Oh Dear - 'Dream Car' is not for me. Now what?
Discussion
Today I wasl 'lucky' enough to get a test drive in a beautiful Boxster S. Given the keys and told to go and give it a proper test drive. On the plus side, I found it went really well, and even a complete motoring devoidoid could chuck it around and feel like a 'proper' driver with it. However, I didn't like the way the gearshift felt, the brakes didn't seem as sharp as my Audi's and worst of all, I got out of the car with chronic back-ache after only driving it for 20-30 minutes. 
So it's not for me. And worst of all, a 996, with similar seats, is going to knacker me as much so I'm going to have to pass on owning a "modern" Porsche.
So it leaves me in a quandry. What alternative? A Porsche fit the bill for me: 'special', definitely not a 'regular' marque but not uber exotic, <£15K with reasonable ownership costs and enough room to carry a week's shopping.
The obvious alternative is a BMW Z4 / Z4M or E46 M3 but the Z4s are too small and the M3, well, a bit ordinary TBH. I think I'll pass on an S2000 or an MX5 (before anyone suggests it). The current 3 series coupe? Well I drove a 325i and found it, well, *meh*. An E39 M5 would be too expensive to run unless I could get a good one for <£10k. When I asked the question before, I was pointed towards a Monaro but they're plasticky and nasty and not for me either.
So I'm a bit stuck. Just throw some ideas my way. Ta.
So it's not for me. And worst of all, a 996, with similar seats, is going to knacker me as much so I'm going to have to pass on owning a "modern" Porsche.
So it leaves me in a quandry. What alternative? A Porsche fit the bill for me: 'special', definitely not a 'regular' marque but not uber exotic, <£15K with reasonable ownership costs and enough room to carry a week's shopping.
The obvious alternative is a BMW Z4 / Z4M or E46 M3 but the Z4s are too small and the M3, well, a bit ordinary TBH. I think I'll pass on an S2000 or an MX5 (before anyone suggests it). The current 3 series coupe? Well I drove a 325i and found it, well, *meh*. An E39 M5 would be too expensive to run unless I could get a good one for <£10k. When I asked the question before, I was pointed towards a Monaro but they're plasticky and nasty and not for me either.
So I'm a bit stuck. Just throw some ideas my way. Ta.
Shame you didn't get on with the Boxster.
When I first drove the Cayman S I thought the gear change was a bit pants but coming from a S2000, there's not many better. I specced the short shift kit (which can be retro-fitted easily enough) and it made a massive difference.
Brakes - Audi over-servo their brakes (as do everyone it seems nowadays IMHO) and you have to give Porsche brakes a good shove but the feel and stopping power is fabulous.
Seats - shame you didn't get on with them. I have the sport seats and I find them amazingly comfortable - I guess we're all built differently.
Thing is, I can't really help with the other options as I went through pretty much the same list and found the Porsche to be head and shoulders above them dynamically.
When I first drove the Cayman S I thought the gear change was a bit pants but coming from a S2000, there's not many better. I specced the short shift kit (which can be retro-fitted easily enough) and it made a massive difference.
Brakes - Audi over-servo their brakes (as do everyone it seems nowadays IMHO) and you have to give Porsche brakes a good shove but the feel and stopping power is fabulous.
Seats - shame you didn't get on with them. I have the sport seats and I find them amazingly comfortable - I guess we're all built differently.
Thing is, I can't really help with the other options as I went through pretty much the same list and found the Porsche to be head and shoulders above them dynamically.
Seeker UK said:
Thanks but it needs to be a daily driver. A 964 is likely to be too old to run w/out fualt and won't have the one thing I really need in the car - cruise.
The air cooled variety are known to be some of the most reliable cars on the planet - it would certainly run with less faults than a 986/early 996. You're working on stereotypes I see.Porsche's manual gearboxes and brakes are known to be the best in the business. Your Audi brakes will have been heavily servo'ed hence the reduced 'sharp' feel of the brakes in the Boxster you test drove. It will definitely stop faster than the Audi, every time. I'd suggest having another test drive, and giving the brakes a proper 'shove'!
ETA: Asterix pretty much said exactly the same about the brakes above
Edited by 911p on Friday 8th April 22:42
I agree with the over servo'd Audi brakes. Same with my last 2 VWs, going from them into anything else makes it feel like the brake pedal is doing nothing.
Since driving my MR2 with apparently sloppy brakes I've taken to loving them and hating the brakes on my VW. With the MR2 I have a nice amount of control and it allows me to easily heel & toe on down shifts; if I try the same in the VW I'd be trying to headbutt the steering wheel.
