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Coupes & Convertibles Sports Cars - The Definitive Discussion 
522 messages, Last post on Dec 08, 2007 at 6:07 PM
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Replying to: dhanley (Mar 04, 2007 9:16 am) So tell me about the Porsche experience and smile factor. (It's one of the few brands I've yet to try)
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Replying to: topspin628 (Mar 04, 2007 7:01 pm) But as for your quesion, to me, a porsche feels like a bmw kicked up a notch or two. It's like comparing a bmw to a lexus--the lexus may have the same numbers, but you have more fun in the bmw; the car is more live, you feel more wired into the steering, throttle, brakes, and you can hit the turn a bit faster, etc. And yes, i agree there's definitely diminishing returns in cars, as with practically everything else. |
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Replying to: topspin628 (Mar 02, 2007 8:06 pm) That's just a start, the cars have to be great else the rep would only carry them for a year or two. My buddy has a Boxster and it was a hoot. It had the best automatic transmission I've sampled in my life, by far. They went the extra mile to engineer that trans to basically read the driver's mind. So, to the people that can afford it, it's worth every penny, yes. Now, speaking from a practical stand point, you tend to see diminishing returns as you spend more to get more. A $20k car tends to be much better than a $15k car. Step up from $20 to $25k and you get smaller improvements. To $30k and again, smaller gains. So it's hard for a practical person (myself included) to understand why pay $50 grand for a Boxster when a $25k Miata is plenty fun enough. -juice
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BMW has the highest margins of any of the big sedan makers. There are lots of people who think the high prices of 3-series sedans are not justified by any concrete advantage over competitors from Lexus, Inifinti, Acura and Audi to name a few. Let me hasten to say as a BMW owner, I am not one of them. 
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Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 05, 2007 8:32 am) That's just a start, the cars have to be great else the rep would only carry them for a year or two. My buddy has a Boxster and it was a hoot. It had the best automatic transmission I've sampled in my life, by far. They went the extra mile to engineer that trans to basically read the driver's mind. Porsche has what pedigree to command what prices? Last time I checked, the car below had a 4-cylinder that was also used in the AMC Gremlin, an engine that generated a whole 110 hp-, a 0-60 sprint of 10 seconds and retailed for an astonishing $10,000--the same price as the 205 hp, 250 ft/lbs, V8 Chevrolet Corvette!  I owned the 924. I bought it for about $1,500, the same used car price as a Honda Prelude although I went with the Porsche since it had the better displays. Still, $10K new for that? The same price got this in 1984:  Porsche is pulling the same gimmicks, even now. A Porsche Boxster, which competes in the same class as the Miata MX-5's, Pontiac Solstice GXP's and Honda S2000's, commands nearly $50,000!!! And Porsceh consistently loses in endurance races such as 24-hours at LeMans! Where's the "pedigree" to which you refer? ...boxster with automatic transmission is a "hoot." lol...
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Replying to: pmc4 (Nov 18, 2007 6:59 pm) I've driven Porsches on-track as a track instructor and they are far and beyond most other cars out on the road, stock to stock in terms of sports car ability. -mike
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Replying to: starrow68 (Feb 19, 2007 6:01 pm) hearing all three going down the front straight fully wound out was glorious. I can't see how you think Ferrari's are beautiful, unless, of course, you think a Toyota Camry is beautiful...   I know it's hard to tell, but the first car is the Camry and the second car is the Ferrari... |
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Replying to: paisan (Nov 18, 2007 7:08 pm) I've driven Porsches on-track as a track instructor and they are far and beyond most other cars out on the road, stock to stock in terms of sports car ability. Mike, why on God's Green Earth would anybody want to take a Porsche on a track? The 'Ring I can understand, but a track? I can't see a putt-putt like a Boxster or Cayman which has less power than most V6 family sedans 'racing' on a race track. Ferrari F430 certainly and Z06 definately but a Porsche?
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Replying to: andys120 (Mar 05, 2007 3:44 pm) There are lots of people who think the high prices of 3-series sedans are not justified by any concrete advantage over competitors from Lexus, Inifinti, Acura and Audi to name a few. The high price of BMDubya is not justified! I mean, the BMW 3-Series is little more than a European taxi. The difference between the two is the American-spec 3-Series has a vinyl interior (not even real leather!), a 6-cylinder engine and about $30,000 increase in the sticker price; the Euro-spec 3-Series costs their taxi fleets $14,000. About the only advantage to the 3-Series is flat-out acceleration but then again, that's why the 3-Series is so popular in America. That's all Americans care about. Why do you think NASCAR is so popular in this country? I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see the NASCAR parking lots cram-packed to the rafters with BMW 3-Series cars, since Americans are about as refined as the vinyl siding in the BMW that rubs the butts of the Americans driving them... |
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Replying to: pmc4 (Nov 18, 2007 7:16 pm) I can't see a putt-putt like a Boxster or Cayman which has less power than most V6 family sedans 'racing' on a race track. Ferrari F430 certainly and Z06 definately but a Porsche? Wow, I guess I'm a real idiot then! I road race a 1994 Subaru Impreza Turbo. As for a Z06? Haaa, with my Legacy GT Wagon I usually lap those guys at Watkins in the spring and fall when it's nice and cold and damp out. I actually rarely see any Ferraris or Z06s racing on US tracks. Here and there you see em but the majority are Miatas, Hondas, Acuras, Nissans, Mustangs, BMWs. Here's a pic of my racecar...  
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