Retiring the M from commuting duties... maybe

[pilchardthecat]

So for the last 3-and-a-bit years my MR has been doing the 60-mile round trip commute, 5 days a week (yes i have worked out how much i've spent on V-Power, and yes it is a lot). She's up at 63,000 miles now and i have a few quid
I'm considering various options now, one is changing the Z for a 997 of some description (probably an early gen 2) and piling zillions of miles on it, but the second is buying a third car for the commute, extending my garage and turning the Z into a beedub style beast.... third option is to buy a Cobra recreation with a ludicrous great v8 in it for fun

Two questions -
1 - what would you do, and why?
2- how much would it cost to stick a supercharger, brake upgrades, exhaust, and possibly some fast-road oriented suspension changes... and maybe some bucket seats or other weight reducing measures?

 

[mmm-five]

I'm doing about double your mileage, but can't even consider driving a 'normal' car for the commute as I'd never be able to turn off the motorway on a whim and have a homeward bound hoon through Wales. I've not got the space for a 2nd car, so all my cars have had to be daily drivers and the mods focused fast-road rather than track. So my plans are probably similar to yours. I'm planning the handling changes for early 2014, to consist of suspension, mounts and brakes. Late 2014 or 2015 will be the supercharger.

I'd estimate the cost to be in excess of £10k (minimum of £2k for suspension, £2k for brakes, £6k for supercharger).

 

[mr wilks]

1) sounds a good plan as you end up with a unique car & a hobby as well
2) if you,ve never owned a 911 then the craving won,t go away so just get it done ,It was a 25 yr obsession for me that only eased after the experience
3) not for me , yes to a V8 but wrapped in a 650 coupe shell :wink:

 

[pilchardthecat]

The Cobra craving is much bigger than the 911 craving.... if only i could afford a real one it's the most beautiful car ever created by man in my opinion
also a 500bhp v8 in a 875kg car is rather appealing....

 

[buzyg]

What a fine dilemma to have.

I have already made the choice between the Cobra, (Oh how much I love to look at that car) and the MR (Oh how much I love to drive that car at weekends.)

If you love to spend your spare time tinkering then I think the Cobra would get the nod. (I'm not, I draw the line at much cleaning and polishing and driving) So for me it was the MR.

Also can't resist the mention of a Noble M12. Stonking track car, looks amazing, requires a little tinkering, can't take the Mr's to the pub in it.

 

[tomscott]

Went to have a look at a 997.2 GTS a couple of weeks ago they are lush and the cabin its much improved over the 997.1 but the car felt pretty much the same.. :?

but no catastrophic engine failure worries on this one. Didnt love the all blacked out look either. But the car was awesome missing a few bits of spec but on the hunt for the right one now

 

[Stuart Truman]

Are you thinking of selling the M then Tom? The GTS is a great car, a friend has a white one.

edit - with pic

 

[Swiftly]

Now that looks gorgeous in white

 

[mr wilks]

GTS does look great , black or white & especially so with the GT3 rear spoiler . Its ideal for picnics en route

 

[Stuart Truman]

I prefer it without the spoiler. It's a gorgeous car. Steve had paid his mortgage off, had some shares so just went in with cash. Got it new for 13K off the going rate, amazing.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

That does look great in white but I can't make my mind up about the spoiler though, usually I would prefer a spoiler but it looks nice & subtle without it, stunning car either way. :driving:

 

[tomscott]

HAHA! Me? no! will be a long time before im in a position to buy something like that.

Thats dad in the pics hes wanting to swap his 997 Cs for a 997.2 GTS or GT4S

But we always go along together and they usually let me have a go too

I really like the aero kit dad doesnt tho. It even has little exhaust covers if you look closely lol

 

[carl]

997 leaves me cold for some reason. I can imagine getting a 1980s 3.2 Carrera at some point just to tick that Porker box.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

997 leaves me cold for some reason. I can imagine getting a 1980s 3.2 Carrera at some point just to tick that Porker box.

I agree, I would love an 1980s 911 Turbo but none of the later Porsches move me particularly (except perhaps the GT2s :evil: )

 

[LeeZ4MR]

But we always go along together and they usually let me have a go too

I would love to experience a 911 Tom my mrs loves them but I haven't even ever sat in one let alone got behind the wheel...I am missing out :driving:

 

[mr wilks]

But we always go along together and they usually let me have a go too

I would love to experience a 911 Tom my mrs loves them but I haven't even ever sat in one let alone got behind the wheel...I am missing out :driving:

Never even been in one ? That does surprise me :?
Its hard not to feel the buzz of the flat 6 & its unique mechanical noise especially under gas around 3k revs , that,s when they really come alive :evil:
& seeing any of them on the road always makes me turn , They all look terrific from the rear but the C4,s does it the best

