Cool All-Rounder vs Special Car plus Meh car

[FC4]

There's a certain sense of peace and calm when driving a car you have no attachment to.

It's a bit like the feeling of driving a rental car. Not in the sense that you can trash and abuse it like a knob, but the complete removal of any car-specific mindshare. Every single time you operate a vehicle doesn't need to be a big production. Sometimes, you have shit to do and the last thing on your mind should be how tight the exit of the parking garage you just parked at is because the raised curbs on both sides don't give you enough room to exit at an angle and the steep ass curb is immediately after it and goddamit it's gonna scrape.

But yes, you absolutely will drive the "nice" car a lot less.

[Humdizzle]

Originally Posted by baege

I am trying to avoid the financial aspect because you only live once, for me it's really about what will bring me the most enjoyment and I fear I won't enjoy the special car much as happened with my 300zx back in the day

side question: why did you sell the M2C? I really liked mine

i get your point. but i still feel that having a supercar for 1 day a week is overall more enjoyable than driving a sporty sedan or hatch every day. the M2c wasn't getting much use between my new civic i got last year and gt3. its not as comfortable or easy to drive as the civic with its smooth cvt and lane keep. and its not as sporty or involving as the GT3.plus we currently have 4 cars and no kids. gt3, m2, civic, and tlx. so it would be good to downsize a bit

so i'll sell the m2 and wife will sell her TLX and we'll get a 2022 macan s or gts to share. she only works in the office like 4 days a month.

i'll put the remainder in stocks

[mjj]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

It's like 60 beans man. What are you guys smoking saying a beater should be M2 or Type R?

I said daily driver, not beater.

60K is relative.

To some that is a lot of money. To others, that is the wife’s annual shoe & purse budget. I have no idea what the OP’s disposable income looks like.

[Alfisti]

Point being, entire use case is "if it dings up I am not too fussed: and M2 doesn't fit that bill. That's you're all in one car.

[Efthreeoh]

Ariel Nomad.

[E90convert]

Originally Posted by FC4

There's a certain sense of peace and calm when driving a car you have no attachment to.

It's a bit like the feeling of driving a rental car. Not in the sense that you can trash and abuse it like a knob, but the complete removal of any car-specific mindshare. Every single time you operate a vehicle doesn't need to be a big production. Sometimes, you have shit to do and the last thing on your mind should be how tight the exit of the parking garage you just parked at is because the raised curbs on both sides don't give you enough room to exit at an angle and the steep ass curb is immediately after it and goddamit it's gonna scrape.

But yes, you absolutely will drive the "nice" car a lot less.

This is a good point. Something you don't have to worry about keeping clean, or if it gets a rock chip, ect. But the car still has to drive nice, and be a nice place to sit. To me this is a Tesla Model 3. Purely utilitarian to make my life easier, and indulge my techy side.

[Alfisti]

A tesla would drive me fucking crazy, all that intrusive tech. Just leave me alone to drive. Get off my lawn.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

It's like 60 beans man. What are you guys smoking saying a beater should be M2 or Type R?

I think it’s less about what you’re smoking and more about what your earning.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by MJBO

I think it’s less about what you’re smoking and more about what your earning.

To some degree but you need to see what it is like here mid january man, keeping a car in remotely good shape is incredibly difficult. This is not Geelong.

[Alfisti]

So to the topic at hand, it's the nicest day we have had in ages here, no humidity, no rain, bright sparkly 24 degrees. Time to pick up the youngest bloke from day camp, decided to take the 911.

Did i force myself through guilt or because I enjoy it? I dunno tbh. It was a 45 min return trip and i was driving on swiss cheese goat tracks the entire time. For locals, Lakeshore from dixie to mississauaga road then the endless Indian road speed bumps. Returned via south service that was pot hole mania.

I don't know what the answer is TBH.

[BlkGS]

You know, there was a time when cars like this were plentiful. 330i, 540i, hell even lesser versions and a TON of non BMW cars did this great. But now everyone is convinced due to social media that If it isnt the crazy 1000hp model it's stupid. There used to be a HUGE middle ground between terrible boring cars and all out crazy cars. Now nobody wants to live in that happy medium.

