Max_Archer wrote: Just out of curiosity, what keeps Porsche off the list? A nicer-spec 911 would seem the logical alternative to the R8.
To many at the office, plus I have owned more then my fair share of 911's. The 964 is really the one one that interests me nowadays and its not reliable transport.
I like the idea of option 1 if not the selection.
I like MINI's better than Fiats, though I know you already have one. And instead of the Viper, get this:
I would love a Atom, but I already have the viper and it is way way more car then I need. Its actually beyond my ability to drive it near the edge.
An Atom is just more lunacy, wrapped in a crazy tortilla.
Been searching online about the Abarth a bit more on the forums that exist. Not to many show stopping problems. Lots of early cars needing special Abarth parts for repair or service and not being able to get them but not lately.
Going to hope in the R8 as well today if I can, as mentioned it might just be to slow for the price.
As a track junkie... #2 all the way. I'd get it in SRT-10 ACR spec.
Reasoning: Option one is a less attractive package than the car you already own (Cooper), just more of the same. The Audi R8 is probably awesome but it seems kind of soulless in the way a GT-R is... it's too good at doing stuff for me I like doing for myself and it isn't attractive or unique looking enough to my admittedly vintage-biased eye to pay a huge sum. Maybe I don't mean unique... it just isn't timeless looking. The Viper on the other hand - looks the part it plays.
If I were working from the same budget but free to shop elsewhere I would choose none of these.
Yet I would still take the Ford GT
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: As a track junkie... #2 all the way. I'd get it in SRT-10 ACR spec.. If I were working from the same budget but free to shop elsewhere I would choose none of these.
My current viper is beyond ACR spec at this point. The only thing I do not have really is the AC/Radio delete. And I have a better drive train in terms of robustness.
Here is the budget as I see it.
If I keep the viper I would like to keep the next car under say 50K.
Total budget if I sold the viper which I own outright would be 85K-100K give or take a few grand. That way I don't have a payment. I could do 125K if I wanted a 400-500$ a month payment but that's not what I typically do.
Current rates though are so low that I could stretch a little above that and be comfortable but there is not a lot of used cars above the 100K range that can be used as a daily driver and are on the tail end of the depreciation curve.
I only ask these question online as you guys think the way I do. I really have no friends who are car nuts, heck I travel so much lately I don't have friends outside of the net anymore that I talk with frequently. The guys I work with are 20 years older then me and don't know what I make or what I pull in on the side and I don't really want that out in the open.
Datsun1500 wrote:aussiesmg wrote: Yet I would still take the Ford GTThey never dropped in value, they went up. Sold new for $150-180. Sell now for $200k plus
Plus almost every one I have looked at for clients have been story cars. It seems like a one owner never hit GT is going to become a phantom.
I didn't realize you already had a tarted up Viper in the stable - so if you are shopping there must be some wanderlust involved because that one isn't doing the trick. Which way do you lean on the daily comfort vs raw and sporty compromise? Is the viper too rough around the edges? You had an late model Aston or were shopping for one at one point too. That or the Maserati vert (too lazy to search) and both of those fire up all the right synapses for me in the looks department and in the case of the maser... aural sensors too. So... where did that go wrong?
In that price range, with a balance of comfort and speed, poise and elegance... it's very hard to top a 997 without going to Italy. In the "50k ballpark" scenario - Have you driven a V8 M3 yet? They aren't the looker the E46 was but they do make all the right noises, dance moves and can keep the backside comfortable in awful traffic. If you fall on the other side of the NVH meter... there is an Exige 260 in near new condition to meet your needs.
In reply to wearymicrobe:
Why not Option 4? Sell the Viper (it honestly sounds like you don't/can't enjoy it), but the Abarth for the DD, and then get something classic for the toy. By being an older car, your co-workers won't get any ideas, plus you can buy it outright, and since it's slower, you'll be able to enjoy it more. If you do it right, you might be able to sell on in a few years even or maybe even for a profit.
A quick perusal of the $40K-$100K range shows multiples of each of these:
Ferrari Testarossa:
E-Type:
Mid-Year Vette:
Pantera:
Plus a lot of offbeats. Worth a thought...
Javelin wrote: Pantera:
Indeed. Or... (not sure if these are unobtanium or not):
Javelin wrote: In reply to wearymicrobe: Why not Option 4? Sell the Viper (it honestly sounds like you don't/can't enjoy it), but the Abarth for the DD, and then get something classic for the toy. By being an older car, your co-workers won't get any ideas, plus you can buy it outright, and since it's slower, you'll be able to enjoy it more. If you do it right, you might be able to sell on in a few years even or maybe even for a profit.
I do enjoy the viper, its just a very location/time specific car. On the right road/track at the right time there is nothing else in the world that I would want. Is just that good, driving it to work while stuck in traffic though which is 90% of what I have been doing with it lately is not fun. The 10% makes up for the 90% though.
