So last April I was debating on blowing some savings on a "dream car" and was trying to narrow it down between the 370Z, Cayman S and a few others. I landed on the Cayman S after driving one and falling in love with it, and set out on a search to find a certified used example that was in my price range (which was still really "out of my price range", but my rationale was that you only live once, and when you're young is the time to have a car like this). Thanks to a fellow TCL'er, I found a 40k mile example in Chicago that had just one previous owner, dealer maintenance records and a recent full factory Certification. I negotiated with the dealer over the phone and flew up the next week to collect it.
The drive back down and the 6 months that followed were a near-spiritual experience. Not once did the car ever falter or even require maintenance in the 7,000 miles I put on it. I took it to two autocrosses and a few road trips, and at no point did I ever regret taking the plunge.
A month ago, a job opportunity presented itself in the UK that I couldn't pass up, but as it will be a long-term assignment, it made no sense for me to keep my cars. So I sold my Si a month ago, and the Cayman just left my possession yesterday to a very nice guy who bought it sight unseen and had his friend drive it up to him. I wish him all the best, but I know I'll miss the car dearly.
If there's a purpose to my rambling, it's to encourage others who might be on the fence about buying their (realistic) dream car, because in the economic climate right now there may never be another time when a car like this can be purchased so cheaply. To put it simply, I drove it basically for free for 6 months based on what I bought and sold it for. You can't ask for a better deal than that.
Cliff's notes:
Bought Porsche
Loved it
Had to sell it due to a job opportunity abroad
Advise others to do the same
Some pictures because I heard people like those:
Both the cars in this picture are now gone, but not forgotten
At the second of two autocrosses I was able to do in it:
The drive back down and the 6 months that followed were a near-spiritual experience. Not once did the car ever falter or even require maintenance in the 7,000 miles I put on it. I took it to two autocrosses and a few road trips, and at no point did I ever regret taking the plunge.
A month ago, a job opportunity presented itself in the UK that I couldn't pass up, but as it will be a long-term assignment, it made no sense for me to keep my cars. So I sold my Si a month ago, and the Cayman just left my possession yesterday to a very nice guy who bought it sight unseen and had his friend drive it up to him. I wish him all the best, but I know I'll miss the car dearly.
If there's a purpose to my rambling, it's to encourage others who might be on the fence about buying their (realistic) dream car, because in the economic climate right now there may never be another time when a car like this can be purchased so cheaply. To put it simply, I drove it basically for free for 6 months based on what I bought and sold it for. You can't ask for a better deal than that.
Cliff's notes:
Bought Porsche
Loved it
Had to sell it due to a job opportunity abroad
Advise others to do the same
Some pictures because I heard people like those:
Both the cars in this picture are now gone, but not forgotten
At the second of two autocrosses I was able to do in it: