Midlife crisis averted

[hanyoung]

Fell in love with the Audi Avant and custom ordered a 2012 five years ago.

Now stage 2; FBSW; full Eurocode suspension package, and riding on a nice set of rims / tires. I've taken her to the track, to work, and back... piled up golf bags / carts / workout gear / bikes in the back no problem. Have 3 kids with the oldest 6 years of age and thought it would be a school bus, but the minivan has taken care of that. But as all of us do... wondered if there was more!

Had a near scare with an ECU issue, but since then everything has been great; although I always have this fear that something may break. Must be the paranoia of being on the boards daily.

Nearly purchased a 2005 Lotus Elise on bringatrailer.com on a whim without a test drive; wanted something light and small and thought it would fit the bill. Complete reversal from what I have now, but given that we have an SUV and a minivan I thought.. why not live a little? Got outbid so I went to the local Mazda dealer to test drive a miata... because miata.

Wow, what a disappointment. My avant handles better, has better power, more complete package other than missing out on a six-speed manual. Feel better about keeping the car, and may even look into karting in the future to satisfy the urge for being a truly light and responsive package!

Anyone else have these unsettling conflicts, or is it just me?

[theSaint024]

Yes! Apparently I am your alter ego. 2013 AR, 3 kids, oldest is 5. Originally bought the AR to be the family hauler. We just got an SUV a few months ago and my wagon is now just my fun car. I have been really close to getting a legit sports car for a couple years now but always get delayed for one reason or another. My good sense kicked in because of taking my kids to school I am always reminded about how bad the roads are and it would be no fun driving a 6 speed on cratered, hilly roads at city speeds. So I'll keep my sweet AR for a couple years or so, but there is too much desire pulling me to the "mid life crisis car". It's gonna happen, just need to wait for the stars to align. I really miss driving a manual. I really like my wagon though.

[a-talk]

Sure do, Han. My solution was to purchase an old project car and also own a daily. But now I have two - an old Porsche 944 and an Audi 200 Turbo Quattro Avant that I modify and work on all the time. That way I can keep the B8 Avant stock and reliable (yeah, right! :P)

[b6onboost]

A modded Avant is probably one of the best all around 'I need one car to do it all' vehicle...but with that comes compromise. Its good at everything but great at nothing. There are plenty of other dedicated fun cars out there if you don't need them to be all things. That Miata for example, its not as nice or fast as your Avant, but dropping the top on a beautiful day or warm night, rowing the gears, hanging the back end out a little around a turn...that feeling will never come closing to being replicated in the Avant.

[hanyoung]

Great to hear I'm not alone!

Now when the time comes... what will people be getting? Something I think about almost every day. My choices:

- Lotus Elise; small, spirited, and great power:weight ratio
- Alfa 4C; although I think this is a little too hard core for me
- Cayman S; although it may be a little "soft."

People always tend to turn to 996/997 turbos. I think they are cool cars, but never had the obsession. Maybe they are too big? Although they would be great in a pinch as a 2+2. I'm actually having a hard time thinking of great 2+2s in my budget (30-45K). The current M3/4 look so weird; maybe the version before?

Let's hear 'em!

[pierreb]

I'm keeping my 150k avant and buying a toy car to spend upgrade money on. Budget is $35k or so. 996/997 are fun but expensive to own. Probably will go Golf R or mk2 TTRS.

[pierreb]

Oh and Cayman S is cool too but also expensive to own and screams midlife crisis.

[earhythmic]

I've had dreams of building a Datsun 240z with an LS1 engine swap. Look at that sexy beast:

[Avantmaniac]

You're not alone, This thing will transform to manwagon on the weekend, mod will be done - swaybars/Alukreuz both Eurocode and stg 2 revo with down pipe.

[S4'ed]

I started my mid-life crises early : When the wife wanted a kid, I told her OK, but I get a new Corvette....that was 15 years ago...still have the Corvette...and still have the kid !!

[b6onboost]

I think you're on the right track...

- Cayman/Boxster S are basically the best drivers cars on the road
- Z4M coupe/vert is a great little drivers car with a screaming inline 6
- E92/3 M3 is a great 2+2. Larger and heavier, but a gem of a motor
- 997s are a little pricer and maintenance heavy...but a true sports car

Let's hear 'em!

