November issue named 996tt "Peformance Car of the Year" - beat Z8, 360, M5, DB7 and 23 other cars. As far as being too soft, that's what is so amazing about the car - it is as comfortable to drive around town as my 328i - but as soon as you want turn it up, it becomes a beast - no stock street car can compare to its combination of acceleration, handling and grip. Never driven anything like it. I paid 114K for mine - not cheap but not bad for one of the best sports cars ever built.