What other cars did you consider before settling on 986 purchase?

[flaps10]

I'm sort of in line with the OP. I've owned an E36 (325iS) and an e46 (328 coupe) and an e46 sedan (330i). All were outstanding cars, with the E36 the best drivers car - less refined but lighter and easier to drive fast. I had always wanted an M3 version of either of the first two.

I've owned two Miatas (both great cars).

This time around my woman was trying to get me off of my motorcycles (not going to happen, but I did sell two in order to swing the boxster).

I did have my heart set on a 996 for a while. The affordable ones were tiptronic (I still have use of both legs and do not have a vagina, so no tiptronic for me) or they had some seriously bad color choices. Or both.

Decided to give the S model a drive. Fell in love and made it happen.