Gastro

Hi chaps,

I currently own a 996 C4S which has been the best car I've ever owned to date.

To cut a long story short - wife is expecting. So looking at a practical car (although we could cope without changing)...........

So my question is - would you ?

lightning101

Not while she was pregnant

MarkCSC

Nope

GCollier

Hi Gastro,

From first hand experience I can say that porsche 996's, babies and toddlers don't really mix. Yes, you can squeeze a baby-seat in the back behind the passenger (the rear seat-belts are nice and long), but it does mean a significant loss of comfort for your front seat passenger. It's also pretty uncomfortable on the old back installing said baby/baby-seat in the rear of the car. Add in all the things you need for a family weekend away and it becomes hopeless.

Two babies/toddlers each requiring a child seat is a total no-go with this car.

So I think it all comes down to how you currently use your car. I commute to work by train and only used the porsche at weekends - when I wanted the whole family to be able to go out in it. Because it was so impractical in this respect I decided to change it. However, if I commuted to work in it alone every day, my decision may have been different as I would still have been able to enjoy it.

As to changing it for an E60 M5 - well that would definitely fit the bill as a family car, and personally would not go for anything smaller than A6/5-series size. However I would be particularly concerned with depreciation of such a vehicle. They're currently still being sold for close to list price, but you only have to look at the prices of the E39 M5 to see where the prices will eventually end up, and I think anyone buying and holding now for a couple of years is going to bear the brunt of that depreciation as the novelty of latest much have gadget wears off.

Gary.

Wolfsburger

Gary above is pretty much spot on. I was in the same position a short time ago (but substitute 3 door Golf GTI for the 996 and a Passat Estate for the M5).

The heart said keep the Golf (I really did like it) and we`ll cope with getting the kid in and out of the back seat etc etc. In practice it was a nightmare.

The Passat is good at it`s job and to be honest my priorities changed after the birth anyway. I`ll be looking for a nice cheap Mk1 MX-5 in a short time so the wife will use the Passat for the nipper and I`ll get the Mazda.

If I were you I`d be after a nice RS6 Avant, one that`s done the depreciating already.

micared

Got a blue E60 for sale currently, 4k miles, going to live abroad, so it's surplus to requirements unfortunately.

The Chief

Keep the Porker - buy a Passat/Golf TDi or even a Mundano TDCI for about 4-5k but keep the Porsche

skoda_kid

E39 M5? B7 RS4?


Both cheaper than the E60 M5, which in my opinion (Client of mine has a DMS'd one) is rather over-rated.









Use the change for nappies



Matt

jonc

Speaking from experience, if you did go down the M5 or some other fast saloon/estate car, you will rarely drive it enough to have any fun. Most of the time your "mini me" will be in the car as well and will protest as will your other half if you start driving enthusiastically. And when they throw up, drop food, etc, you wouldn't want it on you're nice upholstery. My advice is to keep your Porsche as your toy and by an MPV for the baby ferry.

GCollier

I disagree. My RS6 racked up more miles in 3 months than my 996 did in the previous 12. Being able to go out as a family is worth way more than any porsches handling nuances or flat-6 scream enjoyed alone. And the beauty of a decent leather interior is that it just wipes clean.

Gary.

Andy M3

Lucky man to have the choice

M5 would be my choice though.

big MO

RS6 all the way man

Gastro

Interesting replies and very helpful.
The amount lost in doing the changeover would in fact buy a sensible 5 series (eg 530d old shape) and it something I've been thinking about.

Problem is then will have a C4S, BMW 5 series and a 120i........

Hmmm - decisions decisions !

The Chief

There you go then problem solved!!!!

I take it your not a bin man then?

FletchCSL

Interesting one this, i've got an E39 M5, Golf GTi 5dr and an M3 CSL and two toddlers.

Obviously the CSL is alot more practical than a 996 so i can get away with it, but having the M5 around is a massive help - only thing is its worth a fraction of the near 70k i paid for it!

Have you not thought about an M6 - obviously not as practical as an M5 but a cavernous boot and alot of them are going for a steal at the moment - cheaper than an M5!

