Motor Trend鈥檚 annual Car of the Year competition for 2009 is complete. The Golden Caliper trophy has been awarded鈥he winner is not a creature from the old black and white monster movies of days gone by, but rather a 4-wheel beast from Japanese automaker Nissan. We wrote about the Nissan GT-R before its arrival to the States. Our initial positive impressions of this landmark sports car have now been confirmed, you might say. The GT-R is a techno tour-de-force (superiority and significance). The engine, transmission, drivetrain, suspension and electronics all extend the boundaries of automotive engineering. The performance level created by this engineering is mind-bending. The GT-R will literally run with anything on the road, whether that road be straight or crooked, all the while carrying 4 people and 2 golf bags..! And the clincher (see 鈥渧alue鈥? is the price. Nothing available at or below that price can keep up. 130K Porsche 911 Turbo will fall back on a straight. 500K cars out there from Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren et al. The Connoisseur agrees with Motor Trend鈥檚 selection here - kudos to them for selecting the GT-R from a highly qualified field of competitors. Now, go take this monster for a drive and prepare to be blown away..!
They actually had to bring on a second factory in Valmet Finland to keep up. But the point is, there are deals to be had on really excellent examples. Shop right, shop smart and get the maintenance records and you can own one too. Gotta say, it is the best Porsche I have owned (so far鈥?. Stock 295 hp (although mine as a few more HP courtesy of mods), fantastic balance and a great interior, it is great both on and off track. So far, I have done about fifteen track events, so I can tell you it is just about perfect. I love the looks to. But for some strange reason, I keep thinking about getting a Lotus Exige, but then I remember the full race exhaust I briefly installed on my Cayman S. It was fantastic, the best sounding car on track. Then there was the other 99% of the time. I think the Exige would be exactly the same thing.
Still kicking myself for selling it. 50K ceiling and I fear that they will keep going north. So that means only one thing - you should go out and find a good one and buy it right now! Porsche introduced the concept of the Supercar in the mid-70鈥檚, right in the middle of the Oil Embargo too. When it came out in 1975 it was like nothing else on the planet. Of course it was also really scary, many went off the road backwards being piloted by people that did not understand the concept of throttle-off oversteer (also called trailing throttle oversteer). Porsche did not think they would sell enough, but thirty seven later, they are still making them. Yeah people voted with their wallets. The 930 Turbo is one fearsome and incredible car and it all started with the 1976 Turbo Carrera. 49,500 and yes I would buy it in a second if the lovely Ms. T gave me the open to buy.
Uh, may have to wait a while on that one. This car really gets me going. A race derived motor, no drivers aids, big brakes, track optimized suspension, it is a drivers car pure and simple. A lot of them have been driven on the track pretty hard, but as long as the owner has kept after the maintenance, they can take it. As much as I love my Cayman S, I would replace it in a second with a GT3. OK, it's been a few years since I wrote this. Prices have gone up. Way up in the case of the 930 Turbo and more recently the 996 GT3. But there are still some values in Porsches. 1. Buy a Boxster. The 986 Boxster is at the bottom of its depreciation curve. 15K. Just make sure you have the maintenance records and an even bigger bonus if the car has had the IMS replaced. Not nearly enough space to explain the IMS issue. Better to Google it. Point is, these are great cars and at a great value. Turbos are starting to creep up (especially low milage ones along with the X50 package). I'm telling you, you will regret not buying a 996 in a few more years. 3. 944-944S-944 Turbo-944 S2-968. Get while you can. Collectors are starting to focus on these great cars. Look for one that is original, has records and has NOT been modded for track use. Extra points for the 1988-1989 Turbo S. Still love the 968 and hope to buy another one someday before they get out of sight.