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I know, I know.... two different vehicles, two different philosophies.... I have been looking at vehicles for some time. The STi, CS and NSX have all been high on the list. The NSX was killed due to lack of roof rack attachments.
I've owned a variety of Porsches, and loved all. I owned a WRX, and thought that it was a great, fun car. Here are my thoughts. Looking for people who are smarter than I to chime in, or those who own both or traded one for the other. It is not so much about money, as value. I should also add that I can get a new STi for $30K through an interesting set of circumstances.
- I rarely have to drive - and then it is usually to the airport to get on an overseas flight. If I need to run errands I can ride a mountain bike on trails into town, or just take the road bike.
- When I do drive it involves recreation - kayaking, hunting, fly fishing, pulling a boat - and I have a 4Runner for that. But if I want to combine a fun drive with maybe a day of skiing, or a trip to Whistler, or paddling in Idaho, a sporty car would be da shizzz.
- CS - Porsche love. Cooler, more inspiring. However if my clients see me driving one they will think that they pay me too much. There is just an intangible visceral feeling of lust that the STI doesn't inspire. Chicks - including my wife - digs Porsches. If someone dings me in a parking lot I will put them in the hospital. Road noise - decent.
- STi - I can load dogs, skis, kayaks, etc. and bomb around Washington State, not caring about weather. Dirt roads, soft shoulders, blahblahblah - just doesn't matter. Chicks don't dig STis, but my wife likes the price. If someone dings me in a parking lot I will get over it. Road noise - heinous.
If you like dogs, kayaks and skis alot, stay away from the Cayman. If you like to drive a lot get the Cayman.
If you can afford either.....get what you WANT.
I would rather pay the price for the Cayman and have owned it, than to buy a STi and lone for a Cayman. You can always trade down.
My opinion of the Sti, Wrx etc family is that they look like tuner cars for teens. All of them. Thats just not my look, style or status quo.
And btw, I dont care if my clients think they pay me too much. There are just as many clients who look at what I drive and think.....damn he is in DEMAND! He must be worth it. Plus, many are return clients, and in my field, thats a huge plus and frankly somewhat rare. I must be doing something right. After all I DO drive a Porsche!
__________________
Kevin
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I know, I know.... two different vehicles, two different philosophies.... I have been looking at vehicles for some time. The STi, CS and NSX have all been high on the list. The NSX was killed due to lack of roof rack attachments.
I've owned a variety of Porsches, and loved all. I owned a WRX, and thought that it was a great, fun car. Here are my thoughts. Looking for people who are smarter than I to chime in, or those who own both or traded one for the other. It is not so much about money, as value. I should also add that I can get a new STi for $30K through an interesting set of circumstances.
- I rarely have to drive - and then it is usually to the airport to get on an overseas flight. If I need to run errands I can ride a mountain bike on trails into town, or just take the road bike.
- When I do drive it involves recreation - kayaking, hunting, fly fishing, pulling a boat - and I have a 4Runner for that. But if I want to combine a fun drive with maybe a day of skiing, or a trip to Whistler, or paddling in Idaho, a sporty car would be da shizzz.
- CS - Porsche love. Cooler, more inspiring. However if my clients see me driving one they will think that they pay me too much. There is just an intangible visceral feeling of lust that the STI doesn't inspire. Chicks - including my wife - digs Porsches. If someone dings me in a parking lot I will put them in the hospital. Road noise - decent.
- STi - I can load dogs, skis, kayaks, etc. and bomb around Washington State, not caring about weather. Dirt roads, soft shoulders, blahblahblah - just doesn't matter. Chicks don't dig STis, but my wife likes the price. If someone dings me in a parking lot I will get over it. Road noise - heinous.
Thoughts? Feedback?
Get a 996 C2. Roof racks take more. Sporty. Heritage. Good lucks. Not so new that people thing ur rich.
Otherwise get the STi. Practical and fast. Homlogated sports car.
I sold my '05 STi to buy my CS. I really was on the fence about doing it because I thought the CS was going to be slower than the CS.
