i kind of like it.

Actually not as ugly as the X6..

 

2011 Mustang Cobra Gt 500

 

Does it have to be a car?

I badly miss my 2008 Jeep SRT-8. The best damn vehicle I've ever owned so far...the 911 is too new to give an opinion on so until then the Jeep SRT-8.

Trust me on this one...go test drive one and you feel the 6.1L V8, its acceleration, the stopping power, and the daily livability of it makes it a winner. I'm planning on getting another one.

 

I concur with your point of view,and add the fun of the audi tt. But after owning both of those cars already, I went with a M3. But if I didn't buy the M It was gonna be the RS4, Again.

 

I DID downsize from a 2006 997 to a 2009 135i vert last year. Huge mistake. I miss the 997 a lot. As soon as I can justify getting out of the 135 I will be back in a Porsche.

 

Probably the most accurate and relevant post in the thread so far...

 

Honda S2000 and I wouldn't feel too bad about it. Or for $45k I could get a VW GTI for the street AND a Miata for track only.

Or a used Subaru WRX with rally kit and get my jollies on dirt roads.

Heck if I can go used there are lots of good choices. BMW M3 E36 is a great car.

For the price of a new 997 I could get a GTI, an S2000, and a Subaru.

 

Yeah , the 135 has no soul, no race history pedigree. It's a small car with a high power engine, That's all. You should have bought a M3. And maybe just maybe you wouldn't be looking to run back to the 997. The 997 is the most sexiest car on the planet to me. But what I don't care for is the cost to Play, Meaning when you want to add some personal character to the car, I.E, Exhaust, Wheels, ETC. You automatically have to pay a different price from A "Golden Price book", Just because Your car Say's Porsche 911. At the end of the day, I want a car I can mod and pay reasonable prices, Not unreasonable "You gotta pay more to play" cause you have a Porsche 911 kinda prices.

 

Wow, we went in opposite directions.

Did your HPFP fail yet? Did your third brake light crack? Waste gate actuators fail? How about both turbos? Fuel injectors and rails? I can relate because I had all of the above plus the TCU unit fail. That was in two years of ownership. And don't get me started on the effing Bridgestone RFTs. A spunky little car to be sure but not the best handling.

 

Never liked the gearbox on my E36 M3. Way too notchy. And then my 335i was similar.

 

Yes, am on the 3rd HPFP and having long cranks again (sign of failing HPFP for those not familiar with the BMW N54 engine). Third brake light is cracked too. The RFTs make the car feel like it's on stilts.

Why did I buy it? After all, I did test drive the 135 and I was sure it wouldn't come close to the 997. I did think I would get used to the difference. After all it is a fun little convertible with lots of power. Big mistake.

 

If you want something new and it has some serious fun potential I would seriously consider the new Mustang GT. Fully loaded with the Brembos and 19X9 wheels and summer Pirellis is a great deal at $40k. The car runs mid 12's and actually handles quite good. Not to mention the darn thing gets 26mpg on the freeway with 412hp. Now there will be the fanbois who will say the Mustang is a POS..just keep in mind that Ford hit #5 on the JD Power survey, the new Mustang interior is vastly improved. I almost bit and got one...but I took the E92 M3 instead with ZCP package.

Dave

 

I think the Mustang GT (GT500) was just mentioned earlier. I believe the build quality and performance has VASTLY improved in recent years. Worth checking into, for sure.

 

That is a fact re: GT-R ^^^^^^^

Been looking for one....weighing a slightly used GT-R vs a slightly used Z06 or brand new Grand Sport Vette.

 

There was a guy selling his '09 GT-R for the remaining value of his loan (it went down about $1k monthly - he was trying to sell it at $0 loss/$0 gain) - $57k.

There is another one that just went up for sale for $85k (I know it sounds like a LOT), it has well over $20k in mods (~632 whp, etc...), tuned by Kenny at Jotech, and has been quite stable. Guy is starting a business, and it must go. He just got the mods a couple months ago.

Those are two ends of the spectrum.

From what I've seen, Z06's can be had for a lot less (I don't know if that's good or bad, but if they come down a little more, I'm going to consider getting a weekend car).