Deep Singh

Sort of similar position. Wanted to buy a 997s then wifey became pregnant. Ordered a RS4 instead and sold that the day after I bought it ( for £1k profit!!), still thinking the car I really wanted was a 997s. Am still trying to convince myself that a 997s with family works (with second sensible car) but I think I'm being stupid.
I would be very careful about the new M5. There seem to be a number of issues
1) Slow SMG
2) Diffs blowing(inc the Topgear one)
3) Other 'minor' software/electrics
4) 15-20mpg driven sensibly!
5) Poor range on inadequate fuel tank
6) jerky SMG at slow speeds
7) ? Looks?
8) Recent 0-100 tests showed it was just a few tenths faster to 100 than a RS4 and slower to 60. Slow around track tests, but then it is a heavy 4 door.
9) There will come a time very soon when the price starts to plummet

Despite all the above I'm not trying to say its a bad car by any means just perhaps not the 'perfection' it was first made out to be.

DaveMiddleton

Have had 5 Porsche 911's (inc 2 Turbos) over the years and loved them to bits. Sold my last Turbo and bought an RS6 as my everyday car (as I will buy a Ferrari as a toy in December). Highly rate everything about the RS6 especially as you will soon have family.

Philip Attaway

Can also recommend the RS6.

Just upgraded from an STi (03)

Baby seats fit in with ease with no pushing forward of the passenger seat and nice long seat belts in the rear. Huge boot for a pram and gubbins and not too slow either

Phil

Edcase

Another vote for the RS6.

My mate bought a honda today and while he was filling in the paperwork people were leaving their forecourt and coming over to look at my car!

I ended up taking the head sales guy out for a drive. He came back utterly speechless.

My reason however is bikes and snowboards rather than prams

Deep Singh

Can't you afford a real one?

DaveMiddleton

Touche!!

scooby-si

id go E60 M5 or RS6

Philip Attaway

Mine's for bikes as well Ed

Yeti 575 and Rocklobster Team Ti Hardtail

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Just give up and get the people carrier, saves the heartache and changing !

Edcase

Ellsworth Moment plus eyeing up a hardtail too

Philip Attaway

May I recommend a Cotic Soda.

I WANT ONE

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product

Phil

FletchCSL

The E60 M5 is by far the better car than an RS6 but then again the RS6 has already done the majority of its depreciating.

Its also alot faster than the new RS4 once moving. A friend of mine has an RS4 and an impromtu drag race against my CSL proved there was absolutely nothing in it up to silly speeds. I once came up against an M5 and from a starting point of 90mph i gave up after 3 seconds as the M5 was long gone, its relentless.

Make no doubt about it the new M5 has epic performance, SL55, 911tt, ferrari 550's are all gobbled up above 100mph

compshack

I test drove a E60 M5 recently. I was amazed at the amount of adjustment you can do to the suspension, gear shifts etc. It's the most expensive car I've ever driven but I was expecting the performance to really blow me away in full M mode.
It is deceptively quick changing from 3rd to 4th I was already doing in excess of 120mph (on a private road) but it didn't "feel" that quick.
Its like all the M cars they are so smooth the sensation of speed seems to taken out of the equation.
I eventually when for the 535d which when re-mapped will be almost as quick as the M5 and 20K cheaper.

itworldwide

I've lost the password for my nevetas account bugger!

But anyway, sold the GT3 RS while I wait for my new car to be built.

Got an E60 M5 while I wait, I wanted to hate this car but just got back from a week in Germany and it's bl00dy good CAR. I say CAR because a 911 GT3 RS is not a car it's a toy, so you can't really compare. But the M5 is a car, I leave it anywhere, it has a boot, and comfy seats :-)

Past 100 it's quicker than my 911TT, SMG is not slow, changing at the indicated time slaps you up the bum.

MPG is very poor but IDGAS about things like that

Idrive is abit flaky, but supurb most of the time, all the windows creak at slow speeds, but turn the radio up and you don't hear it

Looks, it's ugly as hell, but in black with 21" rims, and a ring sticker on the back, I let it off with a strong warning

THis car is very fast, hitting the 162mph limiter is like a brick wall. Even my passenger who knows nothing of cars commented it felt faster then my 911 Turbo. And the fact it had a bigger boot! Women Huh! Unlimted there is no doubt this is a 200mph car.

Naa, very impressed, I would take the M5 over a 996 Turbo evey day of the week, not alone a C2 / C4. Only Porsche I'd swap it for would be a 997 Turbo, but my new car being built will beat that anyway.

It's also better than I expected round the ring.

Really wish I could slag it to bits, but I think you will love it.

micared

We had ours de-limited to 186......it hit the limiter so easily that I was trying to change up from 7th before I realised it was all done!

Never driven anything so relentless above 150, just seems to get stronger as you drive it faster.

Odd steering though. Felt like understeer, but wasn't, possibly just the result of not feeling as ' pointy ' as my Evo.