find out about the IMS quite easily. Bear in mind most stuff you will read is not of a person's actual experience but something that they have heard and are now repeating. RMS is not worth worrying about. I was similar to you when i bought my first one but in then end I couldn't be bothered to read through all the crap and just bought a car anyway. On a 986 you can mitigate your risk by changing the IMS bearing. Depending on what bearing you use and whether you opt to change the clutch at the same time then it will cost you something in the region of £700-1200.

First bit of practical advice I've heard about IMS, thank you. The price you quote, would that be a Porsche specialist pricing? I see you are in Surrey too? Anyone worth going to see and talk to about IMS and what to look for on a Cayman and the cost/process of prevantive work?

[edc]

Drop me a pm and I'll reply by email.

[Jonny P]

I am in your position at the moment looking to change but unsure on 1 or two cars, I currently own a 2009 z4 Coupe 3.0. I wish I had gone for the z4m or 911 but the z4 has been an ok step on the ladder.

Porsche Options:

Make sure have read through all pages on Autofarm and Hartech's website. Knowledge is power (and other cheesy sayings). They seem to be the two main specialists in the country for Porsche cars. The IMS and RMS issues can be preventively fixed while doing a clutch change by either specialist. This will allow you to put trouble free miles on the Porsche then if you want to keep it for more miles you can get the upgraded bore liners whilst getting a full rebuild.

The 3 issues affect all mentioned Porsches (1996 >) up until around the late 997's. Some engines being less common to have issues but I would say its best to buy one and budget in the costs seen on Autofarms website. They still work out cheap and will be super reliable once the work is completed.

What about the cheaper end of the Cayman/Boxster market £10-13k, get the engine rebuilt straight off and stroked out to 3.7 litres (around 350hp). All in for £15k.

I know you have already discounted the 996, believe me my list has developed a lot and I discounted it. Its what I am going for though, a Porsche 911 3.4 (996.1) one of the things I like is the fact it is the last 911 to feature the cable actuated throttle for proper feel. You can buy them for around £10k and have your choice of engine work carried out and be left with change from £15k.

Edited by Jonny P on Friday 24th October 13:35

[Jonny P]

I would add that buying and having specialist work done would be in keeping with the car you will love and car you will want to keep comments. Buying something newish with a warranty (where they will simply replace existing parts with the same badly designed ones) is more of a buy it and use it.