[LucWerkz]

Hey all,

I'm looking to get some input as to what car I should get next. A little background info, I had an e92 M3 which I daily drove (loved it). Afterwards I traded it in for a used X5 so I could support my parents. Now that they are back on their feet, I'm looking at getting into a fun car again. I'm planning to keep the X5 as a daily(or trade in for some other daily due to future reliability issues) so practicality can be thrown out the door for this next car.

I don't really have a huge list of requirements. I plan to use the car on the weekends for spirited drives on twisty back roads and the occasional drive in the city for dinners, nightclubs, etc. Also planning to track maybe 5-6 times a year. Don't really have any friends so I don't need a 4 door. My budget is up to $80,000. Open to new and used.

I've been extremely busy with work and haven't been up to date on all the new cars coming out lately but these are the ones I've been considering:
-Another late generation e92 M3
-BMW M4
-911 Turbo/C4S
-Audi RS5
-Audi R8
-Maserati GT (not much of a track car but I love the way it looks and sounds)
-Toyota Prius

Thanks everyone
Luc

[pgviper]

How about a viper?

[sherman9800]

If we are throwing in american cars I'd definitely consider the new Corvette Stingray with the Z51 package over a used Viper. Both are awesome cars in their own respect though.

Maybe a new audi TT-RS even if you dont get the awesome dual clutch. Might like it if you are into manual trans.

A Cayman GTS might be another option you'd like in case you want a mid engine Pcar.

These are all brand new cars that fit in your budget so dont need to worry about going out of warranty later on with a used 911 or Maserati and having to pay their dealer repair bills. Whether that matters or not though is another story.

I just cant get over the new vette and how good it is. Might not be your styling but cant deny its a lot better than before.

[cloakster]

Corvette C7 gets my vote too.

[Anon007]

C7 is best for the price, however an R8 sure would be a ton of fun. Completely agree with you on the Maserati, best sounding car imo and it sure is beautiful, great for date nights too.

[hellrotm]

If you plan on doing track days, nix the Turbo/C4S. Look for a 997.2 GTS or S. Of the two Audis the R8 would far better on the track, obviously. M4 and E92 M3 are good choices.

Take a look at the new Cayman GTS. As others have said C7 Stingray is a good choice as well.

[F1Venom]

C6 Z06
Cayman S
Lotus Exige S
Dodge Viper
BMW 1 series M
Audi RS4 (can be had for $40k but they're pretty high mileage now)

[Malibu1]

Backdraft Cobra

[F1Venom]

A 2013 Mustang GT500 should also be on that list. It may not be a great DD, but it's so awesome. And who could complain with 660 hp for around $60k?

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by F1Venom

A 2013 Mustang GT500 should also be on that list. It may not be a great DD, but it's so awesome. And who could complain with 660 hp for around $60k?

Boss 302 would probably be a better fit if he plans on doing a lot of track days. If he was drag racing, then that is another story.

[Year's_End]

Not sure what your timeframe is OP, but Porsche is bringing out their new GTS variants of the Cayman and Boxster. The GTS models have proven to be relative bargains, and the latest reviews are singing praise.

Click here for EVO's first drive review (5/5 stars) and here for Autocar's take: Cayman GTS and Boxster GTS. Site link with build & pricing here.

Originally Posted by Autocar - Steve Sutcliffe

What is it like?

In a word, lovely, especially in the spec in which I drove the car on its launch – so with the sports chassis, optional carbon-ceramic brakes, sports seats and a six-speed manual gearbox.

There is a cohesion to the way this car goes down the road that is rare, if not unique in my experience. There are 911 fans who claim that the bigger car is still the better one to drive and that the Cayman remains its lieutenant, no matter what form it might take or how good it may be. But I am no longer one of these people.

The Cayman GTS feels connected and compact and responsive to your inputs – be that to its throttle, steering, brake pedal or gearlever, which slices quite beautifully up and down its six-speed gate – in a way that a 911 no longer does. The last time a regular 911 felt this alive, this keyed in to the part of one’s brain that revels in the simple art of driving, was a very long time ago.

Indeed, you need to look to some fairly special versions of the 911 to match the satisfaction that the GTS Cayman provides, to the second generation 996 GT3, perhaps, or the 997 GT3 RS, and more recently the current GT3. And this puts the Cayman GTS in very high company, and me right out on a limb among Porsche’s commentators, some of whom will take great offence at such heresy towards the sacred 911.

But, for me, that’s how extraordinarily good the Cayman GTS, with sports chassis, manual gearbox, carbon-ceramic brakes and sports seats, feels. Which is some statement, but then the Cayman GTS really is some car.

Should I buy one?

