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Advice on non-miatas

Old 11-19-2011, 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by JasonC SBB
A very well-kept, sporty, comfy modern classic, like this one, says "I have taste, I can afford anything I want, but I choose to drive a modern classic for its uniqueness and beauty"
Hmmm...

I don't specifically dislike the looks of the newer Sixes. I'm just not particularly enamored with BMW in general for some reason. The more I look at that picture, the more it grows on me, though... What year is that?



Originally Posted by Slayer
Was it Joe who once said something about his fondness of the Kharmann Ghia?
Yeah, but my ACVW days are in the past. The Ghia is a beautiful car, but finding one that's in decent shape is damn near impossible these days, and quite honestly, the suspension, engine, transmission, ergonomics, etc., on all of the Type 1's were ****.



Originally Posted by redrider706
Joe, a very clean/sorted Pantera can be bought for about $30K nowdays. My buddy has 3 of them and they are great panty droppers, second only to his 930.
Like the Ghia, a Pantera is something that I'm probably happier thinking about than I would be owning.

It's funny that you mention the 930. That's another car which I find absolutely beautiful to look at, yet absolutely horrid to drive.



Originally Posted by Gearhead_318
Porsche Caymen S: How come nobody suggested the Caymen S?
Wait. A Boxster is f4ggotry, but a Caymen is cool? I has a confused.

Besides, they cost more than 911s at the moment.


Originally Posted by Gearhead_318
Ferrari 308 GTB: Cheap (relatively) to buy, it's a Ferrari.
I absolutely love the 308, but like the Muira it's a 30-40 year old Italian car. Great for posters in teenage boy's bedrooms, but I can't imagine May or Clarkson making it to the end of a challenge in one.

Originally Posted by Gearhead_318
Mini Cooper S: Small, quaky, fun.
If it's not too much trouble, could you please go die in a fire?
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Old 11-19-2011, 10:59 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by Scrappy Jack
This thread largely seems to reinforce Joe's original premise.
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Old 11-20-2011, 12:51 AM
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Well if you like small cars and want something nice
Infinity M45 or Q45-styling might be bland but the have a nice V8/RWD and the handling/reliability seems to be ok. G35/37 nice care but bland for me.
Lexus IS300 good luck finding one in really good shape but they are pretty nice an older GS400 could be made to look nice and has some grunt.
Hell, executive type ladies around here all want a Range Rover.
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Old 11-20-2011, 02:45 AM
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Having seen a couple of deloreans in person and helping work on one, I can say they seem like huge pieces of ****. Having gone for a ride in one, I can say they are slower than ****. There is something that tickles your wee-wee every time you open the door and slide into the seat though. I'd own one for sure.

Besides, doesn't a 2JZ fit in there? That would certainly fix the slow problem.

Oh, this was about getting chicks. Thats not gonna happen in a DeLorean.

And who says that the ladies dont like miatas? They always complement me and want to go for rides with the top down. And having one with a turbo and 3" exhaust makes their panties wet for sure. I also think that they use the inverse logic of "big trucks mean small weeners" so driving such a faggy little car must mean that you're packin for sure.
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Old 11-20-2011, 02:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Joe Perez
Hmmm...
I don't specifically dislike the looks of the newer Sixes. I'm just not particularly enamored with BMW in general for some reason. The more I look at that picture, the more it grows on me, though... What year is that?
1988 635 CSi. E24 chassis.
https://www.google.com/search?q=bmw+...=1920&bih=1109

They're the "shark nose" BMWs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4860010...1583/lightbox/
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Old 11-20-2011, 02:56 AM
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Oh I forgot the car with the biggest chick magnet: DODGE VIPER.
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Old 11-20-2011, 04:45 AM
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If you're going to get a second car, you might as well make it something practical that isn't solely going to be useful for attracting someone.

4 door luxury sedan with folding rear seats is pretty utilitarian, while still maintaining the desired aura. IMO, no point in getting a second car that won't get you any more functionality than you already have.