Now the part that's gonna trigger a lot of people. A car isn't special because of it's brand, or it's artificial scarcity, or it's price. A car is special because of the bond it builds with you, either from a desire, an experience, or a history. There's nothing special about a car you can just go buy or lease or get a loan for. A special car is a relationship you build with the car over time, not a car that you think people will be impressed by. You want a special car? Buy the car you wanted in high school or college. Especially one that's not showroom perfect, that needs some love and bonding.

A special car is like a relationship with a spouse. It's special because of the bond you build over time. There's nothing special about porking the hottest escort omin town, anyone can plop down some cash and have it. What's special is the girl that supported you when you were low and that cheered you when you achieved. The same goes for a car, it's a special car by virtue of that bond you build with it. Tell me you bought a new 911 Turbo S Jackass emEdition and there's only 2 in the world, whatever, don't care. Tell me you restored a sports car that your dad had when he was young and sold because he had you, and you redid the whole car yourself, ok, now i see why it's special and care, and want to hear the story

[ShocknAwe]

Stick with one car. From your post I'm assuming you're single and no dog.

[///MPhatic]

It's a mistake to think that just because you're using something every day you're appreciating it more. In fact, the laws of human nature dictate that you'll be appreciating it less the more you use it.

It's a construct of the human mind to try to make you believe that you can have your cake and eat it too, but it's a human reality that this literally can't be done.

A car is a tool, be it for your life or your soul (fig) or both. Some people don't need that visceral driving experience for their soul, others do, so some people can get away with one car, and others can't.

I have 3 cars.

One gets driven about 12,000 miles a year.
Another, about 1,200 miles a year.
And the last one about 200 miles a year.

Suits me just fine.

What suits you is up to you.

[x622]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

You know, there was a time when cars like this were plentiful. 330i, 540i, hell even lesser versions and a TON of non BMW cars did this great. But now everyone is convinced due to social media that If it isnt the crazy 1000hp model it's stupid. There used to be a HUGE middle ground between terrible boring cars and all out crazy cars. Now nobody wants to live in that happy medium.

Now the part that's gonna trigger a lot of people. A car isn't special because of it's brand, or it's artificial scarcity, or it's price. A car is special because of the bond it builds with you, either from a desire, an experience, or a history. There's nothing special about a car you can just go buy or lease or get a loan for. A special car is a relationship you build with the car over time, not a car that you think people will be impressed by. You want a special car? Buy the car you wanted in high school or college. Especially one that's not showroom perfect, that needs some love and bonding.

A special car is like a relationship with a spouse. It's special because of the bond you build over time. There's nothing special about porking the hottest escort omin town, anyone can plop down some cash and have it. What's special is the girl that supported you when you were low and that cheered you when you achieved. The same goes for a car, it's a special car by virtue of that bond you build with it. Tell me you bought a new 911 Turbo S Jackass emEdition and there's only 2 in the world, whatever, don't care. Tell me you restored a sports car that your dad had when he was young and sold because he had you, and you redid the whole car yourself, ok, now i see why it's special and care, and want to hear the story

Amen. I love my S2000 more than any car I own, have owned, or driven. It is my home car.

[G30M]

2 cars. an allrounder like a M5/M8 Comp/M550i/M850i LCi, and a supercar like a 992 Turbo S for special occasion.

But from what you're describing, the 992 Turbo S is an all rounder!

[pbonsalb]

I was about to buy a 991.2 Turbo, but realized I could not fit many tools, dogs, and construction material in it so I would not drive it as much. Bought an F90 M5 instead and it is much more practical for my uses. The OP appears to be writing that a 2 seat Cayman is practical enough for his use in every respect except the manual transmission in traffic, so he does not need an M5.

