In The Garage.......

onewhippedpuppy · 09-12-2014, 05:50 AM

Thought this might be sorta fun. I always enjoy reading first hand feedback on cars from fellow enthusiasts, i.e. you guys. When I'm considering something different I will come here and search OT for feedback, because the odds are that someone here has owned one. So with my new business endeavor and frequent revolving door of cars, I thought I'd post some feedback on each one. One of the things that makes me different from the average dealer, beyond the fact that I'm not a sleazy liar, is the fact that I actually drive the cars that I buy. Typically for at least a week they will live in my garage and I drive them daily, it's by far the best way to uncover any issues that may need fixed before resale. So I get far more perspective than someone that just takes a quick test drive. Anyway, without further ado.......

onewhippedpuppy · 09-12-2014, 05:51 AM

2007 Porsche Boxster, 63k, Basalt Black over Sand Beige, sport chrono plus, sport steering wheel, 18" Boxster S wheels, heated seats. Really nice pretty basic car with the sport options. Honestly this is about the perfect car in my book. Pure, wonderful, and fun. Plenty of power to be quick (but not overwhelmingly fast), great handling with excellent ride quality. I think the 987 is better than the 986 in essentially every way, and I really enjoy the 987. Better styling, same nimble feel but less nervous around town, better MPG (I'm getting 26 MPG around town). Sport chrono plus is a must have option because it includes the sport mode, which greatly improves throttle response and tightens up the steering. My only knock on the 987 also applies to the 997, along with a lot of other makes - the stupid "soft touch" interior bits are prone to scratching and accelerated wear. Say what you want about the 986/996 interior, but it wears like iron. I replaced a few interior pieces to get this one up to standards, I've seen far worse. This car, btw, sold without advertising to a friend who was shopping for a 987. Crappy picture because I never advertised it. Great little car.....

masraum · 09-12-2014, 06:04 AM

I love my 2008 Boxster S with PASM (a must have for a daily driven, IMO), Sport Exhaust and Sport Chrono.

onewhippedpuppy · 09:12 AM

2005 Porsche 911 C2, 84k, sport chrono plus, Bose, nav, power/heated/memory seats, sport wheel, Fister mufflers, Seal Gray over Black. This is the car that I drove back from NC and got 27.7 MPG, which still amazes me. The 997 styling is better in every way than the 996, both inside and out. The same criticism applies to the soft touch interior items, though this older and higher mileage car had minimal wear. The black hides wear far better than the Sand Beige. Same as the 996, I think this car looks fantastic in Seal Gray, if I were keeping it I'd get the windows tinted and the wheels powdercoated black similar to a 996 that I had which looked fantastic. I think spacers would be a big improvement on this car, the wheels look a little too tucked in for my taste. It really drives like a faster 996.2, plenty of torque, smooth on the highway, tight around town without beating you up. Not nearly as raw as a 996.1, which feels (and is) lighter and needs to be revved. Very, very high limits, it was unflappable while I was having fun on mountain roads on the way home. Fister modified mufflers are perfect, just like on my 996. Quiet around town, great sound when you get after it. I have back problems and don't care for the seats, even with the lumbar totally deflated they have too much for my taste. With that said, I drove 14 hours in one day and didn't have any adverse effects, so they can't be that bad.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-12-2014, 06:07 AM

Steve, you've got the ultimate 987.

One other note on the 987/997 that I found interesting, they are nearly identical to the 986/997 mechanically. There are lots of little tweaks here and there, but they are definitely an evolution.

onewhippedpuppy · 09:15 AM

Jeeps! I've got Jeeps! I've always wanted a Jeep, so I bought two. 2011 Sport, 50k, V6 automatic, pretty basic with A/C and cruise. 1999 Sahara, 103k, I6 automatic, hard top, aux lights, A/C, upgraded Bluetooth/USB head unit, 2"-ish coil spacer lift, 31x10.5 M/T tires.

It's really an interesting contrast having a TJ and JK. I can sum it up by saying that the TJ doesn't drive as bad as I expected, and the JK drives better than I expected. In all fairness the TJ doesn't drive badly, it's the best TJ I've been in. The mild lift and semi recent shocks give it decent ride quality, it doesn't wallow and wander like many older Jeeps. The steering actually feels connected to the wheels, the I6 and automatic give it enough power to keep highway driving from being scary. Unlike other TJs I have driven, it will pretty easily do 75 MPH on the highway. Coldest A/C of anything I own. It's definitely a truck like experience though, albeit with a ton of character. I could daily drive it, the ride really reminds me of my old FJ80 Land Cruiser.

