Help Spend My Money: What Car Edition

The trust from my grandparents' estate has finally been distributed and amounts to a substantial windfall for me. I'm planning to use a portion of the cash I'm getting to buy myself some new vehicles: a car to replace my Miata as DD and a motorcycle. I'm setting the budget at up to $20k plus whatever I can sell my Miata for (so, about another $3k). Obviously spending less is good.

So, the car... this is a replacement for the Miata, but I want something nicer, more comfortable, and more practical. I have a van for a workhorse to haul big stuff. I also have a 944Spec racer for a dedicated track beater. This will be a DD, occasional GT, and capable of playing at an auto-x course.

Car must be a road-straightening device. I live in an isolated town on the northern coast of CA on HWY 1. Out here it is about two hours on twisty mountain or coastal roads to get anywhere. OK gas mileage, say combined average in the 20's. Luggage space for two people to take a trip to visit friends or family for a week. Enough to carry a pair of suitcases, laptop cases, sleeping bags, and a case of beer. Due to my job, ability to carry one or more kegs or carboys upright is a plus. Open airy cabin.

The short list:

~'99 BMW M Coupe - Had one before. Loved it. just about the perfect car for me. I get excited when I see one. Hatch is great for practicality, and easy to load in things like brewing gear. Difficult to find and pricey, but holds value very well. Nice enough that I would be worried about damage if I tracked it. Price could eat into budget for a bike.

E36 M3 - Swiss army knife. Great car. Good deals on clean examples can be found all day in my price range. Nice on the inside but I would not have any issues taking one to a track day. Can be found in a sedan for excellent practicality. They don't all excite me by default, but do quicken my pulse a bit in the right color (Estoril Blue, Alpine White, or Yellow). This is the most logical choice.

S2000 - Convertible. Perfect for these coastal/mountain roads. Most like a grown up version of the car I will be replacing. Easy to find, but not as cheap as the E36. ZOMFG-redline-LOL. Least practical. Really not sure about luggage space, but I hear the trunk is surprising.

Classic Mini: Don't think this will be reliable enough... unless I can find a Honda powered one. Not sure about how hard that is, or the going rate. That could be a really awesome answer for a bucket-list car I have not yet owned.

Also plan to buy a bike, which complicates the math and budget further. I still need to do some test rides, but leaning heavily towards a Triumph Street Triple R as my first choice ($7k - $10k) with a Suzuki SV650 as a second choice ($3k-$5k for nice examples).

If I end up liking the Triumph as much as I expect to, trying to decide if I'd rather spend the money for the bike I really want, and buy a less expensive car that I'll still love (E36 M3), but not be totally in love with (M Coupe). Or if I should take the car I'm in love with and buy the less expensive bike. Or, just say "berkeley it. You only live once, and you've got the money. Spend an extra couple grand and get the things that will make you happiest."?

when you ask m coupe the answer is always m coupe. I always loved those.

You might be able to get a S54 m coupe for your price range.

kanaric wrote: when you ask m coupe the answer is always m coupe. I always loved those. You might be able to get a S54 m coupe for your price range.

I can not get an S54 M Coupe and a bike in my price range. I would actually prefer an S52. Cheaper and more reliable. Torque curves are basically the same up until about 5k RPM.

oic forgot about the bike part as i wrote that.

I actually agree with you on the S54 though, I would do the same tbh.

Beer Baron wrote: this is a replacement for the Miata, but I want something nicer, more comfortable, and more practical.

You came here asking for advice on what car to buy as a replacement for your miata, and actually thought someone would recommend something other than a faster miata? This is clearly time for an LS1.....

Beer Baron wrote: Car must be a road-straightening device. I live in an isolated town on the northern coast of CA on HWY 1. Out here it is about two hours on twisty mountain or coastal roads to get anywhere. OK gas mileage, say combined average in the 20's. Luggage space for two people to take a trip to visit friends or family for a week. Enough to carry a pair of suitcases, laptop cases, sleeping bags, and a case of beer. Due to my job, ability to carry one or more kegs or carboys upright is a plus. Open airy cabin.

Oh man i hate you ihateyouihateyouihateyou.

That sounds like heaven.

Nicest Evo 8/9 you can get your hands on? You're asking about German cars, it appears maitenance doesn't frighten you.

C5 'Vette? GTO? XK8?

Beer Baron wrote: Classic Mini: Don't think this will be reliable enough... unless I can find a Honda powered one. Not sure about how hard that is, or the going rate. That could be a really awesome answer for a bucket-list car I have not yet owned.

An intriguing thought... especially if can find a Traveller which would have tons of cargo room for beer stuff with future potential to be a rolling billboard if/when you start your own brewery. The downside is it'll be hard to do within your budget. All of the sorted Honda powered Mini's I've seen for sale have been at least $20K.

