Learn Me My Second Car

Ok so I am getting out of college in a year with a tiny loan and I want to save up over that year after college and buy a car to replace the Civic as a new DD and I wanted something different then some Japanese or American econobox. So my ideas are a 91-96 Jaguar XJS (6-cylinder), Alfa Romeo GTV6, Bentley Turbo R, '85-88 BMW M5, Buick Grand National, Delorean DMC-12, '80-'86 Lotus Esprit, '87-'92 Lotus Esprit, '84-'89 Porsche 911 or a later Porsche 928. Are any of these cars a horrible choice for a DD? Which one would you choose and please no suggestions of P71, Miata or E30 that isn't the answer here. Fill me in on anything you know about these cars. I am pretty sure the Bentley Turbo R will be the most expensive.

Keep the civic as backup! If you want an aged luxury, performance car it will break often.

I was planning on using the Civic as a track rat and possible buying a truck as a back-up vehicle and tow vehicle and well a truck.

Not a DeLorean, I can say that. I had a college buddy who drove one for 2 years at school. Well, more accurately he drove it every once in a while, because something was always broken on it.

I drove it several times (owner often had "one too many") and it was one of the most un-fun vehicles to drive that I've ever experienced. Slow, terrible handling, and someone in the car next to you at every stoplight asking you if you've fixed the flux capacitor yet.....

A big -1 on the DeLorean and the Jaguar. I've driven and worked on both, and they're both trash. Grand Nationals are great, but cost $$$ to get into a clean one.

Honestly I'd go with the 911. It will retain it's value, be DD reliable, and still be an "exotic".

Other cars to consider: E36 M3, Volvo V70R, and since you seem to like 80's wedge's, late C4 Corvette.

You forgot Maserati Biturbo.

GTV6/Delorean out of the list though, followed by 928 and Esprit.

From the list you gave: GTV6 (by far my first choice) 911 928

Others:

Milano

164 (although id hate to work on one)

Peugeot 405 MI16

Biturbo of some type (for the kind of money you are talking probably a later 430)

BMW 635

Maybe a Lancia Scorpion if you are really short?

I drive a milano everyday, and its pretty simple and easy to work on, i dont see any reason you cant use a milano or gtv6 as a daily driver depending on how much you have to drive.

I daily the Milano 45 miles each day.

You are dreaming pretty big. I've been out of college about a year, and I am nowhere near saved enough for a Bentley Turbo R... Real life is expensive.

Grand National is the best investment of the cars you list and the by far the best dd. Porsche 911 is also good, but very expensive to run. All the rest sound totally nuts to me for a primary dd unless you have a very generous trust fund, a large garage with heat and ac, and a AAA Gold membership for towing. You didn't mention your budget for this kamikaze mission. That would definitely help to know. Assuming 10k for a budget, I agree with Javelin that the 94-96 C4 also sounds like a good bet even though its not on your list it does seem to fit in with the other cars. Good luck, brave youth!

96DXCivic wrote: I was planning on using the Civic as a track rat and possible buying a truck as a back-up vehicle and tow vehicle and well a truck.

This seems rather backwards. Just my viewpoint at least. And i'm completely batE36 M3 insane, and i don't think i would consider any of your choices for DD status other than the M5.

Keeping the Civic as a DD and using a 911 as a track rat makes way more sense to me. Let the economy car do what it does best, and let the sports car do what it does best.

You don't want to be left with your track rat being slower around any given track than your DD that you can't afford to flog on the track anyways, do you?

What about a mercedes 500E, 190E 2.3-16, or 450SEL 6.9? I still think a milano verde would be a good choice, and you can get a perfect one for $7500, and there are at least 2 people here that drive them everyday.

I drove an 81 GTV6 DD for about 5 years, way too much fun.

Stupid double post.

autoXer wrote: Grand National is the best investment of the cars you list and the by far the best dd. All the rest sound totally nuts to me for a primary dd unless you have a very generous trust fund, a large garage with heat and ac, and a AAA Gold membership for towing.

Odd, I daily drive a Milano, which is effectively a 4 door GTV6.

I bought it for $600 and drove it 200 miles home. I do have a garage, but it has neither heat nor a/c, and the Alfa has never been in there. She's never had to be towed and I certainly do not have a trust fun.

My commute is about 45 miles a day.

