Help me pick a car

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Drove a 2008 550i 6-speed sport tonight. Was REALLY nice driver gobs of torque, smooth, nice creature comforts ... but at the end I didn't bite. Just not cool or interesting enough for me.

Hopefully looking at a 2007 335i 4-door in a cool color combo tomorrow. Still a bit boring but I can be won over by niceness. Now I gotta go learn about what goes wrong with the 335's....

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Steven Carter wrote:

Might be just me, but G37 sedan violates the "more interesting" clause of rule #1. If that is how you want go, why not consider adding GTO, G8 GT (GXP version is crazy $$$), 1st gen CTS-V or Lexus GS?

GTO - considered but I just can't get excited about it for some reason. Maybe I should drive one?
G8 - looked for some but man they are hard to find in a manual for cheap
CTS-V - this is on my radar. Only found one decent candidate in the SE, and still a lot of $$. Plus, we picked up a really nice SRX for my wife from my in-laws (same chassis as CTS) and I can't handle being a 2-cadillac family.... unless the right CTS shows up at my feet.
GS - available in a manual? What years? Dunno much about any newer ones.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 1:35 am

I suppose a late model Aston Martin Vantage V12 is out of your budget.

Other than that, I have no clue what would work for you but I'll be interested to see what you end up with.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 8:51 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

- Not something I have had before (BMW, BMW, BMW, WRX, NA/NB Miata, S2000)

MikeWhitney wrote:

Drove a 2008 BMW tonight. Was REALLY nice driver gobs of torque, smooth, nice creature comforts ... but at the end I didn't bite. Just not cool or interesting enough for me.

Hopefully looking at a 2007 BMW in a cool color combo tomorrow. Still a bit boring but I can be won over by niceness. Now I gotta go learn about what goes wrong with the 335's....

Does not compute. You getting another BMW is about the most predictable thing that could happen.

What about some type of used AMG machine that can be had for pennies on the dollar?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:00 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Drove a 2008 550i 6-speed sport tonight. Was REALLY nice driver gobs of torque, smooth, nice creature comforts ... but at the end I didn't bite. Just not cool or interesting enough for me.

Hopefully looking at a 2007 335i 4-door in a cool color combo tomorrow. Still a bit boring but I can be won over by niceness. Now I gotta go learn about what goes wrong with the 335's....

The E90 in 330i/328i or M3 form is a very reliable platform. In 335 form, take the inverse of that (and think wastegates, carbon build up, fuel pumps, etc).

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

Knowing your mechanical skills and desire to work on things, the right car for you is a down on it's luck high end car. Look for the a Ferrari, Aston, or Jag (you like to work on things right?). Maybe a BMW M1? You need something that needs love that you can fix up, drive for awhile and then sell for a net gain.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:24 am

What about this: http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/4820642376.html

Chad I have always followed this definition of the SBC. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrole ... ock_engine

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:15 am

335d.look no further than a diesel for good old fashioned torque man.v8,heck go diesel.you will never go back.we havent.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:21 am

or a hyundai genesis v6 coupe,back seat sorta..Big v6 ,reminds me of a korean z.Plenty of go,300hp thereabouts..Unique car,hyundai has gotten alot better over the years.
Independent suspension,rwd,big v6,adn roomy i think.I also like the tiburon,but i dont fit in it, I am too tall.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:25 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ACM7xXiXR4

why not come back to rally cross,with a custom built ford ranger 302.The explorer later came with teh 289 v8..We thought about one,but we got the 4l six.AS long as you dont tow real heavy,is fine.The automatic could not handle towing heavy though,hence the big white monster we have now .Which does not care whether its there or not really.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 1:00 pm

so, here's my 2 cents worth in regard to cool factor and something different. I know at one time you were interested in the Stalker 7. I was thinking more in line of a resto mod old school. I dig both the first gen and second gen Camaro's. Crap ton or parts out there along w/ some serious suspension upgrades. Or you can go the route that I'm planning on going in a few years, kit car from Factory Five, https://www.factoryfive.com/. I'm leaning towards the 33 hotrod only because it's one of their cars they offer I can fit in. They now have 2 models w/ a unique body style, one using a vette under pinning and the other a subie. Those are the GTM and 818 respectively. If you are contemplating a vette, I'd consider a gen 3. Still has a killer body shape and again, tons of options out there.

I know you said no VW, but how about an old school Karmann Ghia? That is a timeless body style and easy to work on.

That's all I've got Mike. Happy hunting!

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 1:47 pm

factory five cobra,but this time please get the IRS rear end that they came with..In the 60s,the cobra did not have a solid rear axle,it was independent like a corvette.
cobra daytona coupe was a awesome thing to me,i always loved them.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 4:00 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Steven Carter wrote:

Might be just me, but G37 sedan violates the "more interesting" clause of rule #1. If that is how you want go, why not consider adding GTO, G8 GT (GXP version is crazy $$$), 1st gen CTS-V or Lexus GS?

GTO - considered but I just can't get excited about it for some reason. Maybe I should drive one?
G8 - looked for some but man they are hard to find in a manual for cheap
CTS-V - this is on my radar. Only found one decent candidate in the SE, and still a lot of $$. Plus, we picked up a really nice SRX for my wife from my in-laws (same chassis as CTS) and I can't handle being a 2-cadillac family.... unless the right CTS shows up at my feet.
GS - available in a manual? What years? Dunno much about any newer ones.

I am no expert on Lexus, but IIRC only the first gen IS300 had a real manual. Everything since has been a 6- or 8- speed shiftable automatic? All the ISFs I have seen have also been shiftable automatics, but those are pretty pricey, up in the $40s. Maybe a true manual was an option but haven't cared enough to check.

Listen to Chuck in re first iteration 335s. Lots of issues, especially with fuel pumps. I understand they got a little better in 2010, but defer to the bimmerphiles on that.

One of my partners at work went from an E9x M3 to a 550i and regretted the decision. I bet a sedan E9x M3 would be a great choice.

Edit...seems like you are favoring a move towards high power mid-to-full size sedans. For completeness, Have you also considered the Charger SRT8?

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

It's been done before, but https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail.cfm?lo ... 115-201633

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 6:53 pm

Are people reading the entire thread before posting here? His max budget is $15k and people are mentioning E9x M3's, SRT Chargers and other cars that are well over $30k. :lol:

The IS250 also came in a manual transmission, but not the IS350 or anything more powerful than that. I think Mike should be looking at older vehicles that are a bit more peculiar. - AB

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