Yet another 'what should I get' thread

Alright so I am committed over the next two weeks to get a new daily driver to supplement the Benz E55 and tide me over while I save up for another Ferrari (no more financing for me...cash only) . The E55 is just too damn boring to drive every day.

I want something fun and cheap (paying cash and $20k is my limit) and it needs to be either a vert or a targa. I need the wind in my hair. I dont care care about practicality as thats what the E55 is for.

For reference here are some of the cars I have owned in order of how much I enjoyed them

1) 2001 Dodge Viper - Loved the torque rush. Loved the looks. Didnt love it being kind of big and heavy
2) 1999 BMW M Roadster - Loved how tossable it was. Had just enough torque. Kinda of girly looking to some people
3) 1998 Ferrari F355 Spider - Loved the looks. Loved how tossable it was. Disappointed in the lack of torque
4) 1995 BMW M3 - Loved it but wasnt as tossable as some of the others
5) 200? Lotus Elise - Couldnt fit in it comfortably and got rid of it quick


here is what Ive found in my price range

Corvette C5 targa but maybe vert
BMW M Roadster
BMW M3 vert
Porsche Boxster S
Camaro SS vert or ttops
Mustang GT vert
Honda S2000
Nissan 350Z Roadster
Pontiac Trans Am WS6 vert or ttops
Pontiac Solstice (long shot - not sure how I feel about this car)
Saturn Sky (long shot - not sure how I feel about this car)


Im not concerned with maintenance unless there are SERIOUS issues that will cost over $4-5k in the first 12 months. I dont mind having to sink a couple grand into it over the next 12 months.

I left off

Benz SLK (Think they are ugly)
Miata (Too small and while I know they are a blast to drive they just scream girly to me)
Mini Cooper vert (same as Miata)



Thoughts ?

 

from that list, I'd take either an M Roadster or a C5 convertible.

how about a Jeep Wrangler/CJ?

or a Cobra replica?

 

Really funny you mentioned the Jeep... my friend is here and he has been saying Jeep over and over...but I cant put into words how much I hate Jeeps. Absolutely hate them.

Good picks though....C5 is my fav right now as I have never owned a vette and it sounds like it could be fun !

 

man, I love Jeeps..."America's sports car", per Enzo Ferrari.

 

Eh what does that guy know

 

oh you had to go an edit on me....

Hmm i didnt even think of that. Can they be used as daily drivers ? LA traffic ? i think I need a top. That might be TOO impractical.

Basically I dont want to drive the E55 unless I have to...im am soooo over it but I owe so much Im stuck with it.

 

do you still own/drive the Viper?

a Cobra replica with the 5.0 mustang V8 and 5 speed trans would be reliable in traffic, I would think. you can get a top but its a pain in the ass to get on and off.

 

I have an '03 Honda S2000 (last year of the original 9k RPM motor) and I LOVE it. So very tossable in the Santa Cruz mountains, been completely reliable since I bought it brand new off the showroom floor 6 years ago. The shifting is joystick short, the steering feel is awesome, fast automatic top... and I even after having it all these years I still turn around once in a while when I've parked it to admire its looks.

One thing is, I'm 6' 185lbs... and the car fits me comfortably snug. If I remember correctly, you're 200lb+ and probably 6'4" or so? That's pushing the boundaries of who I think could fit comfortably in an S2000.

If you fit however... it is a great car with a beautiful shape that I will never sell. Despite how fairly common and "cheap" they are I still get a lot of compliments and questions about it.

It's not as extreme as the Lotus Elise, but very similar handling (a bit heavier, but not quite as go-cart small-- good compromise IMHO). And of course with a 2L 240hp motor, it is not going to have any torque off the line. It only really gets moving over 6k RPM. It takes well to being supercharged if you really need the HP... I don't.

Here's a picture of my S in Yosemite when the gf and I were there last week. Sorry the car is dirty, it looks beautiful in black when it's nicely waxed.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Go with a C5 convertible, get an auto for LA traffic.

 

That's what I was going to recommend.

 

S2k is a sweet car but not very "anunakki-ish".

 

Viper is gone but she lives on in my memory. Just the E55 now.

Im going to slum it for awhile

Cobra replica would be rad but the top is too big an issue.

I have always liked the S2000. It looks great and it seems like it would be a fun drive. I worry about the lack of torque and my size though. Im almost 6'2" and 260 lbs. Though I didnt have a problem fitting in the M Roadster when I owned it. I was 30 lbs lighter but I dont know that is such a difference. I should drive one.

Am I too old for it ? Can a long haired tattooed 40 yr old drive that car without looking like an idiot ? lol

 

True Chas...Get another Viper..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Viper-1995-Viper-RT-10_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a317Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1308Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem230338689527QQitemZ230338689527QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks#ht_500wt_1189

More recommendations:
Mustang GT
Audi A4 Cabrio
Audi TT
Lexus SC

 

That viper is a salvage...I was wondering why it was so cheap.

Ill get another viper someday...just want to try something different.

Mustang is on my list.

Audi A4 is too boring. TT is too slow (and probably too small). Lexus SC is hideous

Whats the matter Ashwin you dont like anything on my list other than the S2k and the Mustang ?

The Vette is the current leader. M Roadster a close second since I had one and I know I love it. The wild card for me is the Boxster S. I know its going to be fun to drive but man they are sooo feminine to my eyes.

There is a part of me that wants to go camaro/trans am though...Ive never had one and I think I would enjoy the torque...however the interiors are just hideous and cheap.

S2000 and 350z harken back to my roots since my first car was a CRX Si and I loved that car.

Decision...decision...

 

Oh, didn't read it was a Salvage.

Nah, I was listing stuff off the top of my head. Didn't realize you had a Mustang GT listed already.

 

just a heads up Jerry in case you don't know: The Sky and Solstice are the same car, just different body styles

I would say pick up a cheap boxster off that list......

 

I would consider a SLK55. Looks better then the standard SLK plus you have the benefit of a hard top convertible.

Other then that I would go with a c5 vette

 

C5 Vette gives you the most power and performance for the money and the Targa is the best looking model IMO but the S2K gives you great performance and will give you extra cash left over as well as less maintenance than the others (cause it's Honda after all). I wouldn't mind either.

 

M roadster... no
Miata... no
s2000... no

Vette is the best option of the choices you give. Plenty of power. Age appropriate. Heterosexual appropriate.

Sure you don't want another Viper?

 

I would go with an M Roadster or 350Z Roadster. I have a Z coupe and it has more low-end torque than I thought when I first drove it and it handles okay for the price. Mine has been maintenance free for 6 years pretty much. I'm 5'10" and fit with plenty of extra room leftover, but if you have a wide back, the seats may not be comfortable for you. I'd say add that car to the list of the ones you will test drive. The rear end of it looks odd, but others may like it...

 

early E46 M3 convertibles are starting to get into that price range, but they might be high mileage and/or beat to hell.

how about a first-generation Jag XKR? kinda like this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/V8-Supercharged-xtra-clean-new-rubber-boot-cover_W0QQitemZ300309285391QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item300309285391&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65:-2|39:1|240:1308

 

That seems to cheap... are xkr's really that low???

 

yep. Jags depreciate like a boat.

 

wow... had no idea they were under $20k...im adding it to my list. That would be a fun car. Do we think repairs would be out of this world ?

 

no clue, my guess is parts would cost about the same as a Benz/BMW but they are less complicated, so fewer parts to break.