E36 isn't a bad solution. E63 would be better.

That was one of my suggestions. My SL63 can instantly put a stupid grin on my face and it’s an under $30k car. I’d love to have another air cooled 911 but won’t pay $50k+ for one, it just doesn’t add up for me.

I’d rather have a good clean E-30 325is. 1989 preferably. Great cars.

Your money...your choice. I can assure you there is life after Porsche ownership.

(edit) Most here suggest cars that project some kind if "image" of being an exclusive status brand. Fine if that's your thing.
For decent overall performance and reliability, you might consider fairly recent USA muscle. One fond memory I have is outpulling a Boxster S on the I-5 Salem hills....watching the guy's expression change from "I got this" to "WTF???". Poor guy must have thought my '09 Bullitt Mustang was a base 6 cyl. model...it has only 315 horsepower, but a flat V-8 torque curve, backed with a tremec 5 speed & 3:73 rear end.

WRX? I don't know which ones are the most fun and suspect many are beat up that are older but that car is pretty badass.

been shopping around c6Z06 for a week or 2 now. I think if they were a bit less common or if they had European or even Japanese mfg, prices would have already shot up. Not a unique car, but certainly unique specifications. I know this is not a new discovery but still crazy you can get previous generation supercar performance for low $30s.

About the same weight as a 718 cayman S, 500+ HP from a highish revving NA engine, reliable, cheap (some under 30k!), bits made of carbon fiber, titanium, and magnesium, ~200 MPH.

Need a bit of head work to prevent valve failures apparently. Pretty cheap and you will pick up another 50 to 100 hp if you do cams at the same time.

Elise/exige are like porches from the golden age imho. An elise is the closest thing you can get to something like a 73 RS in a modernish car. You have to be a bit of a sadist to daily drive one though.

I can't wrap my head around 997 M96 / M97 issues. I want another 911 but broken cylinders and IMS issues causing a $20K rebuild?

Lord, no.

rjp

There actually a lot of good used Porsche in the $30k-$50k range that do everything you want to do. Everything 2009 and later is fast, fun, and essentially dead nuts reliable.

Also:

C6 Corvette- A lotta car for the $$ still. This has always been on my short list.

I spend part of my time at my home in rural VA and keep my '89 there. Overall, people are pretty good here as well and there are some great roads to drive...but Porsches really are not common or appreciated. That said, in most places where I have driven a 911, jerks had multiple lanes and could just go on by...so they did not seem to feel the need to behave so poorly. Unfortunately, this is on a narrow country road, and it only takes one idiot passing thorough to ruin it for everyone. I imagine that either they don't know the speed limit (or that it is very strictly enforced with multiple speed traps where I was driving). Maybe just a few miles over irritates them (probably jealous and think the old guy in the shiny red Porsche is screwing with them). I drive the same speed as with my old Cayenne TT (that they probably think is a Ford Explorer). Neither of my 911s cost much money (at least when I bought them)...so not flaunting my good fortune, just going for groceries. Usually it is the weekend and the problem folks have plates that indicate that they are returning home to MD, NJ, NY (this is a good shortcut). They are never driving sporty or muscle cars. Typically a nondescript Ford or non-German foreign sedan...so probably just not car enthusiasts. This last one was only behind me for about 2-3 miles so not sure why they get crazy.

Looks/sounds like a great car. I asked my wife who promptly said "no" (as I rarely drive the cars I have). I guess I will have to work on her. If CA was not on fire, I could bribe her with a fun vacation trip to pick it up (like I did with my '89).

Some suggestions seem to lean toward a daily style driver. This would strictly be a fun day car.

I won't ever buy another Porsche after this one.... the cost of repair is just brutal. I can't sustain $20-40K bills.

Subaru been there done that... LOVE THEM.

I kinda want to import an EVO V, I don't think there is a better performance platform for the money. They can be made into monsters.

I want to drive an Elise. I have a friend who has one, along with an amazing 1970 Skyline.

I think my plan may be to get the 911 sorted, get the head studs fixed, put as little money into this thing and see how I feel about the car.

If I still have a wandering eye, I think the C7 Grand Sport will find a home with me. It would take $60 just to get my 911 close to it's performance. lol

At the end of the day it just comes down to a lack of income on my part. If you can't pay cash for a new 911, you shouldn't buy an old one IMO.

Corvette is a smoking deal for the money, no argument from me. I drove a C5 Z06 and it just felt too big and bulky, but I can see the appeal.

Agreed...a new Corvette is lot of car...I personally just don't like the look. It seems too big to me as well.

Yea, I get that. I have a mimi JCW, have had Miata's, Abarth and my 911... I do fancy a smaller car.

I want to drive an Elise, it might be that middle ground, a S/C Elise would be a lot of fun I think.

Then again, if I can sort the Porsche out maybe it will be fine... as long as I baby that 915. :|

Man, the Lotus is looking pretty nice.

Ever look at the Evora? My neighbor had an Evora S, it made a Cayman feel clumsy. Plus you didn’t have to be a gymnast to get in and out.

An Elise requires you to be a contortionist.

I gotta put my foot down and have a word with your wife:D. That will straighten her out.:D

Its ok, I have been wanting to sell for the past couple years, but too lazy to push it. As it sits, the price keep going up but I will let it go for the same price because I want this to go to a good home. All original ones that's hadn't been wrapped around a tree are harder and harder to find. This, I am told by many people, will be a classic and the pricing reflects that now. They are in the 18-22k range. I have all the original window stickers, tool bags and so on.

Hahaha, yeaah. I looked at the Evora... And I think it's going to be my second car.