STi--Great car. Truely fun to drive. You can put the power down when ever and where ever you want. Super car quick from 0-60. Hits a bit of an areodynamic wall above 100, but I've had mine up to 150+ several times. Made a nice little "hum" as you pass 100 so you know you just crossed into the "reckless driving" territory. Horrible gas mileage when you "cane" it. I used to average 11-12 mpg tank to tank. Seriously. Very noisy. Nice seats. Shift light was a nice feature. Brakes were very expensive. About $2k for pads and rotors. Brakes had incredible grab. Handling was really what pushed me towards a true sports car. As you approach the limits of the car it had the undesirable effect of picking up the nose when you are accelerating out of an apex. It felt like understeer, but if you stayed on the gas it would pull you through. If you lifted, well, that got you into trouble. Very disconcerting. All and all it was a great ride and I literally beat the **** out of it for 2 years and 20k miles without a single hickup.
CS on paper looks the same or maybe a little slower. BUT- they #'s don't really tell you the whole story. The CS is a complete car. It feels like it was designed as one piece of machinery rather than a big motor and great brakes stuffed into an econo-box. The feel of a car is something you can't put #'s against and that is where the CS shines. It is quieter, better road feel, perfect shifting, MUCH better handling, great brakes, and honestly just as fast if not faster. Maybe not to 60 because Porsche chained it down with tall gears, but to 100 it is faster than an STi. I have a favorite stretch of road where I do 0-100's. The Sti would be at about 98 at my marker, my 951 @ 101, and my CS at about 100. Now with my mods, the CS is at about 103.
Bottom line--Money is always a concern, but if you want a sports car the CS is it. If you want an all season high performance sports sedan the STi is a great choice. Personally, I didn't like the new '08 one I looked at. It looks like it went soft. The CS is roughly double the cost of an STi. While it may not be "double the car in terms of performance #'s" it truely is a much better all around vehicle and I am glad every second that I decided to pony up for the difference.
__________________ Nov 16, 2007 build:
'08 CS Midnight blue metallic
Black sport seats
Delete model designation
Fire extinguisher
Floor mats
Sport steering wheel
__________________ Nov 16, 2007 build:
'08 CS Midnight blue metallic
Black sport seats
Delete model designation
Fire extinguisher
Floor mats
Sport steering wheel
I sold my '05 STi to buy my CS. I really was on the fence about doing it because I thought the CS was going to be slower than the CS.
STi--Great car. Truely fun to drive. You can put the power down when ever and where ever you want. Super car quick from 0-60. Hits a bit of an areodynamic wall above 100, but I've had mine up to 150+ several times. Made a nice little "hum" as you pass 100 so you know you just crossed into the "reckless driving" territory. Horrible gas mileage when you "cane" it. I used to average 11-12 mpg tank to tank. Seriously. Very noisy. Nice seats. Shift light was a nice feature. Brakes were very expensive. About $2k for pads and rotors. Brakes had incredible grab. Handling was really what pushed me towards a true sports car. As you approach the limits of the car it had the undesirable effect of picking up the nose when you are accelerating out of an apex. It felt like understeer, but if you stayed on the gas it would pull you through. If you lifted, well, that got you into trouble. Very disconcerting. All and all it was a great ride and I literally beat the **** out of it for 2 years and 20k miles without a single hickup.
CS on paper looks the same or maybe a little slower. BUT- they #'s don't really tell you the whole story. The CS is a complete car. It feels like it was designed as one piece of machinery rather than a big motor and great brakes stuffed into an econo-box. The feel of a car is something you can't put #'s against and that is where the CS shines. It is quieter, better road feel, perfect shifting, MUCH better handling, great brakes, and honestly just as fast if not faster. Maybe not to 60 because Porsche chained it down with tall gears, but to 100 it is faster than an STi. I have a favorite stretch of road where I do 0-100's. The Sti would be at about 98 at my marker, my 951 @ 101, and my CS at about 100. Now with my mods, the CS is at about 103.
Bottom line--Money is always a concern, but if you want a sports car the CS is it. If you want an all season high performance sports sedan the STi is a great choice. Personally, I didn't like the new '08 one I looked at. It looks like it went soft. The CS is roughly double the cost of an STi. While it may not be "double the car in terms of performance #'s" it truely is a much better all around vehicle and I am glad every second that I decided to pony up for the difference.
I sold my '05 STi to buy my CS. I really was on the fence about doing it because I thought the CS was going to be slower than the CS.
