Single Car Thought's. (Not Exactly GRM Budget(

Thought that I would throw this out.The wife and I are using the low rates and low prices to move out of our little 50's cottage house (which has been pretty stable) on the beach into a new "planned community" home so that we can get into an amazing school district for what is bound to happen in the next two or three years.

One of the rules is owners cars have to be in the garage, the house we are looking at has a tandem and a single, the tandem will be divided into a wood-shop and a parking space. So we have to get down to two cars, currently we have 5 but two of my two older hot rods have been sold which I have been storing on the back pad.

In the GRM wisdom what is the best all around single car, say used under 75K. I was going to hold onto the 528i but its in no way fun. The hot rods are in no way practical. It would have to carry two people and luggage for a long weekend trip, I have about a 6 mile commute now. The wife has the practical a 07 CR-V, and I no longer carry clients around.

I have looked at the XLR-V and the SL55 used but they have not nave truck space with the top down, I really like the XLR though. I don't fit into the NSX's at 6'0 tall with grace. The Black-SLK have not gotten into the price range I want yet. The GT3 911 say 06 are there price wise but I have had one in the past and it was a little cramped and hated the dealer experience. The wife says viper but I have trouble believing that when it comes down to it she would approve. Any thing else out there that I should look at?

Any thing else out there

CORVETTE!!!

vette is good... CTS?

personally, I feel sorry you are moving into a place with an HOA.. sure you cannot find a more lenient place in that same school district?

Minty fresh low mileage MKiv Supra TT 6-speed?

Although the vette would probably walk all over it.

I 2nd Corvette. Heck, new is your friend.

The one-car-to-do-it-all solution is an elusive one. If you can live with a 2-seater, Corvettes are really nice. The XLR is likely just as good, but I don't know if I like them more than a Corvette.

For a 4 seat car, I'd shop a new M3 or a CTS-V.

E46 M3 or E39 M5 depending on whether you need the bigger trunk. Both with rock hard thru a canyon or a track day, can hold a couple sets of clubs and are much better looking than the newest models.

Wait, you said you have room for two cars... get one of each.

My uncle was XLR shopping and sufficive to say, you can get a C6 Zo6 for the price of one. (he ended up seeing the bargin of a regular C6 used, he dosent race, and its all the car he needs)

vipers are thirsty (and parts are a mint at times from what i hear)

CTS-V is a good sedan option.

Z4 M coupes are mighty eye catching. (but not as fast as a C6 Zo6)

go test drive a C6 Zo6 and see if you like it, shop used, the depriciation has been steep on them.

I vote new CTS-V. I've seen them in the low $60k range, which isn't cheap but it's well below your budget. Plus as a GM brand they might give you some sort of "For the love of God please buy a car from us" deal that a foreign make might not offer. After all, I think thanks to the bailout each of us already has about an $8 layaway payment on the GM or Chrysler of our choice...

what COULDN'T you do to a Miata for 75K?

I know the vette is probably faster. BUTTTTTTTTTTTT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___19K-MLS-MINT-NAV-LINN-AUDIO-172K-LIST_W0QQitemZ310123752453QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item310123752453&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

That interests me... I wonder what a used ferarri is going for... I mean if you have cash in a down turn.. boy you sure can open up some options.

No affiliation, yada, yada, yada... http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/m-lounge/9217801-1.html

ignorant wrote: I know the vette is probably faster. BUTTTTTTTTTTTT ... That interests me... I wonder what a used ferarri is going for... I mean if you have cash in a down turn.. boy you sure can open up some options.

Funny...I was going to suggest an Aston Martin Vantage V8. I think they are stunning and they've won a few comparos against 911's. I was just daydreaming them on ebay last night. Low mileage 2 year old versions are under 75k.

walterj wrote: E46 M3 or E39 M5 depending on whether you need the bigger trunk. Both with rock hard thru a canyon or a track day, can hold a couple sets of clubs and are much better looking than the newest models.

Amen to this. In this economy, I'd save $50k and buy an e39 M5. A co-worker bought a 2003 M5 last week in mint condition, one owner, all records with 65k miles for $22.5k. It is in near perfect condition. It's the do all car, as Walter noted.

Oh man yes...the E39 M5 depreciated like a rock in water, and they are awesome cars.

However, you could have real fun with a V8 swapped late model Miata.

ignorant wrote: I know the vette is probably faster. BUTTTTTTTTTTTT ... That interests me... I wonder what a used ferarri is going for... I mean if you have cash in a down turn.. boy you sure can open up some options.

Wife has pointed this one out, I like them but they have transmission problems at least there have been a few reported on 6speed, I think they are due to drop another 10-15K soon.

If I had the balls I would try and find a morgan aero but I have only seen one for sale in the last year. Or a FFR Coupe with air but my wife would kill me.

There is not a Ferrari that I would touch with air bags at this price point. Would be fun to get another 308, a GT4 this time and just drive the snot out of it but I would be killed on the roads out here.

SIDE BAR Homes with HOA's in San Diego are pretty much the only way to get into a nice school district, private school is a option that we are exploring but that would mean send the kid ~10 miles every day back and forth and about 17-20K a year.

In the non HOA, No MR areas with good schools the houses that we like are touching 900-1,100K which is just crazy.

Porsche...pick one.

*EDIT.....oh, and get a lift or one of those in ground dug out garage deals that let you park over your car.

wearymicrobe wrote:

ignorant wrote: I know the vette is probably faster. BUTTTTTTTTTTTT ... That interests me... I wonder what a used ferarri is going for... I mean if you have cash in a down turn.. boy you sure can open up some options.

Wife has pointed this one out, I like them but they have transmission problems at least there have been a few reported on 6speed, I think they are due to drop another 10-15K soon.

If they do drop.. What a value.. v12 humming and paddle shift fun.. shiver

wearymicrobe wrote: One of the rules is owners cars have to be in the garage.

Huh???? What?????

ignorant wrote: If they do drop.. What a value.. v12 humming and paddle shift fun.. *shiver*

I HATE THOSE STUPID FLAPPY PADDLES!!!!

Actually never driven one, I just like to say that

4-Door M3s... New, Old... no matter. M5 if you want bigger and badder.

mtn wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote: One of the rules is owners cars have to be in the garage.

Huh???? What?????

All cars owned by the residents must be stored in the garage at night, no street parking. I have only 2 spaces so something has to go. Its a dumb rule but its California its what happens out here.

BradLTL wrote: 4-Door M3s... New, Old... no matter. M5 if you want bigger and badder.

Man how I wish the e46 M3 came in a 4 door version. I would have one in a flash. I even contemplated building one of these with my wagon (complete e46 M3 drivetrain swap). Then I talked with Ben at Rogue Engineering, who built it, and quickly reconsidered once he threw out the price.

Boxster S!

JFX001 wrote: *EDIT.....oh, and get a lift or one of those in ground dug out garage deals that let you park over your car.

the best idea yet.. there is a theatre in old towne philly that I used to deliver too. The road was too narrow to get a box truck down.. so we would have to push everything up the cobblestone street. One of the guys on this street has a garage, in it is both his everyday dar (an e36) and above it, one one of those lifts, is a pristine early 70's 911. He needs to keep a pan under the engine to keep it from dripping oil all over the Bimmer.. but it works great

Jaguar XKR fast, beautiful and sounds wonderful