Cool, thanks for that feedback @
MightyMeeple.
I am slightly shy of $8000 in my 944 and would likely only get $5500-5800 back. But, I have learned a lot, and can continue to drive it happily until I decide what the next phase is.
I tend to think that it costs about $2000 a year no matter what you drive. Depreciation or unexpected repairs, it all costs. I frontloaded the maintenance on my 944, and everything is pretty strong right now. But, in another two years, the belts will need to be done again.
There is this constant war in my head between no-compromise and compromise. I really don't want to work on my play car all of the time. Much prefer actually going out and playing. I have a "sensible" car (with a lot of turbo and ECU mods, suspension, etc) that is fun to drive and very useful. But automatic and huge. I want a small, flickable, manual canyon carver that two people can go downtown in and be sophisticated as well as sporty. And not hit me with $5000 repair bills.
250BHP supercharged would be fine with me, along with some suspension upgrades. Would I worry less about repairs and cost of ownership in a BRZ than in a 2007 Cayman?
Guess I should drive a few.