I 'm a new lurker with a big question. I currently own a Porsche 997 C2S Cab. It's a wonderful car to drive, but I'm beginning to feel that it's not a great car to own. For all the attention it gets I might as well have sponsorship from Target. I'm always being challenged to race, but choose to leave that for occasional track days. I hate parking it in the street as there's always that feeling someone will exact their revenge.

So one option is to trade it in for a new MCS with JCW engine and suspension kit when that becomes available, and a used Beck Speedster for fair-weather driving days.

Does any of this make any sense? Opinions?

MTIA

 

Wow! That's quite a step down! (no offense Mini owners, I bought two so it's obvious I am with you all!) I love the MCS, but Porsche has always been a dream vehicle for me. I can't afford one right now, plus I need fuel economy for my 70 mile commute every day. I currently drive a Lincoln Navigator (thus the move to a more fuel efficient vehicle), and the MCS will provide me so much more fun on the road . But I'm going from a large SUV, so the drivability factor improves tremendously. You on the other hand, are coming from one of the ultimate performance machines. Man, I don't know what to tell you having never lived in that stratosphere! However, if you're not happy, the MCS might just be the ticket, especially since you can obviously afford to upgrade to the max performance package.

I'm sure more of your peers will weigh in on this one. Good luck!

 

chef, Have you driven a new MCS yet? I'm a big Porsche fan, but my budget won't let me put one in the garage - at least not yet (I do like the new Cayman S - a lot). My '07 S "is" my Porsche..

Until you have a chance to run a new R56 S thru its paces, you really won't know if you'll be happy with it, when compared to Stuttgart's finest.

Interesting concept, tho'.. after a 'spirited' test drive, you might just find a smile on your face, and enjoy the car as much as the rest of us..

 

If your worried about where to park it, you got the wrong car because you will ALWAYS be worried where to park it. Just don't think that owning a MINI will change that. Ppl will "take revenge" there too. I have no idea how long you have owned it or how many Porsches you have owned but the bottom line, even with a P-car, its still a car. And they sell insurance to cover your worries.

I think you should ask this on Rennlist or 6 speed and see their answers.

Best of luck

 

While the MCS handles well, its suspension doesn't have the sophistication of your Porsche. You need to give the MCS a pretty serious test drive to make sure you will be happy with it.

 

+1

MINI probably couldn't even spell PASM.

But it doesn't sound like the OP is talking technology for which there is no comparison. But, rather the more indirect costs of ownership ... like vandalism. Then again, MINIs get vandalized too.

 

It sounds to me like more of an ego problem, he feels overexposed driving the P car. I've owned many Porsches over the years and I understand what he's feeling. A lot depends on where you live of course, and since we don't know what kind of driving environment or whatever you're dealing with, we can only venture opinions based on our own experience.

I agree with the others, take a long test drive or borrow an MCS over the weekend if you can, then take a while to think about it.

I like your thinking tho, a Beck for nice days, a Cooper for the daily slog and track days.

 

I am going to agree with the chowsman, at least on the +1. The JCW MCS would be a great car I think you would find plenty of fun with!
jason

 

I'm a regular on Renn-(any version you think of) and this is my 3rd Porker so you would think I was used to the attention and paranoia by now. I've got one friend with a MC, two others with MCS's and one colleague with a R56 MCS who all love them and have either just traded from old to new or are going to in the next few months.

I've driven the older MCS and to be honest at first it felt like I was starting in 3rd gear until I had "recalibrated" the brain cells and then I thought it was a hoot. Corners taken with just a lift to get it neutral and then hard back on the gas were a load of fun. Try doing that in a Porker and you would have to be well north of "naught-naughty" and probably doing free landscape gardening with it for someone.

Next step is a proper test drive on some roads (did someone say "ravines"?) on the northern shore and then see what I think.

 

I have owned many p-cars thru the years. Still have and use a couple of old porsche racecars. I understand the desire to be a little less visible as I sold a 930 for the MCS. After H&Rs, a rear sway, and ditching the runflats I have a very nice handling car that doesn't beat me up, is comfortable, and is fast enough for a street car (for me). I'd consider it more of an autocross car than a track car, but to be honest, haven't done either.

Even if you drive the r56 with the sport suspension, you'll still have a fair amount of weight transfer, both side-to-side and for & aft. After lowering and the 22mm rear sway, all that stuff's gone. The torque steer is also much less pronounced. I didn't get the DSC as I didn't want the car telling me I couldn't slide it if I wanted. It is a little intrusive for very spirited driving imho.

I'd say go for it. Seeing as all your guy friends are going to ask you why you bought a chick car and all your women friends are going to call it "cute", you might as well do a Boxster cause it's bound to be a better car than a kit(unless you know the car is well sorted).

Either way, it's just a car and you can change your mind easily. BTW, the MCS has a great resale. I spent ~28k on mine and another $1500 aftermarket.

 

Go see David Olenick at Knauz (tell him Jerry Fisher sent you-that immediately qualifies you as NUTS) and go south
down Sheridan Road east of the dealership.

It'll be fun and educational. Only you can decide if it can replace a C2S.

I still advocate in addition to and not instead of assuming you have the space and the inclination.

I love MINIs but they are not CARRERAs.

 

This is like asking: Should I sell my Mansion on the beach in the Florida Keys for a very nice bungalow in Hamtramack, Michigan?

Invest in a therapist.

 

I went and test drove a Cayman S today. It was disappointing.... at least as a daily driver. My MCS feels much faster. On the track it WILL be a different story when the engine rpms are above 4500 rpm all the time. For 3x the $$$, I was really disappointed.

 

Well... I've been through a couple Porsches... but neither was anything close to the 997. My last (short lived) was a 2000 Boxter and I had a 1987 911SC with a C2 bodykit and some great suspension parts. Both nice cars (kinda wish I still had the 911). Neither would touch the R56S JCW on the track, though. I think the Boxster S with the bigger engine and brakes might have a shot... newer 911 and Caymen? I can only imagine. I've driven a Caymen, but never had the opportunity to DRIVE a Caymen.

That said, I like your plan. The R56S JCS is a great car to live with and to have a nice speedster replica to play with on those sunny days? Priceless.

 

If you can swing it, why not keep the Porsche and buy the MINI for running errands around town?

Take the MINI to the grocery store and drive the porsche when door dings and unwanted attention are not a concern.

You'll still get lots of attention though. . . .