Unfortunately, I’m as much of a car nut as I am a motorcycle nut. This weekend, I had a chance to test drive a 2002 996 Carrera and WOW!! The problem is I’m currently stuck in a lease for another 26 month on my ’99 Boxster. I could trade the Boxster in, but because of the high negative equity due to low trade-in, the payments rise to the point where I may need to sell the MV to compensate. So, I’m torn. Can anyone bring me back to sanity.

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), June 12, 2002

Answers

Get a hardtop for the boxster and keep the MV. 8 out of 10 people can't tell a boxster and a 996 apart, it's a shame.

Also save up for the Cayenne, and trailer your MV with that to the track.

-- mod (mvf4s@excite.com), June 12, 2002.

You're nuts! I like cars too, but sheesh, put me on a track with my MV and a good set of tires and I'll smoke that 4 wheeled shit heap!

What planet are you from anyway?

Andy

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), June 12, 2002.

I take that as a no? :)

Funny thing was that was the biggest thing (replace the car or get a motorcycle) that I was considering on that fateful day in March when I got the MV.

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), June 12, 2002.

I was kind of being a nut above, I think you got it so everything's OK there.

If you really like cars and you want that 996, grab it. But you'll get no mercy from me! I mean sheesh, you've got just about the coolest bike anyone could ever have (and in a metallic silver that would make any German car owner blush), and a pretty nice Porsche as well...

You never answered me before! What planet are you from?!

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), June 12, 2002.

I really do like the Boxster, but the only problem is it really needs more horsepower. The '99 model I have only has 200hp and little torque. With Phoenix's straight roads, torque seems to be more valuable than mid-engine handling. :(

On the good new, I just heard the 2005 911 (available in 9/2004) may have a 60 degree V8! Isn't Aprilla a 60 degree V-twin? 60 degrees being more compact than 90, right?

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), June 12, 2002.

Spent 2 days at Audi School at Limerock with an S6 Avant, went home to drive my friend's brand new Porsche C4, then got on the MV...tough call between the 3...so why choose? It's all good! Face it, we're addicts...there is no logic.

-- Larry Nipon (vze277jp@verizon.net), June 12, 2002.

As a recent college grad working on a 401k, I'm probably in a different league than you 2 guys when it comes to commenting on vehicles.

I do lust after a really nice car, something like a Z06 or a 911. Or even a Z3 Coupe like my friend's up in Scottsdale. I drive a '94 Z28 which ain't all that bad... It will run with some more very exotic stuff. But hey, I'd be a hippocrate if I didn't understand the motivation behind owning one of those cars, look what kind of bike I have!

However, this is a motorcycle bulletin board so I feel compelled to answer in that context.

Are you guys nuts? You can have like 40 cool bikes for the price of one of these 4 wheeled shit heaps! I'll take the MV over almost any supercar. Want to carry a passenger? Want to stay out of the rain? Buy a truck so you can haul your bike to where it isn't raining...

Man I love bikes. There ain't anything else as far as I'm concerned.

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), June 12, 2002.

Anybody who can afford both a Porsche and an MV gets no sympathy from me!

Since you already have experience in this area, wreck your Boxster and use the money to get a Carrera like you did with your 2000 MV.

Seriously though, you have a decent car, so stick with the MV.

Brad

-- Brad Cowell (bcowell@cswnet.com), June 13, 2002.