$40k should buy/build whatever driver grade muscle car you want (the barely streetable top trim examples not included), or a C6 Z06 with the aluminum frame. I wouldn't expect to lose money on a muscle car, as it seems the latest craze has died down, though I haven't looked very hard.
When you talk about daily drivable performance cars I think the 996 turbo and NSX always come up. Actually Vettes as well. The Porsche turbos's will depreciate but possibly climb a little the NSX is already climbing, vettes will continue to go down.
If you really want to avoid Porsche I think the NSX is a strong choice
A C6 Z06 for $35k is right around the bottom of depreciation if you don't drive it much. If you put mileage on it then there are hundreds of others with low mileage sitting around.
I like the 996 Turbo at the $40k range or 996 GT3 for a bit more, but I've had people tell me the Porsche hate is real. My friend is a younger guy with a 996 GT3 and gets people randomly flipping him off. Neither car will go much further down though.
V8 M3 is boring?
I guess an NSX would be fun, it's supposed to be a terrific all around car.
Where do you folks live that a p car gets hate? You can drive an air cooled 911 for free. How about vintage? Should be able to get a good BMW e9, or a nice Alfa gt. e28 m5... for moderns the Elise or 996 tt will hold or appreciate. Modern masers are still depreciating, but will bottom out soon. The drive trains are worth a bunch alone. Mondial? Prices are heading up. The complaint when nsx was new was it was kinda Honda boring.
I still think I would get the Porsche or the Z06 over an NSX
I'm in CT, but then again so is Woody.
In reply to oldtin:
In Baltimore I have gotten insane amounts of hate while driving a Boxster S that I NEVER see when driving my 308.
In reply to oldtin: Oh, and the Mondial is a def no-go as I already have the 308 which shares most of the architecture. Yes, nice car. No, you do NOT want to drive this four days a week in traffic.
I've pretty much driven every car suggested on the list; while I spend a lot of time instructing at PCA events and most of my experience in Porsches is on track, I've also instructed at NSXPO so I have track time as well as having street driven an NSX. My vote goes for the NSX, they are easy to live with and you won't see one every day. Out here in Vegas you'll see 5 Porsches on every commute, fortunately we don't get the hate. Go with the NSX.
Tom
I didnt read the whole thread, but from my understanding this is a fun street car, with no track time intended.
Corvette - I daily drive a C5 and outside of the targa its not exciting. It does a lot of things well but in stock form, not much great, and the few base model C6s Ive driven have felt the same. Personally in stock form the base models dont excite me, when I finish the bolt ons and suspension mods, I think it will be perfect, sound good, stop great, handle great, and accelerate respectably. If looking at a vette in your price range, I wouldnt consider anything but a C6 Z06, then Id put the a catback on it and be done. Tires can be quite pricey though. 325/30/19 on the rear IIRC.
996 Turbo - never driven one because Im poor but I bet they are pretty awesome, and Im not a porsche guy. No IMS, and with the potential they have I cant see them getting any cheaper. People make obscene amounts of power from the stock bottom end, and they are a porsche, both those should keep the prices up. Expensive consumables.
NSX - these are intriguing to me. I love the looks of the NA1 (pop up headlights). They arent very quick, but they sound awesome and handle well. Plus they will probably continue to rise or at least hold their value. I bet these would keep my interest, plus consumables would probably be the cheapest of the group.
V8 Vantage - beautiful, but Id rather have the others.
W109 6.3? It would be a perfect mate for your W126.
How about a Mercedes SL? $40k will get you a wide variety of years and trims. They're anonymous in traffic, because they're not super flashy, but those who actually look, like friends and family, should see that it is a very nice car. Almost automatic only, drop top, usually with a hard top. Can have lots of power.
I've driven none of them, but if I were buying for what you're buying for, it's NSX, Evora, or:
volvoclearinghouse wrote: I'm going to take you in an entirely different direction. And you will love me for it.
One of those with a hot 340 would be a sweetheart. It's probably the best looking muscle car of them all, and has some actual roadcourse heritage. You'll absolutely never have to worry about depreciation.
997 C2S with a manual? Probably will hold value well since they'll all be boosted going forward, and PDK take rate is going up.
