What do you want, but something about it holds you back? Subjectivity welcome

[MJinZ]

I'll start:

BMW M3 - beastly handler.

Holds me back - price and long term reliability, somewhat common (3 series)

Audi S5 - the perfect car design.

Holds me back - it's an Audi. Performance and reliability.

Lexus LS - best looking full sized sedan, great value

Holds me back - it's a Lexus, which is just a Toyota, and it has an L for a badge and I don't like asymmetry.

Wow, I guess don't really "want" anything right now. Except maybe a Maserati GT but I don't think I'll be there financially for.... ever.

Well, I would really actually consider a 300 HP SH-AWD Acura TSX. Are you listening Acura or do you insist that Americans have no taste and will continue to buy fugly TLs?

PS - Here's a pic of the most awesome car design ever:

 

[exdeath]

E46 M3 coupe - jack of all trades, nice comfy sleek cruiser with some kick, simple sexy engine, and option for automatic manual. There is this deep dark metallic blue color (color code/name anyone) that just completely mesmerizes me.

Holds me back - I justify it as being a daily cruiser to compliment the 03 Cobra which is purely a raw purpose built car for whoopin ass with no apologies. But I honestly wouldn't want to drive a M3 under any abusive conditions I already refuse to drive the Cobra (muddy weather, dirt roads and dusty parking lots, short start and stop errand runs all day where the car never even gets to warm up, etc), which means I'd still need a beater. Also, mod bug will probably bite eventually, and then I'll just have two twitchy gas guzzling way too powerful cars with solid bushings and back breaking suspensions and herculean clutches that are a bear to drive up and down the street in normal traffic, defeating the whole purpose which I use as justification. If only the roads around here weren't so terrible... you trade 2x better ride and responsiveness on smooth pavement for 10x worse ride and shorter strut life and broken teeth on the crappy roads.

 

[JulesMaximus]

E46 M3 coupe - jack of all trades, nice comfy sleek cruiser with some kick, simple sexy engine, and option for automatic manual. There is this deep dark metallic blue color (color code/name anyone) that just completely mesmerizes me.

Holds me back - I justify it as being a daily cruiser to compliment the 03 Cobra which is purely a raw purpose built car for whoopin ass with no apologies. But I honestly wouldn't want to drive a M3 under any abusive conditions I already refuse to drive the Cobra (muddy weather, dirt roads and dusty parking lots, short start and stop errand runs all day where the car never even gets to warm up, etc), which means I'd still need a beater. Also, mod bug will probably bite eventually, and then I'll just have two twitchy gas guzzling way too powerful cars with solid bushings and back breaking suspensions and herculean clutches that are a bear to drive up and down the street in normal traffic, defeating the whole purpose which I use as justification. If only the roads around here weren't so terrible... you trade 2x better ride and responsiveness on smooth pavement for 10x worse ride and shorter strut life and broken teeth on the crappy roads.

I've driven a 4 door automatic M3 under abusive conditions. Trust me, it is plenty capable of handling it. It's a great car. Seriously.

That said, my something holds me back purchase is the Lotus Elise. I freaking love that car but it would be so impractical to live with on a daily basis. Part of me wants to say fuck it and do it anyway but then there's the practical side that says, what about tires, what about maintenance, what about the fact that it is a tiny 2 seater that you have to be a contortionist just to get in and out of.

I still look on craigslist and ebay for them from time to time though...so tempting.

 

[MJinZ]

I've driven a 4 door automatic M3 under abusive conditions. Trust me, it is plenty capable of handling it. It's a great car. Seriously.

That said, my something holds me back purchase is the Lotus Elise. I freaking love that car but it would be so impractical to live with on a daily basis. Part of me wants to say fuck it and do it anyway but then there's the practical side that says, what about tires, what about maintenance, what about the fact that it is a tiny 2 seater that you have to be a contortionist just to get in and out of.

I still look on craigslist and ebay for them from time to time though...so tempting.

Compromise. Wait a few years and get a used Lotus Evora. It can come down from $80K to hopefully $40K lol.

I would have mentioned the Evora, except damn it uses my Camry Engine and that just seems sad for that car.

 

[exdeath]

I've driven a 4 door automatic M3 under abusive conditions. Trust me, it is plenty capable of handling it. It's a great car. Seriously.

