Cows in a field...

[colin129]

To quote Sir Alex Ferguson:

Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in your own field. It's a fact. Right? And it never really works out that way.

I recently saw an advert for a 996 Carrera 4 for about the same price as my car is worth. It would make a lot of sense, its newer, faster, handles better (differently?), cheaper to run etc It would be easy to make a case for it.

Maybe its too refined? Too easy to drive? Not noisy enough (although one of the things I noted about my car was that it was a touch more refined than I expected)?

What have you seen that, for about the same price as your car (not necessarily a Porsche, but I wouldn't replace mine with anything else now), that has tempted you and what has stopped you from making the change? Or perhaps you came to your 1st 964 from something else at about the same price point.

Thought this might make a change from the usual technical stuff.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Considering what I use the 964 for, there is nothing in the same price bracket that I would change it for. If I had the extra funds to chop it in for a GT3, I might be tempted but I don't know if the extra cost would turn out to be worth it and whether I would regret it. [&:]

 

[Gordon Attar]

Engine rebuild very likely in 996 and twice the cost of the 964 and the car has no personality!

 

[Hacki]

+ 1

ORIGINAL: Gordon Attar

Engine rebuild very likely in 996 and twice the cost of the 964 and the car has no personality!

 

[colin129]

996 Carrera 2 was Evo's CoTY in 1998, so it can't be that bad.

I've only ever driven one on a track 'experience' a few years ago and I was catching everyone up...[]

 

[mcgc0]

996 - less engaging(?) Me always thinking about an older (late 60's +) 911 to keep as well. An RSR recreation maybe?

Lucky to have had, in short periods, Ferrari 308 GTB, GT4, Lambo Jalpa, tried 3 different 928's, 70's Aston V8 and some in between. The Italians I was always tapping flipping gauges to make sure they were still working! Plenty of presence but not something I would have wanted to keep for long (you're wallet for bits is gonna get hit big some time sooner or later). Lambo was fab but a 'creaking' unventilated fuel tank used to frighten the c**p out of me. After all that I still come back to an Alfa Montreal - it's my first intro to classic uber cars.

Round full circle; I could never see myself ever giving up replacing my 964 for any of the above though...

 

[asjasj]

When I got my 964, the plan was to dispose of my Impreza type RA. I didn't! If push came to shove, and one had to go now, it would be the 964.....[:-]

So, to answer Colin's question directly, for 964 money (ish) I could be tempted away by a 22B Impreza.

 

[AlphaWhisky]

Interesting and very thought provoking topic. I have on more than one occasion 'toyed' with the idea of chopping the 964 for a 996, but like many I can't help but feel the 996 doesn't perhaps have the same individuality the earlier 911 models have. For example, from the front, a water-cooled 911 looks exactly the same a Boxster.

I drive a 1998 Boxster daily and while it may not be the fastest car on the street these days it is still a very capable little car. It has been very reliable and the build quality quite clearly German. I've also been an Impreza owner and while it was an extremely rapid car, 0-60 in a tad over 4 seconds, fun to drive and highly practical seating five people in comfort, it felt tinny and thin in build and quality compared to the Porsche. The paint was also incredibly soft and chipped at the slightest fleck of grit.

I've been 'in love' with the Porsche marque since I was a teenager. Having been fortunate enough to finally own two of them, I'd be hard pressed to change to any other car. The only possible exception would be a VW Golf. My other half has owned a number of VW cars over the last twenty years and has found them extremely reliable and tough cars.

 

[PMMatthews]

As a dyed in the wool [middle-aged] petrolhead, I've often fantasised about a hot adventure with a younger model with tauter and fresher curves, or a mindf**k with some rare and expensive sophisticate with an impeccable pedigree.

I'll admit to careful studying of all of these on the websites and glossy magazine pages at some time or another: Z4M, XJR, Merc CL, Westfield 11, Ferrari Mondial, Alvis TC/D/E 21, '50's Lancias, pre-war open-top sportscars,....

I will dwell on the classifieds in the back of 'Motorsport' magazine with the same guilty attentiveness as finding some gratuitous, circulation boosting lingerie shots in the gentlemen's lifestyle magazines, Sunday Times magazine, or Evening Standard.

However, I keep coming back to the one who first captured my heart with her knockout charms, who is always up for joining me on a spirited and extended romp out in the country of a summer's morning, and who has been my reliable (she's a lady, so a degree of temperamentality is to be expected) and entertaining companion on quite a few continental adventures.

I try to live to the 'keep it simple' ethos, so when you've found something that's so good, why run the risk of a costly mistake through a misjudged rush of blood to the head!

 

[gregmarshall]

I got my first 911 when I was 22 and have now owned 911s for the majority of my adult life - I think there's only two directions to go from a 964 1) Pre-73 2.7 lightweight. 2) 964RS both only ruled out on cost. I am yet to drive a car that beats it for the money.

 

[Melv]

ORIGINAL: asjasj

So, to answer Colin's question directly, for 964 money (ish) I could be tempted away by a 22B Impreza.

But it's got no soul, no history.......[&:]

 

[AlphaWhisky]

ORIGINAL: PMMatthews

As a dyed in the wool [middle-aged] petrolhead, I've often fantasised about a hot adventure with a younger model with tauter and fresher curves, or a mindf**k with some rare and expensive sophisticate with an impeccable pedigree.

