Midlife crisis car

November 01, 2017, 09:28 AM

AirmanJeff

quote:
Originally posted by 2012BOSS302:
Of your list I picked the Vette. Since you said no Ford's I won't plug some Mustangs.

Not many classic muscle cars to be had for <35.

Yes, I originally was looking at Chevelle's but the ones in that range are usually refurb's of questionable quality/history.

I tried looking for some C6 Z06's around me but most seemed to run around 45k. I'll keep looking.

I really like the S2000s (and Z4's) too but I am not a fan of roadsters. Just not my thing. This is why I want the GTS model Viper (hard roof).

I am going to look at a Viper GTS this afternoon. I'll try to post some pics later tonight.

November 01, 2017, 09:43 AM

jeeperxd

I voted for the Viper.I have a 1997 red GTS that i bought two years ago for my 58th b-day. I always wanted one and since i am not getting younger it was time.They are not hard to drive if you keep your head on your shoulders. They do get hot but if you maintain the ac they are tolerable.You will get a lot of attention with this car which i like.

November 01, 2017, 09:47 AM

Dusty78

quote:
Originally posted by AirmanJeff:
quote:
Originally posted by 2012BOSS302:
Of your list I picked the Vette. Since you said no Ford's I won't plug some Mustangs.

Not many classic muscle cars to be had for <35.

Yes, I originally was looking at Chevelle's but the ones in that range are usually refurb's of questionable quality/history.

I tried looking for some C6 Z06's around me but most seemed to run around 45k. I'll keep looking.

I really like the S2000s (and Z4's) too but I am not a fan of roadsters. Just not my thing. This is why I want the GTS model Viper (hard roof).

I am going to look at a Viper GTS this afternoon. I'll try to post some pics later tonight.

Yeah and the Z4M coupes are impossible to find. Of your two choices the Viper would be my choice if I had smaller feet lol. If I were you I wouldn’t be afraid to travel to find the right car. Do a 500 mile or nationwide search on CarGurus.com. When I got my first Z4 I flew to Miami and drove it back. It was a great road trip.

November 01, 2017, 10:15 AM

P250UA5

Nixing roadsters from the list, I'd say Z4M Coupe or Cayman. Either would be more my preference over the Vette/Viper.

An ND Miata RF with the FM V8 conversion would be a hoot & still a 'hard top'. But likely to exceed budget.

November 01, 2017, 10:35 AM

Perception

I know a new GTO has already been ruled out, but I've owned one for quite a while so I guess I'll chip in. It's not a midlife crisis car. They are really, really fat and the suspension is garbage. They handle about as well as a cruise ship without suspension upgrades, so not really a weekend warrior car. There is very little room for bigger tires, so if you want better rubber it's going to take work to shove something wider in there. The electrical system is suspect, and mine has gremlins that I've never really been able to track down. Parts are getting hard to find, they simply didn't make very many of them.

Overall, I really do love the car, but it has a lot of quirks and really doesn't fit the bill.

"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford, "it is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards."
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."

November 01, 2017, 10:57 AM

chongosuerte

4 pages and only 5 different car pics?

This thread sucks

That Mustang is damn sexy, though.

Knowing what one is talking about is widely admired but not strictly required here.

Although sometimes distracting, there is often a certain entertainment value to this easy standard.
-JALLEN

"All I need is a WAR ON DRUGS reference and I got myself a police thread BINGO." -jljones

November 01, 2017, 12:21 PM

Expert308

quote:
Originally posted by chongosuerte:
4 pages and only 5 different car pics?

This thread sucks

I'd post a pic of my new Challenger, but the OP said his wife had already ixnayed that.

November 01, 2017, 12:29 PM

chellim1

Reading your list of pros/cons it sounds like what you really want is the Dodge Viper GTS.

Just an observation.

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor

November 01, 2017, 12:37 PM

cruiser68

To OP,

Out of your two I would choose the Viper just because it is less common.

