MMD

did you know, according to GM, the Cadillac XLR was inspired by the Stealth Fighter??!! No kidding! Did you ever hear of such a ridiculous angle to try to sell a car? You should have heard about it because Cadillac considers it a hot Porsche competitor.

Anyway, I wondered which other cars you might have considered before you committed to a 997/S?

For me it was never a question, I didn't know what the competiton was much less test drove any of them. What did I miss?

MJones

No consideration. Out with the 996 In with the 997

raclaims

Before buying my 996, I had always dreamed of owning a Corvette...went to test drive a BoxsterS as a friend highly recommended it before getting the Vette...saw a 996 Cab on the lot and said "what the heck...why not try it out?"...next thing you know...I am a very happy owner of 996.

jcf7

The lease ended on an xkr jag, and having owned various bmws I looked at the 6 series, I also looked at the corvette. The 6 series seem too big, and although I never drove it, the vette just didn't do it for me (maybe being 50 yrs old had something to do with it). I never considered a Porsche until, by whim, I decided to test drive a 997. Yep, drove it less than two miles and bought it on the spot, a Saturday night.....took delivery on Monday. Four months later, and a new engine (another story), I just turned 11,000 miles.....and I have loved every single one of them.

JohnnyBahamas

That's funny about the XLR... especially because it will be a $90,000 car with a plastic bowflex rod suspension. Pure, unadulterated schlock.

Put 5500 miles on an E46 M3 and it was trick handler but low on grunt. Waited and waited for the C6 but was sorely disappointed with everything about it when it finally came out... like the very same motor being available in a Pontiac! and the plastic bowflex rod suspension being carried over, etc. etc. etc.

Test drove the Carrera S and I was stunned at the GRUNT of the Porsche, at the design and build quality, and the flippin' heavenly gearbox just snookered me. I'm still snookered. In fact, I'm going to go drive it up a twisty mountain right now.

Coochas

My leading two contenders were
1) Cayenne Turbo - practical and fast
2) SLK55 - fairly uncommon, beautiful, hard top convertible, screaming V8,... not so great handling
I ultimately decided on ordering a C4S to satisfy the performance craving - I took into consideration much of the feedback on this very forum - you read very few negative things about the 997.

texas911

None. There is no substitute.

rss997

M3 with a V8.........can't wait to drive that one!

DJ23

My 911 Carrera was always a childhood dream that finally came true.

Jay

MMD

Yeah Bro! THAT will be a blast! With one big DISAPPOINTMENT: the car's gonna look fugly: like a bloated piece of ... . Did you see the new 3 series? I can't stand it! Now BMW has the ugliest NOSE on any car with the exception of the new Audis. BMW stole the Pontiac grille too, outrageous slumming of BMW!! No longer kidneys, more like wings! I'm keeping my 04 M3 for a loooooong time.

jcnesq

GT3

Sonic dB

" Four months later, and a new engine (another story), I just turned 11,000 miles.....and I have loved every single one of them"

Jeeze...

holminator

All over the map: Vette, M3, 997 S, Gallardo, 996 GT3, etc.

Le Chef

AMV8, Beck Speedster, M3, used 355 or 360, Lotus Elise, Maserati 4200, Boxster S, 1972 911S, GT3, 996TT

PV

I considered all kind of options: from an M3, via an M5, BMW 6 series, via Corvette C6, Audi S4, MB SLK, for a short moment a Volvo V70, but every time I went back to the 911.