What else would you get?

I went the 911 route albeit with some nice/uncommon options/mods. The standard 996's and 997's I drove didn't tempt me but fell in love with mine, but it goes to show how complete a package the M is.. if I went through with some more mods on the Z maybe I'd still have it.

For me I whittled it down to
1) the 911
2) a Vantage v8 (around $50k more than the Z, my last one felt slower, sounded better (different), looked amazing)
3) a TVC Cerberra (memories of my short, broken forray in one a while back shot that to pieces),
4) An M6 (too big)
5) Wildcard: dodge viper (boat, but supercar territory, actually was due to buy it but it fell through)
6) Maserati gransport
7) Cayman S manual

All were around a high price for the Z give or take $15k (Except for the Vantage)

Lotus' just seemed a completely different ball game to the Z, light, small engine etc, weren't my cuppa.
 
I loved my M but the 911 outshines it in almost all respects. The Ms are good because they are value for money in the market place.

Although the main reason I haven't bought another weekender is price really, I want a 911 but cant afford to justify 40-60k on a weekender so keep coming back to the M but spending 7-8k more on a car with more miles just seem silly for the same experience. Nothing else really takes my fancy for under 30k. So saving to buy myself a good 981 S or a 997.2 S.

I bought a 987 boxster S 3.2 as a cheap weekender as I fancied something different to the M as a stop gap, what a mistake. The engine went with all the usual issues, had bore scoring, piston slap etc When i took it to the specialist the bill was estimated to be £11750.

Thankfully returned it under consumer rights as it wasn't fit for purpose but what a nightmare.

Just put me off that whole generation. You have to ensure the car is spot on if you are to buy one. Pre inspection is paramount or the car will be a money pit no way around it, most of the issues cant be seen or heard, just happens.

The nice thing about the Z is apart from the bearings, vanos, nothing costs crazy money on it. Every Boxster and 911 i looked at need money spent on, the cars in my budget had nothing sorted leaving 5-6k to be spent. Most needed brakes, hoses (which means the sub frame needs dropping) rotting radiators and needs two, hard clutch pedals meaning leaky IMS RMS generally meaning a new clutch and flywheel too as oil leaks through causing the heavy clutch feel. Thats before you consider any cosmetic issues on 10 year old cars.

This is why there is such a huge price variation of 996 997 986 and 987, some of the same spec and year can have 6-10k price difference, they arent cheap to sort and many just dont do it.

986/7 is 90% made up of 911 parts engines etc yet because they are the "cheap" mans 911 people dont treat them the same..

Just be careful and dont get burned if thats the direction. I was super lucky.
 
tomscott said:
1 would certainly be on my list as 'upgrades', but its always budget dependent. set a budget then go looking. I saw a really nice 997.2 GTS in my local OPC for around 60k, that's a great car.
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I take it dealer maintenance prices are as hideous there as anywhere else?

I had a $7.8k routine ish repair bill (down to around $2k at a specialist, could not believe the dealer markup :headbang: )

Front pads/discs, + Rear (I think)
Coolant,
Oil / general service
Transmission Oil
don't think there was much more in it, perhaps some filters etc.

Another time, a new front GT3 bumper cost crica $3.5k from Porsche

If the motor ever goes pop, I'd sling a low mile used Metzger unit in there for what repairing the factory unit would cost (plus the benefit of 6-700 bhp being a few bolt-ons away :driving:
 
Just in case anyone was thinking of going the 718 route after the Z4M since it's been mentioned somewhere in here

Had one this weekend on a bit of an extended test drive.

First impression, build quality is top shelf. Lots of leather, and metal trimmings, all the buttons have a solid feel, everything has a nice assuring clunk, no rattles. Visually it is stunning from the outside. Strangely feels like you sit quite high on the inside, and you can only drop the wheel o far (electronically)

4 pot takes some getting used to but it has a very nice tone and the aural pleasure from the roar when you really make it angry is definitely something. The PDK is spectacular as much as I prefer a manual. It does exactly what you want it to do, when you want it to do it. Gear shifts are lightning fast. The thing is as sure footed as they come - it handles tightly and forgivingly but when you wind it up and get into it above 4k you make a lot of progress.

There really aren't any downsides to write home about, except for one depending on your outlook - the 4 pot.. It does a mega job for the engine size and form that it is, but it's the only reason I couldn't fall in love with it :(

29101748_10155044272886829_3590383992764891136_n.jpg
 
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