It's not a matter of the car handling it, it's a matter that with a car like that you still care about it more than a beater. My cars are no garage queens, but there are still things I use a <= $5,000 beater for that I will not do with a precision built $20,000+ car like a Cobra or M3. eg: sometimes I do IT contract work that involves a lot of site to site driving; the Cobra's temp gauge never lifts off the stop next to "C" the entire day, that's abusive in my book. Gravel roads, etc. Not to mention the 130 miles from a full tank of gas : / I keep telling myself I could treat the M3 like a "normal" car and not care, but everytime I look at the exploded view of the S54, I couldn't do it. Keep in mind I wouldn't hesitate to run it past 8k at every stop light once it's warmed up, but that's entirely different.

The solution is simple; a beater turned sleeper with 300+ HP.

 

[exdeath]

Compromise. Wait a few years and get a used Lotus Evora. It can come down from $80K to hopefully $40K lol.

I would have mentioned the Evora, except damn it uses my Camry Engine and that just seems sad for that car.

If it's the 3.5 V6, it's the 2GR-FE which is a very potent engine like the Nissan VQ. Camrys actually have balls now in other words lol.

 

[MJinZ]

If it's the 3.5 V6, it's the 2GR-FE which is a potent engine.

It's still sad, and it's OK, but I wouldn't call it potent. I think Potent is reserved for engines in the 300-400HP range.

 

[amdhunter]

Audi TT-RS.
I'd need to leave the ghetto before I could even think about getting anything like this.

 

[exdeath]

It's still sad, and it's OK, but I wouldn't call it potent.

It's nearly 300 HP... thats almost as potent as some V8s (2005-2010 Mustang GT cough cough). If it was a 5SFE or 1MZ I'd agree it was weak with less than 200 HP. But the 2GR is a potent engine for a change, don't be tricked into feeling otherwise because they decided to put a powerful engine in the Camry finally. It's a great engine... after you get the VVTi oil line recall done lmao.

 

[MJinZ]

Audi TT-RS.
I'd need to leave the ghetto before I could even think about getting anything like this.

So Audi TT -S.

Holding you back - The Ghetto.

:awe:

 

[exdeath]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-...3e2QQitemZ300418474978QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

Nice steal for someone adding a 2nd or 3rd car and is capable of DIY repairs and not scared of potential problems.

 

[MJinZ]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-...3e2QQitemZ300418474978QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

Nice steal for someone adding a 2nd or 3rd car and is capable of DIY repairs and not scared of potential problems.

Ew... water + German electronics ...

 

[Turin39789]

Aircooled baby!

 

[exdeath]

Ew... water + German electronics ...

Yeah I thought the same thing. Depends if you can believe that it never got into the car or engine and if you trust him saying he put 15k miles on it with no problems. Like I said, for someone who would have it as a 2nd or 3rd car and isn't affraid of possible issues.

 

[TridenT]

Ariel Atom... holding me back... money... :|

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Want - Audi RS5/BMW M3

Holds me back - I'm 23

 

[vshah]

acura nsx

holding me back: price for a good one, availability, living in NYC.

 

[CRXican]

Turbo setup for my Miata.

What holds me back is that when all is said and done the mods will cost more than I paid for the car.

 

[DVad3r]

I'll start:

BMW M3 - beastly handler.

Holds me back - price and long term reliability, somewhat common (3 series)

Audi S5 - the perfect car design.

Holds me back - it's an Audi. Performance and reliability.

Lexus LS - best looking full sized sedan, great value

Holds me back - it's a Lexus, which is just a Toyota, and it has an L for a badge and I don't like asymmetry.

Wow, I guess don't really "want" anything right now. Except maybe a Maserati GT but I don't think I'll be there financially for.... ever.

Well, I would really actually consider a 300 HP SH-AWD Acura TSX. Are you listening Acura or do you insist that Americans have no taste and will continue to buy fugly TLs?

PS - Here's a pic of the most awesome car design ever:

Umm dude, a Lexus LS is no Toyota, you can rest assured. By even assuming it is I have serious doubts in regards to your car intelligence. I think you were shooting at the Camry/ES350 comparison, but even those cars are pretty different, not to mention ones made in Japan and the other ain't.

 

[MJinZ]

Umm dude, a Lexus LS is no Toyota, you can rest assured. By even assuming it is I have serious doubts in regards to your car intelligence. I think you were shooting at the Camry/ES350 comparison, but even those cars are pretty different, not to mention ones made in Japan and the other ain't.

