Flipping my fleet of cars...

So, my current fleet is a 2015 KTM 1190R moto, a '98 BMW M3 track car and a Lexus GX470, I also have a Featherlite 3110 trailer for the M3.  I got my wife a '15 Cayenne Diesel awhile back.

Initially I was planning on replacing my GX470.  Either with a newer SUV, or with something more car like and just tow with my wife's Cayenne.  Grabbing the Cayenne means whatever I bought had to be an automatic, as my wife doesn't know how to drive a manual and has zero interest in learning.

Then something happened today.  I had to cancel my next track day.  We have out of town friends coming and my daughter is coming home for a few days between camp sessions that same weekend.  What that means is I'll be lucky to get the M3 out to the track 4 times this year, so 4 days total.

While the M3 has a license plate on it, it's more of a 1 trick pony with rollbar, race seats, harnesses, etc.  Not a great car to take to work and with no back seats, I can't put the kids in it.  I've been feeling guilty about how little I use it and now I'm using it even less.

Thought occured that maybe I'm trying to replace the wrong car.  Maybe I need to replace the M3 and not the GX.  So now I'm debating selling the M3 and my trailer and picking up a fun 3 season car that'll fit the kids (back seat needed!) and that I can drive to work and not feel like I got beat up.

Instantly I thought about a 911.  Maybe a 996 Turbo.  But for about the same amount I could buy a BMW M2...

So what else is out there in the $40-50k range with a manual transmission, back seats big enough for 2 kids and for the 4-6 days I can get to the track, won't suck majorally or require a massive $$$ investment to work right?

Wife suggested I just sell everything, so trailer, M3 and the GX and buy a Mercedes E63 AMG wagon.  While fun, I just don't think the wagon would do all that well at track days...

Are you trying to be competitive at these track days? Can you even be competitive if you're just doing a handful each year? That's a pretty small amount of time to prioritize so highly. If you're just in it for fun, then you can have fun in nearly anything.

Personally, I'd sacrifice some on track performance to have a vehicle that I really enjoy the other 360 days per year. Take it to whatever events you want, and just have fun. The car that you actually want to drive is better than the fastest car.

Take my 97 M3/4/5  as partial trade on your M3  

CTS-V Wagon does do well on track days. They're sort of dumb expensive right now, but they work. The big question is what your risk tolerance is on track for the few times a year you do that. 

I'd take a 996TT over a BMW M2 any day, but I'm a p-car gut and the 996TT is appreciating now. And, realistically, likely cheaper to keep up. Also, it's a 4 season car. 

SS 

Are you saying you need rear seats so you don't have to admit you just want a Miata?

If it were your family's primary or secondary vehicle, sure. But this is the one vehicle you get to have with a manual! Want to spend more money? Talk to Keith about a V8. I can hardly imagine a better trackable daily.

In reply to captdownshift :

Yes S5 would be another good 4 season car!

In reply to white_fly :

The hp taring of the cars he mentioned eliminates the Miata quickly!

I think 996 turbo is pretty much the answer here. 

In reply to yupididit :

One is in my future. Hopefully not too distant future

Unless your kids are really small, "996 turbo" and "rear seats" don't go that well together.

In reply to BoxheadTim :

My 6 and 7 year olds fit well in my 996

In reply to markwemple :

My post was meant to be a bit more tongue in cheek than I think it came off. I actually may look for a 996 turbo myself one day, but I don't think the back seats are a proper justification for a 996 turbo. Get one because you want it!

I did think about other cars that fit the back seat requirement and budget:

2014/15 Camaro Z/28 - Honestly didn't realize they were as cheap as they are right now. There's no reason they should be half the price of a GT350R and I suspect these will appreciate more than the 996 Turbo.

BMW 1M - an M2 may be less expensive now, but there's no way they'll hold their value like the 1M will.

ATS-V or 2nd gen CTS-V - The SS is great, but these are better in my mind.

I so don't want a miata its not even funny.  I can practically ride my mtn bike faster than they go, especially since I live at altitude.  More importantly, I just don't fit into them.  Plus that whole back seat thing, which isn't there in a miata.

My kids are 13 and 5, so the 911 will easily fit both.  I may not be able to fit my wife too, but realistically if I'm carrying the entire family I'll be driving the GX, so it doesn't really matter.  I just want a car that if I have to pick up the kids, I can.

I thought about a 1M, they're definitely holding their value right now.  A friend of mine who's a huge BMW nut and actually sells cars professionally has told me that the 996 Turbo is a much better car than the 1M, hands down.  Which I was surprised to hear, honestly.  I've driven a 996 Turbo, but haven't driven a 1M, I'd like to, to see what he meant.

A Z/28 is that cheap now?  Didn't even realize it. 

Seth, the Caddy wagon is cool but I'm not sure I'm willing to pay the asking price of those right now...

STM317, I do time trials now with the M3, but doubt I will with whatever replaces it.  Just do DE's for fun.  I guess I don't want to buy something that requires a lot of track prep for it to work right.  I don't want to have to do all sorts of coolers, bigger brakes, better suspension, etc, etc...

An M5 is a step up on an M3 in every way (including weight, which is less than ideal at a track day, but I've had a ton of fun in mine). Don't go crazy with mods and they're extremely nice on the street.

Focus RS isn't a very high HP car but would be good as a family/daily/track toy.

In reply to docwyte :

Seriously, the Z28 seems way undervalued. The 996 Turbo seems to be as well, but they made 20,000+ of the damn things compared to 6,000 1M's and something like 3,000 Z28's. I think the big Camaro may replace the 996 Turbo on my own personal wish list!

The Z/28 does seem like a good deal: 2015 w/ under 2K miles for $47K

In reply to white_fly :

Yeah, I see the 1M as a collector car.  That's good and bad, as I won't lose money on it and may even make some, but will be afraid put too many miles on it or park it everywhere.

Porsche made way more 996 Turbos but they're beginning to creep up in value.  The 911 Turbo effect more than anything, because with the number made you wouldn't think that would happen.

Cactus, I like the E39 M5 but I think I want something more "sporty" vs a GT bahn burner.

Ian, that car is practically new!  I can't believe they're that affordable as well.  I remember the car mags gushing over them, I may need to check one out.  I've never thought of myself as a Camaro guy but they're supposed to be a great dynamic car.

If I could justify $60k on a car, I'd go put my order in for the new M2 Competition. 

I suppose another choice would be to de-trackify the M3.  So put the entire OEM interior back in it, change the spring rates to something more comfortable, put the cats back in it, etc. 

I have all the big pieces to put the OEM interior back in but I'm sure I'm missing some of the trunk plastics and carpet. 

Two things make me not wanna do that tho,

#1 It's gonne be a lot of work!  Pulling the rollbar is a PITA in particular.

#2 If I drive it on the track and something happens, assuming I come out intact, I'll be kicking myself hard for not having the safety equipment that I'd have sitting in my basement installed in the car

I suppose #2 really is more of a mental exercise as whatever I replace the M3 with won't have any safety equipment either.  Part of it is also getting something like a 911.  Just more civilized right out of the gate since it'll be stock.  Plus I've always wanted a 911...

It sounds like you're trying to talk us into talking you into buying a 911. I think it's a great idea and you should do it. Start shopping today. Right now in fact. 

Since you seem undecided, have you thought about a 2-3 year lease on something new that interests you? 

Sell e36,gx470,trailer etc

Buy 996tt

Live the Porsche life with cayenne and 996tt

??

Profit?