Porsche cars in India (8)

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Go for the Porsche 911 Carrera, because nothing else on your list blends pure driving feel with decades-long heritage and timelessness the way a 911 does. It is the rare sports car you can enjoy driving hard, keep stock, and still use as a daily driver. The flat-six, the steering, and that rear-engined balance make even a slow drive feel special, and it will still look and feel “right” when everything else has dated. This Porsche car fits within Rs 3 crores, leaving room for a few choice options. Plus, Porsche will support this iconic sports car well beyond this generation's life cycle.The M2 manual does sound like more bang for your buck, but it won’t age into a forever icon the way a 911 will, and though the manual is involving, in the long run, it's more trouble than it's worth. The Defender 90 is a lovable Land Rover car, but it is a heavy off-road toy, not the car you’ll reach for when you want that last 5 percent of driver joy. If you can fit it into your forever-car budget alongside the 911, there's nothing like it.

Porsche 911

BMW M2 Coupe

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At this budget and with these options, there are many directions you could go, all of which have some distinct advantage. The easiest one is the Mercedes-Benz GLS, which offers maximum space for your money, including a third row of seats. It offers the choice of smooth six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and Mercedes has the widest sales and service network of all these brands, so you're in good hands. Do note that, of these SUVs, this is the most common, and its large size can make it cumbersome to drive around town.The Land Rover Defender could be seen as the best value for money, and the one that offers the most variety, including four- and six- cylinder engines, and various body styles and seating configurations. With a slight stretch in budget, you can even get a supercharged V8 engine, which is incredibly characterful. However, quality in this Land Rover car isn't quite as good as the rest, including its own sibling, the Range Rover Sport.The Sport will push your budget, and even then, it offers a 6-cylinder petrol or diesel in a single HSE trim. However, it is the most rounded offering, mixing sumptuous luxury with good dynamics and characterful engines, not to mention excellent badge value. If you can stretch your budget slightly, this is the one to get.The Porsche Cayenne is the one to choose only if you put driving above all else on your priority list. It is exciting from behind the wheel and is a high-quality, solidly engineered product that also has great badge value. However, its performance focus means it's not as comfortable or easy to drive at low speeds, and many seemingly basic features are optional extras, which means this Porsche car too will push the limits of your budget.Overall, the Range Rover Sport is the best bet for you, or if you want a bit more space, the Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Land Rover Defender

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Porsche Cayenne

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The Rs 1.3 crore-1.4 crore segment is interesting because it offers up two very different kinds of SUVs. On one hand, the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7, which are larger and more spacious, and on the other, the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport, which, though not as practical, have more emotional appeal and arguably stronger badge value. Both have their place, and the larger X7 and GLS are not short on luxury and tech. They both offer petrol and diesel engine options, and a lot of features, and there's the advantage of both brands' wider service network around the country. Between the two, the BMW has a slight edge on space, comfort and driver enjoyment, whereas the Mercedes-Benz car feels a bit more luxurious and tech-laden. If practicality is the primary focus, one of these should be your choice.However, as you're considering a Porsche Cayenne, it suggests you're okay with five seats. This Porsche car is perhaps the best driving SUV of this size, and even with the entry-level 3.0 V6 engine, it is incredibly engaging, and of course, the Porsche badge carries a lot of value. Quality is similar to what you'll find in the others, with a far greater focus on sportiness in design. Some things to note are that many of the features standard on the other cars are optional on the Cayenne and will drive up the price, and a consequence of its sporty setup is a firmer ride quality and heavier steering, which might become tiresome in everyday use. Also consider the Range Rover Sport, which delivers the best of both worlds. It's engaging to drive while being comfortable, it's got a more luxurious edge than all the rest, and it's loaded up with features too.

Mercedes-Benz GLS

BMW X7

Porsche Cayenne

Land Rover Range Rover

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As you've rightly said, the Porsche Cayenne is probably your best option. No other large SUV car handles as well as it does, and you get the option of two powerful turbo petrol engines - a 340hp V6 and a 500hp V8. However, if you're not concerned with having the Porsche badge, you should consider the Audi Q8, which is mechanically similar to this Porsche car, but comes in three performance levels. This Audi car is set up to be more comfortable and usable, and is far more affordable too.At one end, there is the base V6 version, with the same 340hp engine, and at the other extreme is the 650hp, V8-powered RS Q8 Performance. However, Audi is about to launch the SQ8 - with the 500hp V8 - in India, and this could be the sweet spot between price and performance for you.

Porsche Cayenne

Audi Q8

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While you can get a used Porsche Cayenne diesel under Rs 30 lakh, you will get a much older model, likely with many kilometres on the odometer and perhaps not in the best condition. Also, while the car's price might be low, you would still be paying Porsche prices for parts and servicing, which is at a premium compared to the other German brands, and requires specialised service centres. Hence, while tempting, a used diesel Porsche could be a costly affair in the long run.Definitely stick with either a Mercedes-Benz GLC or BMW X3, where you will find newer, lower-mileage examples within your budget. Both are easy enough to service, and choosing which is a matter of preference, car condition, and which one you can find a good local mechanic to service better. If you like to drive, we recommend the BMW X3 over the Mercedes car for its sharp handling and free-revving diesel engine.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Porsche Cayenne