Since driving my MR2 with apparently sloppy brakes I've taken to loving them and hating the brakes on my VW. With the MR2 I have a nice amount of control and it allows me to easily heel & toe on down shifts; if I try the same in the VW I'd be trying to headbutt the steering wheel.
911p said:
The air cooled variety are known to be some of the most reliable cars on the planet - it would certainly run with less faults than a 986/early 996. You're working on stereotypes I see.
Porsche's manual gearboxes and brakes are known to be the best in the business. Your Audi brakes will have been heavily servo'ed hence the reduced 'sharp' feel of the brakes in the Boxster you test drove. It will definitely stop faster than the Audi, every time. I'd suggest having another test drive, and giving the brakes a proper 'shove'!
Thanks for the reply. Porsche's manual gearboxes and brakes are known to be the best in the business. Your Audi brakes will have been heavily servo'ed hence the reduced 'sharp' feel of the brakes in the Boxster you test drove. It will definitely stop faster than the Audi, every time. I'd suggest having another test drive, and giving the brakes a proper 'shove'!
Firstly, I don't like to think I work on stereotypes. I'm sure the 964 is lovely and I would take one over a Boxster in an instant but looking at the seats in a 964, I'm sure that they would have the same effect on my back. Also, as I stated, I want / need cruise as it's going to be my daily driver. The 964 doesn't have it, or if it does, it's extremely rare to find.
The brakes I could get used to and live with but I'm not buying a car that hurts to drive.
MadRob6 said:
I agree with the over servo'd Audi brakes. Same with my last 2 VWs, going from them into anything else makes it feel like the brake pedal is doing nothing.
Since driving my MR2 with apparently sloppy brakes I've taken to loving them and hating the brakes on my VW. With the MR2 I have a nice amount of control and it allows me to easily heel & toe on down shifts; if I try the same in the VW I'd be trying to headbutt the steering wheel.
Could be wrong, often am, but don't the VAG cars have a ignition cut off if you try and heel and toe? Since driving my MR2 with apparently sloppy brakes I've taken to loving them and hating the brakes on my VW. With the MR2 I have a nice amount of control and it allows me to easily heel & toe on down shifts; if I try the same in the VW I'd be trying to headbutt the steering wheel.
Rawwr said:
Nice in a "walnutty gentleman's club" way and an option.Do they come in manual?
First things first, Im gutted for you, I knew that was going to happen with one of my dream cars and I put off driving one to the extent of flat out refusing to even being a passenger in one.
The car was an E39 M5 and all I can say is it was twice as good as I imagined it could be, brakes are a bit crap on them to be honest but if the seats in the Porsche arent right for you, the M% should see you very comfortable.
Servicing costs are suprisingly cheap, specialists have gotten the repair costs down to reasonable levels and to be honest, the Boxster would scare me more in regards to servicing costs.
Definately give one a test drive, if you could afford a boxster you could afford an M5.
With older Porsches, why not look into getting a set of Recaro Orthopeadic seats (I seem to recall them being called something like that) my dad had one in his old car when he was recovering from a broken back and it was where he was most comfortable, apart from the seats in his newest E39 (all electric adjustable and heated and all sorts and pretty good. The ones in the M% are very comfy as well. Im fairly tall and can get comfortable in the E39 so if comofrt and cruise are important definately give one a look.
PS try out different boxsters with different seats, no harm in trying! VX220 is a good alternative to the Boxster as well for sensible money and easy servicing, suprisingly comfortable too although getting in and out could be tricky!
The car was an E39 M5 and all I can say is it was twice as good as I imagined it could be, brakes are a bit crap on them to be honest but if the seats in the Porsche arent right for you, the M% should see you very comfortable.
Servicing costs are suprisingly cheap, specialists have gotten the repair costs down to reasonable levels and to be honest, the Boxster would scare me more in regards to servicing costs.
Definately give one a test drive, if you could afford a boxster you could afford an M5.
With older Porsches, why not look into getting a set of Recaro Orthopeadic seats (I seem to recall them being called something like that) my dad had one in his old car when he was recovering from a broken back and it was where he was most comfortable, apart from the seats in his newest E39 (all electric adjustable and heated and all sorts and pretty good. The ones in the M% are very comfy as well. Im fairly tall and can get comfortable in the E39 so if comofrt and cruise are important definately give one a look.
PS try out different boxsters with different seats, no harm in trying! VX220 is a good alternative to the Boxster as well for sensible money and easy servicing, suprisingly comfortable too although getting in and out could be tricky!
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