What next again?
 

I passed the three year mark with the Focus ST a few days ago. It took longer than I would have expected, but I'm starting to get bored with it and starting to think about what to replace it with.

I have no time pressures and I am not unhappy with my current situation. There's also nothing out there I'm lusting over that is driving me into a process that ends with buying something specific. My budget is probably $40k and I don't really know what I want.

The usual suspects are on the list. Mustang GT. Chevy SS. Maybe the new Camaro SS. I'd take a drive in a Focus RS and see if that unexpectedly sways me like the Focus ST did, but I really don't think that will be different enough. A Mark 7 Golf R? Or even GTI? More refined than the ST, and probably better, but different enough? New or newish, I'm drawing a blank on anything else out there.

Then, I start thinking about what I could get used that's 5-15 years old, and depreciated a good bit. Or maybe even two kinda older cars...one for fun and one with four doors. I think about how much I kind of enjoyed driving the Miata every day (minus power and my refusal to do anything above absolutely minimal maintenance).

I still don't know what I'll think about the XK8 and how that may fill in, but I should have that here by the end of the month.

I don't know and I'm just beginning to think...

M2? seems comparable minus a bit more money of the cars you listed.

I got halfway through this process and stalled - having sold the Golf but not yet determined what I'm doing next. But in slumming it in slightly older cars for the psat few months (an '06 M3 and an '00 528i), don't underestimate how much you can appreciate a newer car - both in terms of reliability and also tech features.

But new cars seem stupid expensive to me at the moment.

slumming:eeps: I guess maybe the slushy 5

Since you're into Mustangs, seems hard to beat the new GT350. Wonder how long before they'll be on the used market or dealer blowout.

Of course, a nice low mile C5 z06 could also work. ;)


:lol: Yeah seriously.

I guess maybe a heated steering wheel would be nice, but I have yet to drive something newer than the e46 that offers anything other than a car payment.

EDIT:

On second thought - air conditioned seats are nice on 20 hour stints when driving cross country.

yeah the bluetooth radio the PO installed in my E36 is enough tech for me.

Camaro SS would tick a lot of the right boxes, I suspect.

By the time I actually do something, decent used GT350 could well be in the price range. But, not today. Don't think I don't keep thinking of a certain C5 Z06, but I don't see it happening. Until it's gone and/or I do something, though...who knows.

Perhaps a used M2 will be doable under $40 by the time I do something. If it is, I'd definitely give it some some thought. I've intentionally stayed away from thinking about BMWs for a while, but this time they've been creeping back. A 335 could be an interesting option at the right price. An E46 M3 maybe? Well, probably not, but, maybe. JST keeps mentioning E60 M5s. That seems like a really bad idea...but at the price? Maybe not?

The daily 1991 Miata experience is not that distant in my past. As I've planned for the cross country drive in the XK8, the biggest thing in creature comforts that's missing is an easy option to get audio from the phone/device to the stereo. Fixable, but other than that...I like trip computers, but have finally stopped giving a shit about built in nav and screens. The other thing is power. Power for my phone or device and any other passengers. Again, it's something that can be fixed, so whatever.

I think so, too, but I don't know how I feel about having that thought validated.

Start shopping Porsches. It makes everything else seem like a serious bargain.

It was Mike Wood's 986 S that made me seriously start thinking about 10 year old cars. That car for $12.5? Makes anything newish hard to justify.

I really enjoy my 135. You could get a low mile 2012 in your price range and still have money for stiffer rear bushings and an LSD.

Yeah I was gonna say, get a 135 WAY before thinking about an E46 M3.

why is that?

Torque, flexibility, rear seat accommodations, 10yrs newer w/ decent tech.

Does the one series have the same lift/fold mechanism on the front seats for accessing the back as the e46?

JST has to be ready to move on from his by now....

That's the one feature I miss from my '08 CTS. Didn't have them on the Boxster and don't have them on the Tesla (not avail on the S, but are avail on the X)...

A used/CPO Boxster or Cayman wouldn't be that expensive and likely would fit in the ~$40k budget. Might be a good option. I loved my Boxster, but really only got rid of it since a 2-seater really wasn't practical for our family. Maybe in another ~10 years I'll look for a 2-seater again.

I missed his price limit. I vote boxster too

An early 996 911 with the IMS fixed would be high on my list if wasn't for stupid autox classing.

Wait, didn't they class the 981 in STU now? That could be fun, and I bet I could find you a co-driver with a truck and trailer. :)

E90/92 M3? It's not the best car I've ever owned, but it had its moments. At the right price it might be appealing. Probably more so than the E60 M5.

V8 S4/S5?

Used CTS-V?

Probably(?) haha. Definitely.

what is the draw of a E60 M5? To me they are ugly with gas guzzling complicated V10

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=890241

guessing that is pretty expensive for a e39 m5

Edit; very expensive:)

If you can get away with a 2 door, I've got to echo the Boxster/Cayman suggestions. At the prices they are trading for (986/987), they are the best value in the automotive universe.

A water cooled 911 is like a Boxster/Cayman, except waaaay more expensive and with marginally greater utility. As much as I want to own a 911 someday and punch that ticket, there's no way to make it make sense unless you absolutely need 2 extra very small seats.

I hate driving the E9x M3. I'd honestly much rather drive the 328xdT.

I know all this and the logic is sound. I still think I'll have to buy a 911 someday.

:+1

I'd be seriously tempted if I didn't still love my car.

I've always been fond of fast full size sedans. That's a big part of the attraction to the M5. Chevy SS, too. And why I wanted the G8 GXP. And why I had a Q45.

I'd prefer to limit the number of vehicles. For even money, one car is better than two and a two seater would necessitate a second car. That's okay, but not a first choice.

The Boxster/Cayman has never done anything for me emotionally and I did not enjoy the two years I competed in JV's 986. I always thought it would be a nice car for driving around as a car (rather than a competition vehicle), but it always left me feeling cold and indifferent. On paper, it's positioned really well, but I think, "Do I want this?" and the answer is usually, "no." Shrug.

That's a cool car!!

That is gorgeous... But $31k for a 16 year old E39?

What about a Hyundai Genesis coupe new or used ... It's rwd, has a manual transmission and is hot looking too ... Plus it's got back seats.

Have you seen what EAG gets for low mileage ones.

I always kind of liked those.

I haven't paid attention...

My E39 was a lowly 530 -- and I got rid of it since it was starting to need repairs (including one not covered by the CPO Warranty :irate:) -- and that was back in '08, and my E39 was the last model year... Can't imagine the cost of keeping a 16 year old M5 on the road as a daily driver these days...

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll just park that over there...

Hellcat! I think there is an SRT 392 Scat Pack available now.

The upcoming Civic Type R?

Well, I'm not as hardcore as you guys. But I've had a lot of car lust in my day. And my current car: the 328i wagon with sport suspension and inline 6 is so satifisying, I really don't crave anything else. It's fun, and it's practical. it's modern enough. With a stick, I think it would be perfect. But, in traffic, I'm over that.

Have you noticed what e90 iT with sticks are selling for these days...
Last listing I saw was $41k. You might want to consider car shopping just to catch the bubble on manual wagons.

Mine is an auto. So, no bubble for me.