I worry about them being "too foreign", meaning a combination of unreliable, few dealers, and expensive repairs, which is why the Alfa dropped off the list.
I worry about them being "too foreign", meaning a combination of unreliable, few dealers, and expensive repairs, which is why the Alfa dropped off the list.
c8 corvette doesn't meet your no-american but it meets most of your other requirements.
What about the Lexus LC500, they are a bit out of your price point; quick google search showed used examples for $80k without looking to hard.
Nissan GT-R? they are out there in that price point
Hmm, I had dismissed the C8 due to my perception of its size—without checking first. A bit on the wide side but I shall investigate - edit: they're a bit too far outside my budget.
I did look briefly at the LC500 but it's too large.
The GTR... hmm.
The 911 is probably the most pragmatic, but the Jag seems so much more of a treat, especially if out and out track performance isn't the yard stick. I also have a soft spot for British stuff. Speaking of, perhaps an IPS Evora?
Yes, that keeps going round and round in my head. All these cars parked side-to-side, which would make me smile as I approach?
I don't think I mentioned, while I've done autocross and trackdays before, there are no such plans for this car... never mind that my wife would likely consider it "hers" and forbid such ideas.
You used the right term, "treat." Others are "occasion" and "special." I do tend to agree—reliability issues aside—that the Jag would probably fit that squishy definition best, though the 911 is very close behind.
kb58 said:I meant to add - though everyone here already knows - how crazy used car prices are. Strangely, Audi lists brand new 2022 TT RSs on their website, complete with pricing and options. Go to any dealer's website, though, and TT RS aren't even listed, like they don't exist. Also, Audi's site lists a brand new zero mile TT RS for $74K. Meanwhile, used ones a couple years old with 7-20K miles on them are, yup, the very same price.
I'll look into Porsches. Oh, fun fact, years I got to have a long conversation with Peter Egan (RT writer extraordinaire). He mentioned that he and his wife drove half way across the US in a Porsche Boxster S, and lavished only complements on it. Given that it was him saying it, I never forgot the comments.
I've never had anything to do with Porsches before so have some reading to do. Of primary concern is reliability and cargo/grocery space.
Anything 981+ gen is fairly bulletproof. The front trunk quite large and deep, and the rear hatch reasonably usable. If you have hard roller luggage, it's a bit trickier, but you could stuff a ton of duffels in there. I think a Cayman is more engaging than a comprable 991 911 would be. But that's me. Excellent PDK auto by the way.
Oh, man, the 2020 Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0, so close yet so far.
Maybe someone will offer to trade me one straight across for Midlana... I can dream.
kb58 said:The GTR... hmm.
Nah. Forget the GTR. At least IMO the first time I sat in one I immediately thought, "This 350Z is way too expensive." Plus they're ancient at this point.
I had the opportunity to drive the TTRS back to back with a V10 R8 on track. I really liked the TTRS. It felt a lot more lively and light than the R8. On the street the TTRS would be more fun than R8.
Yeah I was just "typing out loud" regarding the GTR. I got a ride in one and while I giggled like a school girl, I don't really want one.
I decided that the Audi RS3 is coming off the list as "unexciting."
As I juggle the various choices, I'm always attracted to unusual or different looking cars. These days in SoCal, of those under consideration, that would include the Jag and TT RS*, and I really like the look of the M2 Competition in its copper color. The Supra is new and unique enough that it would go in this group, but reviews show that it's such a hardcore sports car, that Midlana seems to have more storage space. "Some" space is needed if we're using the car for shopping and trips.
I realize my hypocrisy of considering what other people drive - I know I shouldn't care - but don't really want a cookie-cutter version of what everyone else drives. In SoCal, Porsches, Audi sedans (though hardly any TTs), BMW sedans, and especially Teslas, are everywhere. Hypocrisy , yes, but as part of having something special does mean something you don't see everyday. I should just like what I like, but as we all know, there are a million variables in that equation, some logical and some not.
Then there's infotainment, the concern being that buying anything older than maybe eight years is going to have very early-gen software and displays. I might be getting old, but do want a fully functional system.
I realize these threads are subjective and thereby maybe pointless, but it does help point out cars that the asker (me) wouldn't have considered otherwise. Thanks again for all the input.
*One bit of styling about the TT RS I really like is how the rear wheels are pushed to the very back corners of the car. A style they obviously copied from Kimini :)
Forgot about this one. They do exist under 40k. I don't know reliability, but I think by this point, they were getting decently put together.
I was leaning toward the Audi TT RS, but the very high price for what they are tells me I need to investigate the Jaguar F-type R and Cayman again. Both are certainly more special.
One "problem" is choosing between the 6-cylinder and turbo-four in the Cayman. There's an interesting YouTube video comparing the two, with the 6-cylinder sounding fantastic, yet the reviewer concludes that the turbo-four to be the overal better car. What problems to have :)
You can get a modern infotainment system, from Porsche, for a 997 I've been told. It's likely out if my price range but I'd love to have one.
UPDATE:
Midlana will be appearing on BringaTrailer.com in a few weeks (their process to list a car sure drags out).
On a related note, we did buy one of the cars on my list - a 2015 Jaguar F-Type R. I, who say looks don't matter, bought it in great part for its looks. I, who never thought about Jaguars whatsoever, let alone ever owning one. It's just drop-dead beautiful, and yes, the hardcore sports car guy in me is well aware it's not a real sports car, it's simply too heavy (3650 lbs or so), but with cars getting heavier everyday, it's looking better and better, hah. It's the RWD version (all later years were AWD), so I'm all set for shameless smokey burnouts and drifting, all activities that I've never done nor plan to start now. It'll also never be tracked, as I won't run anything I can't afford to ball up. We bought it as something special, something we can both drive, and something fun (even with the weight, 550 hp is impressive), and it's something that you don't often see. Strangely, even here in car-crazy southern California, in the last eight years, I've only see 2-3. Driving it is strange; I can't get over that I'm driving what once was a $100K+ car, and WTF am I doing in something like this?
Right after getting it home, I noticed an abrasion on the engine cover that lined up perfectly with another abrasion on the hood. Not knowing when that happened, I put some play dough on the spot, accelerated hard once, and sure enough, crushed flat... meaning that an engine mount was broken (the Jag dealer that did the PPI missed it). Finding that, it was taken to a shop (tearing apart a "new" car in the garage doesn't make points with the wife), which turned into one of those "while you're in there" sort of things, replacing anything with known issues, in addition to flushing and changing all fluids, belts, plugs, etc. This establishes a baseline of sorts for maintenance, so we'll see how reliability goes, but to quote Chris Harris, "... but that amazing bottom!" Reviewers refer to it as either "a Hellcat that can read", or "a Hellcat that went to college." It's quirky, and so far that's endearing, but we'll see over time.
Though an apples to oranges comparison, my wife noted that when new, the Jag sold for more than our house, when new. World's apart in context, perhaps, but still. I told a friend that I'd bought a "proper old man's sports car", not telling her what it is. She said "So you bought a Jag?" Jerk, and off into old age I go!
In reply to kb58 :
Great choice & Beautiful car.
Please post a link up to the Midlana auction when it goes live.
In reply to kb58 :
The sound must be intoxicating. That's one of my dream cars.
Great choice!
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