Only 9% more than the X4? That’s surprising, but then again I’m not surprised that X3 buyers are practicing a bit of “practicality” not supported by actual facts.

Every 1000 E63 wagons they sell is $100-110M in revenue! Both the platform and the engine were already developed for other models, so the only real cost is calibrating the chassis and transmission computers + obtaining the type certification via crash tests. I’m guessing M-B’s break-even point for the project was at…

Mercedes is selling a damn good number of E63S wagons for $110k a pop. I bet there would be enough takers on an M3 Touring to justify the development cost.

The X3 buyers I know all seem to think they are getting extra cargo space, usually for baby-related acoutrements. 

It stands for ///Margins.

I’ve got an E36 M3 and an S52 clownshoe, and yes, I think the X4M is dumb as a three-legged racing donkey.

A 365hp 7-seat AWD wagon with 5k-lb tow capacity and a 14-second quarter mile time sounds like a goddamn good idea.

A 997 Carrera 4 would be a pretty solid rally car, actually. And big ground clearance with a lot of compliance would be perfect for driving in the city. Hmmm...

Yeah, I believe that. If the power steering mechanism and the rack itself were replaced, then you can get a lot more steering feedback! I’d guess that they were able to take a lot of the isolation out of the various bushings while they were at it.

OK, I’ll bite. What aftermarket bits would improve the steering feel of the current Cayman? Altering the handling balance, yes, but the steering feedback?

I will report back! The pools of capital where I have some credibility are not in automotive, but maybe I can help catalyze some financing. I think it would be huge fun. The C8 is a very credible car with an enthusiastic owner base. A sequel would be well-received.

Hellcat crate engines are available. 707 horsepower and a manual transmission option - seems like a decent place to start.

Nop, they made ~350 and that’s all there’s been.

I’m supposed to have dinner with Victor Muller in November when we’re both in Amsterdam. This is about the third time this has been rescheduled (I’m the flaky one) so I have no idea if we’ll get it together. But I sure as hell would like to figure out what he’s doing here.

Yup. The 987 feels very “alive,” and is pretty forgiving when you drive it fast. Resale value seems to reflect this.

Yup. Now that the non-Turbos have turbos, the real difference with the Turbo is the size of the spoiler.

FTFY: One of them is an adult’s car, the other is for aging children. One of them is a status toy for Chinese-market millionaires, and the other is a serious track car for guys that can afford a $120k toy in addition to their daily driver.

I’ve said it before and will say it again: The current Boxster / Cayman have really muted steering feel, and a very inert chassis that doesn’t really react to weight transfer. The latter does help them go faster, especially in the hands of inexperienced drivers, but I don’t find these cars fun to drive in the least.

Well, I agree with Matt (mostly) and I own four Porsches. I’ve driven multiple 991s, including track time in a GT3 and GT3RS. I respect the capabilities of the current cars, but I don’t lust after anything after the 997.

I’m fascinated by the proliferation of “track specification” cars in the $120k-300k range. Every time I drive one I think they’re way too stiff for street driving, and yet needlessly heavy and complicated for something that I would trailer to a racetrack. But a used GT3RS is a $250k car and a used 911 “Cup” car (the…