Brett_Murphy wrote: My gearhead friends and I have a joke. If I can't afford to buy an (insert car we can't afford here, say a Porche 911), we might as well aspire to not afford a (insert even more expensive car we can't afford, say a Ferrari).
Or... "if you're gonna dream, dream big! It doesn't cost any more." 
Porsche GT3
Lotus Elise
With the exception of the Mazda Miata, everything else strikes me as too heavy and/or complicated. Especially BMWs.
The Elise is pretty much my short list, but since we're talking new, then I'd never get it. I'm just too cheap. My '91 MR2 is maybe 65% of an Elise for, what, 5% of the cost? If Toyota actually makes that Subaru/AE86 rwd car they've been talking about I might be tempted - IF they keep it under 2800 lbs. Meh. Probably still cost more than I'd ever spend.
(edit) Hotlink added
fast_eddie_72 wrote: The Elise is pretty much my short list, but since we're talking new, then I'd never get it. I'm just too cheap.
+1
any particular reason why a YJ over a CJ or TJ your way? i like them all but its rare that the YJ is picked first. i do like the dash more than the TJ.
Well, i think the Tj's went a little too far in the refinement direction and are noticeably more expensive, and i think the CJs are too far in the other direction and are generally heaping piles of E36 M3.
I like the yjs because they are crude and simple and direct, but still came with decent, modern fuel injected engine management, and i like the looks, including the rectangular headlights which i actually like more than a tj front end. I think if you are keeping them close to stock the biggest thing the yj gives up to the TJ other than the refinement i dont want, is ride quality, but i dont care much about that.
fast_eddie_72 wrote: "...but since we're talking new, then I'd never get it. I'm just too cheap."
M030 wrote: "With the exception of the Mazda Miata, everything else strikes me as too heavy and/or complicated. Especially BMWs."
Amen. Now that we finally have all our cars paid off, I am not at all interested in putting the 'big monthly car payment' noose back around my neck.
New cars are being sold with ridiculously sophisticated drive train and interior electronic controls. The European brands are worst with this - it recently cost $1,200 for my parents to get the transmission reprogrammed on their Volvo. BMW iDrive units cost thousands of dollars to replace. I can't imagine how expensive the latest new cars will be to maintain once their warranty expires!
I can't believe that nobody has mentioned the Caterham R500:
In reply to mblommel:
Considering the price vs the cost of building a Locost, I'm not.
Is it bad that the only new "car" I want is a truck... to pull the autocrosser?
nderwater wrote:fast_eddie_72 wrote: "...but since we're talking new, then I'd never get it. I'm just too cheap."M030 wrote: "With the exception of the Mazda Miata, everything else strikes me as too heavy and/or complicated. Especially BMWs."Amen. Now that we finally have all our cars paid off, I am not at all interested in putting the 'big monthly car payment' noose back around my neck. New cars are being sold with ridiculously sophisticated drive train and interior electronic controls. The European brands are worst with this - it recently cost $1,200 for my parents to get the transmission reprogrammed on their Volvo. BMW iDrive units cost thousands of dollars to replace. I can't imagine how expensive the latest new cars will be to maintain once their warranty expires!
Agreed...I really do think that at some point in our future, there will be a mfr producing ultra inexpensive cars with manual everything, no touch screen anything, no heated nothings and all hand cranked everything...well except for the starter. Stuff a 4 or 6 banger under the hood with a regular, no frills ECU, and sell it for 4 digits. They will never be rare or collectors items, but they will sell by the dozen to college kids and minimum wagers.
In reply to nderwater:
My neighbor has a 2009 5-series BMW, and the battery died a few months ago. He reported that it cost him $1500 to replace the battery, because it needed a "battery control module" for $550. WTF is that!? At the same time, it needed a wiper switch: $2200 parts & labor because it had to be "programmed to the vehicle." He has it serviced exclusively at the BMW dealer, because he believes that he must.
This is all third-hand information, so take it with a grain of salt, but this horror story is enough to make me really love my primitive air cooled VWs.
In reply to M030:
Why isn't it under warranty?
My list. Basically looking at it as if somehow my mortgage payment disappeared, what car would I consider making a car payment on.
2011 Sti sedan-
Cadillac CTS-V-
Hyundai Genesis 2.0T-
1997 Land Rover Defender 90(used obviously, but I'd find one in mint shape).
Mini Cooper S
Pretty much covers all the bases for me, fwd, rwd, awd, 4x4, turbo 4, and V8.
Ian F wrote:Brett_Murphy wrote: My gearhead friends and I have a joke. If I can't afford to buy an (insert car we can't afford here, say a Porche 911), we might as well aspire to not afford a (insert even more expensive car we can't afford, say a Ferrari).Or... "if you're gonna dream, dream big! It doesn't cost any more."
Veyron SS
my new car list is very short:
2011 exige
the awd gti coming out
gen coupe
veloster if they really come out with the 1.6 or 2.0 turbo
edit: forgot the ft-86, duh!
