I've been bitten by the "luxury sedan" bug... help me!

[Colby]

I have always LOVED driving my '84 Cab into work (a 30 mile drive). Sure its loud, the race tuned suspension harsh, and other certain quirks, but in my mind it added to the whole experience and made it all the more enjoyable.

Well, this weekend we traded my wife's POS Bravada in for a '95 Lexus LS 400. Pristine condition, and runs like new. We drove it around all weekend, simply in awe of how smooth and quiet it was. Well, come Monday morning she hops into her new Lexus and drives off to work and I plop into my Porsche to do the same. Start her up...the usual sputter and such until she warms up. No biggie, I'm the same way when I first wake up. Then as I back down the driveway and apply the brakes, I get the first of many to come squeals from the brakes (I still haven't tracked down why its doing that). Uggh. Then off I go to work, feeling every bump through the seat and steering wheel, the engine roaring behind me so loud I turn the radio up a few notches. And as the heat in my black suit builds up I am reminded..no A/C in this ride. These things never bothered me before..actually I relished them. But it was that damn Lexus..it sank its teeth into me. I actually began to wonder what it would be like to drive to work everyday in a quiet, comfortable car. Retire the Porsche to weekend only duties? Am I getting old? Is it just the newness of the Lexus that would inevitably wear off and leave me running back to my Porsche?

Help me fellow Porsche lovers, I can't afford a professional therapist!

[Schrup]

The LS 400 is a sweet car, perfect for the wife & weekend jaunts. Wait till you have to work on it. That will give you an appreciation for your Pcar. Finally, not much mystic or racing heritage about the Lexus. This will pass, I was enamored with my wifes new Altima 3.5SE, but it quickly faded.

[901/05]

Buy an early 911...your '84 will feel as nice as that Lexus after a spirited run in an early light weight, spartan hot rod.

It's good for the soul.

Shawn.

[RSBob]

Do what I did, and pick up a used/pre-driven Japanese, or European, car that has taken the major depreciation hit and have that as your daily driver and keep the Porsche as your fun car. I picked up a 10 year old, $45,000 fully equiped German luxury car for $5,500 with 120,000 miles and haven't looked back (the 290 hp doesn't hurt either). It has every option other than a nav system. I have Grundy insurance on the P-car for a stated value of $25K and pay only $325 a year. Why not have the both of best - or almost best? The only things you'll miss are the high payments, new car smell, and high insurance rates.

[tangerine911e]

I used to drive my 70E daily until one day I thought a modern four door sedan would be more pratical for every day driving. The modern four door is great (loads more power 300HP, probably better handling in its brutal way ), but I miss the Porsche - admitedly daily driving now would probably kill it and me.

Fight temptation, but not too hard - as long as you always keep the porsche and don't neglect it like me! I will redeem my ways (I just have to keep repeating it to myself)

[dd74]

Wait a couple years when the Corvette-powered little four-door Cadillac 6-speed gets long in the tooth; then pounce.

The 4.6 0-60 time will still be in good shape, I bet.

[Paco Anton]

Every morning I have a choice between my '83 SC and my '01 Lexus IS 200.

You guessed correct that the Lexus stays at home much more than the SC, even in this 100º+ Spanish summer (P-Car has no AC)

Nevertheless the Lexus is a very nice machine, good build quality and smooth engine, and it gets driven regularly. I consider it my insurance in orde to be able to own and drive the SC.

[Victor]

I am experiencing a parallel crisis. I believe the WRX STi is the perfect marriage of both. See this thread:

911 Support Group - Help! Having another WRX STI Crisis...

[CWilson]

Looks like alot of us feel the same. I'm going to retire my 911 to weekend duty soon. I'm looking for an early 90s Jaguar XJ6. I've seen them for well under 10k with decent milage. After Ford took them over they got reliable and have got to be one of the most comfortable smooth cars I've ever driven. My commute is 45 min to two hours depending on traffic and in the Porsche I tend to drive much more agressively which causes frustration in traffic. Not a great way to start the day!