[The Fat Kid]

I hated my S4 over the winter (studless snow/ice tires are not fun) and checked out some of the cars you mentioned:

987 Cayman S would probably be my choice if looking for a two-seater in your price range. I am not sure how they are "soft" (lack of HP/TQ?) since they are generally regarded as one of the best handling sports cars.

The 996 Turbo is just in your price range, but you would be looking at high-mileage cars. They seem to be fairly reliable, and pretty easy for DIY maintenance, but the interior is going to feel like something from the 1980s compared to your Audi.

Do your research on the "rod bearing" issue if you go the E92-M3 route. The main downside is the lack of low-end torque, but you can probably find a decent E92 and turn it into a monster with a Harrop supercharger for ~$45k.

Edit to Add: I remembered this Jalopnik article on the 987 v 981 Cayman.

[hanyoung]

Yes, other than audizine; jalopnik and bringatrailer are my efficiency-killing web sites.

Wow that 240Z though... I've seen some really nice V8 Miata swaps that are beautiful too (NB platforms). Could solve a lot of problems!

[antlaurence]

I've had dreams of building a Datsun 240z with an LS1 engine swap. Look at that sexy beast:

almost Eleanor. just as pretty.

[Rinaldi]

I recently sold my 996 Turbo and for me it was a great car and almost bullet proof. So much more power than a Cayman S which was my original car I wanted. I bought my 996 twin turbo for $45 with 10k on the clock. The interior was not that dated either. Head unit was updated with a DVD system. New wife hated the car and I regret selling it.

I hated my S4 over the winter (studless snow/ice tires are not fun) and checked out some of the cars you mentioned:

987 Cayman S would probably be my choice if looking for a two-seater in your price range. I am not sure how they are "soft" (lack of HP/TQ?) since they are generally regarded as one of the best handling sports cars.

The 996 Turbo is just in your price range, but you would be looking at high-mileage cars. They seem to be fairly reliable, and pretty easy for DIY maintenance, but the interior is going to feel like something from the 1980s compared to your Audi.

Do your research on the "rod bearing" issue if you go the E92-M3 route. The main downside is the lack of low-end torque, but you can probably find a decent E92 and turn it into a monster with a Harrop supercharger for ~$45k.

Edit to Add: I remembered this Jalopnik article on the 987 v 981 Cayman.

[hanyoung]

Rinaldi; I'm only 2 hrs south of you! Shoot..., well thanks for the info!

[redavant]

I told my wife that a type f R will make me happy :-)

[hanyoung]

What do you guys think about an AP1 S2K? Fell in love with car when it first came out, but the elise is winning my heart back. Just worried that there is not enough torque in the lower rpm band to make daily driving fun

[spoolin4jesus]

What do you guys think about an AP1 S2K? Fell in love with car when it first came out, but the elise is winning my heart back. Just worried that there is not enough torque in the lower rpm band to make daily driving fun

I'm on my second AP1 S2K and I love it (sold the first and regretted it). I don't daily drive it though. Peak torque is at 7500 RPM as opposed to 1500 RPM in the A4, so it feels quite slow in a straight line. It has a tremendous amount of mechanical grip in the corners though and inspires much confidence driving in the twisties.

I imagine the Elise would give you everything the S2K would but better, weighing ~800 lbs less. I haven't driven one though.

[KompressorLOgic]

you might find the s2k similar to the miata in terms of lacking in power.
I have an rx8 and it has about the same hp and torque and high revs as the s2k , and it is pretty gutless from a stoplight in the low revs.


but reving it out to 9K is fun! and 50/50 weight ratio, much lighter nose and decent suspension makes it for some fun in the turns! and it is quite forgiving when u do find the limits

[KompressorLOgic]

this is my "quarter life" crisis car ive had it since 09, and now have a family and plan to keep it because I know the wife wont let me buy another one for a long time! next family vehicle will probably be a Q5 or something of that variant...

[jmeenach]

I told my wife that a type f R will make me happy :-)

I'd marry just about anyone if I got one of those as a wedding present