Spend a few $k more and pick up a E60M5. Values have dropped dramatically since I considered selling mine this summer. I also heard that you can now get them CPO'd for around $2800 which I assume gets you 100k warranty. I'm considering a C2S....make you a great deal on mine.

 

you can pick up e60 m5s all day long in the 50s. at auction, the 06s are in the 40s.
to the original poster-all those are good alternatives but they wont match the feel, look and satisfaction of a C2S. they are all going to be a couple steps away from a sports car (save for the corvette) to a luxo cruiser.

 

< $60K brings a lot of vehicles in the mix. You can pick up a E63 for right around $60K.

 

I know it's a Porsche, but a Cayman S is in your price range. In fact, you might even be able to find a new 08 one for less than $60k. When I decided to get a 2008 C4S instead, I was choosing btwn that and an 08 Cayman S, which was being offered around $65-66k, and that was early September. Now it's late October and 09s are in dealer lots. Used you can easily buy in the mid 40s and save money for tons of mods. The Cayman S feels lighter than the 911 and has great balance, handling and agility. I thought it was fantastic. Just not the same adrenaline rush in terms of raw power/torque as the 911, but for the money, it's a great deal. I haven't driven the new M3, but the Cayman S crushes the outgoing M3 in terms of handling and overall driving experience in my view.

 

unless the reason why you're dumping the 911 is for financial reasons.. all the cars you're considering are complete downgrades. think about it.. a 911 at msrp is nearly a six digit car. all the others are not and the cool ones are all based off of a commuter platform which is fine for the masses, but at the end of the day, won't have the sound, prestige, and connectedess that the 911 can deliver.

i'd drive the 911 until you can easily break the $100K ceiling (GT2/3, Turbo, used Ferrari/Lambo). then you can look into some serious upgrade possibilities. until then the 911 is value king. it's not the hottest car out there. it's not the fastest. it's not the cheapest nor extremely expensive... but it is the best balance of a lot of things and that's why it's so beloved for so long.

if anything, i'd look to make the 99.9999% of regular 911s on seattle roads and spend some money making it unique. set aside $15K and upgrade the wheels, suspension, aero. it'll look insane.

 

Buy a 987 Boxster S, you'll love it!... or, why dont you buy mine??

 

Rare is the person on here who is answering this dude's question. He didn't give us all the info in his life, only enough to hopefully answer a question he has.

The RS4. It has tons of *****. It sounds better than a 997S even, the fit and finish is the only car you listed that is as good (at least) as the Porsche. It's got feel, just a different kind. It's WAY better to drive than a 997TT as far as feel. Audi has that down better than Porsche, in my opinion. Plus, it just claws. Unlike other modern AWD cars, it doesn't feel over-computered (that IS a word, yep).

 

definitely go and see the E92 M3... they are practically giving away the 08s now... I believe someone on the other M3 boards got his 08 fully loaded, brand new for less than invoice... so you're looking exactly at your price point of $60k for a fully loaded E92 M3.... Cheers

 

RS4 is sweet, but the back seats are about as useful as the ones in the 997.

BTW Webster dictionary doesn't list over-computered

 

Thanks for the input guys. The wide variety of responses are helpful. Yes, a step in a different direction will likely be a step down, but I'm just itching for change. A (dumb) part of me wants more technology, another part of me is worried about being out of warranty, another part of me wouldn't mind a trunk that can fit my clubs.

Chances are, trying to sell in this market will be tough, so I'll probably keep the car until the spring, but will keep my eyes peeled for good deals.

My goal is to have GT3 in the garage someday, but why not try sow my wild car oats? ....the Z06 is TEMPTING...

 

My point is if he likes the M product, very lightly used 08 M5s can be had cheap and for just a bit more than his 60k budget. You get basically a new car with 3 full years of warranty left. I've seen a few of those 06s at auction and you get what you pay for. If technology is a priority, then a M5 fits....and one could argue definitely not a downgrade...just a lateral move.

 

Definitely understand the itch. I think this is one of the few boards where it seems a lot of us change cars as often as our socks If you do want to scratch the tech/power itch a Z06 may not be a bad choice. They do have a lot of bells and whistles like the keyless start, bluetooth, hud and right now it seems like the prices have fallen into the low 50's for a practically brand new car (oh and it does have over 500 hp ). But as a former vette owner I will say that feel is nowhere near a 911, and when I used it as my everyday car, it wasn't as comfortable either.

 

Thought I'd update this thread. Been test driving like crazy. Ruled out the S5 and M5...they felt a lot bigger "boatier" than expected. Ruled out the new M3 since those things are dropping like rocks. Maybe in a year :-)

For me, can't stand the interior of the vette. I know the purists might think this is BS, but with how much I sit in traffic, a nice seat and some creature comforts go a long way.

Closing in on a 2007 RS4. Given that my 05 997S is out of warranty now, I'm convincing myself everyday that the RS4 is the way to go.

Anyone out there go from a 997S to a RS4 and absolutely love/hate it?