I need your HELP...What to buy with $35,000

[mmasse]

I need to buy a car and I have a budget of $35,000. I need you to help me make up my mind....I have been struggling for 2 months and can not decide.

Here is the situation:

I already have a toy. Porsche 911 '76 with 993 engine, still street legal...which might change depending on what I buy. I also have a SUV for the family to drive on weekends. So, i need a daily driver to take me to the train station and to have some fun driving on weekends.

Now, I am not looking for the rational answer to my problem which my wife gave me a long time ago. Spend a little as possible and buy a Toyota Corolla to take you to the station!!! I want something I can enjoy!!

I live in NY, so in winter I will need to draive it on the snow, which renders my current 911 not a target for daily driving (besides the fact that I have erased the heating, etc)

To show you how lost I am let me tell you the spectrum I am considering:
- Mustang GT (or ideally a Shelby although, even if older model, will be difficult to find with my budget)
- Chevrolet Camaro SS '10
- Chevrolet Corvette
...this three options will give me the chance to drive a true American Sport car (I am coming from abroad!!)

-BMW M3. I had a BMW 335i in Europe end enjoyed driving it a lot

....and then my beloved Porsche options:
-993 or 911 ('01-'02) ???...and turn my 911 into a pure racing car.

The year of the car will vary to accommodate my budget. So, the M3 would be older than the Camaro, for example.

let's see what you guys think.

Thanks

[Jgordon]

964 C4 plus goodies.

[ZAMIRZ]

993 or BMW M3.

I would not buy a 964 C4, that is a nasty money pit and boring as hell to drive.

[mca]

Dude ... you would be wise to listen to your wife.

You already have something fun to drive on the weekends - Porsche 911 '76 with 993 engine.

How fun can driving to the train station be???

I will retract my comments if you drive 30 miles through twisty roads to get there

[fig911]

why not pony up a few more dollars and get a 996TT. I think fair examples are going for around $45K now...4wd/fast/civilized...fun cars.

[Jeremy Cottrell]

Try to find a used 335Xi, WRX or Evo. Or go old school and find an old Audi Quattro

Those would be fun snow cars.

[Talewinds]

- Mustang GT (or ideally a Shelby although, even if older model, will be difficult to find with my budget)
Great looking and an instant classic, but no.

- Chevrolet Camaro SS '10
Even greater looking but GOD no. (This from a previous Camaro-'s owner)

- Chevrolet Corvette
You've lost your mind. But truthfully the newer Vettes are GREAT cars.

...this three options will give me the chance to drive a true American Sport car (I am coming from abroad!!)
Ok, Ok, I think I can understand your perspective. In that case, how about a Z06???????? Can they be had for $35k yet? Probably not. But I think that Z51??? is that what it's called? Those can be had for around your budget.
Entirely age dependent though, you must have either A: Grey hair, B: No hair, or C: a combination of both. You must show your AARP card here in the midwest to be allowed to purchase one. How am I so certain of that assertion? I live ON Route 66.
Not that there's anything wrong with greying hair, I've got quite a collection started myself.


Why not a Viper? I know the older ones can be had for $35k these days, and they're WICKED fun.

You've already got a 911 you love, so unless you're going to replace it completely, why buy another one? There are SO many cars and so little time on this rock.
My $$$:
M5 or M3. You've already got a SUV and a pure sports car, the M5/3 slots right there in the middle in your stable.
CLK55 AMG
E55 AMG
Jag XJR
Audi S4
335 Coupe or Sedan
300C SRT8
CLK55 AMG

[SCOTITUDE]

id spread the wealth and not waste 35g on a station car. Even with your choices you are still going to drive the suv in the snow as none of them will work in snow. Yes, i know . porsches in snow are ok, BTDT myself, but why take the chance when you have other options.
i'd split it up:
e36 M3/ sc/carrera cab, 10-15g
enclosed trailer, 10g
track stuff for the toy, the rest and then some.

[s_wilwerding]

Used Porsche Cayman...

[Talewinds]

Originally Posted by s_wilwerding

Used Porsche Cayman...

Yes!

[mmasse]

Ok, great comments and I can find some very good reading of my feeling, as well.

First let me address the strategic component by replying to mca. My first inclination is no way, just by definition she can not be right :-) but most importantly my plan is to switch the 911 to full racing car, and even if I don’t, this car is really not a winter car, not even mention in the snow. You have to keep in mind:
no traction control + 993 engine + snow equals= crash...a very cold one, because I don't have heating....on top of that I will not dare to leave her alone at the station the full day under the snow, rain, etc (you can perceive I am little emotional about my 911)

So, if I transform it into a track car I need some fun for the weekends.

Tailwind, I am more on option B (no hair) considerably contained by Rogaine, approaching 40...so yes this might be a middle life crisis thing...but honestly I always liked Corvettes (SORRY!!)

Scottiude, I would love your choice but this would be very difficult to sell to my wife. Although I believe to be very persuasive, I even convinced her that the newer 911 would be a family car!!!

But, please keep them coming...it seem that the M3 is winning the poll.


Oh, I forgot a funny one. Where is the idea of the Camaro coming (on top of the American experience) I have a 6 year old boy who is already nuts about cars (guess why) and he likes Bumblebee (Transformers 2 movie character)

THANKS

[Matt Monson]

996 C4S. They are now in your price range. Just make sure the tranny and engine are up to snuff as both of them have had some issues.

None of the muscle cars will be good in the snow.

[crater64]

At the risk of showing bias, for an all-weather station car with some performance kick I'd recommend a lightly used 2.5-litre turbo Subaru of some sort. I'd lean toward a Legacy GT, Outback XT or Forester XT as these are less likely to have been beaten on and draw less attention from law enforcement than a WRX/STi. Even through a Subaru dealer (and they have a CPO program now) you'd have enough change left over from $35K to do some nice things with your 911.

[Starless]

The three cars you named will suck in the snow. I would stay in Spain, move to Alicante and enjoy your 911 year round.

[nineball]

check out the jaguar x-type. it is around that price new with every option (but much cheaper used), retains the classic jaguar front end appeal and has all wheel drive. i have a 2004 and love it.

[scottrx7tt]

how about a 93-95 mazda rx-7 and a couple of extra motors?

[TR]

These cars are reverse engineered porsches.

Subaru--WRX

Subaru--B4 turbo

Subaru--SVX

The SVX will be in the RS catagory in 20 years. I drive my outback in the Australian alps--no worries.

[mmasse]

Originally Posted by Starless

The three cars you named will suck in the snow. I would stay in Spain, move to Alicante and enjoy your 911 year round.

I wish I had a choice!

[porschenut]

the Camaro, Mustang, Corvette and M3 are all front-engine, rear drive cars - you are not going ANYWHERE in snow with those cars.

A 911 is terrific in snow, if you put snow tires on it. I did that for 3 winters, and had a blast in the snow. The engine is right over the drive wheels, so you get plenty of traction.

[mike the snake]

Volvo S60? Turbo, AWD. I drove in one with slicks at Infineon and it was awesome. AWD should be good in the snow.