997.2 Turbo replacement
Discussion
Looking for interesting ideas.
I've had the car getting on for 18 months and have nothing but admiration for it but thinking about replacing due to itchy feet. Situation: live in Central London with an underground parking space. My only regular trip is to the golf club once or twice a week 30 miles away down the A3. Otherwise: long weekends say 6 per year, to France 1/2 per year, visiting family in the South East 6 per year, work-related 4 per year plus golf in other locations and weekend blasts making up the rest. Roughly 6-7k miles pa including Europe stuff. No kids no dogs don't drive to airports.
I'm fighting off the temptation to get something sensible (i.e. new S3 Sportback or similar) then hiring something less sensible for the odd trip maybe 3 times a year as I like having the car there for when a spontaneous situation arises. Even though for the majority of journeys I get no benefit from the added performance mainly due to traffic.
I would consider S3 plus a GT3 or even a classic but as I only have one parking space it might be too much hassle renting another one nearby and unless it was very nearby would remove the spontaneous benefit point.
I have basically fallen in love with the new R8 plus. However even with a good discount (10%?) i'm still a bit nervous about depreciation and it would be quite a step up in financial commitment but i'm up for that. I would be interested to hear what those that have driven the previous R8 plus as well as the new one think. Perhaps I should consider the previous one too? Needless to say I would test drive all contenders before committing. Open to other marques too of course.
All ideas appreciated and forgive the somewhat open situation..
I've had the car getting on for 18 months and have nothing but admiration for it but thinking about replacing due to itchy feet. Situation: live in Central London with an underground parking space. My only regular trip is to the golf club once or twice a week 30 miles away down the A3. Otherwise: long weekends say 6 per year, to France 1/2 per year, visiting family in the South East 6 per year, work-related 4 per year plus golf in other locations and weekend blasts making up the rest. Roughly 6-7k miles pa including Europe stuff. No kids no dogs don't drive to airports.
I'm fighting off the temptation to get something sensible (i.e. new S3 Sportback or similar) then hiring something less sensible for the odd trip maybe 3 times a year as I like having the car there for when a spontaneous situation arises. Even though for the majority of journeys I get no benefit from the added performance mainly due to traffic.
I would consider S3 plus a GT3 or even a classic but as I only have one parking space it might be too much hassle renting another one nearby and unless it was very nearby would remove the spontaneous benefit point.
I have basically fallen in love with the new R8 plus. However even with a good discount (10%?) i'm still a bit nervous about depreciation and it would be quite a step up in financial commitment but i'm up for that. I would be interested to hear what those that have driven the previous R8 plus as well as the new one think. Perhaps I should consider the previous one too? Needless to say I would test drive all contenders before committing. Open to other marques too of course.
All ideas appreciated and forgive the somewhat open situation..
Thanks all
detee V8S over the W12? I've always liked the look of the facelifted continental but hadn't given it serious thought due to the mass of the things. But could well be worth a test drive.
SL550M I love 599s but how are you finding the running (esp. servicing) costs? I've looked at FF prices and they're beyond budget so non-starter. Yours looks stunning. Was the HGTE pack an essential for you?
GusB ditto above I notice yours is HGTE also
detee V8S over the W12? I've always liked the look of the facelifted continental but hadn't given it serious thought due to the mass of the things. But could well be worth a test drive.
SL550M I love 599s but how are you finding the running (esp. servicing) costs? I've looked at FF prices and they're beyond budget so non-starter. Yours looks stunning. Was the HGTE pack an essential for you?
GusB ditto above I notice yours is HGTE also
Hi everyone.
Bit of an update having thought further and done some test driving. I've decided not to go down the two car route. Second parking spaces are really overpriced in Central London and I hardly use one car enough as it is. I have however given in to temptations to test some newer Porsches which was probably inevitable. This is what i've tested with impressions:
Audi R8 V10 plus. Tried dealer demonstrator. Very easy to drive. Felt fast (obviously) although difficult to get a proper feel for pace in a N/A car on a test drive without red-lining every gear so actually didn't feel as explosive as mine low to mid range. As a package it's very compelling with the n/a v10 and the 4wd. My concern is the lack of practicality getting irritating. It's one thing having golf clubs on the back seat rattling a bit but another having them on the passenger seat and footwell. Might still be worth it..
