Used 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe RWD for Sale near Santa Barbara, CA

That was the question. I’ve had on lease a 2009 Cayman, which at the time I made that deal, found myself quite stunned to be sitting there at the local Dealership putting pen to the dotted line. I was only looking to spend in the range of $38k to $43k, but after seeing and driving it, I was willing to forgo a few things here and there to make it happen. Undoubtedly, the Cayman, is a great sports car: but after driving it for a while I started feeling as though it was lacking...options, power, a less jaw shattering ride, etc. When the lease was up on the Cayman, I had intended to roll over into a 2013...possibly—probably—an S model, with some of the basic creature comforts you tend to feel should come standard on a $75k car (power seats, satellite radio, more hp…) but unfortunately, as the date started to come closer for my trade in, I was informed by the salesperson who sold me car that Porsche was not releasing the new 2013 Cayman until May or June of 2013. I was a little skeptical on hearing this, but after sniffing around, found it to be true. I didn’t want to put another year on this lease, so I asked about moving up to a 911. I was given the opportunity to drive a 2012 (not 2012.5) 911 C4S, which blew me away. I drove it back to back with a used 2009 CS, which was also great, but after the AWD experience, seemed a little…less. That started the debate…go with a used AWD 911 or a new, non-AWD baseline 911. I found a few killer used vehicles here on the pages of Cargurus.com, and received some great assistance, particularly from a dealer in northern New Jersey: Town Motors. The sales manager there, Julie, was very quick to respond to my annoying emails with questions on the cars, and how to make a trade work, etc. Unfortunately, I didn’t act quite fast enough and had an excellent deal sold out from under me within one day of seeing it listed. (lesson learned…don’t wait…call right away). Town had, and continues to have, a pretty nice selection of both new and used cars, so if you’re in that vicinity… I’d try them. Unfortunately, I’m not, so the act of making a three-vehicle trade, plus the handling of ongoing service from a dealer more than 100 miles away made the deal seem less logical. Ultimately, I ended up doing the deal with a local dealer (other than the one who did me the Cayman) on the new 911 and so far, so good. I should say: it wasn’t without a fair amount of gnashing of teeth and ringing of hands. It’s a big purchase for a guy whose risen through the ranks. Me? Buying a $100k 911??? Never. But, like so many things in life, you sometimes just have to bite the bullet and go for it. I may end up starving on the street some day, but at least I won’t be lying there on my death-bed saying: Gee…I wish I would have bought that 911 I always dreamt about. My biggest consolation to myself: It could’ve been that Aston Martin DB9 you test drove…gulp.