Ford Fiesta (would already have one if they offered a coupe, a TD model, or an RS model)
FIAT 500 (would already have one if they weren't taunting me with the upcoming Abarth version)
C6 Vette (if I'd actually spend that much on a car which I won't)
Maybe a Camaro convertible... but not at $35k+
That's about all on the current market that does much for me... other than grey market, kits, etc...
New cars I could conceivably afford and like:
I'd take a 993/996, a 1jz-gte MK3 Supra with lots of goodies, an NSX, an E46 M3, an LS1 swapped FD or three Type-R Integras over any of them though.
M030 wrote: In reply to nderwater: My neighbor has a 2009 5-series BMW, and the battery died a few months ago. He reported that it cost him $1500 to replace the battery, because it needed a "battery control module" for $550. WTF is that!? At the same time, it needed a wiper switch: $2200 parts & labor because it had to be "programmed to the vehicle." He has it serviced exclusively at the BMW dealer, because he believes that he must. This is all third-hand information, so take it with a grain of salt, but this horror story is enough to make me really love my primitive air cooled VWs.
Highly gizmo equipped luxury car = satan. I think it has always been thus.
There is not a single new car on the market I could afford.
So speaking of "somewhat" affordable for some folks
Corvette Grandsport, 5.0 Mustang Laguna Seca, Elise, GMC Sierra 1500 short box standard cab.
Boss 302 Laguna Seca, Corvette ZR-1, Carbon, Z06, base model, Grand Sport, Porsche Cayman R, Challenger SRT8, Viper ACR, Shelby GT500, Shelby GT350, Ferrari Italia, Fiat Abarth, BMW 3 series, Audi R8, Lambo B, Masi GS, Base Mustang with track pack, GTi, GTR, Charger Redline, a white Challenger R/T, Camaro Z/28, Sube WRX, Chevy Volt, VW TDI, Panamera Turbo, Bently C, ...........
Christ all Friday, "new cars that I'd actually want?" Damn huge list. We are living in an age of unprecidented automotive glory and you guys are only able to find a couple new cars that you'd want? Why is that? Tiny bank balance? Sheesh, you've got to dream to achieve. Spending formative years lusting after Hemis, L-88s, 911S's and Ferrari Daytona's was one of the main motivators to finding a way to afford one.
I see and acknowledge that logic and counter with: Id rather have that amount of highly rewarding spaces (i.e land, houses, shop, hell personal racetrack etc) than cars, and at some point in the high 5 digits i start thinking planes might be more exciting as well.
Im at the point where i understand why new ferraris, porsches, and other stuff in the 100-200k range cost what they do, and i dont begrudge it, but at the same time there comes a point where that amount of money, especially multiples of it, could support a lifestyle of not working much at all, or just being flat-out rich as hell in another country as opposed to just being one more guy with a few ferraris in california, and thats not an insult, its just stating it doesn't appeal to everybody.
I use to have ambitions about money, but things in life that had nothing to do with money kinda burned it out of me, and ive always loved being able to walk away from any single thing i own without looking back or feeling guilty because i just threw away 3 years worth of middle class income.
Cars I can afford: Focus ST Hatch, Subie STI Hatch, Fiat Abarth Hatch, Volvo C-30 Hatch, MazdaSpeed 3 Hatch, 370Z or a Ford Transit with a couple of bikes in back Suzuki DR-Z400s or Triumph Bonnies.
Cars I wish I could afford: BMW M3, Porsche GT3, Lotus Exige, Motor Coach style RV.
Cars I wish we could buy here: AUDI RS3 Hatch, MINI PACMAN......um PACEMAN Hatch, BMW 1M Hatch.
Of course U.S.A. buyers aren't interested in premium hatchbacks 
Easy, Currently made:
RX8 R3 (check!)
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (not check, and probobly never will )
Genesis coupe R-spec
Boxster Spyder
MX-5
Fiat 500 Abarth
370Z
Evo X
Elise/Exige
Tesla roadster
MS3
STi sedan or WRX wagon
Fiesta
Mazda2
Mustang GT (Boss would be awesome, too)
Future production (maybe) that I find compelling:
CR-Z if they make one non-hybrid
2012 focus w/ 6speed
FT-86 if they don't screw it up between concept and production
Subaru equivalent of FT86 (I have more faith they won't screw it up)
Tesla Model S
Future Mazda RX-? but i'd have to see some info first
See, I do care about the environment. 2 of those cars are electric, and there's only 1 V8.
A Grabber Blue V-6 2010 Mustang with Shelby Stripes, tinted windows, lowering springs, and a GT premium steering wheel as a base demo... Give it a few years and various salvage auctions. 
Money aside, I'd go for an Exige. Next up, a 2010 F-350 Crew Cab Jeep/Camper-hauler.
forzav12 wrote: Sheesh, you've got to dream to achieve. Spending formative years lusting after Hemis, L-88s, 911S's and Ferrari Daytona's was one of the main motivators to finding a way to afford one.
Unfortunately, I've reached an age where those sort of dreams are not realistic anymore and to think about them is just depressing. So I try to limit my dreams to things more attainable. For instance, I have no plans whatsoever to buy another car - new/used/whatever - until my house is paid off in a few years. With the possible exception of a '94 Z28 I may have a line on for well under Challange money.
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