I love my car to an irrational point. It is simply because this is something I have dreamed of owning since I was 14 years old. And now to own the top dog alpha predator (to me anyway) 911 TTS Cabrio is a dream fulfilled. I drive it very infrequently due to winter weather and my work schedule plus my family no longer fits but I do love it. It is the best personal decision I have ever made along with the worst business decision I have ever made on a cost per mile basis.


Sometimes I think I should just drive it all the time and I hope to get closer to that after the ice melts around here.


If you can swing it, keep it if it makes you happy. And if you can't or want to load the bank for retirement then that is the right decision for you. I know I could be happy with another car, but this will always be the one I remember and miss. This car(looks, acceleration and handling) is just intoxicating for me.

 

I'm having thoughs of converting mine to DD status as well. It just seems too special to do that though. I've always wanted a V12 lambo (more for the art and emotion than performance), but cannot see having another "weekend/special use" toy. If I keep the current DD (E92 BMW) and get the lambo, I will feel obligated to get rid of the 997tt. Can't imagine that, cause I love the thing and it is so much more usable/drivable than a big lambo. I'm 6'6" and it fits me well, has jump seats for the kiddos and doesn't stand out too much (took it to HomeDepot last weekend for electrical supplies). So, the other option is dump the E92 and make the TT a daily, but I feel guily about that too

More than likely, I just not get a lambo. It's a bit obnoxious for West TX anyway.....

 

I think the TT is a great DD. Of course,for me,all I do is drive myself to work and home.

Try yours for a few weeks and leave your BMW home as a trial.

I bought my 997 Turbo from a 6'5" guy. Can you fit comfortably in a Lambo?

 

Nope, but it's never stopped me from trying to enjoy cool cars and bikes. I let the Lambo go. It was a fire sale and a great deal….just not one I was ready to make today. 10min after I turned it down, the thing was sold

 

I think the OP had indicated he will invest the $$ towards retirement however I think trading down may end up costing more in the long run.

1. You will never receive the same "value" back in a car if you trade and not much back in terms of hard cash.
2. The TT will always be in style if not cool as it ages allowing you not be purchase anther vehicle.
3. If you find you are not happy with the lesser car the switch back will be expensive.

 

MB Coastal-

Why are you limiting yourself to only driving to work and home? You are only experiencing a small fraction of what your car can do. Have you thought about doing some Porsche DEs or other driving events? How about some local road rally's?

My opinion, yes, if you simply drive it to work and back, sell it and get a Prius or some other gas saving vehicle. Put your savings in the market or some other investment.

Walt


"I think the TT is a great DD. Of course,for me,all I do is drive myself to work and home."

 

Hey Walt,
I may need to join the local Porsche club and see what type of events they have.
I know I'm barely using the car.

Casper,
I agree with your points 2 and 3!

 

Both stingray and M4 have RR drive. However, with the porsche turbo/AWD and my relatively fast/furious driving, i think it impossible to go back to RR drive. RR drive is just too old school. On wet pavement, with RR drive, rear end of car swings around and that is bad. With AWD no such issues. Both these cars have manual transmissions which I really like.
Now in order to get AWD and over 450 HP, you gotta get auto trans like PDK, etc.....I guess the Audi R8 may have both, but that auto is big bucks and Audi dealers are not that plentiful where I live. The C63 AMG will have AWD for 2015, but comes with auto trans and too, Mercs are big bucks with big buck depreciation right out of the showroom. I'm in Florida, but when I lived in the north, I cannot believe anyone dealing with snow etc would want anything but AWD.

 

I say keep the turbo, it cant depreciate much more than it already is and honestly, these cars are amazing for daily drivers, definitely a keeper

 

For trading up, numerous cars I would want, but for trading *down*, I would consider only 2 cars: Cayman/Boxster for the mid-engine configuration and last generation BMW M3 with the V8 engine and hydraulic power steering. I in fact bought a 2011 M3 for my wife.

Both are great cars, but neither would make me "happy" if that's the only car I have. The Cayman/Boxster has better handling than Turbo, but engine power is not even remotely in the same class, and it's not a 911. M3 has sharper (but less direct) steering, linear engine response that's quite powerful in upper rpm, and exhaust note that puts Turbo sound to shame, but all things considered, not the same car, more of a great great sports sedan than a world class sports car that's also a daily driver. And it's not a 911 .

From financial standpoint, yes of course you'll make more money to trade down and put the money in S&P 500, etc. But, from the joie-de-vivre standpoint (hope I got the spelling right LOL), no, never when 911 Turbo is being traded away for a lesser car. You are in your 50's if I am not mistaken? Remember we are not getting any younger and "things" happen when you get old - enjoy life while you are still healthy and young.

I live in a mountainous area (why my car has Bilstein to stiffen the chassis) and could enjoy the car even in my daily drives to work, and I do understand the problem if you drive this Turbo only on flat city streets. IMHO, as you appear well set financially, the only thing I would do is look for local track and local empty roads and enjoy the car in a safe manner. What you need is curvy empty roads to enjoy the Turbo - not to sell it. All IMHO of course.

 

"Has anyone traded down and remained happy?"

Not me!!!!

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Thank you for your response. It was very well thought out.
I'm thinking keep the Turbo for another year and maybe reconsider next year.
She should be worth about the same. Maybe add a tune and get up to 600hp.

 

My advice is that your own 997TT would probably be hard to replace, both physically (a similar car) and of course emotionally (hard to let go). Why not focus on paying down the 997TT aggressively until it's fully paid off, then accelerating your investments with money that you're no longer putting towards the car on a monthly basis in the form of payments?

That, my friend, is how to have your cake and eat it too. Best wishes!

 

I have a blast driving my M3 - it is a lot more nimble and feels much more connected to the road than the TT. Car dimensions and driving position are perfect. Obviously both cars are not stock and my M has more suspension work than the TT. Taking it up to 8krpm is a blast.

Not something I'd replace the TT with though -- it's a lot of fun but not a better daily driver.

AWD+turbos for effortless power whether from a stop or cruising in 6th gear on the highway. Can't be beat

 

Thank you all for your responses.
I'm thinking of keeping my TT for at least another year and maybe asking the same questions.
At that time maybe the Corvette and M4 will have been out for a year and the Audi RS5 Cabrio may be available.

Also a gently used 991S or MB SL63 AMG may make me smile!