Traffic was light on the way to work this morning, and started thinking about cars I'd like to have still. But not the $1mil Ferrari's and such.
I'm thinking more like an MR2 from Prime Performance with a MK4 turbo, maybe a Fiat X1/9 with the Acura drivetrain swap that company in Columbus does. Probably even an LS-swap Miata from Flyin' Miata...
What about you? Thinking maybe a $500k lottery win, you know, with 4 of 6 numbers or something.
Preferably a Dino powered Hawk HF, but an Alfa powered one would be alright too.
Jerry wrote: I'm thinking more like an MR2 from Prime Performance with a MK4 turbo...
Just be sure to upgrade the trans to a 6 speed if you go that way. Ask JG about that...
After Taxes thats somewhere near 250k. Which would pay off the house, and the cars, and the student loans. Then I would be completely debt free.
So another words, I would discuss with the wife and get whatever we wanted at around the 30k mark. Maybe a decent 911 for a Daily. Just grab a 87 Targa and drive the hell outta it.
I'd get one of the racecars that are for sale locally for like $2k and a 10 year old truck. Then I'd finally go racing.
Edit: As far as a DD, an E38 7 series.
Finish the next stage of my racetruck. Pro tour the hell out of my Nova. Buy a new Caprice for discrete Q-ship. Buy MrsSTM317 the new ride of her choice. That should chew up a hundred and fifty grand or so.
I'd oversee a team of craftsmen make me an all-aluminum Porsche 356.
(And tow it around with a '68 Kaiser M-715 with a 440)
I'd spend maybe $7k fixing up the Corolla (bodywork & paint, cams & ITBs, 15x8 wheels), $15k modding and fixing the Samurai (frame resto, aluminum body, long-travel coilover conversion, 16v head w/ EFI) and I'd save the rest for non-automotive use. I guess it will help get my next car project going a little faster. That's not enough to go wild with when you're starting where I am.
Well crap, link doesn't work. I'll try a picture.
Thinkkker wrote: After Taxes thats somewhere near 250k. Which would pay off the house, and the cars, and the student loans. Then I would be completely debt free. So another words, I would discuss with the wife and get whatever we wanted at around the 30k mark. Maybe a decent 911 for a Daily. Just grab a 87 Targa and drive the hell outta it.
This is about where I am. Pay everything off, make sure the family has one stone-reliable car, buy interesting cars that won't kill me in depreciation a la Doug DeMuro and blog about them so I can write them off as business expenses.
I'd buy a really loaded an nice Diesel truck and a nice camper trailer. Easily 100k right there. The rest I'd probably buy new furniture, tools, and save.
For modest lottery winnings I'd replace the old suburban with one that's about 10 years old and 3/4 ton. Spend a few thousand getting the Passat "right".
My big expense would be turning the CSPish Miata into a fully prepped, top-of-the-heap, Nationals winning CSP monster. Should cost about 30 grand, plus a healthy tire budget to take it around on the SCCA tour circuit.
Put the money in a well equipped new shop then start draggin' old E36 M3 home for retirement projects.
not a car... I would buy a nice sized sailboat and kiss all of you goodbye as I follow the sun (and wind) to warmer climes
Today, I'd start with a 91 Suburban, swap in D-max/allison combo, small lift and 35's. Some updating with the interior, roof rack with lights/spare and 50-gallong fuel tank. Then around June, I'd load up and see how far north we could get.
I'd probably surf craigslist like a sweaty-toothed madman and post lots of ads on here asking about specific experiences and such. Then I'd wallow in my indecisiveness and wind up sitting on the cash and driving the same old hunks of E36 M3.
Basically just a more intense, higher budget version of what I already do.
I appologize in advance. 
Newest Skyline GTR that I can import.
I've bought my dream car once already. I didn't do anything with it. I wasted that time and money. It went to someone on this board who did more on his way home than I did in the 5 years it shared my garage. Lesson learned.
If I am waxing nostalgic I don't remember the nuances of the car I took my first wheel-to-wheel start in. I remember the smell of unburnt fuel popping and spitting on over-run from the car in front of me as we slowly came up behind the pace car. I remember the heat, the sound of my heartbeat in my own ears, the sweat running in my eyes... the little rising panic right before the roar of EVERYTHING as the green twiched in the starter's hand. The sudden calm amid the madness of turn one in a 25 minute sprint. I can replay it as clear as the day it happened even after 100 more of them that followed. I could have made this post into a short story with just the first lap :) I have similar memories with many inexpensive and some very expensive forays and adventures. That is where the value is.
If I stumble on a golden ticket I'm spending my windfall on an experience. If I need to buy things to participate... fine. But, I think I've outgrown acquiring things for the sake of having them.
I wonder if I can dogfight a helo? Finish the Baja 1000? Summit the K2? Live off the back of a motorcycle for as long as it takes to cover the world? Yeah.
P100D
The latest gen 911 GT3.
Buy the wife a new mini suv of her choice, finish the zephyr with a big block and a procharger after the back half is done. Buy a nice 75-79 f150 and have it undercoated too hell for a tow rig/daily. Maybe update too a more modern driveline.
Pre 76 Bronco. Baby box on wheels like my dad had before I was born.
I don't need the lottery winnings for it, at least what I saw in CA they were more affordable than a golf or fiesta. But with the lottery winnings I could afford it's own garage space, out of the snow AND out of my way working on other things.
Sadly the reality of a minor win in the lottery doesn't get me much further ahead than I am now. I would probably throw some money at my 2011 Camaro to make it even faster. Maybe start the restoration of my 67 Camaro that I have been putting off forever. Pay off some bills. Get the kid's college paid for. Hopefully some rest to throw at retirement. At that point maybe look into a toy. Exocet or Factory five maybe.
I'm definately with Huckleberry on the pay for some experiences. There is a lot of places I would like to go and things to see that only need money and time.
Build my shop.
A 4x4 Sprinter with a custom toy-hauler RV conversion.
Finish my 1800ES resto-mod.
Find a '69 Charger, if there's any money left over.
I've already bought my dream car, so I suppose I'd throw my dream engine into it. Then, I'd go out and get an all weather daily driver so my wife could drive the Grand Cherokee
Cayman GTS (already have) + 911R 4.0 engine + supporting mods + 991.2 Carrera 4S daily driver
That should take care of 200k I'd imagine
The rest for consumables 
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