[jens_uk]

Then there are those of us who have the (entry level) luxury sedan, but need the P-car.

[JackT]

There are days when comfort is appreciated and some days when it's boring. To me, if I can get a comfort fix about once a week, I am finethe rest of the week with the excitement of my 911SC. If I take a trip in the comfortable car, then that gets me about 3 weeks.
Just drive your wifes car every once in a while. You will be fine.

[ruf-porsche]

I use to drive my Lotus as a daily driver during the summer, but with a race tune heim joint suspension, low pirelli p7 tires and the fact that the engine is in the back and the radiator up front, but all the plumbing run down the center tunnel even when it was in the 70's outside it would be in the 80's, 90's inside. Finally retire the Lotus and brought my 82 911SC Targa with a real cold a/c. Haven't driven the Lotuses on the street for over 15 years.

[RickM]

If you want the perfect stablemate for the 911 then go for a '98 or newer BMW 740il. IMO, the best driving sedan ever made. There will be some common mechanical issues to deal with but very worth it.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by RSBob
I picked up a 10 year old, $45,000 fully equiped German luxury car for $5,500 with 120,000 miles and haven't looked back (the 290 hp doesn't hurt either).

This is probably one of the most well thought out plans I have heard of! When you think about it, almost any new car will depreciate at least $5000 in the first year. If you could buy a $5000 or $6000 car and get two years out of it without doing any major work it seems like you would be money ahead. Not to mention getting another car to play with every couple of years or so.

[dd74]

Well, for those who need the occasional SUV fix, I have an '03 Mercury Mountaineer with the de-cammed 4.6 Mustang engine. It has "tow" gears, is all-wheel-drive, and weighs in at a rather light (for an SUV) 4,200 pounds.

Again, for an SUV, this thing is a rocket. I figure 0-60 below 7 seconds, and bordello-type leather luxury to boot. It handles very well for what it is, and would probably exceed 110 mph if I let it.

It's a nice alternative if one needs to haul a lot of stuff. It's huge inside, but not too bad dimensionally - easy to park. Seats seven people, etc.

Still, it sees only about a half to a third of my driving. The 911 gets the lion's share of my attention in that department.

[Colby]

Rick, that was exactly our thinking w/ the Lexus. New MSRP:$65k, 03 LS 430's $80-95k. Our '95 (which is quite similar to the later models) w/ 125k miles...$10.9k. Oh yeah, add another $1400 for the 4 yr unlimited mileage nearly bumper to bumper warranty (takes most of the risk out of a higher mileage vehicle. The payment is silly low for such a nice car. Even a lower mileage one would have been in the mid-teens.

Maybe once we have her Lexus paid off, I should look into a nice commuter car for myself. Or maybe by then the Lexus/BMW SUV's will have depreciated enough that I can get her one and inherit the LS.

[JonT]

Having another car makes the Pcar experience even more enjoyable. It does wear on one quite a bit to ride cramped, low, hot, and loud all the time. When you switch from car to car you appreciate it each time you get in! I bought a new Dodge Ram Hemi 1500 and love it. Pricing and financing is decent too on 2003's. Rides great and scoots along pretty well with 345hp.

[jens_uk]

Originally posted by dd74

Again, for an SUV, this thing is a rocket. I figure 0-60 below 7 seconds,

Mercury claims about 8.4; I'm surprised you're figuring so much less. I think the Explorer has been tested to be in the mid 8s, so <7 sounds optimistic, unless you've done work.

Please tell me I don't have to fear suvs now!

I did get taken at a light once by an Explorer, but I bogged the launch and felt less bad when I saw the Saleen badge on the back.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I just went for a ride in a Caddy CTS yesterday. Very nice. A little porky, but hey, this thing is BMW 5-series in size.

My only complaint is the texture on the dash and inner door panels. Seems like it would trap a lot of dust.

Maybe I'll pick up a used CTS-V (w/ the Vette engine) when they're available. dd74 and I are on the same page...

[old_skul]

Take your new Lexus into a turnaround off-ramp at speed, and get back to us on your car preferences.