I'm bored
 

Need some sort of car-related project or distraction. The Tesla is great, the VW is great, both are fun cars to drive daily, but both are essentially "finished;" there's nothing more to do to either one.

The Porsche is also great, but JFC this week marks my 9th year of ownership, so it's not exactly fresh. I still love to drive it, on the rare occasions when I do--it's so much better, dynamically, than anything else I've owned, it's embarrassing, especially since it was built 13 years ago.

So, what should I do? Maybe it's time to sell the Boxster and move on to something else that would both be more interesting and something I could drive more (i.e., have kidspace). Like...idk. Visiting Nick's garage left ideas in my head about older BMWs. Like that 94 M3 on BaT. Or (even better) something like the perfect E36 M3/4.

Or maybe one of those 928s.

Or should I just go back to track driving? It's been laughably long but that was fun.

Thoughts? Input?

Maybe you need something crazy. Motorcycle-ish. Like an Atom, Caterham, or even just an Elise. Something uncomfortable and stupid but totally different and super raw.

How about a used 4C?

I don't think I need something *less* practical than the Boxster. If I'm going to buy something else, I think it has to have four seats. Otherwise it'll just end up sitting under a cover in the backyard like the Porsche does now.

Of course I am going to recommend a 1er convertible. But knowing that suggestion won't fly, what about swapping the boxster with your parents mustang for a month or so and seeing if you use it anymore, if the kid(s) accept the backseat and if you enjoy the different feel of a v8.

Also, amv8s are a cheap and sexy alternative to the 991 you'll inevitably wind up with

Get a garage and start wrenching on something interesting.

I'm with FC on this one, JST. Even though you already shot down the idea :)

Get back into an e36 M3C for awhile? It would be a shame to lose the top down element in the fleet.

Wrangler Ultd with a huge lift. But with a MT. It will be different. It will make you like the other cars more.

In all seriousness, your place doesn't have a garage, right? So buying something old (a 928? Seriously?) that will break down all the time or at the very least have frequent niggling failures is going to get old really fast without a place to work on it. And do you really want to work on old cars, anyway?

I'm with you on the "I'm bored" thing, and that was part of the motivation for starting the build on the RX-8. Worst case it was going to keep me occupied for a few years and prevent me from buying something new and shiny.

Best case, it confirmed to me that I'm just not that into "new and shiny" anymore. But I've got the space to work on stuff, and I don't have a lot of other stuff taking up time (like kids and pet rats).

So, I dunno, my suggestion would be to do one of two things (or maybe both). 1) Find out what the various orgs have planned for track events this year, and take the Boxster out to see if it scratches the itch. If not, then 2) go drive an old (something) and see if that scratches the itch. Maybe an E36. Maybe an E46 M. But not, for the love of god, a 928.

Do you like Mercedes? I saw a very clean '90s SL600 last weekend that sounded awesome too. It's definitely not a good idea if you want to do something on track, but I don't remember the last time I saw one... I'm sure there are other obscure MBs that are kind of cool.

Lexus IS-F
Infiniti G35
Some weird JDM 25 year import rule thing?

Would you consider an Infiniti g37 convertible ? It’s sporty, has 4 seats and looks great IMO.

I have a rusty iX and a decent E46 M3 that both need new homes. ;)

Ferrari 456 GT

The tesla is great yet somehow boring, right? I still love it, but almost as if it's too dialed in. I don't have the desire to change anything on it - it just works great. I don't read the tesla forums. I just use it as an appliance. It's the new Honda Accord... that goes 0-60 in 4.1 seconds.


Regarding being bored... Seriously, can you build a garage? Somewhere? Garage = game changer.

I spent the last couple weekends working on my truck suspension and it was fun. Unfortunately I can really only fit one car in the garage at a time, so while the truck was in there I couldn't charge the tesla. I didn't really think that one through. :banghead: But it's still better than not having a garage.

So...my takeaway here is that you are definitely suggesting that I get a 928.

The garage thing is a constant annoyance. It is one of the reasons I would move, and I have been thinking about that. And, yeah, I do think it would be fun to be able to wrench on a car, esp now that the kids are older. But finding the right place in the right school district is...challenging.

Wait, which E46 M3? The white one?

Yes.

Building a garage is probably cheaper than moving if you are otherwise happy.

Exchanging from your house to a house of similar value would probably cost around $100k. Assuming that you could find a house you like without spending lots on top.

I mean if I moved I'd probably have to spend 600 or 800 more, but in theory it would have more space, too, and might be in a better school district, so it might be worth it.

A garage, standing alone, would be...150? Probably closer to 200 when you factor in work we'd want to do at the same time (i.e., repurposing the existing "garage" as living space.)

EDIT: IDK if I really want another E46 M3, but what are the details on that one?

I started throwing together an ad, so this isn't 100%:

2002 BMW E46 M3
~104k miles

Alpine White
Slicktop
Black Leather interior with manual seats
Brushed aluminum trim (replaced the garbage titan shadow)

Modifications:
Autosolutions 20% SSK - I tried the UUC, Rogue, and BMW Performance - this kicks the crap out of all of them
EPIC Motorsports tune - completely changes the car
Koni shock absorbers
H&R front sway bar
Euro front bumper (no reflectors)
JBL MS-62c front components
Image Dynamics IDQ12v2 subwoofer in custom battery box
Kenwood XR4s amplifier
3M 35% Tint

Maintenance:
Beisan VANOS refresh
100% suspension refresh since 80k. Including:
Front control arms
Rear suspension balljoints/bushings
Subframe bushings
RTABs+shims
Rear subframe reinforcement
Rear wheel bearings replaced at ~102k
RF wheel bearing replaced at ~103k

Includes two remote keys and one non-remote key

Does it have the stock exhaust? What's your ask(ish)?

