I guess i'm just one of those guys that loves sports cars. Not just the ordinary ones, but the real well-built rockets and not the little "Fast and Furious" pieces of junk with nitrous and a racing stripe and a lawnmower sounding exhaust. UNFORTUNATELY, I alone don't have the desire to spend over a $100,000 on a car that would be a second car to only drive around on the weekends. Fortunately my brother feels the same way and recently sold his Acura NSX for a pretty strong margin and is in the market himself. Because we are very close, and also close in age and distance, we are considering buying a weekend car together. I'm not sure if anyone has any experience with any of these cars, but comments would be appreciated. We're looking to spend between 80-90 thousand so the options are as following: Porsche 911 Twin Turbo (1997-1998) Ferrari 355 TB (1996-1999) BMW Z8
Supermac, My friend has a viper but i've never driven a Venom before. The Viper is honestly just too uncomfortable and its too raw. I like the power, but there is little finesse. Rocketman95, I'm sure that piece of crap you probably drive means your just enormous huh?
There's no presence on the road like a Viper GTS. It's not an everyday driver, though. I suggest, for like $50K buy a Corvette Z06. If you want to go foreign, look at the Jaguar XK8, Mercedes CLK coupe, or BMW M5.
Rocketman95, Many people often despise in others what they hate about themselves, but don't worry its all in how you move it The problem with the Jag XK8 and CLK is that they are not exotic or fast enough. I currently drive a Lexus SC400 which is almost the same thing, this other car is just a weekend car and a performance car. I don't like the handling of the Corvette, granted i've never driven a Z06, but it is just not that smooth. You can get a Viper quite cheap, like 50 or 60 for a almost new GTS, but they are not that comfortable and are not very fluid in their driving ability.
F. D., The next Viper (2003 model) is more finesse than the ones in the past and if Hennessey comes up with a Venom package, you would annihilate anything on the road short of those frankenstein Stangs, but then I can tell you're not into those things. The reviews I've read state that it's not so brutish as it has been in the past, but I don't like the styling as much as the past cars, either. The top of the line Venom package takes the current Viper to 60 mph in about 2.4 seconds. Frightening! The only problem is that this venom package would end up costing you around $150k for the car and the package I think. They do have "lower end" packages. Of the 3 cars you mentioned, I would get the 911 last... they're so damn common and blah. The Z8 would at least make you a bit unique, but didn't you say you didn't want to spend over $100k? Those things go for at least $125k new, don't they? Nice car, though. The Ferarri is a beautiful car like just about any Ferarri. It would be a toss-up for me between that and the Z8. Either of those 2 would turn more heads than the Porsche and I know that's part of the purchase. Congratulations on being successful in life despite your penis. . If you've earned it, enjoy it! I'd love to have a Viper or the new Skyline R35 when it's imported here - but I'm about 8-12 years away from having the guts to get one. Good luck and let us know what you get!
http://www.tvr-eng.co.uk/contents1.html Try the TVR. I've seen plenty on the road here in England and they look pretty damn sweet. Supposed to be a great drive as well. The Tuscan was in the flick Swordfish (i think that was the name)... The body is manufactured out of a composite blend of carbon and kevlar and helps the car towards its target weight of 1,000 kg which is remarkably light for such a large and strong car. Power output will go up to 440bhp which will give this car a power to weight ratio of 440 bhp/tonne (cf Ferrari 550 Maranello's 287, Porsche 911 Turbo's 272 and Lamborghini Diablo GT's 392). OK, i have no idea how to put a picture up. I tried though.
The Z8 was just a more random thought, because new they run about $120 and I figured I could pick up a used one about $90 or so, but i would imagine not. Honestly, I don't like the look or handling of the viper. Though the 911 Twin Turbo is not that Flashy, it will outperform everything on the road. Not only in the quarter mile, but also in the braking, ride, cornering ability etc. It is a real sports car. Hayes Street, I refuse to buy anything british. Two friends of mine both had Lotus Esprit (a 95 S4S and a 98 Twin Turbo) and were disasters in terms of reliability. One of my other friends has a Range Rover, bought it brand new and constantly has minor technical problems. Reliability is key for me. The Ferrari 355 Prices are quite high. I don't really care about being flashy and showing off, but I will not compromise performance and quality of ride. The 1997 911 is a Twin Turbo, versus the 98 is a single turbo. And i can pick one up for about $70 with under 10K miles.
All the cars mentioned are great rides but the Porsche 911 Twin Turbo (1997-1998) is about as complete a car as you can get. Smooth, refined, quick, fast and hanles great. (the Twin Turbos aren't as common as the regular 911) I drove a 99 for a weekend when I was house sitting for my boss and let me tell you it made my BMW 530 feel slooooow. I also thing the new vette is the best looking of the past 20 years but I haven't driven one. "Rocketman95, I'm sure that piece of crap you probably drive means your just enormous huh?" -- Classic comeback Khan
Range Rover is a Ford, right? Can't speak to the Lotus, but the TVR is handmade and I haven't seen anything about them being unreliable. If you want something out of the ordinary... But you COULD get one of those BMW Minis
The insurance on the 911 Twin Turbo would be less because it is a 2+2. Or I could buy a 2002 911 S4, all wheel drive. hmmmm It just doesn't have the power and tune that really define what a Porsche should be.
VooDooPope, Very true, a 911 Twinturbo is just a machine. But the 1998 911's were single turbo and the 1997 and 96 were Twin Turbos.
