Sports Cars around $100K

Plan to drive quite often, 3+ times a week - rain or shine.

Audi R8
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin DB9 (used)
Nissan GT-R
Porsche 997 GT3 (used)
Lamborghini Gallardo (used)
Maser Gran Turismo
Merc CLK Black Series

 

Probably GTR because it has awd and I wouldn't mind taking it in the snow. I would like a DB9, but I would be worried too much when I park it.

 

Where do you live?

Rain or shine means very different things depending on where you live.

 

Audi R8- Great car, looks like a supermodel, but why when you can do the Gallardo?

Aston Martin Vantage - Love it. This would be my second pick.

Aston Martin DB9 (used) - Great car, but would rather have a new Vantage.

Nissan GT-R - I don't really know this car that well, but it sure would be a beast to drive. But, I think its styling is uninspiring. Which could be good, if you are driving it 3 times a day, and don't always want the attention, but you do want the great drive. This would be my number three, maybe four.

Porsche 997 GT3 (used) - Awesome car, great for the track, but rather harsh on the road. A strong number four. If you can take the hard ride everytime you want to drive it, then get it.

Lamborghini Gallardo (used) - If I were choosing, this is it. I would find the right one, and buy it. That V10 just sings, and I think it is a very sexy car. Maybe to flashy if you want to drive it alot though. My number one.

Maser Gran Turismo - Maybe the best looking car in the group, but not the best to drive. A better GT car than sports, I would think.

Merc CLK Black Series - A fine ride, and it drives like a dream. But, I think it looks to much like a regular CLK. But then, those who know, know. The most refined looking car here, but also one od the rawest to drive.

I'm sure many people will have different ideas about what is the right car, these are just mine. Good luck finding the right car, and really the best thing to do is drive them all.

 

Get a used 996 turbo.

 

Great idea, and you get a nice example for around $65k, saving over $35k....also, you cant near an R8 for 100k, and same for gallardo...

 

I had all the same choices, if not some a bit more expensive. I went with the R8 and I'm glad I did.

Audi R8 - Stunning car, AWD, unique and more rare than the others currently. Lacks a little power, but otherwise perfect. Handling is sublime. I drive it rain or shine, have 5K miles in the first 3 months. If you want one now, prepare to pay at least $150K. Current allocation is sold out for at least a year. Get on the list now.

Aston Martin Vantage - Too Jaguar for me, will get hit bad on depreciation. Buy it used. Would rather have a DB9.

Aston Martin DB9 (used) - One of the best looking cars. Classy and with enough performance to put a smile on your face. Depreciation already setting in.

Nissan GT-R - I just think it's ugly hehe. Probably the best performing car on the list, cheapest at sticker, good daily driver.

Porsche 997 GT3 (used) - Not something you want to drive daily. Rougher ride, definitely more of a track day car. A 997TT is more practical and faster on highways. Cheaper too. Stick with a 997TT.

Lamborghini Gallardo (used) - I think it's played out and the design is aging. Easy to get and getting too common. Won't handle as well as the R8, but is faster in the straights. Rock star looks, so if that's what you want, go for it.

Maser Gran Turismo - Beautiful design, but you'll lose a ton in depreciation rather quickly. Buy a slightly used one at discount.

Merc CLK Black Series - Probably not a good daily driver. Barer-bones Mercedes with more power, less weight, and they tell you not to drive it in the rain with the stock tires. Doesn't make sense to buy a luxury car stripped of it's luxuries.

 

Saw an AMV8 the other day in graphite with blackish color wheels. Who cares how fast it is, that car is just beauty incarnate.

 

GT-R or Black Series.

 

Thank you, Im a big 996 turbo fan. They can be made a TON of fun with different turbos. Titan motorsports is making some nasty 996's and they love more boost.

 

GTR!

The Gallardo would stand out quite a bit more than any of the others, though. Depends on your goals.

Logically the GTR. Otherwise I'd go with the Gallardo.

Tough choice

 

Aston Martin Vanquish (02s are now <$100k) or 550 Maranello.

 

What he said. There are a few very nice ones under $100K now. More than fast enough for daily driving, and the best looking car made today (period).

 

Gallardo is probably the best bang for the buck. I know it is not as fast as the new GTR and it is cheaper, but the looks and brands more than compensates for it IMO. Your are driving a Lamborghini instead of a Nissan. If you only want the best performance-buck ratio then get the GTR.

R8 is more expensive than a used gallardo for less power. Wait a bit to hear more about the lamborghini CPO, that should cover your reliability problem.

Both Astons are very very good looking, best looking cars on the road today IMO. Test drive both to see which ones you like more, the GT (db9) or the sports car (vantage). But both cars are neither here nor there. None of them are really fast, power is so so..Even though the vantage is the sports car of the family, they are not an out and out sports car. But the looks...well...looks sells AM, they are noted for beautiful cars and Sometimes you compensate everything else for beauty...

If you like tracking the car, get the merc black or GT3. Both of them looked nothing special. But if you just love driving and don't care about badges,looks,etc then both are fine machines.

 

Watch this before you decide on anything else:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2dBTwKZwuw

 

I would go with 996 turbo or BMW m5/m6
everyday drivers and still great performance

 

For your purposes, I'd say either one of the Aston's or the Maserati.

 

For Miami I'd go w a DB9 volante

For Tahoe an Audi R8

For the suburbs on the E coast the GT3

 

Audi R8 is an amazing car for daily drive i think Go for it..

 

R8 is more higher up there then 100k ?


ever think of a 360? perfect price range / exotic car / looks / decent speed

 

Wow... now I am more confused than ever...

Aston Martin Vanquish (02s are now <$100k) or 550 Maranello... will definitely consider...

In regard to 996TT, I am just not a big fan of 996 exterior and there are just too many of them out there. I like exclusivity and reliability (is this oxymoron?).

 

996s are going to be in the $20K range soon, if they're not already. I know the Turbo version is faster, but I wouldn't call them exclusive, and frankly the interior is embarrassingly bad.

I love the 550, but Ferrari V12 maintenance/parts costs would probably make your original budget a fond memory.

Still vote for the AMV8.

 

Not entirely sure you know quite what you are talking about. All current Astons are GT cars other than the track specific versions such as the Vantage N24. The main difference between the DB9 and and Vantage is that the DB9 has a V12 and the Vantage has a V8. Vantage is the "entry" level AM with an MSRP of around $110k while the DB9 MSRP rests at around $170k. IF you were to pick one current AM out of the base model line up to be a sport tuned version it would be the DBS so maybe you had that confused with the Vantage? The DBS however, is priced in the low $200k range for a heavily used car so I am not sre why that would enter your consideration.

 

I don't know what I am talking about?? You are just basically saying the same thing. If you read it carefully, I did say that the Vantage is not an out and out sports car..meaning...they are GT..but they are the sports car in the Aston family, meaning that they are the more aggressive compared to the db9.

I haven't driven the DBS so I can't comment, and also they are about $260-280k, so it is not relevant to bring it up.