When I went through something similar at 49, I was about to get a corvette. Then I saw a commercial for the Caddy CTS-V. Then I drove one, then I bought one. Ended up souping it up a bit and road racing it all over the country for my mid life crisis. They have a 2 door coup in the V2 series. Should be in your price range. It was a complete joy to drive daily and beat many a BMW on the road courses. Mine was a tad of a sleeper, just a tad of idle lope but got pretty loud when you romped on it. I had headers into stock mufflers. Super comfortable and pampered feel with a smooth ride until you hit sport mode.

Good luck whatever you choose and enjoy it!

November 01, 2017, 12:44 PM

P250UA5

quote:
Originally posted by cruiser68:
To OP,

Out of your two I would choose the Viper just because it is less common.

When I went through something similar at 49, I was about to get a corvette. Then I saw a commercial for the Caddy CTS-V. Then I drove one, then I bought one. Ended up souping it up a bit and road racing it all over the country for my mid life crisis. They have a 2 door coup in the V2 series. Should be in your price range. It was a complete joy to drive daily and beat many a BMW on the road courses. Mine was a tad of a sleeper, just a tad of idle lope but got pretty loud when you romped on it. I had headers into stock mufflers. Super comfortable and pampered feel with a smooth ride until you hit sport mode.

Good luck whatever you choose and enjoy it!

Or go super sleeper & get a Vagon. CTS-V Wagon with a 6MT & factory Recaro seats.

November 01, 2017, 12:52 PM

smlsig

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
quote:
Originally posted by AirmanJeff:
quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Porsche Cayman S. Find a nice low mileage 6 cylinder.

I'd love a Cayman. Unfortunately I want to keep this car for several years and I just don't know if I could afford the maintenance long term. But my uncle has one and it's an amazing machine.

They are very reliable. Some think the Porsche is hell on maintenance. They are actually built remarkably well.

Agreed! I've had two and both have been remarkably dependable. My track car had over 50,000 miles on the track and I could still drive it on the street (if I hadn't taken off all the junk...)

Think about this for a minute... Are you really going to go blasting down the road at 150+ MPH??? I certainly hope not (You could go to the track for that kind of fun). So what you really want is a car that is comfortable and handles great. THE BEST HANDELING CARS, BAR NON ARE MID ENGINE CARS...

Get yourself a Boxster S or a Cayman S, if you want a hardtop, and go enjoy your life.
Seriously...

November 01, 2017, 01:05 PM

Shaql

I love how you guys keep ignoring his US-requirement.

November 01, 2017, 01:06 PM

HRK

Get the Viper, drive it, if you like great, if not sell it in the next year and buy a Vette C6 or maybe c7 early edition, who says you only have to have one, and that you have to keep it forever..

He's already said no Fords, so the Cobra, Mustang GT, any hi-po blue oval is out since he's admitted he can't handle the Fords

November 01, 2017, 01:11 PM

TMats

quote:
Originally posted by Shaql:
I love how you guys keep ignoring his US-requirement.

LOL, yeah, you ought to be able to find one of those for “less than $40k.” BTW, didn’t he also say “no Fords?”

November 01, 2017, 01:16 PM

FN in MT

What about a new Camaro SS?

Doable for $30K and tremendous bang for the buck.

Standard SS ; 12.5 sec , 1/4 mile . Great handling too.

November 01, 2017, 01:19 PM

swordsmn

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
quote:
Originally posted by AirmanJeff:
quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Porsche Cayman S. Find a nice low mileage 6 cylinder.

I'd love a Cayman. Unfortunately I want to keep this car for several years and I just don't know if I could afford the maintenance long term. But my uncle has one and it's an amazing machine.

They are very reliable. Some think the Porsche is hell on maintenance. They are actually built remarkably well.

As an owner of a base 911, I agree. Just get that pre-purchase inspection and find a great independent mechanic. Atlanta is blessed with several. I wanted a 911 since my late teens and finally got one at age 58. Spent less on it maintenance wise than I have my Mazda 3S...

November 01, 2017, 02:03 PM

Shaql

quote:
Originally posted by TMats:
LOL, yeah, you ought to be able to find one of those for “less than $40k.” BTW, didn’t he also say “no Fords?”

Ha! Didn't see that down there. But, this is a Shelby, not a Ford!

And replicas are do-able...

https://classics.autotrader.co...bra_replica-for-sale