Automotive Diversification – Porsche 911 Alternatives

Words by Raj Hunjan

The Porsche 911 is regarded by many as the benchmark sports car and many other car makers have tried to better it. To buy a brand new 991 series 911 is an expensive process. The 911 Carrera is shown as having a base price of £66,341 but even before you start adding your own options the price has risen to £73,413. This is because Porsche add on compulsory items that aren’t included in the base car price figure: leather interior (£2201); top tinted windscreen (£77); digital radio (£324); vehicle tracking (£1140); satnav (£2141); 3 year breakdown (£169) and 3 year warranty (£1020). Is there a way to experience even more performance thrills and still have everyday usability for less initial outlay? The capabilities of the 911 are truly great, but having an all rounder inevitably leads to compromise somewhere.

By simplifying the boxes a car needs to tick it can lead to a more focussed and enjoyable car. Take for example the Caterham SuperSport R, out on the track it is one of the most pure driving experiences you can find and it would even keep a new 911 Carrera honest in a straight line. If you ask it to be your practical everyday transport, then it would lose all the properties that make it so sublime on the circuit. Likewise a car like the Audi A4 Avant is a great load lugger and useable everyday prospect but out on the track it will not provide anywhere near the level of enjoyment as the Caterham. Combining the two as an ownership prospect, compared to a 911, would mean you have the best of both worlds without compromise. Both these cars cost around £25,000 each before options, which is significantly less than the £73,000 of the 911. The difference can also be used to buy a choice classic car such as a classic Porsche 911 964.

This combination of cars would be just one example of how to make your money go further and allow you to have a car lifestyle that is much more interesting than just owning the latest 911. Lets look at some other combinations that are possible.

Best of British
The first combination is actually our three feature cars; Lotus Exige Series 2 (£20,000), Aston Martin V8 Vantage (£40,000) and Ford Focus RS (£8,000). All offer a very different driving experience and can be bought for less than a new Porsche 911 Carrera.

All German
For those that love German cars, the Porsche 968 Club Sport (£18,000), Mercedes C-Class Estate (£28,000) and BMW E30 M3 (£20,000) would provide the perfect blend of track capability in the 968, everyday usability in the C-Class and the classic car for shows and events in the original M3.

European Selection
Putting together a combination of cars can allow you to cover several very different driving experiences, both a supercar like the Ferrari F355 (£40,000) and a classic hot hatch like the Renault Clio Williams (£5,000) are enjoyable in their own ways, and you’d have cars that cover everything from a concours event to a B-road blast on a Sunday morning. The VW Golf Bluemotion (£20,000) could provide the everyday family practicality.

I realise that the motivations for someone owning a new Porsche 911 may be very different, they might want a car that can do everything, but I believe that there is so much fun to be had if you break up the main reasons why you need a car and then find cars that satisfy the individual uses. Incorporating a classic car in there too really enhances the car ownership experience, just ask anyone who has a classic car of some kind. #lifesbetterinaclassic