What exotic car would you buy right now if...

There was another thread that described a guy who wants to buy an exotic, doesn't know what he wants, just that he wants to get something above the Porsche/Corvette "tier" of exotic-ness. I was surprised he didn't simply know - this is an emotional, luxury purchase, right? Or maybe it's more complicated than I thought.

So I was curious what people here would buy (1 car only, and must be an exotic) if you had earmarked-for-a-car funds of no more than:

(a) $50,000
(b) $100,000
(c) $150,000
(d) $250,000
(e) $1M

For me, it came out like this:

(a) Ferrari 328

The bargain bracket, and everyone here knows my bias anyway. $50K is a bit tight for a nice one, so it will take longer than it used to to find one. But a primo black/tan Euro 308 would do nicely here as well. You're not getting performance. Might as well overdose on style and fun.

(b) Ferrari 328, encore

If the A-M V8 Coupe dips below $100K lightly used, I would consider it instead. You could make a strong argument here for an F355, because it's fast and gorgeous and indisputably Ferrari. But the car also has its Achilles' Heels in terms of expensive things destined to fail. Tough call, but if it was my conservative wallet I'd stick with a 328 unless the world's best fibreglass 308 came on the market...

$100K should buy a lot of style and performance. But for five figures I would probably try to snap up an AM V8 from a desperate seller - not too likely at the moment - or go for 328 and savor the style and reminesce about when the performance was celebrated in the car mags.

(c) Ferrari 550

Serious money, still depreciating slowly, but I think it will be the next classic Ferrari. You can buy a top-notch one for below $150K. Pininfarina got it dead right with this car and the 575M, and with a torque-monster V12 up front it's the well-dressed hoodlum of the exotics in this segment. Make mine titanium or one of those incredible grigio colors and a six-speed.

(d) Aston-Martin DB9 (Callum design looks best on this one, IMO)

As much as my blood is more rossa corsa than blue, this Aston undoes all the harm that was done with the old V6 DB7. Make mine a Vantage Volante, and make it black. And don't tell me about the depreciation - just bring me another martini.

(e) Ferrari Daytona Spyder

The holy grail car. I know there are 1960s classics in abundance within the $1M limit, but if my heart had to go to one car it's this one, with the original Perspex light bar up front and big V12 right behind it.

 

(a) $50,000: 308/328

(b) $100,000: 512BB

(c) $150,000: 246GTS Dino

(d) $250,000: 365GTB/4 Daytona

(e) $1M: Very tough choice.... probably, 410 SuperAmerica. Alternatively 365GTS/4 Daytona Spider or 275GTB. (250SWB and 500TRC prob can not be had for $1M any longer )

 

I think you should drive a few more Ferraris, I thought the Ferrari experience couldn't get much greater after getting my 328, then I drove my carb BB and was blown away no comparison, the 328 is also overhyped concerning its reliablity IMO, my car went through a series of water pumps as the wp belt needs to be so tight is causes wear on the wp bearing and they begin leaking after a few thousand miles, 328s also have very expensive ignition Marelli boxes $2000+ which are NLA and can fail, they have 2 distributor caps at $300 each plus expensive rotors to replace as well, newer Ferraris don't have distributor caps beginning with the 348.

My 328 had almost 85000 miles on it when I sold it but $40,000 in repairs including 2 majors, nothing out of the ordinary just replacing broken wear parts that will happen and regular maintenance, and my car looked like a 10,000 mile car and was mint and kept in good running order so was just your above average 328 nothing extra ordinary. Even with a major engine valve repair at $12,000 and new headers a 355 will be equal in running costs for the same amount of miles, if no major issues show up a 355 will be much less costly as they are more reliable.


Concerning the ultra expensive Ferraris I would consider an F40 but the performance is eclipsed by newer models today that offer a more realistic ownership experience being able to take them on long road trips all day for the type of driving I like to do, that leaves an Enzo which I could see owning but more than likely a 430 will be my next Ferrari.

 

(a) $50,000-328
(b) $100,000-355 or a 348
(c) $150,000- used 360 coupe
(d) $250,000-Challenge Stradale
(e) $1M-F50

 

(a) $50,000-308GTB
(b) $100,000-Testarossa
(c) $150,000-550
(d) $250,000-F430
(e) $1M-599GTB

 

(a) $50,000 - Maserati 3200
(b) $100,000 - Maserati GranSport
(c) $150,000 - 550/575
(d) $250,000 - Murcie (or an old Merc of some description)
(e) $1M - Enzo

Disclaimer: I dont know the US prices of these cars, so assumed a 2:1 for GBP

 

a) 50k - Lotus Esprit V8

b) 100k - 512TR

c) 150k - 550

d) 250k - Challenge Stradale

e) 1M - Koniegsegg CCX w/wing

 

a) 308 GTSqv
b) 355 GTS
c) Lamborghini Diablo 6.0
d) F40
e) 275 GTB

 

$50,000 : 308 Retrovesina
$100,000 : 512 TR
$150,000 : 365 GT4/BB
$250,000 : Challenge Stradale
$1M : F40 with GTE mods

 

(a) Lotus Esprit
(b) Diablo VT
(c) Gallardo
(d) Murcielago
(e) Enzo

 

Great question!