I have put about 40k miles on mine in 2 years, and although I have done lots of maintaince type work to it, it only has been on a tow truck once, because of a failed throwout bearing.

Ok so I am hearing 911 which I was kinda leaning towards, Grand National and Milano (which I forgot about). What are the differences between a Turbo Regal and a Grand National?

Ok, I might question what career field you are entering that you will have that much money one year out of college, but it is more fun to enable.

For a daily driver that has a lot in common with an exotic, you can't really beat a Corvette, the newer the better. Really, compare anything but "intangibles" and a Corvette does all the same things any of the attainable exotics can do, just cheaper and more reliable. Plus there is a huge community out there knows about all the issues and can help you get them sorted out. Pluses over the 911 is that the same money will get you a much new/nicer Corvette, plus parts and service are much cheaper.

But just for giggles, here are some attainable* exotics for you to think about:

BMW 633/635CSi, BMW 840/850CSi, Acura NSX, Ferrari Mondial or 308GT4, Ferrari 308/328/348 GTB/S, Ferrari 456M, Jaguar XK8, Aston Martin DB7, DeTomaso Pantera, Mercedes 500SL or 600SL (whatever the V12 version was called), & Whatever that big Mercedes coupe with the V12 was called

*(individual attainability levels may differ)

96DXCivic wrote: What are the differences between a Turbo Regal and a Grand National?

The color choices, mostly. The Grand National was a specific Turbo Regal variant that came pretty well optioned and only in black. There were a couple other turbo Regal versions that had the same motor but could be ordered with fewer options. The only Grand National with a "special" engine was the rare GNX.

(Not including the very first Grand Nationals, which were a cosmetic package on a non-turbo Regal.)

91-96 Jaguar XJS (6-cylinder), Money pit to keep running (I hear)

Alfa Romeo GTV6, quirky, might have potential, (i dont know much on them)

Bentley Turbo R,

'85-88 BMW M5, This is the way I would go

Buick Grand National, Fun in a line, but what about turning?

Delorean DMC-12, Money Pit

'80-'86 Lotus Esprit, Not known for reliability, arent some parts hard to find/$$$?

'87-'92 Lotus Esprit, ditto

'84-'89 Porsche 911 Parts can be expensive

a later Porsche 928. Everything I hear on these says RUN, mega money pit.

Of all the cars you listed, I'd only consider the 911 and M5. You may also want to open up your search to the E39 540i sport, it's faster, cheaper, and far nicer inside than the E28 M cars, while also being easier to find in really nice shape. Unless you want to spend $30k+ on a really clean E28, be sure to budget for LOTS of deferred maintenance. I work on German cars for a living and old BMW's I see seem to either be babied garage queens or totally run into the ground, with few in between.

911's generally don't break in terribly expensive ways unless they're abused. With any Porsche spend the money on a really nice one up front or spend twice as much fixing it later. In my experience you will spend at the very least $20k on any 911 (either up front or in repair costs, your choice), and that number doubles for anything interesting (turbo, RS, etc...). The 84-89 cars you're interested in were all galvanized, so they pretty much don't rust unless they've been sitting at the bottom of the ocean. If you find a rusty one it's probably been wrecked and repaired incorrectly, run!

I've driven a lot of unreliable cars as daily drivers, but many on your list would be trying to say the least. Keep in mind that I suppose you have to work, and getting to work is important. I've found there is a difference between needed expensive maintenance, and having a car that's expensive because things break all the time. Some on your list I would put in that category.

My first answer is to go drive as many as you possibly can, and research them as well. There are some you can rule out on the test drive, others through reading about their quirks (for example the driving position of the GTV6, or it's short timing belt, water pump shelf life. 944's also have short timing belt intervals). Decide how much torture you are willing to put up with for the driving experience.

Having owned a couple of cars on your list, the easiest choice would be the 911. You need to buy wisely though and have it checked by a specialist. I used my 944 Turbo as a daily driver for a couple of years, and it was good at that role, but required more maintenance than the 911. I would also add an E36 M3 to your list, and a TT Supra. Both will outrun most of the cars on your list and be much easier to live with as well.

Platinum90 wrote: You are dreaming pretty big. I've been out of college about a year, and I am nowhere near saved enough for a Bentley Turbo R... Real life is expensive.

THIS!!!!