Project: Space Wagon

[JPolen01]

I might be over the 911 thing - I think I'm priced out of the air cooled market, I want nothing to do with the M96 engines in the 996 and the 997's just dont excite me.  I could probably get into a 996 turbo and as long as the collector car market keeps going bonkers I wouldnt lose any money on it.

Le sigh. It is sad for people like us what has happened to the air cooleds. Even the more desirable 997s are starting to creep up. I have dreams of a 997 GT3 but at this rate that will be extremely unlikely. I guess I'll have to find a more available car to lust over.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Driving a Cayman GTS forever ruined me on 996/997s. The Cayman is just far better in every single way, even a 996 GT3. To be fair I haven't driven a 997 GT3, but the 997 S is just "meh". I would put it on the same level of excitement as my E92 M3. It's "okay" just no "giggle factor" as I alluded to Jake Thiewes for my gauge of fun.

[Jake]

When it comes to "one day I'll buy a P-Car" I gravitate toward the Cayman over the 911 as well...

[JPolen01]

I have also moved more towards the Cayman camp as well. Dj hit the nail on the head.

[.RJ]

For me, 911 > Boxster > Cayman, but I'm clearly broken.

[Apoc]

Have you considered not being poor?

[JustinG]

You should get a job with Amazon...I think I know a guy who works there.

[Evan]

2013+ Cayman. The previous gen is just too damn ugly to take seriously.

[JPolen01]

You should get a job with Amazon...I think I know a guy who works there.

Did he go to college so he could work at Amazon?

[ScottyB]

I might be over the 911 thing

i hate that this is how things are now, but i don't blame you and i'm pretty much in the same camp.

i'll always lust over them, and be a fan of the 930 and 993 especially, but they're at the point now where even if i had one, the parts and maintenance market is expensive enough that i wouldn't even want to flog it, and then whats the point?

just tell yourself its better not to meet your heroes anyway.

[D_Eclipse9916]

I might be over the 911 thing

just tell yourself its better not to meet your heroes anyway.

RIP every car that I have driven that was hyped up like crazy.

[Steve85]

Has BaT done to the euro market what Barrett-Jackson did to the muscle car market?

I'm also a bigger fan of the Cayman over the newer 911s, but I'm still a sucker for an 80s 930.

[Apoc]

Has BaT done to the euro market what Barrett-Jackson did to the muscle car market?

Not really. The market was already ridiculous, but it wasn't as obvious because shopping meant ebay and random dealer websites. BaT has made it a lot more obvious. I'm sure it's had some affect, but I don't think it's as large as some people think it is.

[.RJ]

I might be over the 911 thing

just tell yourself its better not to meet your heroes anyway.

RIP every car that I have driven that was hyped up like crazy.

Shrug.

I have driven Chris' 911 twice now, and a few others over time.  Most people would hate it because its like driving a tractor at times, but its loud, low, engaging, demands your attention, looks awesome, spartan interior.  If Chris' car were mine I'd chase after some things to make it easier to drive, but the experience is all there.  I also enjoy riding my 46 year old motorcycle, FWIW.  

Now, the dream of owning a 70's RS/RSR replica/tribute type thing got buried a long time ago unless I start making a lot more money but if prices stay flat as they have been for a while, its no problem to buy a good driver-quality narrow body/impact bumper car or maybe a 964 as long as I'm not shopping on BaT.

I'm poking around at things in the $30k-ish range and I've got some ideas, but I do need to get this wagon paid off, and I ordered some parts that should improve the xDrive shortcomings.

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Has BaT done to the euro market what Barrett-Jackson did to the muscle car market?

BaT is some alternate reality universe.  There are plenty of other cars out there to be sold at more reasonable pricing.

[.RJ]

After waiting far too long for Bilstein, I went with something different.  

Overall the ride quality is SO much better than the stock stuff.... and all the rubber in the suspension was falling apart at 75k miles, of course.

I need to raise the height in the rear quite a bit, we were having a bit of trouble getting the adjusters moving with tension on the spring, so I think the control arm needs to be dropped to free them up and make it easier.  I'll have the guys that do the alignment handle that one.  "The internets" insisted that when you lower the car you need longer end links, so I listened, and the shortest I could get these end links was.... stock length and they seemed fine, so I may go back - the UUC ones make a bit of a racket over speed bumps.

Overall pretty happy but still some dialing in to do, which is why I wanted the bilstein kit to start with - always nervous driving around when all of the suspension has come apart.

[ScottyB]

whoa, that's looking way better already. KW stuff is known for quality so i hope it holds up well for you over the seasons. what are the rates like over stock, given how much more you like the ride?

big question though - are you back in love with the car, or is this more like the start of repairing your boredom/frustration with it?

[.RJ]

I dont know what the rates are, and I didnt worry too much about it with KW's quality since you dont have a lot of choices here. I liked that V1's use all the stock strut tops, shock mounts, etc (and it was ALL replaced as part of the install) so no metal on metal rattle trapping going on. The original suspension was a floaty, floppy, mess. Hitting a heave in the highway had the thing wallowing around like a 70's Cadillac with 3 or 4 rounds of oscillations.... turn in was mushy and devoid of feel and the whole car just kind of fell over into the turn. So, all of that is gone. Its firm, but in a good way (TWSS) and much nicer. The steering responds like it should and I've got some feedback in the steering now. I've got some rubbing from the rear tires so they definitely need to get raised up, but, I wish I'd just gone with this from the start had I known Bilstein would be on perpetual backorder.

I was never in love with it, though. Too many compromises - same with the B7 A4. But, it sounds awesome with the exhaust, its free of bullshit like nav and nannies, and now its looking and driving much better. We'll see what changes once I get some more miles on this setup - but I think I'm at the end of the road with modifications on this thing, unless (until?) it gets an N54 swap. But money well spent up to this point with the engine, interior, and suspension changes. In the long run it will be a perfect dog/camping/bike hauling all weather daily driver compliment to... something else.

[.RJ]

Took the car over to Mach V today to have them do the ride height adjusting, wheel direction aligning, double checking of my torquing (my strut tops were loose.... guess that was the noise I was hearing) of my new shit - here's the finished stance - pretty happy with the KW's for now.  Still waiting on the f'ing front swaybar.

[.RJ]

So....

Where would one go to buy a wrecked car to harvest its drivetrain and other misc parts? Like an e90 335xi sedan? Asking for a friend.

[Apoc]

I can't decided if this is a marginally better or worse idea than restoring a beat up old man BMW.

I look forward to when you have zero working vehicles. #onecarlife