I’m in not a radically different situation on a daily basis from you, in an albeit much older Boxster, and I just put Michelin PS All-Seasons on, and I feel very stuck to the ground in dry and wet so far. I don’t have traction control or really any assists besides the transmission being a Tiptronic, so I wanted the grippiest tires I could snag for all-season. Making up for electronic help with mechanical help. Might have been a bad idea. None of the guys at either of the two tire shops I went to to shop the idea around laughed at me, and I’m happy so far.

Hope you make a good call for you. Enjoy the car!

There are CPO 986’s at that price point, but if you’re willing to fix one up or pay to maintain it, you can get in to one cheaper than that for sure.

918 Spyder. Lots of people get it wrong because the 944 and the 918 look so alike.

They’re Porsche’s halo car.

We’re more or less bought in to the brand to different levels, each of us. Mid engine has always had a special place in my heart. I’m not going to be any good around a track, so even a GTS 4.0 Boxster would be way more car than I could ever reasonably use. I’d rather have a more or less base cayman / Boxster that’ll make me happy all the way between 15mph and highway speeds.

This is why I was explicitly asking for recommendations, warnings, and advice. “Don’t take Highway XX, take highway YY instead.” “Watch the snow situation and come in from the south if ZZ is forecasted.” “Snow chains are necessary to have in the car, and won’t fuck up your wheel wells.”

“Send it,” is not helpful. I don’t know anything about New Mexico in winter. I’m going, not because someone willing to risk someone else’s safety thinks it’s fun to risk someone else’s safety. There will be ways out if we stay on top of it, but again, the goal of this post was to shortcut the shitty and potentially dangerous experiences using others’ knowledge.

As attractive an idea as that is, I don’t want to get stranded in snow several hundred miles from home, miles from cell service, etc. I’ve had a little fear out in me about the conditions not being favorable that time of year.

About 5 weeks, already sunk quite a bit of an annual maintenance budget into her! I detail that elsewhere. Was mostly looking for help on the actual conditions out there! :)

I have several F1 team hats and a Porsche hat. It’s understated. Blue on blue. I think it’s about why you’re wearing it. If you’re doing it because you’re a genuine fan, then go nuts as long as it’s appropriate to the situation.

Not being superstitious, ordinarily, when I wear my Merc F1 hat, something fucks up Merc’s weekend. Maybe that’s a them problem not a my hat problem. But I did play baseball as a kid. Lol.

So several folks have identified which may be the generally preferred call. I think as the person that’s going to be doing this, it would make sense to know why that would also be my call, for the Cayman that is.

• Many super cars, race cars, etc are mid engine, meaning the engine is directly behind the cockpit / cabin, and in front of the rear axle. The Cayman is also mid engine. It gives that ultra performant feel in terms of the balance of the car in a way that’s more or less ordinarily inaccessible from a front-engine car.

• there is more fun in things that are less practical. While a cayman has two trunks and loads of cargo space / ability to daily drive without concern, it is a two seater, and that makes it feel less practical, and a more driver oriented experience. It feels like a car that adventures are had in, memories are made in. For a lot of people, a two seater is something they never believed they’d be able to get into regardless of how accessible they may actually be (old, used, in need of love / maintenance). Memories and adventures can happen in any car - but there is something special to a sports car.

Hope this helps, and I bet he’s gonna have a blast whichever way you go.