The 2011 is really the exact opposite, it drives like a tall car. Much tighter than I expected, almost with a sporty feel. Decent steering, good brakes, really pleasant to drive. The soft top is reasonably quiet on the highway, you can easily hold a conversation at 80 MPH. Erecting the soft top is a bit like building a tent, but that's "a Jeep thing". I'm told that many of the aftermarket tops are better. I honestly love this thing, I spent a month driving it around with no top or doors and didn't want to sell it. 17 MPG around town, it's a no-compromise daily driver.

onewhippedpuppy · 09:17 AM

Saving the best of my current crop for last. 2009 C63 AMG, 84k, premium 1 package, premium 2 package, performance package, so basically about as loaded as they get without an Alcantara wheel. Performance package gives you stiffer suspension, two piece monster front brakes, carbon fiber interior trim, and an LSD. Just a monster, a freaking monster wrapped in glove soft leather and with all the luxury goodies that I can imagine. I love Mercedes, with 84k on it this car looks like new inside and out with no rattles, and everything works. The seats are glove soft leather yet have no noteworthy wear despite huge front bolsters. The front seats are the best I've had, taking that crown from the Recaros in my D2 S8. Steering is well weighted but a little numb, brakes are OMG huge, ride quality is similar to a Porsche - stiff but not harsh. And the engine, holy God the engine. I think savage is the best way to describe it, but still totally insufficient. Torque is everywhere, punching it around town instantly results in a forceful shove backwards into the heavily bolstered seats, blurred vision, the ESP light going nuts, and what sounds like an A-10 airstrike in your back seat. The sound is like nothing I have ever heard, and it's the stock exhaust system. One of the magazine reviews referred to the sound as "satanic", and it fits. Of the many cars that I've owned, this is the most insane and it makes me giggle like a schoolgirl every time I drive it. If I have to criticize one thing it would be the transmission, in Sport mode it's a really good automatic, but in manual mode it doesn't always comply with your paddle shifter commands, especially downshifting multiple gears quickly. Simply an epic car, and I honestly hope it takes a long time to sell.

masraum · 09-12-2014, 08:50 AM

I'm a little jealous. I'd like to get the opportunity to drive the diversity of vehicles that you're driving. Good luck in your venture.

I've always wanted to try an AMG.

BReif61 · 09-12-2014, 08:55 AM

Matt, we're gonna need more pictures of that AMG. They're awesome cars.

wportervt · wportervt's Garage

Great looking cars and I really admire how you've handled the change in direction your career/life has taken with the layoff. I went through something similar about 5 years ago and while I have dreamed of doing something like you're doing now I just didn't have the balls at that time to take that risk and continued on the corporate path. Best of luck to you!

HHI944 · 09-12-2014, 09:41 AM

What was it Clarkson said about the C63? Something like: It's an axe murderer trying to kill you.... and he absolutely loved it....

onewhippedpuppy · 09-12-2014, 10:04 AM

I think he called it an axe murderer with headlights. On the comparo with the M3 and RS4, he wore out the rear tires in 30 miles. It is sheer lunacy, which is a scary amount of fun.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

That collection needs an S8 to keep it company!

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

The C63 is about everything I'd ever want in a car. It's like dating a truly wild, savage, visceral crazy woman who's made up and dressed classy. Complete wolves in sheep clothing. They're just the best of both worlds and the juxtaposition is insane. I love them and almost certainly will own one at some point (easy sell to The Warden as a "comfortable, stylish family friendly car"... Little will she know...)

I almost stained myself the first time I drove one. Elegant and blissful. With an edge of Heath Ledger psychotic. I like that in a car. Or a woman for that matter...

onewhippedpuppy · 09-12-2014, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

That collection needs an S8 to keep it company!

If the price is right my friend......

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

The C63 is about everything I'd ever want in a car. It's like dating a truly wild, savage, visceral crazy woman who's made up and dressed classy. Complete wolves in sheep clothing. They're just the best of both worlds and the juxtaposition is insane. I love them and almost certainly will own one at some point (easy sell to The Warden as a "comfortable, stylish family friendly car"... Little will she know...)

I almost stained myself the first time I drove one. Elegant and blissful. With an edge of Heath Ledger psychotic. I like that in a car. Or a woman for that matter...

My wife really likes the C63. If it were bigger she might latch onto it. I just bought a 2009 Cayenne GTS yesterday, which I very strongly suspect she will adopt as a family car once it arrives.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Ooooo. Pics of the cayenne?

onewhippedpuppy · 03:37 PM

Not here yet, probably two weeks or so.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

Subscribing so I can see the cool car/trucks Matt picks up.

Bill

Sarc · 09-15-2014, 11:56 AM

Wow. I've gotta get out from under my rock from time to time. Had no idea you've switched gear career wise. Good for you!

onewhippedpuppy · 09-23-2014, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BReif61

Matt, we're gonna need more pictures of that AMG. They're awesome cars.

Took me a little while, I had to get it finished before I took high quality pictures. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Mercedes products, everything is very well designed and logical to work on. I'm already looking for another AMG.