Posts Tagged sports car
Looking For a Used Porsche 911?
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 20, 2009
It’s hard not to have a soft spot for Porsche. If you’re a luxury car enthusiast, you’ll already be familiar with the reputation that Porsche have built upon their unique designs and top-end engineering. From tractors to the Boxster, the Porsche identity is one that encompasses prestige and distinction on every level.
You may be glad to know that I’m not going to talk about their contribution to the agricultural machinery market (although if I were looking for a used Porsche for under £10,000 I would seriously consider buying a vintage Porsche tractor, along with a field, just to have the pleasure of hurtling about at 20mph). But the Good Life dream will have to wait a little while longer, because there has never been a better time to invest in a luxury sports car. With the recent economic crises, the price of a used Porsche has become an attractive possibility for more people than ever before.
The used Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet that I took out for a spin one sunny day in June was ideally suited to the weather. With the roof down and the cheeky handling making it a joy to be in the driving seat, it was easy to wonder whether it was a one-climate wonder. Purring through town (it’s only fair to let everyone gawp at such a sterling motor), I was aware of heads turning. In a new or used Porsche you will definitely be looked at, you may even get small children waving and the occasional thumbs up from other drivers. It’s not a brand for the wallflower.
If you’re looking for a family car that will fit a month’s shopping in the boot, I must advise that you look elsewhere. The charm of the 911 Turbo Cabriolet lies in its sense of freedom, the release from restriction that comes with having the wind in your hair and a superbly responsive car under your control. Being lucky enough to live in a semi-rural area, it was a short hop from the town centre to quiet country roads. And that’s where the 911 really came alive. I felt that I could drive it all day, but sadly it did have to be returned to the dealership before they closed. Having experienced the challenges and rewards of taking it through different environments, I was convinced that even the greyest, most miserable day wouldn’t impact the little used Porsche’s spirit.
It’s certainly not the car for everyone, and may be seen as an indulgence. But the used Porsche that I had in my greedy little paws for a few hours that day made driving feel like a pleasure rather than a chore, and I personally view such outlay as an investment rather than a frivolity. If you’re in the position to take possession of a luxury sports car, a used Porsche is definitely worth looking into. As with any vehicle, look for an approved used Porsche dealer, and if you do fall in love with a model take it for a thorough test-drive before committing to purchase.
Tags: dealer, dealers, dealership, luxury car, luxury sports car, sports car, vehicleRelated posts
Used Ferrari – Still Selling Consistently
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 19, 2009
With the current economic crisis continuing to unfold and lead many of us to the poorhouse, you wouldn’t be blamed for expecting to see a significant drop in the number of sports cars and prestige cars sold around the world. However, it would appear that sales of these car models have remained fairly consistent especially in the used sector. The question is; why are members of the public opting to buy used sports cars instead of new models?
There is one word that will adequately answer this question; depreciation. Depreciation is the market effect that stings a lot of new car owners as soon as they drive their shiny car away from the dealership’s forecourt. A car can lose up to half of its value as soon as it has been owned by someone other than the dealer; even if that ownership is only a few seconds old.
As a result of this the cars value drops significantly and the resale value drops like a lead balloon. For the current owners this is very bad news as they won’t make any kind of return on their investment should they choose to sell it. However, the prospective future buyer would be right to rub his or hers hands with glee at the savings they could be making.
A model such as a Used Ferrari could be bought up for nearly half of its original retail price even though it may only have a few thousand miles on the clock. In this respect it looks as though there may be many more sports cars sold in the current recession.
Tags: dealer, dealers, dealership, new car, sports car, sports cars, used sports car, used sports carsRelated posts
Porsche Cayenne Review
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 19, 2009
It wasn’t that many years ago that Porsche was strictly about sportsters and roadsters. But no more! Today Porsche produces a product line for everyone and that includes the SUV Porsche Cayenne.
The SUV isn’t that new. It was actually introduced back in 2002. The V8 was new to the Porsche line with the last V8 being produced in the 928 back in 1995. It instantly became Porsche’s best seller in North America.
So what has made it such a great hit? It was co-designed with the VW team who were also planning to add a SUV to their line up. The cost sharing strategy was supposed to help both companies.
The chassis is actually shared by three companies. VW uses it in the Touareg sport utility, Porsche in their Cayenne, and Audi uses a modified version its Q7.
When it comes to the engines VW and Porsche share only a base engine. The Porsche engine has had substantial modifications. The Cayenne offers up four great engine choices.
The 247 HP 3.2 L engine, the 335 HP 4.5 L engine, the twin turbo charged 450 HP 4.5 L engine, the Tequipment twin turbocharged V8 500 HP 4.5 L engine, and finally the twin turbocharged V8 520 HP 4.5 L engine. That’s a lot of power in an SUV.
You get 0 to 60 in about 5.2 seconds which is the same time as the Boxster S and the Tequipment engine is even quicker. Of course you realize there is no real good reason for that kind of speed in an SUV but it sure is fun having it anyway!
This is a true SUV and thus it is designed to take you where ever you need to go whether that is up the rocky mountain or across a deep river.
So what’s it cost you ask? Well the turbocharged version can be purchased for around $90,000. It’s priced competitively against the competition which includes the Land Rover, Mercedes Benz M Class, and Range Rover.
The Cayenne has a low profile tire that gives it a much sportier ride that you might expect to be not so good in serious off road conditions. But it’s actually the opposite. These tires are very impressive in off road conditions.
4 wheel drive with manual lockable center differential are standard equipment. You also get a low range setting. There are some terrific off road options too which include air suspension, interior switching rear differential, and vehicle height adjustment.
In 2006 Porsche introduced the Turbo S which is a higher output model. It was designed to compete with the Mercedes Benz ML63. You get a whopping 520 HP making it the second most powerful Porsche ever built. O-60 in 4.8 seconds. So is that fast enough?
The Porsche die-hards that like the traditional reputation of the Porsche line which stands for sporty cars that are designed for speed, comfort, fun, and the race track, aren’t happy with the introduction of the Cayenne.
Porsche however is in the business to make money and recognized that an SUV could provide them with a steady income and continuous sales that the fickle sports car market could not and thus they added the Cayenne to their product line.
If you are in the market for an SUV and want the quality and reliability that Porsche is known around the world for, you should consider the Porsche Cayenne. It’s got a lot to offer for the price.
Tags: car market, mercedes benz, sports car, vehicle, wheel