I'll admit to careful studying of all of these on the websites and glossy magazine pages at some time or another: Z4M, XJR, Merc CL, Westfield 11, Ferrari Mondial, Alvis TC/D/E 21, '50's Lancias, pre-war open-top sportscars,....

I will dwell on the classifieds in the back of 'Motorsport' magazine with the same guilty attentiveness as finding some gratuitous, circulation boosting lingerie shots in the gentlemen's lifestyle magazines, Sunday Times magazine, or Evening Standard.

However, I keep coming back to the one who first captured my heart with her knockout charms, who is always up for joining me on a spirited and extended romp out in the country of a summer's morning, and who has been my reliable (she's a lady, so a degree of temperamentality is to be expected) and entertaining companion on quite a few continental adventures.

I try to live to the 'keep it simple' ethos, so when you've found something that's so good, why run the risk of a costly mistake through a misjudged rush of blood to the head! 

Hmmm, the same could be said of men to be honest. When you find a reliable one it's best to treat with care and keep up a full service history, rather than have a roving eye for a younger, sportier model. The latter will always be a five minute wonder.

 

[mcgc0]

LoL... so true Amanda, God knows I'm difficult to put up with.. unlike the C4 as all my girls tell me (wife and daughters that is).

No one's mentioned a classic (me thinks) - a late '60's Mini Cooper S - a road and rally superstar. My first ever car and remembered with affection and fun (not least the stupid 14" steering wheel I put on).

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: mcgc0

No one's mentioned a classic (me thinks) - a late '60's Mini Cooper S - a road and rally superstar. My first ever car and remembered with affection and fun (not least the stupid 14" steering wheel I put on).

With rose tinted specs on I'm inclined to agree but in today's world, although fun, they would be considered to be quite slow. Something that a 964 cannot be accused of. []

 

[colin129]

The trouble with old cars, they only seemed to start building cars properly in the 80's and then only German ones, is that they spend most of their time broken down.

I had an old Dolomite Sprint many years ago and looking back, whilst it was great when it was running, I couldn't set out on a long journey in full confidence that I would arrive at my destination. One particular 11 hour journey back from Manchester to Luton springs to mind.

It was only when I had a Mk II Golf GTi that I really started to enjoy my motoring, because I stopped worrying about being broken down all the time and with the 944S2, the first time I took it to the South of France I did a few checks the day before. Tyre pressures, all alright, levels, all alright, errr...Then I drove it over 2,000 miles in the next 10 days & it never missed a beat.

No rose tinted specs for me thanks....

 

[youngres]

quote:

ORIGINAL: mcgc0

No one's mentioned a classic (me thinks) - a late '60's Mini Cooper S - a road and rally superstar. My first ever car and remembered with affection and fun (not least the stupid 14" steering wheel I put on).

I think you'd be disappointed today with a 60's Cooper 'S'. Don't get me wrong, they are great cars, I have three of them - but they are no match for a 964 on either performance or value for money. A top notch Cooper S will set you back around £20,000 today, a Works replica rallycar double that, and a genuine Works Rally car double that again. Even with 964's starting to appreciate in value, £20,000 buys you a really good car and will be no match, in anyway, to what is basically a 1959 Mini with a hot engine. I still love my Cooper S's but I'd never swap my 964 for one.
Robert Young

 

[mcgc0]

ahhh... a few responses to this one I see. Probably best to qualify my rationale and put it in driving context. A fast car the 964 is (although been lucky enough to have had faster a while ago). Tracking my 964 is a blast and addictive. My Mini Cooper idea is more about cars that deliver fun and driving excitement (albeit under different conditions or circumstances). Did historic rallying (co-driving mainly) in the British Championship for a few years and the Mini was definitely a giant killer and bags of fun - geared up correctly for asphalt stages it's quicker off the line than an M3. Had a go in an older Focus WRC too (as fast up 100mph as a Kawasaki!) All about seat of the pants driving I guess.

Wouldn't swap the 964 for sure. Would definitely want also though a Caterham, works Cooper, any Group B(!), MV Agusta Senna, '73 RS, 993 GT2. All different reasons, all equally fun IMHO. Fast isn't everything - throwing it around is! Bowler Wildcat anyone?

 

[Steve Brookes]

On the subject of minis...I saw a couple of rear engined specials going round Oulton Park on Saturday. I believe they had old Rover 3.5 lumps in the back. Very noisy. Very quick in a straight line but not very good through the corners....which seemed to defeat the object of what a mini used to be about! [&:]

 

[mcgc0]

Interesting to see I'm sure. Those old (Buick) 3.5 Rover V8's have got to be the most used elsewhere powerplants ever, along with the old Essex 3.0 V6's. Both are bullet proof (Rover more so - 'cos I blew up a 3.0L that I had once..).

 

[vitesse]

Have to say,my Rover Vitesse SD1 was the most modified business car I have ever run-fantastic fun,fantastic performance for it's day & fantastic economy given the performance-from rest to 90mph without changing gear & 32mpg fully laden cruising at 90+mph.