Yes I am steeling the idea from the VINwiki series of videos on YouTube. If this goes well we can do a couple of these threads with different price points.
So what car would you get for 50K. It can be new or used. It can be a truck or a bike. Ok it can also be a boat if you want. It can be a responsible choice like a loaded up mini van or the not so responsible choice of say the best BiTurbo out there. It can even be a race car. There is no wrong answer it is strictly your choice.
Photos of your choice are encouraged and sale adds are also a bonus (If it is ok with the mods here at GRM)
My Choice for 50K would be a Ferrari 456 Front engine V12 6 speed manual pop up headlights. It is no 550 or 575 but 50K gets you a really good example.
This sold on BAT https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-ferrari-456-gt-4/ for 51k. I have seen higher millage ones in the mid 30k range.
EDIT: Also you can comment on another price point you all would like to see for other threads.
If I was going to spend a full $50K on one car I think it would be hard for me to pass up on a C7 Grand Sport. That's a lot of performance for the money.
Nicest competition yellow mica RX-7 I can find. Like so:
dps214
Reader
6/10/20 4:52 p.m.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2007-porsche-911-turbo-21/
It only saw 9k rpm once semi-recently, I'm sure the engine is fine.
There can only be one.
The newest, nicest V8 Vantage S you can find. I'll take mine as a drop top, others may want a coupe.
Mndsm
MegaDork
6/10/20 5:08 p.m.
I've actually done this mental exercise recently. Hightlights included-
Gen1/2 viper, preferrably GTS
Ferrari of indeterminate origion
c6 z06, c7, heavily modified c5 (found one with 1200 wheel for 50)
Really random Japanese stuff- R31 Impul was super high on the list.
Gen2 CTS V.
Hellcat/392 scat pack charger
I'm sure there are others. Eventually i decided I'd just rather have 50k in the bank. And then life changed and it was a really good idea i didn't buy a car.
Off-lease RS3, full stop, why this a question?
Modern Audi luxury, 5 cylinder howl, sub-4 seconds to 60, legit 12 second car. And it looks like a Jetta.
Right now I have these on the brain, they don't seem to depreciate and sell around 40K. Could put a blower on it and better wheels and tires and creep up to 50K.
Or find a cheap one and get a MH900e at the same time. But I have odd taste
There are some great choices so far in this thread. I would *really* want a nice Cobra 289 replica. Slab sides and wire wheels; no roll hoop, side pipes, or hood scoop.
dps214
Reader
6/10/20 5:42 p.m.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Off-lease RS3, full stop, why this a question?
Modern Audi luxury, 5 cylinder howl, sub-4 seconds to 60, legit 12 second car. And it looks like a Jetta.
I'll still take the 997 Turbo. To compare:
modern porsche luxury, flat 6 noises plus twin turbos, sub 4s 0-60, and it looks like the best styled generation of 911 (because it is).
Did I mention it makes 460ft-lbs of torque starting at 1900rpm?
I'd buy an NSX-T.
Or drop my 280z off at a restoration shop and have it completely redone.
Just played this game for real. I was looking at older exotics like the Ferrari 456. I looked at Astons, BMW 8 series, Porsche 911 and 928. Ultimately decided I wanted a car I could drive without worrying about possible collision damage and obsolete circuit boards and electrics. I bought a 2012 991 Carrera S with the PDK. I like my choice, drive the car all the time and have functioning Nav, Bluetooth, and Sirius radio. Love the NA sound and it's got all the power I need. Traded in an M6 with SMG. The BMW may have had more power but nowhere near as engaging to drive.
NickD
UltimaDork
6/10/20 6:06 p.m.
New: Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody. F8 Green with a 6-speed and rear seat delete, thank you very much.
Used: 5th-gen Camaro ZL1. Or Audi TT RS.
I feel like 50k isn't enough these days. Cars are so so expensive now!
Buuut anyway, I'll take the best Camaro ZL1 1LE or gen 5 Z/28 you can get, with any extra money for brakes and tires.
dps214 said:
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Off-lease RS3, full stop, why this a question?
Modern Audi luxury, 5 cylinder howl, sub-4 seconds to 60, legit 12 second car. And it looks like a Jetta.
I'll still take the 997 Turbo. To compare:
modern porsche luxury, flat 6 noises plus twin turbos, sub 4s 0-60, and it looks like the best styled generation of 911 (because it is).
Did I mention it makes 460ft-lbs of torque starting at 1900rpm?
I like cars that don't look like anything special Especially if you can get it in some generic understated grayish color.
And then:
It's a freakin' hot rod Jetta that sounds like an S1 E2 rally car. This is the car I would want to BUILD, and Audi mass-produced it.
Tough. 996 gt3 and 996 TT are up there at the top along with a decent 993CS. E30m3 with an S54 swap. E28 m5 cherry. Defender 90. Aerial Atom. Factory 5 daytona.
If we're talking "free money" that I can't do anything else with I'm thinking an air cooled 911. It might need a little work, but I missed the chance to get one when they were affordable. I'm torn between the 911 SC or the Carrera 3.2, but probably a Carrera 3.2 if I could find a decent one. Latest is Greatest and all...Then gotta pick a color, Guards Red or White???? Tough choices for $ I don't have. :)
Dave M (Forum Supporter) said:
I feel like 50k isn't enough these days. Cars are so so expensive now!
Buuut anyway, I'll take the best Camaro ZL1 1LE or gen 5 Z/28 you can get, with any extra money for brakes and tires.
I am hoping we play this game many more times at different price points.
I've been poor for most of my life, I can't imagine spending $50,000 on a car.
For me, it'd be a crew cab pickup of some sort. I'll be 65 in a few months so I could figure on driving it for my usual decade or two (hopefully).
Planning to live forever, so far, so good.
50k? Hm, maybe something like a ratty Iso, or Maserati Mexico.
Peabody
UltimaDork
6/11/20 1:29 a.m.
If I didn’t have to spend my own money... Easy
Fast but not really fast, handles like a pig, horrible on gas but driving a car like this is a sensation I can only describe as brutal. IMO there’s not a bad line anywhere on this car
An used semi to make some money with it.