I’m probably going to ask something in the 15-17k range. And yes, stock exhaust.

I think you have to decide whether you really want to wrench on it yourself. German cars are likely going to be more involved/expensive to fix (even an older one like a 928). They do generally have the advantage of being logically laid out and satisfying to work on though.

Do you ever read Peter Egan articles in R&T? He always makes old british roadsters seem like a good idea. But it sounds like you want 4 seats.

Is there any affordable iteration of older 911/912 still available? Or has that ship completely sailed? I'd vote no on the e36/46 since you've been there/done that.

Early Golf GTI?

Or, what about a 70s Datsun 280Z? 2+2 and 6 cylinder.. Beautiful cars.

997 911 TT?

yeah 911 but I would vote a rwd 911(997.2 is safe bet) to maximize rear engine feeling since he has not had one

Great point. 997 or 991 GTS?

I agree with the "get something to wrench on" view. I wouldn't even look at driving it as a consideration becuase a wrenchable project is always there when you have time.

There's only so much driving enjoyment to be had anywhere near a metro environment. Simple things like running to the grocery store for a couple things becomes an exercise in frustration becuase of the Camry in front of you or getting stuck behind a bicycle on an otherwise fun twisty road (not hating on them, just it is what it is).

Tracks days, autocrosses, car shows, and other things are dictated by other schedules. When life happens and you have to skip, you it leaves negative feelings one way or another.

Something to wrench on is available at 1:00am when you can't fall asleep. It's there when you suddenly have an unexpected couple hours to fill.

The car as a, uh, vehicle to get somewhere is better as something that doesn't actually go anywhere.





Or maybe I'm just projecting, and my own issues are best left to another thread.

Clyde makes great points, plus wrenching on things allows some degree of creativity. I'm not exactly a competent mechanic, but I have enjoyed the small personalizations I've done to my various cars. I'd like to do more of that.

If I'm going to work on something, it's an older BMW. Maybe a Porsche, but they've gotten so expensive that seems out of reach. Older BMWs are where my heart is, I guess.

What I'd really like is an S50B32-swapped E36 M3/4.

But the garage space is a real barrier, and not one I can see an easy way to overcome. I guess I could rent a space/buy something farther out, but then you have to drive to get to your project and that means you'd never have time to work on it. Frustrating.

On the 911 front, I continue to think that the 997S is about the perfect car, apart from the GTs, which I can't afford. That might be a reasonable daily driver, though they're expensive for a car that is going to be ~10 years old.

A 991 911T might be an interesting compromise, but would almost certainly require getting rid of the current fleet and going with something bigger as the second car.

Has to be a ‘95 if you want to tag it.

It took me a long time to learn this, but I don't really like working on what I need to drive. I really enjoy working on stuff that doesn't need to be relied on to get to work.

So, a track car that you can wrench on with no detriment is nice. Because while it sucks to miss a track day, it's not going to make you lose your job. It's also nice to wrench on something that has little or no value so if (when) you screw something up, it's not stressful.

In short, I recommend buying a $2,000 RX-8 and putting a turbocharged four-cylinder in it. Or a 2JZ turbo. Or an LS2. With two turbos.

Alternatively, you can come up to my shop and I'll hand you tools and give you some tasks, because my shit isn't getting done on schedule :lol:

Why, because of OBDII?

An S54 E46 sedan would be a close second.

Yep. There is no way to make an S50B32 pass an OBDII hookup. It doesn’t even actually have a CEL.

That's irritating.

So, as between building a '95 and buying something like that goofy Japanese market 94 on BaT, which would you do?

Also, you may be underpricing your E46. This one is pretty similar (slicktop, even), and is already at 12,5.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-bmw-m3-77/

The E46 market is kind of all over the place right now.

The S50B30 euro can’t rev as high and doesn’t make nearly the power (stock) of the S50B32. On the plus side, with a ‘94 under the 25 year rule, you could do anything you wanted and be totally clear.

Edit: If the goofy ‘94 on BAT goes for under $15k, it’d be a solid deal even if you put in a 3.2 later.

Somehow I think "BaT" and "solid deal" aren't compatible, but yeah that makes sense.

Here is a different type of ICE entertainment. It will relieve boredom, and could also be helpful in fixing your garage issue.

Your neighbors might hate it/want to borrow it.

And please, I'm mostly joking https://www.ebay.com/i/202503374696?chn=ps

Your son might dig it

“
See details for delivery est.
• Used condition
• 30 day returns - Buyer pays return shipping”

Perfect. When can they start construction?

I could be wrong but I do think it would bring you more joy than another car that sits outside that you can't work on.

A few other random observations from my own life. YMMV

• Any time I've been bored and tried to fix it by buying a toy... It failed. Finding a new hobby or activity worked better.
• I'm with John: working on a car with a time deadline sucks. Cars that you can let sit and finish when you are bored and have time is fun
• I'm with Clyde. Sports cars on the street aren't that rewarding.
• Going a totally different direction sometimes works. I can't explain why, but driving around in a stupid pickup truck is oddly satisfying to me. Driving over snow banks and curbs, etc. Think outside the box.

A softop jeep might be interesting

You're absolutely right; helpful to think outside the box. I ordinarily don't like driving SUVs, but driving the 4Runner in MN for a year was a surprising amount of fun. Trudging effortlessly through deep snow, driving over snowbanks (just because you can), and mild off-roading out in nature, can be really enjoyable.