What car if NOT a Porsche?

[Geronimo]

That's what kind of brought me to where I am. The cost to performance ratio with old 911's is extraordinary high.

If I can sort my car and sell it next year I might try to slide into an Elise. Who knows things change, but I think an Elise might tick many of the boxes.

I love the 911, but I just don't think I have the budget to drive it and enjoy it that was one would want to....

The Lotus is a different story, or is a Corvette.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by aschen

Bad thing about elise/exige is the bodywork is fragile and expensive otherwise they are solid cars and easy to work on. Ive had my exige for 8 years and had an elise before that for a few years.

They are a good blend of modern reliability with the toyota/yamaha drive train and lightweight simplicity. I can't image getting an sc to exige performance without getting really drastic. Love older porsches but my 930 might as well be a Tahoe compared to the exige.

Lotus are also starting to creep up substantially in price. Not sure you can get a really nice elise under mid 30s these days. The majority of them I see for sale are heavily tracked and modified as the cars appeal to car nerds.

As I understand from a friend who damaged his Elise at a track event, you really hurt the value of these cars if you fix the Fiberglas tub as opposed to replacing it. Maybe you could find an inexpensive lotus that has been properly repaired from a minor accident.

No doubt those cars are like an early (pre impact bumper) 911 with similar performance and reliable mechanicals.

[Geronimo]

Yea, I have heard some concerning things about cars with damages sub frames... that are very very hard to get correct after an impact.

But finding a "deal" might allow funds for a full K24 honda swap.... 275hp and 2000lbs would be pretty crazy.

[Steve Carlton]

I got to believe if you swap out the motor in the Elise, it won't be cheap and it'll hurt the value of the car. What about chipping or tuning an Elise SC?

[aschen]

wouldent buy an elise sc with the puny mp 45 supercharger. You want an exige S or an aftermarket supercharger, there are many and they are cheapish (5k). Ridden in an aftermarket SC elise before and it is a bit faster than my stock S 220

[ErVikingo]

2018 and newer TT-RS. Can be had for $50 as CPO. Tons of power, supercar level acceleration. Havent tracked mine yet so no comment on handling at the limit.

[fintstone]

Personally, I would love to have a new 718 Boxter with the 4.0 6cyl NA engine...just seems like too much money for a little 2-seater fun.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Seems to me that you are pretty set on unloading the 911. I would suggest you do that first and then see what comes next. Even needing head studs you’ll probably do just fine.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Personally, I would love to have a new 718 Boxter with the 4.0 6cyl NA engine...just seems like too much money for a little 2-seater fun.

Those are fun with just enough power. I have an S but since I am greedy, another 100 on that then its perfect

[look 171]

The Elise is a super fun car if you only drive it Sunday mornings or track it. But as a daily or fun weekend car with the occasional trip to the post office, that car is maybe a pain to live with. I get into my S2000 or any of my Porsches without any problem since I am not a big guy. I gave someone a ride to pick up extra food for a party once in my Cayman. He had a hard time getting in and out of the car in the parking lot due to slightly smaller spaces.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

For the love of God man, please just find a decent 3.2 (they are out there), take those beautiful but boat anchor seats out, lighten the car a little more and have fun with it!

[Geronimo]

Yea, puppy. I think I might have run out of steam on the Porsche. I just don't see a way I can keep it and not get punched in the face with a huge bill at some point.

I have a friend who has an Elise, i'll have to take it for a drive to see how it fits. On paper I think it ticks all the boxes with the cost penalty that the Porsche comes with, while delivering the rawness that the Porsche has.

[Geronimo]

Shaun, I get it and I think that is a reasonable idea. But looking around I found a smoking 3.2 in need of a top end for $12K. So i'd be all in for what $25K all said and done.

I just don't think the math makes sense on a car that is worth maybe $35K

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Geronimo

Shaun, I get it and I think that is a reasonable idea. But looking around I found a smoking 3.2 in need of a top end for $12K. So i'd be all in for what $25K all said and done.

I just don't think the math makes sense on a car that is worth maybe $35K

That's what he's asking and will never see anything north of $8500 for that motor. And I wouldn't touch it for even that price.

Again, if you placed a WTB, good motors will come out of the woodwork, you only need to have someone qualified look at it to be safe.

I have seen you post for years now. All the angst is easily fixed. A 3.2 is pretty much plug and play and you can actually enjoy your car. And easy to add hp once it's in. Let someone else rebuild your 3.0. It will be another year or two before it's done. A 3.2 is 2 weekends.

Time is money. Time rebuilding a motor is angst. Time driving is fun.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Let someone else rebuild your 3.0.

Or just put it in storage and sell it with the car powered by the 3.2.

[Geronimo]

I will consider that Shaun. If the money makes sense I might consider a 3.2 swap. I still might worry about the eventual costly rebuild. The trouble is, even if I found a good engine, i'm still sinking another $12-15K on a used engine, MIGHT be able to get $6K for mine. I'm still dropping $5K or more into the car.

The Elise route I might break even or better... that's hard to ignore.

I think at the end of the day the Elise is a much better car compared to my lil SC, but the Porsche has a special place for me. It's a tough call.

I would love to have a good running 3.2L and maybe an ol' Mustang to beat the hell out of LOL

[1990C4S]

Let's start here: What's your car worth as is sits, or what number would make you say 'I'm better of with the money than the car'?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Let's start here: What's your car worth as is sits, or what number would make you say 'I'm better of with the money than the car'?

Hell of a good question. I also factor in my use of the car...knowing nobody would offer a crazy amount, and considering only 31,000 on the odo....well, I'll be driving my money out of an '09 Mustang. 'Specially considering people of the Bullitt Mustang board reporting close to 200,000 miles on their 4.6 cars, with few problems. Mine has been a zero problems car with by the book service. Tires, wipers, and batteries the only replacements.

Paid $30,075 new. As it sits, around $20,000, perhaps a bit more considering BAT auction figures. Bullitt models seem to retain value better than the same year GT's.

[Geronimo]

Emotionally $35k.... which is a substantial loss.... I doubt I can get that for it though.

If I couldn't get $30K for it, I will just sit on the car and let it rot. I might be the only guy in the current Porsche market that can loose money on an air-cooled Porsche.

[stevej37]

When I bought my 78SC, I paid the going rate...but a year later found out it had broken head studs.
I paid a mechanic to fix that and he also recommended new shocks, brakes, and fuel lines. He also did a few other things like a pop-off valve and timing chain, tie rods and smaller items.
The bill was quite large...but it was twenty years ago and since then I've only had to do routine maintenance.
So...spread out over those 20 years...it's not been a costly car to own, by any means.

edit: I forgot, but 2 years after that...I brought it back to him for a 915 rebuild. It was getting so bad that I feared stopping at intersections. It just wouldn't go into gear and second gear was just as bad. $3300 and it's silky smooth since then. It'll never shift like a Honda...but it's prob as good as it was new.