Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

First off, I freely acknowledge that this is entirely the wrong forum to be asking this question on. Sadly, my membership application for I_am_a_discriminating_professional_woman_in_her_30 s.net was rejected.

Let's say that, hypothetically, I had decided that it was time to settle down and appoint a Mrs. Perez. And let's say that, for reasons which are not open to debate, I'd decided that as a general weed-out it would be a good idea to focus my search on those with professional careers (law / medical / engineering), earning decent money, and who might tend to judge a person at least in part by appearances.

Now, given the above, I believe that my current car (a '90 with no top which is painted at least three different colors) might tend to present an image which says "I am a slacker who is unsuitable for your discriminating and fashionable lifestyle."

If we presuppose this to be true, then the question becomes what sort of vehicle might I not hate owning which would still present an image of someone who, for lack of a gentler way of putting this, does not drive a shitty old Miata, without making it seem that I have already entered a midlife crisis and am trying to compensate for some character defect.

At first glance, my thoughts include any of the following in late 90s / early 00s vintage:

SLK230 / 320
Z3 / Z4
911
Boxster

Shifting the train of thought slightly, I've always wanted a Delorean, and you can find good, running examples in about the same price range as the aforementioned. I wonder if that would be perceived as "Wow, a Delorean! How cool!" or "Wow, a Delorean, that's kind of pathetic."

And of course, a part of me still thinks that an XJS would be a fun car, though I know virtually nothing about them apart from horror stories.


Discuss.

Mobius

iTrader: (2)

First question: I assume you plan to keep the miata as a second vehicle?

There is a Delorean here in Portland that is used as a daily driver. I have seen it probably 15 times during my commute, but never had a chance to talk with the owner.

You know as well as I the Delorean will never be separated from its role in Back to the Future. For those of our generation it is one of the coolest cars ever from our youth. But it's not sporty, and any crash damage could be a significant problem to repair and involve significant expense.

XJS - just say no.

Images projected:

Delorean: "I can't leave my teenage years behind."

SLKs: "I'm a mature career guy."

Z3/Z4: "I'm a BMW guy." Duh, but I have found that BMW's in particular strike a love or hate response in your target demographic. Full disclosure - Ms Mobius is a physician, and she was one of a number of women in her med school class with a "no BMW's ever" attitude.

911: A number of different impressions, from mature professional to lover of finely crafted things to lover of classics etc.

Boxster: "I'm a mature well to do gay guy." Not the impression you are looking for, I think

My vote - 911.

Of the cars you didn't list, I would suggest a BMW 5-series.

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

1994 Mercedes-Benz E500.

samulis

Or BMW M5 Touring

flier129

iTrader: (7)

I have this discussion at work quite often because my co-workers bash my car(until the ride with me, tehe)

A car isn't considered "female resistant" if you can:
A. Do manly work with it (truck)
B. Pull a lot of poon-tang with it(baller car)

Get a nice looking Audi or M5!

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

SLK230 / 320: No. If I where a woman I'd think "this guy won't have enough time to pay attention to me b/c he's gonna be fixing his Mercs electrical problems all the damn time"
Z3 / Z4: Maybe. I'd vote for something a little more practical.
911: Works for me.
Boxster: No. Too gay.

My suggestions:
E39 M5
E46 M3 Both of these say your a professional who makes coin. Remimber how much women love money. Ya know how much you love **** etc.? That's how much women love a dude with cash. How else would Pusha ever get laid?

Cadillac CTS-V (think '04)

If you don't mind me asking, how much are you looking to spend? That would help narrow down options.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

of those you presented, the 911 and Z4 are really the only choices. everything else is driven by 45 year old women.

which you aren't.

and the delorean... well if you want to meet a girl who immediately starts calling you Marty...

I'd stick with an M3 or non M performance variant of a 3. Or something of that ilk.

What are your goals besides poon-search?

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

sl500 retracting HT. preferably v12 bi turbo.

Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

The question is largely impossible to answer without a price range, but - in general - it is my experience that the notions above about (nice) trucks/SUVs and European sedans is a safe option.

pdexta

iTrader: (17)

I can't imagine anyone ever taking someone seriously that drives a delorean. I'd take the Z3 off the list as well, their looks are dated enough that I doubt they'd do much to attract the ladies.

