In our last update, I mailed $15,000 off into the void, theoretically buying a broken 981 Porsche Cayman on the opposite side of the country. What could go wrong?
[$15,000 Porsche: Are we stupid or the smartest bargain hunters you know?]
Everything, of course! But optimism has never been a problem for me. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been …
Let's get this trip started!
Oh, this is gonna be good.
And good luck!
In for updates!
3000 miles on a broken transmission. Woof. Good luck!
Not sure your route but if you need help near Omaha, You have my number.
Should be a fun time.
In reply to bmw88rider :
The default route Google Maps gives goes right through Omaha!
From a random Google search to a cayman forum post.
Awesome! Ive been excited for this one. Good luck Tom and Nicole!
Drive along the Columbia river for a bit if you can, and about any part of Montana is amazing. You guys are going to O.D. on beautiful scenery.
It's like the hong norr CTS V but on a grander scale
You could get the transmission rebuilt in Fort Collins on the way...
Awesome! In to follow!
So we actually flew in last night. This morning's mission? Pick up the Cayman!
The Porsche was stored about an hour from Mitch's house, so we took his auction-purchased Caravan up there:
The weather is pretty stereotypical Seattle: cold and rainy. 
We made a quick pit stop on the way to buy a bottle of wine--I figured that's probably what Porsche enthusiasts like, right? I'm not sure if they shop at QFC supermarket, but whatever, at least it's wine:
This should hopefully be reasonable payment for three months of indoor car storage:
What Audi uses that transmission? That sounds like the source of the Audi part numbers.
Meanwhile:
After an hour of driving, we pulled up to the garage. Just a reminder: I've never seen this car before. 
Then the door opened and I'll admit my heart skipped a beat... IT'S REAL!!
The Cayman fired right up despite sitting for three months without a battery tender, and then I drove it an hour back to Mitch's house without issue. This car is good. Shockingly good. And it's also perfectly drivable in fourth gear--it turns about 3800 rpm at 70 mph.
In reply to Noddaz :
It's an 01E transmission, the six speed version of which was used behind 2.7ts and 4.2 V8s. Some 3.0s also had them, but many had a lighter duty replacement (01X?)
And, well, now we're caught up to real life. We're going to spend a few days in Seattle visiting friends and sightseeing, and along the way I'll poke and prod the Porsche a bit more and get it ready for the big trip. Then sometime towards the end of the week the big journey begins.
BullManUGA said:3000 miles on a broken transmission. Woof. Good luck!
He's not using the broken parts :)
daaaaang. She looks pretty!
Stock 1990 Miata spins at 3622 at 70 and it'll do that for decades. What's an extra 140 rpm?
In reply to Tom Suddard :
Our man, AAZCD-Jon in Oklahoma has a ton of Boxter spares and a ton of Boxter knowledge!
Okay, time to let the Cayman cool off and go sightseeing. Mitch is a car guy and there are three of us, so we're taking his WRX instead of the van. 
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