Personally, I have a 98 A4 and the miata, and it's a pretty workable combination. The only better combination I can think of is a miata and a crew cab truck, but that's probably not what you're looking for.
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Old 11-20-2011, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Joe Perez
I will not be buying a Cadillac. Or a Corvette. I don't care if they come with a horny Grace Park sitting in the passenger's seat. They could be the greatest cars ever built for all I know, but it just ain't gonna happen.
Well alright then. How about a mid to late 90's porsche 911? Or any other model for that matter: It's a ******* porsche! Something like this, perhaps:

Porsche 911 Carrera
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Old 11-20-2011, 11:23 AM
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No seriously, Saab.
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Old 11-20-2011, 11:29 AM
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I have a solution!

Porsche Speedster Replica. It's basically a miata that gets punani. Bonus geek points if you purchase it in more than 5 pieces.




this selection earns double bonus points because you can base it on your first love. VW Beetle underpinnings.
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Old 11-20-2011, 11:49 AM
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Back to the topic of "that car is nice, how will women treat it?", my 9/10 interior in my 1999 M3 was raped by bedazzled jeans of a female. Now I rock hockey jersey seat covers.

Obviously, get an e36 M3. Cheap and easy to floss in. Sounds awesome with an intake and an exhaust.
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Old 11-20-2011, 11:57 AM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by JasonC SBB
1988 635 CSi. E24 chassis.
Damn you for planting this idea in my head...


Originally Posted by ThatGuy85
Well alright then. How about a mid to late 90's porsche 911?
The 996/997 911s are definitely at the fore of my mind, right beside a silver SLK. I like the styling of both, and they're both convertibles. The 911 has always intrigued me in the way that it seems to defy both physics and reason by actually handing well, and I must admit that the retractable hard-top of the SLK appeals to me. It does kill some trunk space, but a co-worker of mine has one (well, it's his wife's, but they're separated and somehow he wound up with it) and it's quite nice. I'd probably offer to buy it from him if it weren't bright yellow.


Originally Posted by curly
No seriously, Saab.
Really?

I've never really looked all that hard at Saab. I've always associated the brand with "I am a tenured professor of history at a small, private university. Do you think that this tweed blazer goes well with this mahogany pipe?"



Originally Posted by y8s
Porsche Speedster Replica.
(...)this selection earns double bonus points because you can base it on your first love. VW Beetle underpinnings.
Yeah, specifically the underpinnings of a pre-1969 Beetle featuring the horrid torsion-bar and swing-axle rear suspension in which camber changes as the body rolls.

(Why Thunder Ranch has never made an IRS version of that car with support for A-arm suspension is beyond me...)

I appreciate the thought, but no. I'm quite well aware of all of the various 356 / 550 replicas on the market, and I do not want one.

Last edited by Joe Perez; 11-20-2011 at 12:31 PM.
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Old 11-20-2011, 12:24 PM
  #53  
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even if it's not the beetster, i think a classic car of some sort might be pretty neat. unfortunately you'll have to contend with prices and technology.
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Old 11-20-2011, 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by y8s
even if it's not the beetster, i think a classic car of some sort might be pretty neat. unfortunately you'll have to contend with prices and technology.
Well, that's sort of my thinking concerning the XJS. It's an unbelievably gorgeous car, and while running examples can be found at reasonable prices, finding one that doesn't look and run like a 30 year old car is getting tricky. I already have one restoration project in the garage right now, not looking for another.
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Old 11-20-2011, 12:55 PM
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So spend the money and have a reputable shop do one of these kits for you:

http://www.jaguarspecialties.com/XJ6C-P1.asp
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Old 11-20-2011, 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe Perez
I'm not sensing a lot of love for the SLK here, and that kind of surprises me. Too feminine? In terms of what really appeals to me personally, the SLK320 is right up there with the 997 Porsche.
I bought a silver SLK320 for my wife (women seem to love these cars) about 3 years ago and it's been a great car. In many ways I like it better than my Miata, especially if it was a car that I would be driving every day. Things like the power retractable hardtop, build quality, trunk space (when the top is up) and the engine (somewhat powerful yet refined and smooth). A few things that I don't like about the car is the amount of cowl shake over big bumps, understeer at the limits and the amount of hate it draws from Miata owners (I've never understood this one). Overall it's proved to be very reliable and has been relatively cheap to maintain. I've even managed to do a few track days in it when my Miata was broken. Lately I've even been using it as a daily driver while the Porsche goes under the knife. The only thing I would probably do different next time would be to take a closer look at the SLK32 AMG and drive both before making my decision.
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Old 11-20-2011, 01:45 PM
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Italian muscle for $20k+:

2002 Maserati Coupe 6-spd:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Maser...ht_4233wt_1165

Convertible:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Maser...t_51448wt_1165



Coupe:


If you get one, get a 6-spd and the "skyhook" semi-active suspension.
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Old 11-20-2011, 01:54 PM
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Those are beautiful, and give me another idea. How about an Aston Martin? They are also beautiful, and scream "I've got some $, but I have taste too."
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Old 11-20-2011, 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by mgeoffriau
So spend the money and have a reputable shop do one of these kits for you:

http://www.jaguarspecialties.com/XJ6C-P1.asp
No kit cars, no engine swaps (I live in CA), no bullshit.





Originally Posted by JayL
I bought a silver SLK320 for my wife (women seem to love these cars) about 3 years ago and it's been a great car.
(...)
The only thing I would probably do different next time would be to take a closer look at the SLK32 AMG and drive both before making my decision.
I keep getting pulled back to the SLK vs. the 911. These seem to be the real contenders in my mind.

I'd love to own an AMG55, but that's probably a tad more money than I'd be willing to spend. The AMG32 looks nice, though they're fairly rare and from what I've seen, their owners tend to have a rather optimistic opinion of their value in the secondary market.


You know what's really interesting? This whole process has been quite a learning experience for me in terms of my perceptions of what constitutes "expensive" in the common vernacular.

I've always owned cheap cars. Granted, my current '90 is the cheapest I've ever had, but in general, I've just never seen the point in spending money on things I don't have to. I suppose I'm one of those people to whom another might say "You have a bunch of money, why are you driving an old car and living in a crappy apartment?" to which my retort would be "I have a bunch of money because I have always lived in crappy apartments and driven old cars."


So here I am lamenting whether to spend $20k vs. $30k on a nice status car, and it occurs to me "Wait, I think I've heard of people paying this kind of money for Toyotas and Kias." So I do a little Googling, and sure as hell, people actually seem to be paying $20-$30k for brand new Camrys and Kia SUVs and 4Runners every day, and they're taking out loans to do it. I'm not going to hijack my own thread about it, but that just really surprised the hell out of me. I honestly had no idea that new "average" cars were so expensive.

I mean, I understand that, from a macroeconomic standpoint, it was necessary for someone to pay $20k (adjusted) for an A-package Miata a bit over two decades ago in order to set into motion the chain of events which resulted in my buying that exact same car for $800 last year. If there were no new cars, then there could be no used cars. I get it. And that, in and of itself, sets off a whole existential chain of thought along the lines of "Gee, I wonder what things this car has experienced over the past 22 years. What places it must have gone, what people must have driven it..."

What I don't get is the thought process which goes on inside the brain of an otherwise sane and reasonable person which convinces them that it's perfectly acceptable to pay $25,000 for a Honda Accord with a couple of options when, for the exact same money (or less) they could be driving a 911 or a 5-series BMW or whatever high-end German car happens to fit their lifestyle need.


I'm dead serious. This is the kind of thing that keeps me up at night.


Ok, that's enough of that.


Originally Posted by JasonC SBB
2002 Maserati Coupe 6-spd:
(...)
Convertible:
It's funny- I can specifically remember recommending a Maserati Coupe several months ago in somebody's "what reliable DD should I buy" thread, and being told (and I'm paraphrasing here) that I was an idiot.

I'd more or less forgotten about them in the time since, but you're right, those are some very nice vehicles.




Originally Posted by Gearhead_318
Those are beautiful, and give me another idea. How about an Aston Martin? They are also beautiful, and scream "I've got some $, but I have taste too."
I looked at Astons, and unfortunately, there's not much in the way of offering around here. Those which are on the market seem to be fetching $30+, and for that money, I'll take a 911 or an AMG Mercedes, thank you very much.
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Old 11-20-2011, 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe Perez
I'm dead serious. This is the kind of thing that keeps me up at night.
I am dead serious: I think about **** like this all the time as well.
I've come to the conclusion that people simply don't give a ****.
The amount of time put into sitting down, doing homework, putting together a game plan and a list of wants/needs is about 5-10 minutes on average.

They walk into the stealership, get a good pitch thrown at them, and say "**** it".....


You, me, and a few others on here are the 1%
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