What big luxury GT? (What Car Thread)

Yet another What car thread, don't you just love these things. I am cranky this week to much work not enough free time, two of my guys out sick, and driving a dealer rental.

So I am down to just my Mini Cooper S, 4000 miles or so and its been to the dealer three times for squeaks and rattles. I am beginning to hate the car, beyond the squeaks its in no way powerful, the suspension is so firm it rattles my teeth and its well a little cheap inside. I bought it so cheap I can get out from under it with no trouble.

So going to step up and buy something nicer again, looking to spend lets just say under 75K, two years old, prefer convertible. 30 years old no kids, need to be able to drive back and forth to Vegas and Palm Springs ~12 times a year.

Looked at a Vantage which was terrible inside and just as noisy as my Mini. The coupe is better but long term reliability is suspect. Corvette was nice I can get a grand sport or standard vert but its a little cheap inside. Viper is out I have had two of the Gen 3's love the heck out of them but both tried to kill me on many occasions, one succeeded in killing its next owner and wife actually.

Test drove a Bentley GT (its a buddies) love the heck out of the thing but finding a good one seems harder then expected. The rumor is they sell in the mid 60's for the 06's but they all seemed to be priced quite a bit higher.

I will not buy another Merc, and the only BMW that I actually like is the 650i and SWMBO nixed that. 750i might fit and they are super cheap around here as they come off lease but not very exciting.

I still live the XLR-V but everyone says stay away, Its what I like though, big two seater, domestic, lots of power, convertible.

Collectively any other idea's.

If I had that much cash to spend I'd be looking at a Aston of some sort, but they are so unobtainable to me at this point that I've never even looked at the inside of one. Good luck and keep us posted.

Here's a suggestion....send about $15K of that budget to me. I have never owned a BMW, but I think I could "put up with" a used one for awhile.

How about an 850i but switch the 12 cyl for a 10 cyl

What about a Maserati GT or a Audi S5? If I had that kind of money to spend on a car I would be looking at something a lot more than 2 years old so its kinda a hard question.

You mentioned 650i what about the M6?

Could go Audi RS6

A cool one would be the new Jag XJ? Nice cars, sat in one in Texas.

Other than that the Grand Sport seems like your best bet. Aftermarket interior bits to help with the cheapness?

Spoke about the XLR with a GM engineer from Kentucky. His advice is also to avoid the XLR like the plague.

I'd be looking hard at the 911 Turbo, although I think a 2 year old coupe could stretch the budget, so a cab may be out of the question.

XLR would be at the top of my list too.

Other notable mentions go to Maserati Gran tourismo (but prices start up high used), and Lexus IS350. An Infiniti G vert might be a distant 3rd (havent cared much for the stylings of the G37, and I dont think the 35 was available vert).

While not a vert, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the new CTSV, and (while its not a convertible, hell, its not even a Coupe) I CANNOT WAIT for the Buick Regal GS to be released .

Damn, forgot about the R8

Maserati?

No way you'll find an R8 for under $75K unless its a scam. I'd vote Porsche 997 or Jag XKR.

It's worth noting that Ferrari 360's fall in that price range... You only live once!

The answer is Miata. With a Flyin' Miata V8 conversion.

I would not touch italian.. as much as I love cars from the boot shaped country. Unless you like going to the dealer for little things as much as you love taking the Mini in.. just more expensive little things.

I third (or fourth) the Porsche

What about something from Jaguar?

I love my 750Li for gobbling up highway miles in smooth comfort but it's really an old man's car and designed to haul the rear seat passengers around in comfort more than to excite the driver. The 650i 'vert looks like it would serve your purposes nicely - it's the coupe version of the 5'er - but if SWMBO doesn't like it then I guess it's out. No experience with the Aston; it certainly looks the part but I'd be worried about maintenance and repairs too.

Astons are so pretty - but compared to a Vantage, the 911 is a better car by every other measure. As is the Cayman. Or M3. Speaking of...

While not a convertible, I was thinking CTS-V. Your price range should be high enough to get a new one, I think. Or how about an Infiniti G37?

Good suggestions, couple things I never buy new cars. Like ever.

The 850i, sorry had one.

The 911 had three over the years from a 996 GT3 to a base 996. I really like them but they are buttered toast bland in anything other then the GT3 configuration and I am not going back to a car with engine mounts made out of depleted uranium. The Panamerica is fugly.

M6/M5 not a chance in the world I would ever touch one. To many here at the office with horror stories, in warranty stories but horrible all the same.

The Jag I keep coming back to its like a 50% off Aston Martin. I can get one of the 4.2R cars for sub 50K ~09 or so all day. Thats 50% off new cost in like 2 years. They all have a heck of a lease on the new ones ~900$ minmal out of pocket.

750i I like but does not seem very much fun. Wife likes the A7 but there are not a lot of used ones available.

XLR I keep hearing horror stories about.

No more Ferrari, after the electrical fire in the 308 no way and I not doing that again.

Keep coming back to the Gen 4 viper coupe, but my wife refuses to drive them.

2004/5 NSX? At 6 foot 1 will I even fit.

wearymicrobe:

What do you do? If you don't mind me asking.

Given that it is a e36 m3 problem to have, and that I sympathize with such a dilemma, I would boil it down to a porsche or wait for the right bentley.

nderwater wrote:

I thought Pontiac went under. They are making Grand Am convertibles again?

My vote would be a Jag XKR given your price point and requirements. An Aston would be nicer but as you've said, the Jag is a half off Aston which makes a lot of sense...

FlightService wrote: wearymicrobe: What do you do? If you don't mind me asking.

Biotech, plus I buy and sell classic cars on the side for resale. Also some external design work with friends on small biotechy items. Biggest thing is I never went to school never went into debt, never really had any loans, really never even had a credit card. Just my wife and I no kids, she has a similar background and income. Been working ful time since I was 15, surprised I made it out of HS.

Seems like all the obvious bases are covered... what about a GT-500? It's a little more crass than what you're talking about, but you could pick up a new one for 2/3rds of your budget and have it spec'd out exactly how you want it. If you do go that route, go 2011 or newer though, so that you get the all-aluminum motor ('07-10 used an iron block).

The 997S seems about right. Reliable, comfortable, fast, solid as an anvil and it is even good on gas.

Nissan GTR? I've seen the 09's down to 70 with almost no miles on them. Easy enough the wife can drive, fast as hell, and so on.