 

[boristhebold]

With that mileage commute, it just seems a no Bruner to run a crappy little £1k diesel that does 55mpg all day long. Keep the Z or 911 or Cobra purely for evenings and weekends. I used to commute all year on my motorbike, it killed the enjoyment to an extent. I rarely wanted to go out for a day with mates so I now mix and match and it keeps my interest there.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

But we always go along together and they usually let me have a go too

I would love to experience a 911 Tom my mrs loves them but I haven't even ever sat in one let alone got behind the wheel...I am missing out :driving:

Never even been in one ? That does surprise me :?
Its hard not to feel the buzz of the flat 6 & its unique mechanical noise especially under gas around 3k revs , that,s when they really come alive :evil:
& seeing any of them on the road always makes me turn , They all look terrific from the rear but the C4,s does it the best

My bro in law has driven one & he says I would love it & I am surprised too that I haven't experienced one tbh as most of my friends let me drive their new motors so I get to experience some nice ones...I need to tick the box like you did Mr Wilks! :driving:

 

[tomscott]

But we always go along together and they usually let me have a go too

I would love to experience a 911 Tom my mrs loves them but I haven't even ever sat in one let alone got behind the wheel...I am missing out :driving:

Well when I was looking for a sports car dad had just bought a 911 and I was so bold over with itand love the wide body 911s started looking at 996 C4S. Went to look at a few my max budget was about 23k but they were 6-7k more than the Z and 5-6 years older... tatty and the Z was a much better car also the thought of the possible expenditure if something went wrong haunted me so went safe.

But the 911 is amazing the 996 is very antiquated now but the 997 is lovely and feels special to drive. Theres nothing quite like it. The thing that swung it for me is that although the 911 is a brilliant car the Z4M is 90% of the 911 on the road there is barely any difference in 0-60 and up to 135 they are neck and neck then it pulls away.

But I love getting into the 911 it feels special then when you boot it up and that growl comes from behind your head its magic. It does feel more grown up and also more refined than the Z. But at the end of the day my dads 911 was twice the price of my M and is only 6 months newer... they are in a different league price wise. But was a lovely car dad got an epic deal on that one. Was 2 1/2 years old had 7k on it has every bit of spec on it available + turbo wheels had an original price tag of 95k and was bought for 44k with a 2 year warranty thats over 50% depreciation Extremely good deal all the others we looked at were 50+ but that one was being sold on behalf of an owner through a specialist garage and was getting divorced so wanted a quick sale. Now we've had the car 3 years its only done 18k and he after a newer gen.

But also its a complete head turner in the cities etc they are 2 a penny but up here you barely see any in fact in my area there are only 3 a 997 turbo an old 996 Carrera and my dads so it does feel pretty special and unique.

Love going out in it and if you havent have a go in one, the first time you drive it a lot of people say it feels weird, old, not for me then you drive it a little more and realise what your driving and how to drive it and its extremely rewarding, and that switchable exhaust married with the flat 6 is a fantastic combo!


IMG_0600 by TomScottPhoto, on Flickr

It really is a stunner, and really aspire to owning one.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

But we always go along together and they usually let me have a go too

I would love to experience a 911 Tom my mrs loves them but I haven't even ever sat in one let alone got behind the wheel...I am missing out :driving:

Well when I was looking for a sports car dad had just bought a 911 and I was so bold over with itand love the wide body 911s started looking at 996 C4S. Went to look at a few my max budget was about 23k but they were 6-7k more than the Z and 5-6 years older... tatty and the Z was a much better car also the thought of the possible expenditure if something went wrong haunted me so went safe.

But the 911 is amazing the 996 is very antiquated now but the 997 is lovely and feels special to drive. Theres nothing quite like it. The thing that swung it for me is that although the 911 is a brilliant car the Z4M is 90% of the 911 on the road there is barely any difference in 0-60 and up to 135 they are neck and neck then it pulls away.

But I love getting into the 911 it feels special then when you boot it up and that growl comes from behind your head its magic. It does feel more grown up and also more refined than the Z. But at the end of the day my dads 911 was twice the price of my M and is 6 months newer...

But also its a complete head turner in the cities etc they are 2 a penny up here you barely see any in fact in my area there are only 3 a 997 turbo an old 996 Carrera and my dads so it does feel pretty special.

Love going out in it and if you havent have a go in one, the first time you drive it a lot of people say it feels weird, old not for me then you drive it a little more and realise what your driving and how to drive it and its extremely rewarding, and that switchable exhaust married with the flat 6 is a fantastic combo!


IMG_0600 by TomScottPhoto, on Flickr

It really is a stunner, and really aspire to owning one.

Thanks very much Tom for the insight & piccies they do look the business, the two together look great. :driving: