Choices for $130k Car?

good list but I think regular 993 is around 100k and turbo double that. 991gt3 should be close to 150k. cant go wrong with Porsche cpo used cars

 

For me, it would either be a new Porsche GT3, Viper, or Z06 Vette.



Mark

 

If you're worried about the direction of the oil and gas market, why not sit on your bank roll for a few years until you're feeling more fiscally confident? Or, get something like a 996 generation GT3 for less dough?
T

 

My first question would be...How long is your commute?...Does it involve a lot of stop & go traffic?

Driving a "Performance Car" in a driving environment with NO CHANCE at utilizing it's performance is merely an effort in futility.

Buy 2 DeTomaso Panteras, Use "1" occasionally as a DD & set the other "1" up for the track...WIN/WIN!!!

Caveat..I know the term "occasionally" & "DD" are not synonymous.

 

WOW! Your commute must be something else if 475hp is insufficient!!!

 

Aston DBS. Most likely done with depreciation so you don't have to worry about energy prices.

 

Everyone is different but the BMW i8 is one if the most interesting and beautiful cars around today andis in that price range.

 

If that's the case, I would strongly encourage the 993TT.

Drive one.

Matt

 

I was going to say the same thing! I've driven most of the cars on that list and owned a 12c. As a semi-DD, the i8 would definitely be my preferred choice.

i adore mine!

 

I was in the same situation just recently and settled on the Mercedes AMG GT S, ver happy with it. You can get a brand new one for that price. I looks stunning, incredibly fast, sounds amazing and feels like a supercar. All the cars you listed are great but most won't make good daily or even semi daily drivers.

 

+1

 

This would be my pick as well...

 

Maserati GranTurismo...a great DD.
Malcolm

 

amg over maser just bc maser is old, old platform and amg is brand new

 

Lambo Diablo.

Or 991 gt3.

 

May I suggest you go to your local BMW dealership and ask for an extended test drive of a BMW i8. I had similar desires as you. I was cross shopping a similar list to yours when my BMW salesman suggested I take an i8 out for an extended test drive. The first day I had it, I liked it. By the third or fourth day, I had to have it. The experience is hard to quantify in raw numbers, which I think is why car magazines adore the car, but some enthusiasts tend to ignore it. I can tell you first hand that the i8 is a fascinating piece of engineering that has many layers to it. She has more personalities than Sybil and each one is completely unique. She is enormously fun to drive on the backroads and can keep up with anything out there in that environment, is a cruise missile on the highway yet still manage to be absolutely serene in full electric mode slogging though Philadelphia on my daily commute. Oh...and I have averaged 45MPG over 8K miles!

All that being said, I could see how it may not be everyone's cup of tea... I would at least take one out for a few days if I were you and see for yourself.

 

Interesting, never had a dealer make such a ridiculous request just for a test drive, that being said I wouldn't hold the entire brand responsible for the actions of one dealer. Before I got my GT i went to a Mercedes dealer in another city to drive the C63 AMG S, the manager was very reluctant and just offered to drive me in the car himself because he's worried about the insurance, he was very apologetic and professional about it though. What's interesting is that shortly after I visited the Ferrari/Maserati dealer in the same city and I test drove several cars no problem. So the experience definitely varies amongst dealers.

As for the i8, seems like car journalists and folks here on FChat really like it, I myself wasn't a fan of the looks, I got a chance to check it out in person and wasn't impressed by the interior, it just felt and looked cheap even though the example i was looking at was well speced out.

 

Horrible dealer. I know Sewell MB GM and Austin MB GM...you will get treated with respect and can drive what you wish (except Sewell doesn't have one).

Don't judge a brand by one idiot dealer...also don't deal with floor guys, get to management. Simple. Good luck.

 

I think your right on re i8. Its a good looking car that has decent fuel economy for the performance it gives. Its a gt cruiser, not a sports car. But mid engine and cf chassis with high door sills dont make for practical use so its neither here nor there. Nsx gives 80% hypercar content for 20% cost. Would be at home on track where i8 would not.

 

Thanks! I will always have a soft spot for my old Mondial

The i8 is a really eccentric sports car. It has no track pretensions, so it's is geared towards usable real world performance. In that vein it is more similar to an older Ferrari 355 than a 991 GT3. Still, the thing that shocks most people when they get behind the wheel is how fricken fast it feels. 420lbs of torque can snap your headback pretty brutally at launch. That torque is not reflected on a stop watch, but you feel it immediately whenever you touch the gas... that is the beauty of the electrical motors. The little three cylinder is a marvel in itself. It revs wonderfully and has lots of punch. It makes a ton of HP for its capacity. The icing on the cake being a little electric motor that's attached to the gas engine to fill in the torque gaps while the turbo spools up. The engine has won an international award for good reason. It's actually far more sophisticated than the mini engine, contrary to popular belief. I contacted BMW NA with some technical questions and was given a long winded response from an engineer there via email on the technicals... the little three banger has all sorts of insane technology that allows it to deal with the brutal demands of being in a performance hybrid environment. It can essentially redline from cold all day long without damaging the internals. It's a little beast of an engine.

What I really like most of all is the usability. The i8 has no clearance problems, I take it everywhere. My kids sit comfortably in the back, people love it because of the hybrid thing so I don't get any bad blood, and it is just really easy to live with. I average driving around 1k miles a month In it...

I don't know enough about the NSX to form an educated opinion. I will say that I feel like Buck Rodgers driving the i8. It's also a car that really encourages you to get involved to get the best performance or economy out of it, you have to become educated to the driving dynamics and modes and operate it "professionally". I have thoroughly enjoyed geeking out with this car. It's the new millenniums version of learning how to heel and toe

All that being said... I've blown through tons of cars... and bought enough cars on other people's advice only to sell them two months later because they weren't for me. My best advice is to see for yourself. The dealers are more than willing to flip you the keys for a few days. Take one long enough to form an educated opinion and disregard whatever initial perceptions you have. When I first drove mine... I hated the interior, three days later I loved it. It's a car that for the right person, can really grow on you. At this stage in my life...with enough toys and such limited time, I wanted an uncompromising sports car I could take the kids to school and then to work on Monday and barnstorm with on Sunday. It's that and so much more. It's not perfect...but it fits my needs and my lifestyle perfectly. Maybe you will feel the same way too

Whether you like it or hate it. I would love to hear your thoughts!