$80k budget

[ponyo]

My older cousin is looking to buy a car. He called me today to ask for my advice. It doesn't necessary have to be practical. He has a company car (Toyota Matrix) that he drives for work. His fiancée drives Mercedes E500 so he also has access to that car. He's looking for a fun car for him and his fiancee. His budget is around $80k for new or used but cheaper the better. Given his budget he has so many choices it was hard to recommend a car for him.

Some of the cars I recommended to him were: '08 C6, '06-'08 Z06, E39 M5. He has driven all these cars and liked them all.

He's getting married next March so he's buying before his wedding. So he has to buy within the next 3-4 months.

What car would you suggest?

 

[theeedude]

M45, and send change to me

 

[ElFenix]

lets see, she has a high powered luxo sedan. so he needs something that is the complete opposite.

exige.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
lets see, she has a high powered luxo sedan. so he needs something that is the complete opposite.

exige.

I agree.

 

[Arkaign]

So let me get this straight, it's a spare vehicle, purely for fun, and the cheaper the better with an 80k ceiling? He has a daily driver, and his GF has the luxury sedan covered?

I'd look at something like this :

http://72.232.100.130/~xrs2190/cars/85ferrari901.htm

Ferrari prestige, and it's a collector's car that will only go up in value. With 20k+ miles, it wouldn't be too painful to add a few thousand to it, they sound beautiful, and they're fairly reliable for an Italian classic.

Other candidates :

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/car/422212080.html (needs paint)

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/car/424840513.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/car/424859253.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/car/424427498.html

Obviously if racing is the goal, a custom Viper or Vette would be the way to go, but for pure fun and something original (and something that will probably gain in value instead of declining, look up 70s Ferraris to get an idea), it'd be nice to get a prancing horse.

 

[overst33r]

C6 base and pocket change or Z06 if he wants utter performance. Another way to go is the Elise, but I have a feeling he wouldn't have a hard time choosing between vette and elise. One or the other.

 

[SithSolo1]

This: https://www.edmunds.com/il/nissan/skyline/index.html

 

[ponyo]

I forgot to mention he likes hp and luxury. I didn't mention Elise or Exige to him because it's probably too spartan for him. He asked me if Z06 had a dvd option.

I don't think classic Ferrari's are an option for him. He wouldn't know how to take care of it, and it wouldn't look too good to his parents or future in-laws. It would be considered too show offish.

 

[spidey07]

benz AMG, C65 (think there is a new one coming out). Or an M3.

 

[Fenixgoon]

damn, what do your cousin and his fiancee do for a living?

i'd say Z06, M3/M5, Audi '08 RS4, '03 RS6, elise/exige, viper, gt500

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
So let me get this straight, it's a spare vehicle, purely for fun, and the cheaper the better with an 80k ceiling? He has a daily driver, and his GF has the luxury sedan covered?

I'd look at something like this :

http://72.232.100.130/~xrs2190/cars/85ferrari901.htm

Ferrari prestige, and it's a collector's car that will only go up in value. With 20k+ miles, it wouldn't be too painful to add a few thousand to it, they sound beautiful, and they're fairly reliable for an Italian classic.

Other candidates :

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/car/422212080.html (needs paint)

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/car/424840513.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/car/424859253.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/car/424427498.html

Obviously if racing is the goal, a custom Viper or Vette would be the way to go, but for pure fun and something original (and something that will probably gain in value instead of declining, look up 70s Ferraris to get an idea), it'd be nice to get a prancing horse.

These Ferraris are type of cars my younger cousin would buy. But he just bought an E39 M5 so he's not in the market. My older cousin who's looking is the more conservative type.

 

[Kelvrick]

How about a Porsche?

 

[Corporate Thug]

2008 Z06 and save the change for gas and insurance.

 

[Arkaign]

Ah, perhaps a classic Jaguar then if you can locate one (maybe through the DuPont registry), the 60s models are gorgeous classics that are great investments.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I'd go for a 911 in that situation, hands-down.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
lets see, she has a high powered luxo sedan. so he needs something that is the complete opposite.

exige.

agreed. that or Z06 or Caymen S or vanilla 911.

 

[mwmorph]

911 or Jaguar XK are the 2 that pop into mind

 

[996GT2]

You can get a 2007 model 911 Carrera S for about 80k...or a used 996 Turbo in good condition for that money...0-60 in < 4 Sec and top speed just a tad short of 200 MPH

Other choices:

Corvette Z06
Viper SRT-10
Ferrari F355/Older 550
Lotus Exige (can fit a turbo/supercharged engine on it and still stay well under 80k)
Imported R34 Skyline GT-R
Mercedes SL55 AMG
Noble M400

Happy shopping!

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Porsche all the way. More prestigious than a Corvette and the ride is quite nice which makes them easy cars to drive everyday and commute in.

If he is in an area with great weather I'd go for a C4S 'vert. Widebody verts are dead sexy!

If thats not enough HP then he can step up to a 996 Carerra TT though for collectibility sake I would say a 993 TT is the way to go as its the last of the air cooled Carerras and looks like how a Porsche should look!

 

[cw42]

I'm gonna go with Porsche, M3, or a Vette.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Porsche...but $80K doesn't buy much 911...so maybe a loaded Boxster or Cayman.

 

[GTaudiophile]

In fact, how about the Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1:

http://www.porsche.com/microsite/cayman-pd/usa.aspx

 

[overst33r]

I change my vote for M3/RS4 due to his luxury requirement. As others have said, a pristine low mileage Carrera S is in a class by itself and therefore wins IMO.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
damn, what do your cousin and his fiancee do for a living?

i'd say Z06, M3/M5, Audi '08 RS4, '03 RS6, elise/exige, viper, gt500

They both own their own company. He's a partner in a general contracting/maintenance firm and she's a pediatric dentist with three dental offices in Atlanta. Her uncle/aunt founded EB Games which was sold to GameStop owned by Barnes and Noble back in 2005.

I think he's leaning Z06, but I'm going to have him check out the new M3 along with Cayman S. Cayman looks so good but is so underpowered compared to even a base C6. 911 doesn't have the power or the looks IMO.

What makes it tough is that he's buying and not me. I already know what I like. I would pickup a Z06 and be done with it. But I want him to explore all his options. But having options just make things confusing.

 

[fstime]

I've driven an E500 and it is pretty a pretty f*cking fast car.

If he wants to step it up even further, he'd have to go AMG or //M.

Maybe an RS4. These cars are also pretty practical for every day driving, work, etc.

I cant see my self driving something like a Z06 to work everyday.