There have been some really good options put out in this thread. But I think you have pretty much made up your mind on the NSX. If it's the car you want then go for it. But you seem to have the mid tier exotics covered by the 308. Other than the NSX being more everyday friendly I am not sure it would offer a hugely different driving experience (driven a NSX owned a 328). If it was my garage I would go with a tasteful restomod car. Modern drive train, good transmission, brakes and creature comforts all wrapped in a universally well received car. If you buy a well sorted car you will have minimal operating costs and pretty much no depreciation no matter how many miles you put on it. This is pretty much what I did when I rebuilt my 70 Mustang with a Coyote engine and updated suspension. I built mine but with your budget you could get a really nice fully sorted car. My opinion and worth every penny you paid for it :)
How about a Factory Five Roadster with a side of Hardtop, Type 65, or Roadster?
I would think $40k would buy a very nicely completed example. Traditional small block motivation of your choice, crazy exotic looks, and quite fast. Plus without the maintenance or repair expense of a Viper or NSX (I would think.)
It's just a thought. (A thought that I would think quickly if someone were forcing me to spend $40k on a toy-type car.)
In reply to Papabear: These are good points. The fact is that I am kind of sold on the NSX. I would daily the 308, but it would just fall apart. I can't be bothered with any of the 100 weird things that an old Ferrari can throw at you on any given day. While a truly well-sorted resto-mod might be able to do what I am trying to do, my experience is that a restoration can very quickly devolve into an "older restoration" and then to "tired restoration" before settling in at "project." You are also relying on someone else's engineering skills. That Challenger is damned tempting car, but am I really going to drive that through downtown Baltimore three or four days a week? It's bad enough with the NSX--I don't know I can visualize it.
AaronBalto wrote: In reply to Papabear: These are good points. The fact is that I am kind of sold on the NSX. I would daily the 308, but it would just fall apart. I can't be bothered with any of the 100 weird things that an old Ferrari can throw at you on any given day. While a truly well-sorted resto-mod might be able to do what I am trying to do, my experience is that a restoration can very quickly devolve into an "older restoration" and then to "tired restoration" before settling in at "project." You are also relying on someone else's engineering skills. That Challenger is damned tempting car, but am I really going to drive that through downtown Baltimore three or four days a week? It's bad enough with the NSX--I don't know I can visualize it.
It would be like this, except a Challenger instead of a Charger, but I'm all about the General Lee today for other reasons, so here:
Did you buy a Pantera yet?
So I am going to call it right here. This has been fun. I loved all of the suggestions! Lots of great cars, and a few wack ideas to boot. Thank you, GRM Gods, I believe we got through this without anybody bringing up the dreaded Miata.
I have a promising lead on a black over black coupe that should serve. It has 55k miles, and if I drive it 10k a year for five years, I am thinking that I can sell it for what I have in it.
And when I do...it will be time for Sunny Day Daily, Part II: Corvette/Porsche/Hemi-Power !!!
Thanks!
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Did you buy a Pantera yet?
Somebody buy a Pantera, already. The man is fixated.
AaronBalto wrote:Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Did you buy a Pantera yet?Somebody buy a Pantera, already. The man is fixated.
I saw a regular street Pantera at a dragstrip once. I shook the guys hand and said he had the most awesome car there.
Also, I assume you are speaking NSX? You just said coupe...
In reply to tuna55: Yes--Black '91 NSX Coupe. Stock wheels, a few reversible mods. Should be fun.
AaronBalto wrote: In reply to tuna55: Yes--Black '91 NSX Coupe. Stock wheels, a few reversible mods. Should be fun.
Yes it will. Start a thread once you get it. I want to hear about track days, it seems the perfect car for that.
I'll look for it while cruising the mean streets of Charm City. If you see a rusty tan W123 estate, be sure to challenge him to a race through the city. 
Glad that you are getting what you really wanted. The NSX is a very nice car and very easy to live with. I think you will get many happy miles in it. I know what your talking about with the Ferrari the 328 while a nice car was just a whole lot of piddly maintenance items. I could never even imagine daily duty for it. Enjoy the new to you car.
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