Hello all, Recently I have been wanting to upgrade from my mustang to something with alittle bit more power and fun. Right now I have been looking at 911/lotus elise/c6 corvettes.
I'm a big guy at about 6'2 220+ lbs. and im looking at anywhere from 2000-2005 911's under 70k miles. how are they to get in and out/ space/comfort ect.
My biggest thing is i need something fun and pretty quick. my mustang has a very nice tone and pretty fun to drive but just alittle bland and literally everyone has one. I also want whatever car I buy to be in local car shows so are they good attention getters? I live out in the middle of no where , south west tn, and I have literally seen 1 911, so I guess it definitely would be something different.
How is the price of ownership like typical replaced things oil change,brakes,tires ect ect? how pricey are the appearance upgrades you can do to the car?
I would go out and try to find one to test drive to answer all my questions, but I work a lot so I'm pretty restricted to my plat time. Thanks!
I've sat in an Elise and they are very tight and not easy to get in and out of easily IMHO. I think you would find it challenging. I am 5'9" and 160 lbs (a lot smaller than you).
As far as attention grabbing, I would put them in this order: Elise, 911, C6. These are all very different cars though and I don't think very comparable. If you are going to make the investment, I would definitely find a way to test drive each car. As far as cost to maintain, I would put them in this order (from high to lower): 911, C6, Elise.
Maybe get an Elise and a shoe horn? lol
Why wouldn't you consider a Cayman?
My 914 is cheap to maintain. My 2001 Boxster was not.
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Well I can find them around here for about the same price. regardless i'll have to travel no matter what. At the risk of sounding like an idiot , keep in mind I have always till the past few weeks been a die hard american muscle fan, I have absolutely no clue what the difference between a 911 and a cayman besides from what I see the 911 is more powerful.
Used 2008 Porsche Cayman for Sale in Nashville TN 37209 Nashville Speed Shop
I would definitely not mind having this one though. how is the power compared to a 2000-2005 911?
Coming from a Mustang, I believe you'd find the power in a Corvette intoxicating...and they accommodate big men very well. Likely easier to service than a Porsche in your area as well. You might find the Porsche 911 underpowered, although power is only telling half the story of a Porsche.
For the OP, lots of questions and interesting ways to consider your choice. At the risk of insulting your intelligence, I'll launch into a few comments and as I do I'll assume you are no stranger to sports cars:
1. It is an important point to remember that although the selling price of a 911 declines over time, the maintenance costs do not decline as much. A boxer engine does have its quirks and given the low number around not all mechanics will be able to service them. This fact alone means average costs will be higher. Porsche parts, while always available, also cost more.
2. You live in Tennessee and your state has some truly great Porsche roads so the fun factor will be high. This also means you will want to drive on max performance summer rubber. These tires will provide awesome grip....and they will wear quickly. If you want to drive year round, you may want to have a second set of wheels with winter rubber for the coldest months. Take a look online at the recommended tire sizes (Tire Rack is a great site for this) and you can get a feel for the costs. Your mileage estimate of how much (and when) you will be driving will tell you the rest.
3. I have owned a Cayman and a 911. The Cayman got more attention than the 911 does although my Cayman was white and the 911 is black. I consider it a somewhat 'stealthy' car because it does not shout "look at me," and I think that is a good thing overall. So, when you drive over to Shiloh Battlefield Park (I have always wanted to go there), you can leave your car in the parking lot with no concerns. If you become an owner you will see more because you will start looking for them.
4. Clearly a Corvette will be more 'similar' to the American muscle experience you have had with the Mustang. I do recommend figuring out a way to drive all of your choices on a good stretch of road (preferably with some twists) to get a feel for all of the cars. I do not think straight line torque is what you are looking for because you already have that. We will be biased here on P-9 that the somewhat higher ownership costs are offset by the rewarding driving experience offered by a Porsche. The PCA also offers a lot of driving experiences you can share with like minded owners if you care for that sort of thing (my wife and I participate regularly).
Good luck with your choice and please report back on the decision.
I agree with everything said here. One thing to consider is that service will not only be expensive but probably hard to find if you live, as you say, in the middle of nowhere. Not every mechanic can properly service a Porsche and you may have to travel to find one who does. The Elise has a Toyota engine and would be cheaper to maintain but it is a very small car and doesn't have as much power as the other cars you mention. I'm not sure if the Porsche will be all that stealthy in your neck of the woods. I live where they are pretty common but mine still gets a fair deal of attention when I drive to other areas. I think that a 911 or a Cayman will be attention grabbing for you. As said above, the Corvette will probably be closer to what you are used to driving. It will probably be fairly easy to maintain too. These vehicles are all different from each other. The Elise is like driving a go kart, however not particularly comfortable, particularly for a larger person. The Porsche will be very comfortable and easily accommodate your size. It will be attention grabbing if, as you say, there aren't many around. It will also cost you the most money over time. The Cayman is a good choice with the same plusses and minuses, however, they are a little tighter than a 911 and are a bit less powerful. They make that up in handling and are fun to drive. Finally, a Corvette is a Corvette, fairly common but a fun drive that will not hold up near as well as the Porsche over time. Good luck in your search.
