So in about 6 months I'll have my business loan paid off. As a present to myself I was going to buy a Porsche 996 Turbo. I've always wanted a 911 and the 996 Turbo is a performance bargain right now.
Currently in my stable are a '03 Audi allroad (6mt, 475hp) that's my daily driver. My wife has a '08 Lexus GX470 (aka ROW Prado/Land Cruiser) that's her DD. My track car is a '89 Porsche 951 with a LS1 swap, and I have a KTM 640 Adventure motorcycle.
My initial plan was to replace my allroad with the 996 Turbo, until I realized that's not a good car to drive up to Vail in the middle of a snow storm. I could take my wife's car, but that would leave her with nothing to drive as she can't drive a stick. Yes, I've tried multiple times to teach her. Not gonna happen.
So that means either keeping the allroad, or buying some $5k SUV that I can use as a snow/tow vehicle. Or simply not getting the 996 Turbo and maybe looking at how else I could use that $35-40k (add another $10k if I sell the allroad).
That's a lot of cash. I figure I could easily get a very nice Mk4 Supra Turbo and have money left over. Or I could get a Porsche Cayenne Turbo for ~$20k and have another $30k (assuming I sell the allroad) to get some cool sports car like a 996 C4S or ????
Provisos - I like somewhat modern cars, like from the late '80's on. I don't like E36 M3 boxes, I'm not interested in the 15 miata's I could buy with $30k.
gee, let me know when your done with that Allroad will ya?
I thought some 996 Turbos were AWD? A good set of tires ought to be enough to get to Vail, no?
plance1, the allroad is a beast. I'm the second owner, all records including the original window sticker, upgraded everything. Love it, it's a great family DD, only thing it can't do is tow the 951.
JTspellS, that's a good option. Can you get a decent NSX for ~$25-30k? I love the way they look, not particularly fast tho. I was also thinking maybe a mid '80's Ferrari 328?
ive always loved the 6speed allroad and the older S8's regardless of what anyone says about the maintenance. Im serious, when its time for the allroad to go, pm me, hell pm me now and give me your email so I can see some pics
Send me the money, I promise I'll send the car. Really I will.
On a serious note, how often do you go to Vail? If it's a few times a year, buy what you want and rent a car to go to the Vail. If it's every weekend, buy a old Disco or Urban.
maj75
Reader
6/20/14 6:57 p.m.
Buy the '79 Z28 with 2500 miles. Some people think it is worth $35000
maj75 wrote:
Buy the '79 Z28 with 2500 miles. Some people think it is worth $35000
I think that has been excluded due to age. It's a shame because that would be perfect.
Seriously, Porsche.
In reply to docwyte:
A quick autotrader search 1st gen models are easily in that price, 2nd gen slightly higher mileage are in the area mind you this is dc area.
Remember speed can always be made lol, no hate with a Porsche though.
Not this one, but one like it:
Getting in and out of an Exige would probably get old in a hurry.
Dr. Hess, I've been on the track with the Lotus, they're fabulous track cars. Wouldn't want one as a street car tho. Remember I have a track prepped LS swapped 951 as my track car. Whatever toy I get will primarily be a street car. That means it's gotta be comfy, have good working A/C, a decent stereo, etc.
Might be cool to get something of a classic, the NSX and Mk4 Supra Turbo's fall into that zone, a car that may not rocket up in value, but won't really plummet either.
Toyman, I head up the hill pretty often in the winter. We also have some gnarly storms down here in Denver that I wouldn't want to bring a 996 Turbo (or like car) out in, regardless of snow tires or not. It would be nice to have a tow vehicle for the 951, so some sort of SUV with a ~8000lb tow capacity could be useful.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
I thought some 996 Turbos were AWD? A good set of tires ought to be enough to get to Vail, no?
This.^^^^^^^ AWD and/or snows. Problem solved.
In reply to docwyte:
Then I vote, used 4WD Suburban tow beast, and buy what you want.
Yes, the 996 Turbo is AWD, albeit with a heavy rear wheel bias on the system. That's not the issue, the issue is the lack of ground clearance. With snow tires that car will get around Denver most of the winter just fine. In a heavy storm, it'll be stuck. Heading up the hill over the 10,000 foot passes in the middle of a storm, it'll get stuck.
It just doesn't have the necessary ground clearance to make it through more than a few inches of snow. I've had more than 2 feet of snow in my driveway before and last year I seemed to drive to Vail in storms every time.
So that brings me back to getting a seperate snow/tow SUV, then some sorta fun sports car.
So besides a 996 Turbo, NSX, Mk 4 Supra Turbo, what else is out there that fits the bill and is something that could be considered a classic?
Opti
Reader
6/20/14 9:57 p.m.
My pick. Any color but yellow, no stripes, CCWs classics or otherwise.
Viper GTS
Honorable Mention
C4 ZR1 (Many hate the look of the C4 but I love them plus the 4V V8 gives me a chubby)
RX7 (pretty but Id rather have the supra)
328 or 456 well because Ferrari, but Id definitely join Fchat first and do some research. I frequent the 355 forums, which is apparently about the worst on Ferrari maintenance, Im no so sure how bad the others are.
C6 Z06. Not a classic but oh so much performance for the dollar
C5 z06. Not as fast as the C6 but way prettier in speedway white.
996 turbo. Not a porsche fan but these are a performance bargain.
M6 or M5. Why? Because V10. I love these engines.
M6 picture because its prettier. Imola red if you can find it
NSX. NA1 only. pop up headlights. Black top is a bonus
8 Series BMW. not fast but Id daily the E36 M3 out of one. SOOO Pimp. V12 6speed if you can find one.
Only 4 doors that made it both had V10s. Audi S8, because an ex gf dad had one and it was awesome.
Opti just gave you the list I was putting together.
Toyman01 wrote:
In reply to docwyte:
Then I vote, used 4WD Suburban tow beast, and buy what you want.
My friend picked up a suburban as a trackday tow car for his 951 and DDs it also, got it for a song too. Works great and can sleep in it at the track.
Could do that and a 996 turbo if you sell the allroad or keep the allroad and get a sweet 993? I haven't looked at prices to get the details sorted out but that's my opinion
The early 4.3L Aston Vantage V8's are getting down below $50k if you can stretch that far. Not fast, but oh my imaginary deity are they georgous to look at
Quick search turned up zero Vantage in your price range, so here is an Aston Martin that is!
http://mobile.dealercarsearch.com/VehicleDetail.aspx?InventoryId=4565808&Guid=bd0bf15e-b1da-4dd3-806d-3d3217b2eb41
Three pedal, V12 goodness!
carbon
HalfDork
6/21/14 12:50 p.m.
I vote mkiv supra turbo. Drive it for free or make money if it appreciates.
Cotton
UltraDork
6/21/14 3:07 p.m.
Lancer007 wrote:
Toyman01 wrote:
In reply to docwyte:
Then I vote, used 4WD Suburban tow beast, and buy what you want.
My friend picked up a suburban as a trackday tow car for his 951 and DDs it also, got it for a song too. Works great and can sleep in it at the track.
Could do that and a 996 turbo if you sell the allroad or keep the allroad and get a sweet 993? I haven't looked at prices to get the details sorted out but that's my opinion
This is my vote also. 996 turbo plus used 3/4 ton burb for towing.
I would suggest a Porsche 996 s
a Factory Five 818
a C6 Corvette Z51 or Grand Sport instead of the Z06, and get Sparco or Corbeau seats.
an E92 M3
Saturn Sky redline/ Pontiac solstice
NC Miata, add Koni yellows or Bilstein sports (super or turbocharger if needed), because the answer is always Miata.