Option 4 is what my dad keeps pushing. I would love a gen I Vette, or another early Packard, or If I could find an decent Cadillac Victoria I might be in heaven.
Muiras are more in the $750k range. I'd also say get the abarth, then sell the viper and get something else interesting.
Option 3. Skip the convertible bs, though. 
I think you'll get tired of the R8 V8 very quickly. I'm a VW/Audi tech and I actually see it alot. The R8 on the VF engenering website just left our shop a few months ago. We just installed it's 2nd new motor (3rd total). Manual gear box, stock motor and supercharger dont mix. The owner drives the car alot like it sounds like you might. Alot of street and track use. At 35k a pop, even more the last time becauses shavings got into the supersharger and it had to be replaced, getting tired of the R8 V8 is a costly venture.
As a tech I say owning/leasing a VAG product under warranty is always a good idea. I say go for the new RS5
Well really test drove the Abarth today and is a still fun. Second test drive though and the lack of a 6th gear is really really apparent on the freeway, ~3.2K rpm at 65. The plastics and construction are significantly worse then anything else I looked at that day. Plus the demonstrator Abarth already needed repair to the AC with 200 miles on it. Working but none of the dash lights worked for the AC.
The dealership experience was hands down the worst I have ever seen. No idea of options, no idea what they had on the lot, no idea about the one single car that they sell. 200+ cars on the lot.
Went too a second dealership about 30 miles away, just as bad, wanted to see if I picked a poor one. Possible worse then the first. Kept talking about lifestyle and how much fun it would be to own. Not a clue on service schedules, warrenty or even the lease specials the manufacturer was running at the time. Could not tell the difference between the different option packs on the standard cars. Just dreadful.
Popped around the back and there were a solid 30 cars in the repair bays. Also when you have 22 Abarths in stock and every dealer outside our general area is doing 1K off + the 500$ in dealer cash straight in the door and you want MSRP your smoking something.
Looked at a turbo VW coupe/convertible. Totally different experience, sales guy had his head on straight. Gave me residual and money factor numbers in ~2 minutes. Offered to buy the car down 3K to get the price in line. Unfortunately all they had on the lot was two special edition turbo's and three black 2.5 verts which were surprisingly nice to drive.
Got an appointment to es the R* this afternoon if I can sneak out of the house, I have major chores to do after being gone so long.
We have a couple guys that were looking at Abarths and went with a toyobaru instead and haven't looked back. Engine doesn't sound as good as the Fiat but quite a better option for someone who appreciates driving. Comfortable enough to eat up miles, decent mileage, sound like it has a lot less problems than the little scorpion.
I took out the junk in the trunk and the car is below 2700lb with 1/2 a tank, gets +30mpg on the highway all day long. Extremely approachable limits if you want to take the long way home some nights. Having driven savage vehicles similarly, I fully understand your position. Great batsh*t crazy fun but requires a lot of concentration and respect, can quickly become a chore and no point even risking on the street because that will be one long trainwreck.
I love the R8, particularly its 'It Came from the Future!' styling - it sure collects looks on the street. It's the most daily-driving friendly supercar this side of a 911 turbo... but it's not quite as fantastic to drive as it is to see and be seen in. What's the wholesale price for an early F430 these days?
Third Fiat dealer that was complete E36 M3 today. So the Abarth is completely out unless somehow they get their act together.
I walked in, pointed to the one I wanted on the lot gave them a printout of the lease deal that on the corp site. Said make it happen.
They came back with a deal where they had hidden almost 4K of extras in the deal with some shady shenanigans. Called then on the carpet and walked out of the dealership. Tried to keep the printout so I could post it up here but they grabbed it out of my hands after they saw I was not going to play ball.
Also stood behind my car and would not let me leave until I explained exactly how I was screwing them. which I was very very glad to do at the top of my lungs. Brand will be dead within 3 years if they cannot control the dealership base. Basically I am 2/3 being complete E36 M3 heads and 1/3 of a decent dealership with less cars on the lot. Wonder why that is.
What part of the country are you located in?
I'm sorry to hear that. My buying experience was nothing short of perfect when I picked up my 500 last July. If you were closer to KY, I'd recommend them.
Wow that sucks on the Abarth. The local Fiat dealership here in Huntsville was one of the most pleasant dealerships I have experienced.
Agreed on the above 2 comments. The local dealer was kind of a bust since they still wanted above MSRP for an Abarth, but their service guys have been great to me and always provide good service. The semi-local dealer I purchased from couldn't have been better. Someone screwed up and sent me an email quote lower than their selling price on the Abarth but they honored their screw up even though they had another buyer in the showroom who would have bought it at MSRP if I turned it down (not a dealer trick, I chatted at length with the guy while they sorted out their mistake)
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