It’s hard, if not impossible, to think of any other sporting car this side of £70,000 that is sweeter to drive than a Cayman GTS. Get the spec just right and you will get very close to motoring nirvana. Get it wrong and you’ll still end up with a very lovely sports car.

And at £55k it seems like a bargain next to just about all versions of the latest 911, none of which feel as compact or connected as a Cayman GTS. So I guess the answer is, yes, you should. With extra cheese and chilli sauce on top.

[Ezio]

c6 z06. they are cheap and easy/cheap to mod. build a nice N/A setup. headers cam etc. should be go for 600HP N/A monster.

[Lups]

Oh shit, wrong thread.

[MikeyV]

If you really want to get the most out of your driving pleasure nothing would beat a Caterham 7. A 480 will pretty much destroy anything on your list, a 620R will murder almost anything else on the road today.

You can now legally buy them in the US. http://us.caterhamcars.com/find-dealership



I don't think you could have more fun in a car with your pants on than with a Caterham.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by MikeyV

If you really want to get the most out of your driving pleasure nothing would beat a Caterham 7. A 480 will pretty much destroy anything on your list, a 620R will murder almost anything else on the road today.

You can now legally buy them in the US. http://us.caterhamcars.com/find-dealership



I don't think you could have more fun in a car with your pants on than with a Caterham.

+1000000

If you're going for a track toy then you can't do much better than any of Caterham's offerings. Not sure if that's what OP wants based on his requirements though.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by Year's_End

+1000000

If you're going for a track toy then you can't do much better than any of Caterham's offerings. Not sure if that's what OP wants based on his requirements though.

I just saw one of these in the road. Let's just say, that it takes a lot from a person to drive this in a street.

[MikeyV]

I used to work with a guy who used a Superlite R300 as a daily driver, so it can be done.

As the OP said he hasn't got any friends, he wants something for spirited drives on twisty backroads, something to track 5-6 times a year and the occasional visit to the drive thru for dinner, it's hard to see what out of these things the Caterham wouldn't excel at far better than any other car listed above.

It's driving in its purest most distilled form and crazy fast with it. Something close would be an Atom or Morgan Three Wheeler (not super fast but wicked fun).

[Gle8]

A well sorted Noble M400, or even better a Rossion Q1. Nothing compares to it for under $80k

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

Boss 302 would probably be a better fit if he plans on doing a lot of track days. If he was drag racing, then that is another story.

This.

I'd never track my car it would be terrible on a road course. It won't even take off ramps very well but for straight line acceleration nothing is close for the price. It puts a huge smile on my face every time. It's just figuring out what works for you and I'm not a track person.

For track if you can fit I'd go c7. If you are over 6'2 or over 225 you won't fit well.

[evo335xi]

Jag f type, Maserati, ttrs, 997 turbo, c6 Z, s6,c63...too many I'd love to own! Just a few.

[LucWerkz]

Thanks guys! I'm not interested in a Backdraft Cobra or a Caterham because the weather where I live is pretty unpredictable, plus I live in an area where it's common to see people read the newspaper, text, and put on makeup while driving so I'd like to have some sort of protection.

In terms of the Vette and Mustang GT500/302 I know that they are the best bang for your buck and both of them look great and mods will be cheap; But for my next car I'm looking at getting a European car, it's just my personal preference and no personal bias against American cars.

The Cayman GTS sounds like a great car! I've been reading further into them and they sound ideal for what I plan to do with the car. Will have to find a Porsche dealer that will actually let me test drive one (the dealers in my area treat their new cars like one-off exotics). Surprise the M4 isn't getting any love, perhaps it isn't out yet?

[TSM330i]

Originally Posted by Red_Baron

Thanks guys! I'm not interested in a Backdraft Cobra or a Caterham because the weather where I live is pretty unpredictable, plus I live in an area where it's common to see people read the newspaper, text, and put on makeup while driving so I'd like to have some sort of protection.

In terms of the Vette and Mustang GT500/302 I know that they are the best bang for your buck and both of them look great and mods will be cheap; But for my next car I'm looking at getting a European car, it's just my personal preference and no personal bias against American cars.

The Cayman GTS sounds like a great car! I've been reading further into them and they sound ideal for what I plan to do with the car. Will have to find a Porsche dealer that will actually let me test drive one (the dealers in my area treat their new cars like one-off exotics). Surprise the M4 isn't getting any love, perhaps it isn't out yet?

I owned a 2001 Boxster about 7 years ago. It was a fantastic little car!
You will NOT go wrong with a Cayman GTS. I'm not sure anyone will have a GTS in stock at this point. Talk the talk and walk the walk and you'll be able to take out any of their cars.
Hell, I was able to get a ride in a brand new McLaren MP4-12! I later found out to test drive one it takes a $50,000 deposit!
Video review: