[pothole]

Great story, rondocap.

As far as I'm concerned, you get it. I'm really impressed. Not many people make the progression you've made the way you've made it. It must have been a hell of a lot of fun.

A base 986 Boxster is one of the few cars you can buy for reasonable money that gives you that purity you speak of and combines it with such a sophisticated - you might say aristocratic - powertrain.

BRZ is indeed in the same ballpark, but in the end isn't nearly as nice as a sorted 986. The Boxster's engine is miles nicer. It has a nicer, firmer and less over-servoed brake pedal. The gearchange is nicer.

The 986 isn't perfect. The steering is a bit over assisted, the gearchange could be more mechanical. And it would have been nice if they're done a 986 coupe of some kind. But for the money, they are pretty damn lovely.