Hah, trust me I know everything about the Gen 6 - 6.5 Camry - I own one and Lexus ESes in general. There are Japanese made Camrys, though all ESes are made in Japan.

But Lexus is .... just a Toyota in a way. It's just a badge, meant for American consumption only with its advent.

BMW and Mercedes are a bit different, that's all they make (basically).

 

[DVad3r]

Hah, trust me I know everything about the Gen 6 - 6.5 Camry - I own one and Lexus ESes in general. There are Japanese made Camrys, though all ESes are made in Japan.

But Lexus is .... just a Toyota in a way. It's just a badge, meant for American consumption only with its advent.

BMW and Mercedes are a bit different, that's all they make (basically).

But we aren't talking about an ES here are we? You said the LS is a Toyota. It's not, nor is it even close to being one.

Your point of view on things is twisted because you live here and are a badge brand whore. In other countries Mercedes is an every day commuter car, every taxi cab is a Mercedes. Would it be safe to assume that a person living in that country, who see's an S 600, says to himself "fuck that shit, just another benz, big whopp".

I don't believe the Lexus LS is sold in Japan under a Toyota badge, is it?

And you own Lexus ES's in general? What do you mean?

 

[KDKPSJ]

But we aren't talking about an ES here are we? You said the LS is a Toyota. It's not, nor is it even close to being one.

Your point of view on things is twisted because you live here and are a badge brand whore. In other countries Mercedes is an every day commuter car, every taxi cab is a Mercedes. Would it be safe to assume that a person living in that country, who see's an S 600, says to himself "fuck that shit, just another benz, big whopp".

I don't believe the Lexus LS is sold in Japan under a Toyota badge, is it?

And you own Lexus ES's in general? What do you mean?

AFAIK, MJinZ drives V6 Camry, so, ES in general is ok claim. But I personally think the badge, better interior, better service and dealership would worth the difference.

Lexus LS was sold as Toyota Celsior until 2006. But the newest gen (F40) was launched along with Lexus brand launching in Japan, so you can say the newest LS is a Lexus as it was never introduced under Toyota in Japan.

Anyway, my selections:

1. BMW M3 - Car with perfect balance

2. Nissan GT-R - Another car with perfect balance and superior performance

3. Audi R8 - Gallardo in disguise.

Holds me back for all of the above: Living in apartment and can't trust apartment parking lot despite there are LS, Cayenne, E class and 5 series parked there.

 

[Tristicus]

A different vehicle than I have now.
The cost.

 

[DVad3r]

In response to everydae post:

^ That even further proves my point that the Lexus badge was to satisfy dumb North Americans. In Japan people knew the car was totally different even though it was sold under the Toyota label, just like most people around the world know that certain Mercedes etc are better.

This is the same issue people have with the Lexus LFA, they bring it down because it's "just a Lexus", meanwhile the car only carries the badge. So according to this logic, let's say Chevy made the most bad ass super car in the entire would that would cost 2 million dollars, people would say it's shit because it's just a Chevy?

Most of the Lexus model line up are original models not shared with Toyota, and even if they carry the Toyota logo in Japan, they are still different cars, and in their own respects, better/higher end.

I think MJinZ needs to revaluate his "holding back" decision based on my observations.

/data out

 

[MJinZ]

In response to everydae post:

^ That even further proves my point that the Lexus badge was to satisfy dumb North Americans. In Japan people knew the car was totally different even though it was sold under the Toyota label, just like most people around the world know that certain Mercedes etc are better.

This is the same issue people have with the Lexus LFA, they bring it down because it's "just a Lexus", meanwhile the car only carries the badge. So according to this logic, let's say Chevy made the most bad ass super car in the entire would that would cost 2 million dollars, people would say it's shit because it's just a Chevy?

Most of the Lexus model line up are original models not shared with Toyota, and even if they carry the Toyota logo in Japan, they are still different cars, and in their own respects, better/higher end.

I think MJinZ needs to revaluate his "holding back" decision based on my observations.

/data out

Yep, I meant "I know of....Camry (because I own one).. and Lexus ESes).

I can accept the LS is not as much a Toyota as some other Lexuses, but that doesn't the solve the other problem... the L badge. I am a symmetry whore.