Ian F wrote: In reply to t25torx: And somebody just happens to have a C55 AMG for sale....which I think would be really cool; to have a car go from a "wheeler dealer refurbish" thread to a "I'm doing One Lap" thread.
HAHA yeah I wasn't going to be so bold as to suggest that.. but It would be kinda cool to see that happen.
It is a stupid fast cruising machine.
The Jag XJRs are what started me down this road long ago, when I noted you can pick up an early 2000s one for $5k in nice shape. That spiraled into this. She doesn't really care for Jags except the F type too.
I thought about the other sizes of AMGs, and keep thinking that if I have to deal with an auto, I want to go big or go home, literally. The c class isn't really any bigger than the Mazda, and the E class just seems to be missing that little bit of extra presence and whatnot that a top of the line S class has, which will hopefully make the auto seem OK. I'd like whatever it is to have more back seat room than the Mazda for trips with more than just the 2 of us, or when we bring more than the Z4M can handle.
If they made an M7, I'd be all over it. The e38, though very nice, isn't in the same league as these two for speed. The e60 M5 is getting to be basically the same price as the e39, except the manuals. It also is a little too far into the digital age for what I want as a DIY person. The others were designed in the late 90s and hav been pretty well figured out.
The SHO would probably do the job fine too, but the others won't really depreciate any more while this will. Also, no manual and under 400hp.
We aren't looking to be competitive in one lap, just to run it and have fun while doing as well as we reasonably can. If we wanted to win a class I'd be looking at building up a mini R56 for the vintage looking class.
The M5 would no doubt be better for One Lap but I think the S55 would be better for everything else I want it to do. Both have fine tire and brake selection to get through the event too.
Thanks for the feedback so far, glad to see I haven't totally lost my mind.
Edit: the Mazda. No build thread, but I should make one. It basically evolved as we needed to replace stuff, except for the drivetrain. It is all bolt on and in, but I haven't seen another one with similar mods anywhere.
Here is one S55 that looks like the best one I can find from what I've seen.
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5377142619.html
Avoiding northeast cars for saltiness and avoiding black cars is significantly limiting the choices. No black because hard to keep clean in the winter and then I look like a limo driver.
That is a hell of a lot of car for $16k. I think you would really enjoy it. I might have to change my answer to S55.
Whatever you get, drive the E36 M3 out of it before hand. Daily it. Do at least a couple of track days. AX it. Work the bugs out. It was surprising how many people were still tying to learn their cars as the event started last year.
absolutely the mercedes.
That S55 looks like a winner. 600HP? Oh yeah. 
How about an $11,000 Maserati Quattroporte? I mean with 85k miles on the clock all the issues should have been fixed already. I hope you speak spanish though...
But really, what could go wrong?
http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/5411705389.html
Sonic wrote: Here is one S55 that looks like the best one I can find from what I've seen. https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5377142619.html Avoiding northeast cars for saltiness and avoiding black cars is significantly limiting the choices. No black because hard to keep clean in the winter and then I look like a limo driver.
E36 M3 dude, if that one is as good as advertised, winner winner chicken dinner. 600hp will sure make up for any lack of corner speed. Just pray fuel prices stay low...
600hp S55. Drive the piss out of it prior to the event to find any gremlins like mazdeuce suggests.
I definitely would not get the V10 M5. That car has multiple issues and the parts on it cost a mint. A friend had one for like 10k miles and still ended up with problems with exhaust catalysts, DSG transmission issues.
The E39 M5 is not that maintenance intensive compared to the other E39 cars like the 540i, but the carbon build up issue is definitely a thing that I would avoid. Having a guy grind that stuff out is not cheap. It's definitely not that big compared to an S class Mercedes, more mid-sized sedan than anything else compared to the X-large S class.
Sonic wrote: Here is one S55 that looks like the best one I can find from what I've seen. https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5377142619.html Avoiding northeast cars for saltiness and avoiding black cars is significantly limiting the choices. No black because hard to keep clean in the winter and then I look like a limo driver.
Wow. This thing for the win. Looks like a great choice! Pick it up and drive the piss out of it for a while.
That S55 is one monster of a car! The one you posted looks like it's in great shape. I'm more of a BMW guy, but a 600+hp full sized Merc would be a blast. Go for it!
I was having a conversation a few weeks ago with a guy that works at a high end tuning shop about Quattroportes. He said basically to avoid all of the earlier ones because the DSG clutches go every 7k or so because they use the same transmission (and clutches) as the much lighter Ferrari the transmission came from. A clutch service for one of those is not cheap, hence the bargain bin prices you see all the time. Later cars got a different transmission better suited for the car's heft, and they are more reliable.
Beautiful car.
I commend your Aristocratic approach!
I'm going to throw this out here.
The early Mercedes E63 can be had for about 18k around my way. The 6.3 AMG's are beast and more reliable than the 5.5 AMG's!
E63 18k with rebuilt motor I don't know why they'd rebuild the motor but best believe everything done at a Mercedes dealer would have a warrenty if they rebuilt it themselves.
While browsing for the E63's I found this CLS63, cls63. What a beauty! Too bad about the title though.
How about a CLS500? This looks like a beauty.
My friend just bought one of these:
Probably out of your price range, but his cost $22,000 with 80,000 miles and only two owners. Clean title.
I didn't know you could pick these up for that price. Over 500hp, trick suspension, fancy interior...it sure ticks a lot of boxes.
I am totally biased for '03-06 E55, cuz I've never driven anything nicer. Nothing better for crossing continents and I would be perfectly happy one-lapping mine. Smaller and a bit lighter than s class and though everyone seems to diss the airmatic suspenders, it sure is nice to put in in C mode on the interstate and then sport 2 in the twisties. 8 piston calipers on rotors that are bigger than the wheels on my first hotrod? Yes please. If you get obscenely lucky, you'll find one that got the full brabus k8 treatment by the original owner like I did. 4door exotic supercar, this... I just love it.
A few other cars to consider:
Jag S Type R - same 400hp supercharged v8 as the XJR in a smaller body. $15K should easily get you a nice one under 100K
Audi S6 - Lamborghini based v10...
A little over budget, but all the air suspension is gone. E55
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/5387146404.html
Or something a little different....
JohnRW1621 wrote: No CTS-V?
This or (if auto) Genesis R-Spec Sedan. If we're going comfy cruiser with big power, that is my ticket punched. Or maybe G8 GT.
Is it the E63 AMG that overheats the transmission on track? A guy I instruct with has one and even driving fairly gently he boiled the fluid in a 25 minute session.
I think it is the later E63 and C63 that had the transmission overheating issues. The E55 certainly is in the price range and capability range, though when getting a Mercedes, something about the S appeals to me.
The E63, though amazingly capable would push the budget more than I want. The S6 or RS6, though very fast, are still Audis/VW, and I just don't want one. Genesis? Not nearly in the same league of sportiness in the suspension as the others, great well build cruisers though. CTSV has been looked at, Gen2 cars are amazing but too expensive for me, Gen1 the interiors just are not quality materials in comparison, and I don't really like how the Gen1 cars look.
Here's another S55 that is at the top of my list. Stock, 80k miles, warranty until 2019!
2004 S55
Honestly, I wouldn't trust the stock cooling on any automatic with track time. I'd definitely be upgrading that first, just to be on the safe side.
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