Porsche 911 991.1 GTS. Felt nice and tight but too similar to mine inside (same steering wheel..) and wasn't blown away by the acceleration. Also £100k seemed a lot for what it is.
Jaguar F-type R. Like the look and the practicality but found the long bonnet a bit disconcerting although would probably get used to it. Felt quite heavy but fantastic VFM.
Mercedes AMG GT S. As above in almost every respect but not quite such good VFM..
Porsche 911 991.2 C4S. Loved it. Felt much faster than I was expecting. Combination of turbo punch and nice wail sound. Love the styling of the facelift.
Yet to try:
Ferrari 599 or other. Not ready for a Ferrari of any kind yet especially a V12. I will know when i'm ready
Bentley Continental. Not ready for a Bentley either. Too heavy for what i'm after.
Aston V12 Vantage S or Vanquish. Drove a V12 vantage s at Millbrook and really liked it. Special and now looking good value but a bit dated inside, gearbox pretty poor and would feel awkward about putting 7k miles pa on one from a re-sale perspective. Vanquish so stunning I would make various exceptions if I liked the drive and found the right spec.
McLaren 540c or 12C. 540C out of budget. Would rather get into one of the newer cars next time I change rather than get a 12C now.
New shortlist..:
Porsche 911 991.2 4 GTS. New. Dealer pointed out quite correctly that by the time you spec a 4 GTS and a C4S there's nothing in it (£2500 the way I specced them online). The GTS will hold it's value better and you get more performance. Not crazy about alcantara in road cars but possible to replace some of it with leather without losing the GTS feel.
Audi R8 V10 plus. Nearly new. Getting a nice spec within budget might be tricky but will keep an eye out.
Porsche 911 991.2 C4S. Nearly new. As above little point in getting a new one. Nearly new ones few and far between but would certainly consider a nice example.
As ever any other ideas very welcome!
Bit of an update having thought further and done some test driving. I've decided not to go down the two car route. Second parking spaces are really overpriced in Central London and I hardly use one car enough as it is. I have however given in to temptations to test some newer Porsches which was probably inevitable. This is what i've tested with impressions:
Audi R8 V10 plus. Tried dealer demonstrator. Very easy to drive. Felt fast (obviously) although difficult to get a proper feel for pace in a N/A car on a test drive without red-lining every gear so actually didn't feel as explosive as mine low to mid range. As a package it's very compelling with the n/a v10 and the 4wd. My concern is the lack of practicality getting irritating. It's one thing having golf clubs on the back seat rattling a bit but another having them on the passenger seat and footwell. Might still be worth it..
Porsche 911 991.1 GTS. Felt nice and tight but too similar to mine inside (same steering wheel..) and wasn't blown away by the acceleration. Also £100k seemed a lot for what it is.
Jaguar F-type R. Like the look and the practicality but found the long bonnet a bit disconcerting although would probably get used to it. Felt quite heavy but fantastic VFM.
Mercedes AMG GT S. As above in almost every respect but not quite such good VFM..
Porsche 911 991.2 C4S. Loved it. Felt much faster than I was expecting. Combination of turbo punch and nice wail sound. Love the styling of the facelift.
Yet to try:
Ferrari 599 or other. Not ready for a Ferrari of any kind yet especially a V12. I will know when i'm ready
Bentley Continental. Not ready for a Bentley either. Too heavy for what i'm after.
Aston V12 Vantage S or Vanquish. Drove a V12 vantage s at Millbrook and really liked it. Special and now looking good value but a bit dated inside, gearbox pretty poor and would feel awkward about putting 7k miles pa on one from a re-sale perspective. Vanquish so stunning I would make various exceptions if I liked the drive and found the right spec.
McLaren 540c or 12C. 540C out of budget. Would rather get into one of the newer cars next time I change rather than get a 12C now.
New shortlist..:
Porsche 911 991.2 4 GTS. New. Dealer pointed out quite correctly that by the time you spec a 4 GTS and a C4S there's nothing in it (£2500 the way I specced them online). The GTS will hold it's value better and you get more performance. Not crazy about alcantara in road cars but possible to replace some of it with leather without losing the GTS feel.
Audi R8 V10 plus. Nearly new. Getting a nice spec within budget might be tricky but will keep an eye out.
Porsche 911 991.2 C4S. Nearly new. As above little point in getting a new one. Nearly new ones few and far between but would certainly consider a nice example.
As ever any other ideas very welcome!
Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff