Ive covered a fair bit of the cheap end of the bucket list. Lately I've been thinking the low end of the exotics are in reach. What sounds more terrifying to own, a Ferrari 308 gt4, maserati merak or indy, alfa montreal or lotus esprit (early Stephens)? Which would you want or would you just forget it and go get a c5
oldtin wrote: Ive covered a fair bit of the cheap end of the bucket list. Lately I've been thinking the low end of the exotics are in reach. What sounds more terrifying to own, a Ferrari 308 gt4, maserati merak or indy, alfa montreal or lotus esprit (early Stephens)? Which would you want or would you just forget it and go get a c5
If I was smart... I'd forget them and buy a C5 Z-06 but...
Love the Ferrari, Maser Merak and the Lotus. I do not like the look of the Montreal or Indy for some reason. Of all of them I fear the Maser most and so that is the one I would buy.
C5. The end.
As far as the C5 vs the rest - I guess it depends on your wallet/aggravation/pain threshold. Also, what's more important - performance or unique-ness/beauty?
C5 sounds like a lot less trouble.
Lust for the Montreal
308 GT4 easy car to live with. Just buy it.
Grab a drink, sit on the porch and watch the rays of the setting sun play over your exotic. Which one fits best in that scenario? Because if it's broken (again), that level of enjoyment is important.
Definitely the Alfa Montreal. Exotic Alfa is much more rewarding than just another douche with a 308...
also...
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!
I'm going to regret asking, but what's the going rate for Montreals here in the US?
Most horror potential, IMO, the one with NO paper trail/history of maintenance. +1 for the Montreal. Spent a day driving a Merak. Did absolutely nothing for me. Found the Euro 1981 BMW 323 with body by Bauer to be much, much more fun, refined, and better built than lots of the exotics I've driven. I'd go after that, for an "exotic" hard to find, unique, semi-convertible fun for open air motoring, and that rev forever engine, pedal placement, it was what every BMW should be. Not semi-luxo barges. I'd also go after a Fiat Dino. You get that Dino V-6 wail in a Fiat-insurable body. A bit hard to find, when was the last time you saw one, and not--last I looked--out of the realm of the prices some of the other cars . And, of course, a first year 911 Turbo. Not a second year, or an upgraded, but, an honest to god first year imported to the US 930. You;ll have a nice lawn ornament with a non-highly documented, low mileage 308. And they aren't cheap. The 'vette, not an exotic, but the least expensive
For a bit of perspective a base, auto, convertible C5 will be significantly faster than all of your other options. And you can buy one with no miles from someones grandma for nothing. And it'll get 30mpg on the highway and never break.
You could also buy a C5 z06 for about $20k, put another few bucks in heads, cam, intake, exhasut, and a tune and be faster than most anything you're likely to encounter on a daily basis. Plus they sound awesome turned up.
skruffy wrote: For a bit of perspective a base, auto, convertible C5 will be significantly faster than all of your other options. And you can buy one with no miles from someones grandma for nothing. And it'll get 30mpg on the highway and never break.
That is true, but you're following what is called sensible thinking (nothing wrong with that). A classic exotic isn't about the 0-60 numbers and mpg. It's every bad romance you had in college rolled up in sexy sheet metal and a pair of leather buckets.
The montreal is the only one I've never seen in person and me likey.
A vette is to exotics as a lexus is to luxury, the sensible choice. If you want a real exotic your heart is already pumping as you go to start the car and think "will this thing start?"
Why not something like a BMW 850? "Exotic" V12 goodness...and, I think, a very good-looking GT body to match.
STS_ZX2 wrote: Why not something like a BMW 850? "Exotic" V12 goodness...and, I think, a very good-looking GT body to match.
Don't think the US versions had the NACA duct in the hood, otherwise, a good choice--and they don't look nearly as large as this in person. Make mine Black.
Sweet mother of jeebus:
benzbaron wrote: The montreal is the only one I've never seen in person and me likey.
I do like them, despite the somewhat mundane underpinnings (Alfa 105 series Guilia).
benzbaron wrote: A vette is to exotics as a lexus is to luxury, the sensible choice. If you want a real exotic your heart is already pumping as you go to start the car and think "will this thing start?"
Can we please leave my truck out of this? 
triumph5 wrote:STS_ZX2 wrote: Why not something like a BMW 850? "Exotic" V12 goodness...and, I think, a very good-looking GT body to match.Don't think the US versions had the NACA duct in the hood, otherwise, a good choice--and they don't look nearly as large as this in person. Make mine Black.
The clue is on the license plate and the wheels...
That's an Alpina B12, not a regular 850.
I don't really get the appeal of exotics but ... Lotus. At least that way you have a genuinely good chassis and a car that you can change/improve without destroying the value.
I'd swing Aston Martin, but that's just me, oh, I could do a 308, a Ferrari is a Ferrari is a Ferrari...
The 308 without a doubt. Great current pricing, fun to drive and parts are not hard to source. Records and a PPI are mandatory(unless you are a good mechanic/and enjoy a project). I've owned versions of the 308GT4 and the 308 GTB. Both were great fun, made great sounds, handled well and looked great. A sense of occasion on every drive, held their value when it was time to sell. A major service isn't too bad if you find a competent independent and very reasonable if you perform them yourself. Watch out for rust, interior issues(expensive to make right) and deferred service. No reason to settle for a beater when nice examples aren't much more expensive. Good luck!
I have seen them all in person.. I would be torn between the 308 and the Montreal... the Alfa is just an awesome looking car.. and something most people have never seen. Everybody has seen a 308
I know of one that is better than perfect for ~18K. Another that needed paint after tagging a soft wall at a HPDE went for ten. Go for 89 and up.
Most everyone (not you Forza) seems to be overlooking the GT4 that comes after the 308 in his original post. I confess, though, that I have considered them as well.
But, I'd cave in if given the chance at a Montreal.
And, Boxhead Tim, they were never sold in the US, although there are a few here.
I've spent a fair amount of time beating on a jim clark edition esprit.
it looked awsome. And could out accelerate my e30 hpde car if you had enough time to wait for the turbo. In most other respects it was fairly lame.
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