Need advice: New Car

[burr4392]

Ok, fate has intervened and I am now in a position to purchase my first ever really nice car. I get lots of discounts, typically a few thousand off invoice at a minimum at BMW, Porsche, Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Audi, Mazda, Volkswagen, Chrysler, Lincoln and Mercury. My budget is on the order of 50-60kish, and I am really looking for something very fun to drive, sporty and very nice. Not interested in a manual (yes, I never learned), but beyond that.... I have never driven anything more than a Camry, so I have no idea what to really look for either. I will be living in Dubai with this car for the next couple of years, so weather is not an issue, except that the summers are 120F plus. Mainly looking at a coupe. Oh yeah, and gas is $1 a gallon over here at worst (Bahrain). I would like to keep the car for 5-10 years, assuming I buy a new one.

The 2008 BMW Z4 coupe is tempting. Fully loaded with everything its ~45k. A similar 2008 335i is 48k, and as tempting as the Z4 M is at 49.5K, the manual is a slight issue.

Also yesterday a friend of mine informed me that a friend of his is selling his 2000 Porsche Boxster S (Tiptronic automatic) and asking 10800 for it. He is leaving the country at the end of the month and does not get to take the car home with him. As the car is in good condition (would have the dealership inspect if I decide to buy), and the Kelly Blue Book suggested private party price is ~21K, its is very tempting, if only to ship it back the the states and sell it.

I have just begun my search, and I really have little idea what to look for, besides the general impression that BMW is nice and Porsche is nicer.

Your opinions and advice, please.

Thanks!


Cliffs:
*Mid Twenties
*Want new high-end sports car
*2000 Porsche Boxster S for 10.8k asking?
*3k off invoice on Z4 ~45k with all the options?
*New Porsche?
*Other car?
*What to look for/how to judge?
*Help!

 

[jagec]

Well, are you buying a nice car just for the image, or to smoke people at stoplights, or because you genuinely enjoy driving?

 

[burr4392]

Not so much the middle one, but what is more important to me is how it drives, how it looks to me, and maybe a little of the HP. Good reliability and customer satisfaction. Image is nice, but its not the key factor. How it feels to me and the amenities are of greater importance.

 

[Colt45]

learn to drive a manual

 

[DivideBYZero]

Don't get a Boxster. You'll just wish you got a 996/7(911).

I say get the Z4C M, but you won't because you need to learn stick. Just learn, dammit.

 

[GoatMonkey]

You could also go with one of the new Audi TT coupes or an Audi S4. It's a nice car and you don't need to have the manual transmission for it to be fun. If you can stand to wait a while, there are several other nice dual clutch transmission cars coming in the next few years.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
You could also go with one of the new Audi TT coupes or an Audi S4. It's a nice car and you don't need to have the manual transmission for it to be fun. If you can stand to wait a while, there are several other nice dual clutch transmission cars coming in the next few years.

I always forget about the TT, but I just saw one of the new models this morning on the way to work and it is REALLY sharp looking.

 

[Blackjack200]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
You could also go with one of the new Audi TT coupes or an Audi S4. It's a nice car and you don't need to have the manual transmission for it to be fun. If you can stand to wait a while, there are several other nice dual clutch transmission cars coming in the next few years.

QFT

If you really don't want to learn manual (and I recommend you do, it's not as hard as you think and makes driving much more enjoyable) I would get something with a DSG.

 

[Sust]

I was thinking of the RS4 until I realized that it might not be the stick-shift beginner's kind of car.

Do you REALLY want to learn how to drive stick on one of these fine machines?
I can just see my engine blowing up or transmission dropping from the undercarriage as the car rolls forward.

Thus I decided that an S6 or S8 would be more my speed until I can get a proper beater to learn stick-shift on.

Oh and someone said Audi with DSG. I second that motion. It's just too bad that there arent more cars with them.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Corvette C6 LS3 430HP 6spd Automatic & Z51 performance/handling package.

$50K without Nav, $55K loaded up!

These are great daily drivers and have 21cu/ft of trunk/hatch space for groceries or luggage.

 

[FallenHero]

Charger SRT8 if you are willing to look past the 4 doors on it

<---Only thing I suggest is chargers because I can!

