Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
Hard to believe we are here, or maybe not, but the best of the best 996 Porsche 911 Turbos are transacting for over $100,000. I suppose it was inevitable as rising tides lift all boats, but I didn’t see it coming this fast. Keep in mind I’m talking about the standard 996 Turbo, not the GT2 or GT3, as those are already well into their own categories of crazy growth. Still, would you take this over a classic 930 Turbo? I’m not sure.
Back in 2014, I looked at a bit of an oddity – a 185″ stretched Cayenne:
You Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse: 2008 Porsche Cayenne 185″ Limo
Well, today we’re back with a very similar, albeit slightly less long and powerful version. This is a 180″ stretch of a Q7, of which they apparently made ten. Why? Fabulous question. But hey, it can be yours for $35,000:
Back in June I took a look at the 993-generation Carrera RS, which reintroduced the legendary name in the Porsche realm. It was, of course, started with this car that we’re looking at today. The recipe was simple; add lightness, more power, wider wheels, flared fenders, and a bit more downforce. The result was one of the most legendary cars from not only Porsche, but in general. As a result, tributes and replicas of the RS abound; they inspired the looks of the modern recreations such as Singer’s amazing works, and their lineage lives on in the GT models today. It’s no surprise, then, that real RSs are worth a pretty penny. How much? Well, let’s take a look at this ’73 Touring model to find out.
In terms of pure value for money with the Porsche brand, the 944 S2 is way up there if you are hunting for a car that doesn’t cost $60,000. A half-decent coupe can still be acquired for $15,000, and the cabriolets are even a little cheaper. Even though these cars are going on 30 years old, they certainly aren’t slow. A healthy example can still put down a 0-60 time in 6.2 seconds, and even more surprisingly the can muster up a top speed of 150 mph. Yes, the maintenance can be pricey, especially when it comes to the timing belt service, but you wanted a Porsche, right?
Today, we are looking at a 1992 944 S2 coupe up for sale in Norwich, England, although I’m scratching my head at the model year. My understanding is that the production was done for all 944 models in 1991, so it’s likely this dealer is going by the registration date rather than the production date. Whatever the case, it is finished in the very rare color of Maritime Blue and has a matching shade of blue on the inside as well. What’s not to like?
BMW’s second generation M5 followed the same recipe as the outgoing E28; manual transmission, rear-drive, howling inline-6 under the hood. But the E34 was far from a copy of the car that was really credited with being the first super sedan. BMW upped with power first with the 3.6 liter version of the S38; though the increase in displacement was a scant 82 ccs, the result was impressive. BMW Motorsport GmbH fit a new cam, a higher compression head, and a new engine management system to yield 311 horsepower at a rev-busting 6,900 rpms. They weren’t done.
In 1992 M upped the capacity again, this time to just 5 cc shy of 3.8 liters. Even higher compression, a further revision in electronic management, and a few other odds and ends now netted 340 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. Again, they weren’t done. Perhaps tired of Audi cornering the go-fast-5-door market with their 200 20V Avant, in 1992 BMW launched the M5 Touring. Production began in March 1992 and ran through 1995. All E34 M5 Tourings were left-hand drive 3.8 models, and a total of 891 were produced.
BMW opted not to bring the enlarged motor or the M Touring model to the United States, as the 540i took over the top rungs of North American production. But now legal for importation, these rare Ms are one of the more desirable models around:
