Budget Supercar Comparo

I'm going to be different and say xkr, even though I think of it as a business trip/grand tourer instead of a supercar. I love the things.
But in all honesty, what I will buy when things start working out and it's time to get a new DD is a 996 TT
I'd love an nsx or a 308 though, for sure. I think the 308 was the first ferrari I fell in love with

I think the drop top XKR is one of the most beautiful cars made. Great values too. Nice ones can be had in the 16K range. 390 supercharged horsepower isn't bad either.

In reply to Argo1:

Agreed, and they are basically the same car as the early DB7s, but once Aston went to V12s there's no comparison. Still, for the money they run about half an Aston...

amg_rx7 wrote: I'll keep my FD RX7. Simple and effective w/ a real race car suspension design. 2800 lbs w/ a full tank of gas 315 rwhp - 216 RWTQ 8.9 power to weight ratio

This is and has always been a gorgeous car. Give it a few years and they will be selling for far more than they did from the factory.

I would like this car with anything under the hood. Anything.

308, Viper, Aston.

So I guess there are no Merc fans here. Nobody wants 470 hp and 520 lb. ft. of torque? 203 mph if you chip the limiter?

OK, so maybe it is the Sumo wrestler of supercars at 4300 lbs.... fuel consumption of a Lear jet....still it's 4 seconds to 60 mph!

In reply to Argo1:

SLs are for old women.

Not sexy enough to be a supercar. The Gullwing (SLS? SLR) - now that's a different story...

Viper, all day long.

Someone was moaning the high tech of so many supercars. The Viper is as high tech as a sledge hammer. No fluff, just a big engine.

In early 2010 I had this same debate with myself. Looking to spend ~30k... I seriously considered early vipers, elise/exiges, NSXs and the cayman, but ended up with the C5 Z06. It was just a better all around car for me.

A year later I traded it in on a C6 Z06; not that there was anything wrong with the C5, I loved that car... but the C6 was just better in every way and I couldn't resist.

Another vote for the Viper. It wins the "Kid's Bedroom Poster" category hands down. And that's what being a Supercar is all about right?

PS, what's a used Countach going for these days? ^ Edit, redacted. Only about $50-80k over budget. Oops.

RX-7 is such a perfect sports car. Plus reminded me of SUPRA TURBO. Those two are still living at the top of my list.

This is my choice. If I am spending my money I want blistering speed and the ability to use it to go to the grocery store. The 996 Turbo laps the 'ring as fast as the Z06 but is a better and more comfortable road car. I know first hand about Porsche dependability. Once you own a Porsche it's really hard to seriously consider other cars.

Is a porsche a supercar like we are talking about? If that's the case, the 996 awd one with a LS motor stuck in it. So much win!

HiTempguy wrote: Is a porsche a supercar like we are talking about? If that's the case, the 996 awd one with a LS motor stuck in it. So much win!

I don't think anyone who owns a turbo Porsche would ever take a working Porsche engine out and put in an LS. Not even close.

Argo1 wrote: I don't think anyone who owns a turbo Porsche would ever take a working Porsche engine out and put in an LS. Not even close.

I was referring to if the 996 was eligible for this discussion, I'd put a V8 one (like in the recent GRM) at the top of my list. It said budget supercars, nothing screams budget like a $10k porch with a v8 swapped into it ;)

Supercars might not be the right term... I would go with "Exotics". I don't think anyone would say a M3 is a "supercar". If I were going for a supercar / exotic, I would have a hard time not taking the Ferrari (308).

That said, my personal preference would take me to the the 911 or the Cayman. The 911 has more power, but I think the Cayman would turn a better lap time. It would come down to the specifics of the car available before I could make my choice.

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage all the way.

But I'm more than a little biased on that call. The V12 DB7 was the first full production project I ever worked on. Lovely looking car, and pretty fun to drive. It was the car that honestly saved Aston Martin- who at the time was making a DB7 (that was mostly a Jag design) with a superchared I6 (which was mostly a jag engine). Granted, the V12 was basically 2 duratec V6's that was longer (not welded together...), but it was more powerful AND lighter than the I6 was- so it made the DB7 a real car for it's market at the time.

That let them develop a new platform (Vanquish), and now they are capable on their onw. The engine was good enough that the current V12 is mostly the same basic design.

True- the car isn't a real hot performer- it's largely based off of the XJS platform... And it has a lot of interior drawbacks- could never figure out how to use the HVAC. But all in all, it was a great car, and great enough to put Aston back on a realistic map.

OTOH, the day that they did some 0-100's with 2 of the mufflers taken out- shivers up my back. And another day doing TC testing, who could do the most laps on the 400ft ice circle, sideways- with all of that torque.

The next question- would I ever get one? No- having driven them on real public roads, there's not much of a point to have a super car. Even at speeds that are stupid- twice the speed limt- super cars are loafing. And the rest of the drivers on the road are too dumb to figure out how to let me really enjoy a car like that.

Still, a very biased vote for the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage.

Elise/Aston are tied for first.

Here's another German "heavyweight" contender that hasn't received any love from the group. 4.8L V8 with 360hp, Getrag 7-speed sequential gearbox, 190 mph unlimited top end, and gas mileage good enough to drive everyday. IMO the only decent looking Chris Bangle styled BMW. Any takers?

190mph with 360hp @ that weight?

something doesn't add up

Argo1 wrote: Here's another German "heavyweight" contender that hasn't received any love from the group. 4.8L V8 with 360hp, Getrag 7-speed sequential gearbox, 190 mph unlimited top end, and gas mileage good enough to drive everyday. IMO the only decent looking Chris Bangle styled BMW. Any takers?

I am currently contemplating one of these in as a convertible.

$80k+ new in 2005. Now $25k with just over 50k miles. I love how depreciation allows me to roll like an orthodontist after only a few years. .

Rusnak_322 wrote: $80k+ new in 2005. Now $25k with just over 50k miles. I love how depreciation allows me to roll like an orthodontist after only a few years. .

That is exactly the point of this thread!

So ya - how does it go 190mph? every test I see says 150's... and 360hp isn't pushing 4000# vehicle anywhere near that