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: Colt45
learn to drive a manual

I agree, after driving my car vs. the auto, there is no comparison.

I drove a 997 Carrera Auto and it was one of the most disappointing experiences of my life, it's nothing like it's counterpart.

 

[burr4392]

What about the steptronic/tiptronic/whatever automatics with the option for some sort of manual-like control?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: burr4392
What about the steptronic/tiptronic/whatever automatics with the option for some sort of manual-like control?

The Porsche Tiptronic is still a slushbox (albeit a clever one), the BMW SMG is a manual with an automated clutch and the Audi DSG is a twin clutch plate automated manual.

 

[GoatMonkey]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Corvette C6 LS3 430HP 6spd Automatic & Z51 performance/handling package.

$50K without Nav, $55K loaded up!

These are great daily drivers and have 21cu/ft of trunk/hatch space for groceries or luggage.

I can agree with that. A big V-8 would be more fun than a small 4 or 6 cylinder car when using an automatic.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Don't get a Boxster. You'll just wish you got a 996/7(911).

I say get the Z4C M, but you won't because you need to learn stick. Just learn, dammit.

The OP is not a driving enthusiast. He wants to look pretty and sit comfy while stroking the dashboard.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Don't get a Boxster. You'll just wish you got a 996/7(911).

I say get the Z4C M, but you won't because you need to learn stick. Just learn, dammit.

The OP is not a driving enthusiast. He wants to look pretty and sit comfy while stroking the dashboard.

Ahh, well yeah, screw it, he should get an SLK or something fem like that then.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Don't get a Boxster. You'll just wish you got a 996/7(911).

I say get the Z4C M, but you won't because you need to learn stick. Just learn, dammit.

The OP is not a driving enthusiast. He wants to look pretty and sit comfy while stroking the dashboard.

Ahh, well yeah, screw it, he should get an SLK or something fem like that then.

Not sure the OP really deserved the attitude from either of you

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Corvette C6 LS3 430HP 6spd Automatic & Z51 performance/handling package.

$50K without Nav, $55K loaded up!

These are great daily drivers and have 21cu/ft of trunk/hatch space for groceries or luggage.

I can agree with that. A big V-8 would be more fun than a small 4 or 6 cylinder car when using an automatic.

The fact that it does 0-60 in 4.3s with an automatic is a plus too...

 

[burr4392]

Thanks Dug. It would be nice if they checked the attitude at the door, but this is the internet, and I survived four years as a non car guy in a car school, with well over half of my frat brothers being very much car guys. Out of the 15 guys, there were six cop cars, one with the cage, stripes (no badges), spot light, megaphone, etc. God, the number of great and stupid things that were done with that car.

But yes, I do want to sit comfy. I have a bad back and I see no reason why I should have to feel uncomfortable sitting in a very expense car.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Don't get a Boxster. You'll just wish you got a 996/7(911).

I say get the Z4C M, but you won't because you need to learn stick. Just learn, dammit.

The OP is not a driving enthusiast. He wants to look pretty and sit comfy while stroking the dashboard.

Ahh, well yeah, screw it, he should get an SLK or something fem like that then.

Not sure the OP really deserved the attitude from either of you

forgot to add:

Twice.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: burr4392
Thanks Dug. It would be nice if they checked the attitude at the door, but this is the internet, and I survived four years as a non car guy in a car school, with well over half of my frat brothers being very much car guys. Out of the 15 guys, there were six cop cars, one with the cage, stripes (no badges), spot light, megaphone, etc. God, the number of great and stupid things that were done with that car.

But yes, I do want to sit comfy. I have a bad back and I see no reason why I should have to feel uncomfortable sitting in a very expense car.

Sorry if I came across as an ass. I genuinely hope you enjoy whatever you buy.

 

[burr4392]

No worries, really I do appreciate your comments, though. And I do understand people's learn to drive manual suggestion. I'm just not sure about it...

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: burr4392
No worries, really I do appreciate your comments, though. And I do understand people's learn to drive manual suggestion. I'm just not sure about it...

You could just use $800 of your wad to buy a manual POS and learn on that maybe?

 

[BarneyFife]

I test drove a 204 545i a few weeks ago just for the hell of it and found the seats sucked. If you have a bad back, get a Cadillac or Buick. Those are some real seats.