Personally, I've always liked the 97-02 (B5) Audi S4's, but I've never driven one. They've always seemed to have that same smug, cocky, confident aura you seem to be going for.

JasonC SBB

2003 6-speed 540i / M-tech like mine which I scored for $8k is lotsa car and looks for little money:



People think it's a $30k car, and I feel like a BOSS driving it.
4.4l V8 290 hp.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

z4 ///M if I were picking from the list in OP.....
or what Jason suggested in above post. definitely comes off as a serious/gentlemans car while still being fun.

delorean only if you want to attract men.

JasonC SBB

The V8 definitely gives the car a muscular feel. The suspension tuning is spot on for real world roads. Very comfy but competent in the twisties. Big suspension travel eats dips and bumps even at 'bahn speeds. On bumpy higher speed backroads I find myself going faster than in the miata. The big 265/35/18 rear tires give it a baller look. Chicks love the luxurious interior and the hushed ride, and when I'm hauling, they can tell the car has serious *****.

I cross shopped a B5 S4 but they like blowing up turbos and trannies. The 5-series likes breaking little **** but not big expensive ****. I also considered the M5 but they are *seriously* expensive to maintain due to the very low production volume wear parts such as $500 front brake rotors, etc. The 540i/Mtech is 80% of the M5 with 30% of the cost.

One other car I might consider for the money, is the 2001 CTS-V. Price in the teens, nowhere as nice inside as my 540i, nor as quiet, but they handle better (phenomenally easy to dorifto) and have a shitload more power. The image however, is a bit "old fart", to non-car enthusiasts.

Or a 996, a Z3 M-coupe (clown shoe), or a 2001+ M3. Don't get the E36 M3, they are a dime a dozen - too many kids drive them. Don't get an E46 non-M car, they are too common - my dental hygienist drives one.

Of all the above, next to the 996, I think the 540i/M is what would impress poon the most, because of the luxury feel inside.

Mobius

iTrader: (2)

Jason has your car!

I wouldn't go 3 series; they are too low on the BMW totem pole. The M3 still has boy racer connotations. M5, maybe. But M's are more expensive to maintain. Jason's car is perfect in my opinion.

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

I think Jason has the answer. I thought about suggesting the E39 540i but I thought there was something wrong with the V8 cars, or am I thinking of the I6 cars? Either way avoid the B5S4, there way coow and all but they aren't reliable. Maybe a Charger or Mercury Marauder? Lexus IS300?

JasonC SBB

My "I bought a 540i" thread.
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...highlight=540i

Since knee surgery 2 months ago I've only now been able to drive a clutch, and started driving it. I went hammering through the twisties on the way to work - oh how I missed the car.

The 4.4L (300 ft-lbs) of torque is sooooooooooooooooo much nicer than the 6-cyl. The V8's like to spring an oil leak in the valley pan gasket, but that's like an $80 part and about 5 hours labor. That leak will burn oil and make it look like the engine has bad rings. This is why I got the car so cheap. Compression test was good.

The 6-cyls are more prone to warping or cracking their heads when they overheat. The best preventive maintenance for all BMW's of this vintage is to replace the water pump and thermostat, replace the plastic driven fan with an electric one, and put in Evans (zero-pressure) coolant. BMW likes to run the coolant very hot and the resulting high coolant pressure likes to bust radiators.

chpmnsws6

iTrader: (12)

C5Z, cts-v, or the 911 listed. You'll quickly get bored with the rest.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

A clean Miata as a daily driver is not a slacker indicator, it demonstrates that you appreciate an era when cars were stripped down and pure. Get a shiny 1.6, put 6ULs on it, swap the power train over, get Exited seats, and the car will command respect. I incessantly recieve favorable comments on ky green car and its respected by most.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

They are often more expensive than an m5. But the 540i m-sport is on my list for sure.

Godless Commie

iTrader: (2)

Joe, would you by chance consider getting your car painted and buying a new top?

You would come out pretty far ahead finance-wise, and not have to worry about juggling two cars.

And, even if you get a 458 Italia, you will still have a "shitty" miata, it will still have three different colors, it will still have no top, and you will still run the risk of being seen in that car by your potential Ms. Perez candidates.

That will still erase any sort of an image you may have acquired, much faster than it has taken you to build.

Then, we will see this for sale sign for a mint 458 on CL.