Which car to buy?

[Speedbag]

2011 GT500

[swampduc]

Have you taken a look at the Benz C63? It has 451 ponies matched to 443 torque.  I drove one and loved the thing....rocket ship.  You can save a bundle on a lease return too and have some cash to spend on another bike too.  It's a little small inside but bigger than the M3 and not a two door but you owe it to yourself to drive one since you crawled into the beemer.  The cayman though is worth looking at as well.  I've heard those who own them that for a daily drive they are great as well.

The c63 is an interesting suggestion. Heavier than the M3 for sure, but based on a comparo I saw in Automobile recently, it's a better car on the street with all that torque. I'll look into it.

[swampduc]

2011 GT500

Definitely an interesting car, and based on the reviews, the driving dynamics have been significantly improved. It's reputedly not just a straight line rocket anymore. However, my fiancee is a diehard Mustang fanatic. If I get the uber-Mustang, she'll probably elope with it and I'll never see either of them again 

[mookieo2]

Carrera turbo if you need something reliable to drive every day. They have grown on me the last few years. The M5 would be great but you want a coupe. It can pretty much take on anything.


M6?

[swampduc]

Carrera turbo if you need something reliable to drive every day. They have grown on me the last few years. The M5 would be great but you want a coupe. It can pretty much take on anything.


M6?

M6 is out of my price range. I might be able to swing a used M5, but I've heard bad things about the chassis and reliability. Any experience?

[djrashonal]

2011 Cadillac cts-v (4dr or coupe depending on your tastes) around 65k getting you 556bhp and 551ftlbs of torque. All in a sexy luxurious package.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/09/2011-cadillac-cts-v-coupe-first-drive-review-road-test/

Itest drove one two weeks ago and I'm completely stuck on it. Test drive it, you won't regret it....also, when you buy it, buy red - it's the fastest color  

On a side note, the wife is in med school and looking for some rotations to set up for next year, anything you would recommend in your neck of the woods?

[swampduc]

Yep, the CTS is amazing in terms of bang for the buck. However, I'm not a fan of the looks. I'll go test drive it anyway though. We do have a Caddy dealer around the corner from the office. With the more uncommon cars, I have to go to Houston to test drive them (5 1/2 hrs away). For example, there are only 2 BMW dealers in LA, and neither of them has had an M3 in inventory for months. They get a couple in every couple of months, and they're almost always pre-sold.

[il d00d]

What is the ideal luxury:sport ratio for you?  For the money you are talking, my own search would start at the GT-R and Cayman, but my ratio has a speed bias of 20:80 to 5:95.  For me, luxury is easier (and cheaper) to come by than performance, but it is your hard-earned money.  If I wanted to both, I would probably buy a cheap, used ES330 or a first generation M45 (still love those cars) and something fast and expensive. Unless I could afford an Aston Martin 

As for possible candidates, how about the IS-F or one of the Audi Ses?  Used V8 Aston Martin?  You're in the price neighborhood of a used Maserati GranTurismo, too.

[mookieo2]

Since you are a big M3 fan as am I. If you can swing it why not order it with a Dinan package. You should be able to find the extra power you want and it will also be unique compared to the rest of them. A Hamaan body kit wouldn't be bad either for a little flash. The caddy is nice but I don't care what it is something about the status a Benz and BMW hold.

[TJR178]

The c63 is an interesting suggestion. Heavier than the M3 for sure, but based on a comparo I saw in Automobile recently, it's a better car on the street with all that torque. I'll look into it.

I was just reaching for my Automobile magazine when I read the post from muskrat and your reply.   

Don't forget about the A/S5.  My buddy's dad loves his.  You can't beat quattro either.

[Speedbag]

Definitely an interesting car, and based on the reviews, the driving dynamics have been significantly improved. It's reputedly not just a straight line rocket anymore. However, my fiancee is a diehard Mustang fanatic. If I get the uber-Mustang, she'll probably elope with it and I'll never see either of them again 

+1

I've been secretly trying to justify the price to upgrade from my '07 GT500.....or sink a few grand of that difference into mods for what I have. 

They're a friggin' hoot, if nothing else take one for a test drive. 

[sno_duc]

I drive a 135 M-sport 6mt, the wife drives a 335xi steptronic. Both coupes.
A couple of questions. 1) Are you patient?? 2) Are you up for a couple of road trips??
If you answered yes to both, may I suggest an ED followed by a PCD.
By doing this you can use any dealer in the US, thus saving enough to pay for all the  consumed in Germany.
European Delivery.....fly to München, pick up car, drive to Bologna, spend following day doing all things Ducati (take lots of in focus pictures), drive to some track to watch a Moto GP race, drive to drop off  point, turn in car, and fly home.
Performance Center Delivery....fly to South Carolina, spend night at Marriot on BMW, pick up car at center, 1/2 day driving school on the test track in a loaner BMW (not your car  ), then drive home the following day.

One that will be introduced next year is a 1 series "M" car 
http://www.4autochannel.com/spy-shots-will-bmw-1-series-be-manual-only.html
A 1 series with alot of M3 goodies (suspension) and a tuned up twin turbo 6 (~350 hp, ~ 400 lbft)
I would take a 135 M-sport out, you might like it.


How much ethanol is in the gas in your area, the reason I ask is cars with direct injection (HPFP) are having problems with pump failures, I think it has to do with the ethanol in US gasoline.

[zooom]

find a nice clean unmolested and only slightly used Acura NSX....

[El Matador]

The other thing I can tell you from my experience with beemers is that the new ones will start to disintegrate right at the five year mark, right about the time the warranty runs out. That's been the case with every BMW I've come into prolongyes contact with.

My old  06 330i was completely reliable until this year, when its asked for about 6k worth of work.

Before that the 02 X5 of my uncle just died in 07

And the 05 m5 my ex's dad had asked for 5k of work before he traded it in

[Bick]

Carrera turbo if you need something reliable to drive every day.

One word of caution on a Carrera, Turbo or not...

Weight of the engine behind the rear wheels + lots of torque = TIRE EATERS!

I get @ 10 - 12 K out of a set of rears.  Turbo will be even hungrier.

Caymans are a lot easier on them.  @ 20k out of a set.

Other than that, very reliable.