STi--Great car. Truely fun to drive. You can put the power down when ever and where ever you want. Super car quick from 0-60. Hits a bit of an areodynamic wall above 100, but I've had mine up to 150+ several times. Made a nice little "hum" as you pass 100 so you know you just crossed into the "reckless driving" territory. Horrible gas mileage when you "cane" it. I used to average 11-12 mpg tank to tank. Seriously. Very noisy. Nice seats. Shift light was a nice feature. Brakes were very expensive. About $2k for pads and rotors. Brakes had incredible grab. Handling was really what pushed me towards a true sports car. As you approach the limits of the car it had the undesirable effect of picking up the nose when you are accelerating out of an apex. It felt like understeer, but if you stayed on the gas it would pull you through. If you lifted, well, that got you into trouble. Very disconcerting. All and all it was a great ride and I literally beat the **** out of it for 2 years and 20k miles without a single hickup.
CS on paper looks the same or maybe a little slower. BUT- they #'s don't really tell you the whole story. The CS is a complete car. It feels like it was designed as one piece of machinery rather than a big motor and great brakes stuffed into an econo-box. The feel of a car is something you can't put #'s against and that is where the CS shines. It is quieter, better road feel, perfect shifting, MUCH better handling, great brakes, and honestly just as fast if not faster. Maybe not to 60 because Porsche chained it down with tall gears, but to 100 it is faster than an STi. I have a favorite stretch of road where I do 0-100's. The Sti would be at about 98 at my marker, my 951 @ 101, and my CS at about 100. Now with my mods, the CS is at about 103.
Bottom line--Money is always a concern, but if you want a sports car the CS is it. If you want an all season high performance sports sedan the STi is a great choice. Personally, I didn't like the new '08 one I looked at. It looks like it went soft. The CS is roughly double the cost of an STi. While it may not be "double the car in terms of performance #'s" it truely is a much better all around vehicle and I am glad every second that I decided to pony up for the difference.
very good insight
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"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"
A good car will get you from point A to point B. A great car... will just get you into trouble!
Do you have an aesthetic bone in your body? If not, by the Sti.
__________________
996 GT3 lower control arms at all corners, 997 GT3 front sway bar
H&R rear sway bar, Tarett rear toe links
Quaife TBD
DMC harness bar/G-force harness
I'm a Subie fan (I've owned a WRX and a Legacy GT - which I traded for my CS), and I've been attracted to the STi (though not the lastest styling) even though I always felt it was a little too "boy racer" for me to actually buy one.
I chose the Cayman because once you decide you want a PORSCHE - "there is no substitute."
__________________
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2006 CS Tip (Daily Driver & Part-time Track Toy)
2005 Ford Expedition (to haul the CS)
2006 Lexus RX400h (wifey's)
Gone, but not forgotten: 2002 WRX, 2004 MINI
Im afraid the "boy racer" image of the car is a big negative.
Dont worry about the car cost in consideration of your clients. Having a cr-a-p car will say more that maybe your are struggling and not successful. If you are doing well then you also inspire more confidence.
Legacy, WRX and Cayman S in my past and present. If you can only go with one car, I would make it the STi. A do everything sort of car - and who cares about the boy racer looks - they are based on pure function.
Given that you have a pretty active lifestyle with dogs, dirt roads and the beauty of Washington state to scramble around, the STi just makes more sense - especially if you can find a good deal. Nothing like sliding in an AWD in the snow and the rain.
I love my Cayman but it doesn't have the utility of the STi and if you are worried about dings you're going to worry too much about it. I can drive an A4 and feel bad about thrashing it - I never had that concern with the Rex - it just felt like it was made to abuse and come bouncing back!
Honestly, the closest you will come to a Porsche with practicality for less than $50K is a BMW 335i sedan, x if you want AWD. It's no sports car like the CS, but it may be the price dependent best overall car in the world, imho (oh yeah in Car and Driver's as well).
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'07 CS, '07 335i
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Until 
There is just an intangible visceral feeling of lust that the STI doesn't inspire. Chicks - including my wife - digs Porsches. If someone dings me in a parking lot I will put them in the hospital. Road noise - decent.
Dirt roads, soft shoulders, blahblahblah - just doesn't matter. Chicks don't dig STis, but my wife likes the price. If someone dings me in a parking lot I will get over it. Road noise - heinous.
