[Mackpipes]

If Porsches didn't exist, what car would you drive instead. All things being the same: budget, driving use.

I would most likely wind up in a 3 series BMW or a Mini S.

[VaSteve]

Interesting topic. Driving the Porsche (even as slowly as I do ) certainly made me appreciate finer points like handling, weigh balance, torque curve, driving position, etc.

Some of the elements I factored in when selecting a new daily driver last winter a 3 series BMW.

I only drive the Porsche on nice days (don't drive it to work or the VRE station) so my perspective may be different than Ted's. If I was to have another fun car instead of the Porsche to drive in the same way (fun, starting DE, wrenching and mods) I would look at a Miata (yes really ). I drove my friend's after an hour in the Porsche. I don't think he ever revved past 4K since he bought it. I did and had a blast. Lost of modability there. I also like the E30 BMWs, but wouldn't buy a convertible since I think it would be dumb to drive that with a roll bar and a drop top (dunno why... ) I think a VW Golf GTI could be a lot of fun too, but no convertables there either.

On Friday, my coworker and I test drove this guy's Integra. He was short shifting it (never got above 2500) and the owner was telling him how they rev up to 8K. I took a turn at the wheel, down Carter's Run Road in Warrenton, in the rain, with sport tires. I looked over at the owner holding onto the Oh Sh!t handle - especially when I came up behind this old GM wagon and aksed about passing zones. I doubt I could sub one of those for the Porsche, but it sure was fun.

I think it would be tough finding a suitable replacement. Once you get a taste, it leaves you wanting more.

[Jazzbass]

Despite the fact that my DD is a "true sports car" I don't generally buy my DDs for the passion of drving. Its hard to get passionate about going 10mph on 495. I buy the DD for reliability, and IME this means Honda/Acura. I bought a new Accord this year for this reason. If Porsche didn't exist? Then I'd probably have more $$$ to sink into the DD and would have bought a new Acura TL. BMW, Mercedes - all nice and drive great, but too spotty on reliability for me.

For the fun car, though, without Porsche - probably an old 308GTS or 328GTS. About 3x (or more) the entry price of the my 911, so I would have had to wait a few more years.

[Charlie Stylianos]

Despite the fact that my DD is a "true sports car" I don't generally buy my DDs for the passion of drving. Its hard to get passionate about going 10mph on 495. I buy the DD for reliability, and IME this means Honda/Acura.

I agree with Chris here, can't go wrong with a $900 Toyota....the thing just goes and goes.

The 911 is my fisrt real non-DD and I definitely learned alot from tinkering with and driving it. If it wern't for the p-car, I'd still be playing with old 60's-70's 2 wheeled machines and would probably by now have some sort of british cafe' racer (Norton Commando) or early 2 cylinder Ducati and still have a Toyota as the DD. BTW: Still love those vintage motorcycles.

But since the p-car has introduced me to the world of performance cars, it would be hard to NOT have another performance car in the stable to drive and of course tinker with (read old and inexpensive). Maybe a BMW 2002, an old z-car, early mini cooper, etc. I still can't wrap my mind around the idea that performance cars should not be tinkered with, and I can't find the heart to start messing with a new 30K+ performance machine.

[targa911man]

Originally Posted by Mackpipes

I would most likely wind up in a 3 series BMW or a Mini S.

That's odd. I thought I saw you in a station wagon this morning.

[BlackTalon]

I would stick with my '90 Eagle Talon, and add a few more mods to bump up HP to around 300. It's quick, fast, and can drive through anything thanks to the AWD. And I didn't have to put a dime into the car for the first 10 years I owned it (the last 5 is another story, though). But it was my DD for 14 years, and it never left me stranded.

[jpinkert]

Originally Posted by Mackpipes

If Porsches didn't exist, what car would you drive instead. All things being the same: budget, driving use.

I would most likely wind up in a 3 series BMW or a Mini S.

Seeing that most of us don't use the Porsche for DD status, a replacement as a fun and/or track car would be tough. But for the $$ that I have in my Porsches, I could be in a Lotus Elise. It'd do quite well at the track and would make a great weekend car. Now...I am guilty of taking the 930 to work. In fact, I put about 100 miles on it yesterday (Leesburg to Pentagon, back to Leesburg, back to Tysons). I've driven an Elise on an extended trip on the highway and while it is fun in its own light, it is -tight- in there.

So chalk me up for an Elise w/ metallic graphite paint.

[Eli]

I still miss my Audi TT (coupe not convertable ). Although 964 is a great replacement for a daily driver, I at times miss the boost and the sound of the turbo winding up ...
Unlike many dissatisfied Audi owners, in my 4 year and close to 70,000 miles of owning the TT, the only problem I had was a stripped oil pan which I caused by over torquing the drain bolt
I ended up giving the car to my brother in law who drove it to California without a hickup

[Mike W]

This is a very interesting question. Having purchased my Carrera about 5 months ago I can share a bit about my purchasing experience.

Although I had always wanted a 911, I still kept my options open. I looked into getting:

Early 80’s Aston Martin (to expensive, to unreliable and to expensive to repair)
Ferrar 412i manual (way to expensive to repair, and not super reliable)
Early 90’s Maseratti Bi-Turbo coupe (relatively cheep car but unreliable and good luck getting parts)
Early 90’s Dodge Viper (to big, not enough cornering ability)
Corvette C4/5 (ditto as Viper)
A host of new mid priced sports cars (boring)

Obviously that is all IMHO, but in the end, the Porsche was the best looking, best performing and most reliable HP car on the market for the price. Also, my father got me interested in Porsche's at an early age.

Notwithstanding, assuming Porsche never developed his sports cars, I would probably have ended up with some small British roadster, say a Sunbeam Tiger, not overly reliable but still a V-8 in a very small car, mmmmmmm. After all, it was Porsche who introduced the idea that a modern HP car can also be reliable and somewhat practical so I wouldn't know any better.

[Steelspine]

2005 Mitsubishi Evo MR. Graphite. I'm trying to convince my wife that this should be my replacement for my 03 Passat so I can get the kids to school much more quickly.

Either that or an Audi RS6 in the same color.