[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by Re_Invention

Bingo regarding the 370z taking the entry sports coupe position. Porsche has recently gone on record saying (which can change tomorrow) they won't consider anything below the Boxster, $60k+ OTD, at the moment. And that makes sense given the size of production, consumer demands and profit margins. They are so immensely profitable because they get away with charging so much for their products. It isn't that their plastic or metal is 100% more expensive than Toyota's. Why sacrifice margin at current production volume for a gamble risk to recapture end of year profits with greater volume and investment of infrastructure. Suggesting that is living with blinders on because they will reserve that for Macan lifestyle vehicles! hahah!

No one needs to appeal to a market that isn't profitable, a few griping enthusiasts on forums (which frankly always turn out to be a marginal group of buyers anyway) across the world aren't the average consumer. They [we] are the 1%!

Porsche can only maintain their insanely high profit margins on their sports cars. Because they are offering a product that few, if any other car makers, can match. The 911 and Cayman/Boxster are fairly unique. As SUV sales have increased at Porsche their overall profit margins have gone down sharply. This is because, while excellent, the Macan & Cayenne are still quite similar to SUVs offered by other high end car makers.

Originally Posted by serialk11r

The problem with the 370Z is that it's mysteriously heavy (how did they manage to make it 300lbs heavier than a Porsche?), and has bad brakes, so it's not popular among the performance crowd. It doesn't have the right badge and IMO styling to appeal to a more premium market.

The 370Z shares it's platform with the Infiniti G sedan and FX SUVs. Nothing super mysterious about that weight now!

Originally Posted by ajh88

Porsches are like BMWs in that you have to get up into the GT3/4 or M range to see what the fuss is all about. The base models need modifications (louder, stiffer, faster) to get any kind of wow factor and the performance divisions do that from the factory.

Oh come on man, that's patently false. Until the recent past I would have said that any S (or higher) level 911/Cayman/Boxster is "what the fuss is all about". But with their latest powertrain updates that extends to literally all their sports cars (even if the flat 4s are a bit rough about it).



Going back to the OP...

My advice would be a 6 cylinder (981 or newer) Cayman GT4 or 981 Cayman GTS. Porsches are extremely reliable vehicles (http://www.autonews.com/article/2017...j-d-power-says), they're also constantly ranked at or near the top of long term reliability rankings, and if you're handy with a wrench you can avoid most dealership type work. They're head and shoulders above similarly priced German cars from BMW, MB or Audi in build quality and reliability. Also practical with 2 trunks. Someone mentioned golf bags. My Cayman can hold 2 soft golf backs in the rear hatch easily.





And if the OP is more of an ax over scalpel type of person, then 5th Gen Viper is the way to go!