I think my ultimate 2 cars would be a comfortable, fast SUV like a Cayenne Turbo and a 992 Turbo. If I had the 992 Turbo, I could settle for the speed and handling of the Cayenne over the M5 and the Cayenne is more comfortable (I also have a 21 Cayenne S). But the budget does not presently allow my ultimate 2 cars….

My 1999 M3, which I have had for almost 20 years and has a built motor and turbo, is currently the special car that does not get driven much. The F90 M5 is the beater that goes to Home Depot, carries dogs, and gets driven in the snow all winter.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

You want a special car? Buy the car you wanted in high school...

This is a thing.

For many, no car will ever replace those cars we dreamed about when we were coming of driving age, and as you've said, it's not the performance, it's the way it made you feel, and most guys want some of that back. Pretty much all of the cars I've owned are vastly better than my old Conquest was, but if I won the lotto tomorrow it's the first car I'd buy.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

IThe OP appears to be writing that a 2 seat Cayman is practical enough for his use in every respect except the manual transmission in traffic, so he does not need an M5.

I don't think it's the stick, it's the roads. You've seen better in Calcutta.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

This is a thing.

For many, no car will ever replace those cars we dreamed about when we were coming of driving age, and as you've said, it's not the performance, it's the way it made you feel, and most guys want some of that back. Pretty much all of the cars I've owned are vastly better than my old Conquest was, but if I won the lotto tomorrow it's the first car I'd buy.

If I hit the lotto I would have the NICEST 2010 Jeep SRT8 money could buy within the week, lol. I'd buy a 993 manual too (right when I graduated college my father and I restored one together. Great memories, restoring it and racing it with him. I'd probably buy a 997 GT3 RS or GTS with a manual, as well. I wouldn't waste my time with Lambos or new stuff, I couldn't care less for those. I'd probably buy an E39 M5 and an E60 M5 manual just cuz theyre neat.

Also, of I hit the lotto and had big money, I wouldn't be living where traffic was a concern at all. I'd have a place in the NC foothills and a place in FL. All this talk about needing an automatic and comfortable daily? Get outta here. I'm rich now, I'm a millionaire, I'm not dealing with poor people stuff like traffic and bad roads!

[Llarry]

It seems to me that your '22 GTS 4.0 is a perfect "special" car. I understand the desire to have something a bit more mundane for routine/utility duties but if it were me, I'd keep the Cayman and add something like a Civic or Golf or whatever.

I should add that I have never driven a 718, but owned and loved a 981 Boxster S for some years.

[Efthreeoh]

Get a 6G Bronco.

[XutvJet]

I've got two cars, a 2011 Cayman Base 6MT and a 2016 M235 6MT. I've owned the Cayman for 1.5 years and the M235 for nearly 9 years. I got the Cayman as a fun weekend car, but I quickly started driving it almost all the time and the M235 sits. My M235 has suspension, wheels, sticky tires, LSD, and Stage 2 power and it's an amazing machine, but it's nothing compared to the Cayman in terms of feel and fun. The M235 is much faster, but I really don't care at all as the Cayman feel plenty quick for the street and I'm far more comfortable pushing that car hard vs the M235 and all the turbo torque surging which can blow the tires off when you're least expecting it. The Cayman just grips and grips and is all HP and little torque.

I'm getting rid of the M235 in about a month for a 2024 F150 regular cab short bed 2WD with the 400hp 5.0 V8 for around $36K. I've never had a truck and I want an auto, something that's quick, gets decent MPG (low 20s in the city, mid 20s highway), sounds good, has a response NA motor (kinda done with turbos) and has some real utility. A stock F150 like this is good for lower 5 second 0-60 and mid-low 13s. That's pretty dang quick and is easy to get into the 12s. I'll slightly lower the truck, add some wheels and tires, and some exterior bits to make it a little more upscale.

I considered a more standard and mundane commuter to replace the M235, but I want something with some soul and speed. I know the F150 will handle like a wet pork chop, but it's WAY different from the Cayman. The F150 can hold 3 in a pinch. My wife has a 4Runner in the rare chance I need to take more than 2 people.