Of your other choices, I'd say M3/4. The rear doors should allow easier transport of kegs while upright. I don't think any of the other cars besides a Mini Traveller could do that. Plus, one should be cheap enough to leave you more bike-budget.

Beer Baron wrote: Classic Mini: Don't think this will be reliable enough... unless I can find a Honda powered one. Not sure about how hard that is, or the going rate. That could be a really awesome answer for a bucket-list car I have not yet owned.

Honestly I wouldn't worry about reliability to much but I wouldn't daily drive simply cause of the size and the fact no one in an SUV will see you... Although I guess it would be like daily driving a motorcycle with four wheels.

Keep the miata for a year, then import/buy a Canadian R32 skyline

Also YOLO (don't shoot me ). Spend the extra to get what you really want. If not you'll end up selling the car or bike you didn't want, and buying what you really wanted in the first place. Spending more money in the process.

M Coupe!

mndsm wrote: Nicest Evo 8/9 you can get your hands on? You're asking about German cars, it appears maitenance doesn't frighten you.

Much as i want to hate this idea, i like it.

The interior isn't German car swanky, but it's reasonably nice as far as i'm concerned. Plus it would be a RIOT.

M coupe fo sho.

ZO6.

Beer Baron wrote: I live in an isolated town on the northern coast of CA on HWY 1. Out here it is about two hours on twisty mountain or coastal roads to get anywhere.

Bodega Bay? Something with a hardtop may be necessary!

(The Birds was on last night, Carry on...)

Swank Force One wrote:

mndsm wrote: Nicest Evo 8/9 you can get your hands on? You're asking about German cars, it appears maitenance doesn't frighten you.

Much as i want to hate this idea, i like it. The interior isn't German car swanky, but it's reasonably nice as far as i'm concerned. Plus it would be a RIOT.

S'what i'm saying. Clearly, performance is a premium here. And outside of the M-series stuff from bimmer, I'm hard pressed to come up with a "performance" 4-door that can hammer esses as well as an Evo. I'd say ms3, but I think at this price point it can be done better. Plus 4g63= ALL THE BOOST.

DaveEstey wrote: ZO6.

Seconded

clutchsmoke wrote:

DaveEstey wrote: ZO6.

Seconded

Thirddeded.

But assuming you don't want that, as it is substantially different from everything else on your list, M-coupe. Or for a left-field option, another hatchback RWD coupe-wagonny thing: Solstice GXP coupe.

Beer Baron wrote: Car must be a road-straightening device. I live in an isolated town on the northern coast of CA on HWY 1. Out here it is about two hours on twisty mountain or coastal roads to get anywhere. OK gas mileage, say combined average in the 20's. Luggage space for two people to take a trip to visit friends or family for a week. Enough to carry a pair of suitcases, laptop cases, sleeping bags, and a case of beer. Due to my job, ability to carry one or more kegs or carboys upright is a plus. Open airy cabin.

Apparently some folks need a reminder...

I have driven all the cars you listed (and the Z06 you didn't). Spent more time in some than others and here are my thoughts.

Z06 or Vette - Awesome driver, tons of power and TQ. Interior is old GM. Functional but not pretty. Decent MPG.

M Coupe - You had one so you know it better than me. I mainly love then for their looks. Motors are decently fun.

M3 - Good cars but never excited me. Motor is decently fun but the trans never did anything for me. Interior issues at this age. Suspension and cooling refresh probably needed if not documented.

S2000 - If you were going to be using it as I DD around town I would say no. Will be super fun in the twisties. I just recently drove one again when a friend brought his around. Love the chassis. Verts are cool. Hate the motor around town. No TQ. They are fun in Vtech but IMO miserable when not.

Ctsv?

And let me tell you as a guy who lives in the flattest spot on earth where I do a one way 65 mile commute with 3 90 degree turns, I hate you.

If you're considering BWM's, don't forget about the 330i ZHP. They aren't quite an M3, but they do have most of the fun bits like more power and a better suspension, and i'd put an E46 ZHP up against an E36 M3 any day. Way more practical than an M Shoe. Cheaper maintenance than an M car too. Plus nice examples can be had in the $11K range.

ZHP on Wiki

A 23kish car that can do it all? That's a Speed3

CrashDummy wrote: A 23kish car that can do it all? That's a Speed3

Yep, and normally that'd be my go to answer for nearly everything, as I own one. But what this dude is talkin' about, is WAY more wicked than a Speed 3. Don't get me wrong, I pretty much think the ms3 (at least the 1g) is the best thing since sliced bread, but I think we're playin' a different ballgame here.