(a) 50k - Viper GTS
(b) 100k - Maserati GS
(c) 150k - 360 Spider (although the one I would ideally want... new 6-speed azzurro ... would probably be more expensive)
(d) 250k - I'll take a DB9 as well, I love those cars.
(e) $1M - black F50

I love vintage cars but if I could only pick 1 car (and if I had $1m I wouldn't pick just 1), then it would have to be a modern car. Otherwise I would be loading up on the old Ferraris and Vettes.

 

Please show me where you can buy an F40 for 250k

 

A-Corvette
B-355
C-360
D-SuperAmerica
E-Enzo
F(2 mil or more)-F1 car

 

This is fun

(a) $50,000 Dodge Viper GTS Gen II

IMHO the best combination of looks and performance for the price EVER.


(b) $100,000 Dodge Viper GTS Gen II, encore


(c) $150,000 Lambo Diablo 6.0

IMHO the best looking car of all time.


(d) $250,000 Ferrari SuperAmerica

The ultimate daily driver and the car I want most at any price.


(e) $1M Ferrari 599 GTB

Best looking Ferrari since the 60's. If it was a vert it would overtake the SuperAmerica as my #1 want.

 

a) Ariel Atom
b) Noble M400
c) Diablo 6.0.
d) SuperAmerica
e) Pagani Zonda F ( I can only dream!)

 

Flag on the field... no Vipers, Corvettes, BMW, Mercedes or Porsches here. The challenge is naming your choice of exotic in each bracket.

No doubt Viper/Vette are the undisputed bang-for-the-buck winners, and I loved my ex-BMW, Benx and 911, but let's define exotic as a limited production car from a specialty/niche company like Ferrari, Lambo, Lotus, Aston-Martin, Maserati, etc.

I'm surprised no one mentioned the Lotus Elise/Exige. I guess it's a bit of a punishment chamber, though. That may be the only new exotic in the $50K bracket, and it's tempting as such.

 

Change c to a 2001 Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 VT in orange.

 

a) Ferrari 348 TS

I've seen some really nice ones for sale for around $40k. Red/Tan for me.

b) 1999 Ferrari 355 F1 Spider Fiorano Serie

I think I could negotiate the price down to 100k. I want #86 please.

c) 2006 Aston Martin DB9

Depreciation hits these things hard. I'm sure you could even negotiate a Volante down to this price. I want mine in Seafoam Green/Tan.

d) 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

The most beautiful car made since the 355. In fact, this is what the 355 spider would look like if it were made today. The lines are absolutely amazing. I want mine Black/Black.

e) 2006 Pagani Zonda F Roadster

Black/Black or Carbon Fiber/Tan. I love the outrageous design.

 

a) 348 spider
b) 355 spider
c) 360 spider
d) SuperAmerica or pray the 599 comes out in a spider version!!!!!
e) F50 (which I think looks better then an Enzo)

 

I cant play this game because the Ferraris here cost so much more.
I can do an Aussie version, but would be rather dissapointing.

 

(a) $50,000

Lotus Exige (orange, black wheels) or: Lotus Esprit V8, black on tan.

(b) $100,000

Ferrari F355 spider, 6-speed, gunmetal on tan. Mmmmm.

(c) $150,000

Diablo 6.0, couldn't care less about the color. It's a damn Diablo!

(d) $250,000

Had some trouble with this one... F360 GT-N, I guess.

(x) $500,000

F40. No question. (why did you skip this price range? It's a big jump from 250k to a mil and a lot of the supercars still fall in this range).

(e) $1M

Zonda F, bare carbon fiber over blood read leather with Alcantara inserts.

 

(a) $50,000 -
(b) $100,000 -
(c) $150,000 -
(d) $250,000-
(e) $1M-

 

(a) $50,000 - Glass Euro 308
(b) $100,000 - Countach
(c) $150,000 - 246 GT
(d) $250,000 - Gallardo "Nera"
(e) $1M - 275 GTB/4

 

(a) $50,000 - carb 308
(b) $100,000 - 348 spider
(c) $150,000 - BBi
(d) $250,000 - BBi + 246GT
(e) $1M - 275 GTB/4 + 288GTO (need some spare change from the couch for this one)
(f) $10M - 250GT California Spyder + all above

 

(a) $50,000 - Corvette
(b) $100,000 - Aston Martin V8 Vantage
(c) $150,000 - 360 Spider (I think thats what they're worth now)
(d) $250,000 - Lambo Murci
(e) $1M - Enzo

All would be black of course...