What car : ONE CAR TO RULE THEM ALL" edition

My dad celebrated his retirement and selling of his business last weekend, and has asked me to help me find THE ONE CAR. The one that can do it all.  He wants something that can do autocross, trackdays, and roadtrips.  I asked him what he was thinking about and the first thing he threw out was a Mercedes AMG GT.  His main requirement is he wants it to look awesome, so that every time he walks into the garage or approaches it in the parking lot he gets a smile on his face.  I’m the exact opposite of this approach, give me a ton of money and I’m buying a ratty NA miata to send to Flying Miata for an LS swap that looks as stock as possible and then go terrorize Porsche club events.  So that’s why I’m coming to the collective wisdom here to come up with a list of cars that just look jaw droppingly good.

Other things to consider, he currently has a AP2 S2000, and has extensively driven my old NA miata.  He loves how light and nimble those cars feel.  Based on his stated goals I was listing a bunch of Grand touring type cars, but I know he won’t like driving them as much as something lighter. 

Other requirements

Less than 5 or so years old

Top price of around 150k or so but doesn’t need to spend near all of that

Doesn’t care if it’s competitive in a specific auto cross class, as long as it’s fast.

Bonus if it can haul a set of golf clubs

What I have so far

New NSX

Alpha Romeo 4c

Audi R8

BMW M2 or M4

Cadillac ATSV or CTSV

C7 Vette

C8 Vette

Jaguar F type

Lexux LC 500 and RC-F

Lotus Evora and Exige

Maserati Gran Turismo

Mclaren 570s

Mercedes AMG GT

Porsche Cayman or 911

Toyota Supra

intentionally left off:

earlier vettes,

Nissan GTR

pony cars

Anything I should add to the list?

I like the AMG GT for the WOW factor every time you look at it. 

For the kind of money he's spending, maybe a TVR Griffith? Maybe even a Tesla Roadster 2.0.

AMG GT is pretty hard to top. They look awesome, sound awesome and supposedly drive brilliant. The Jag F-Type also looks gorgeous and makes some wild noises.

Xjr

Easy answer Cayman GT4. 

Here is why. Being a Porsche GT car they will not depreciate like the rest of the list. It's build to conquer any type of asphalt motorsports you want with wins in series all over.  This is right down the street from me. 5600 miles.....100K 

^Hnnnnnngggg

I'm with BMW88

The GT4 Cayman is the killer car and it's in a no depreciation area right now because they limited production and the pricepoint is accessible. 

I'd drive one, they're friggin awesome.

Looks like 2020 brings the 718 version of the GT4 as well. Projected sticker is in the $120K range if you can get one. The last one basically required you to have already been a porsche owner because such slim allocations. 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a28072370/2020-porsche-718-cayman-gt4-photos-info/

In reply to spacecadet :

Are we talking the old gt4 or the new one, or both?  I haven’t seen the price on the new one or when they may actually hit dealerships but it’s on our list.

he likes the fact he has ridden the flat part of the s2000 depreciation curve for years.

Beware that there's no such thing as "ONE CAR TO RULE THEM ALL."  No matter what you drive, there will always be the itch for the next car.  The Honda guys have it, the Porsche guys have it, the Pagani guys have it.

The GT4 is a great car, but (at least around here) it's kinda missing that "wow" factor.  Doesn't look all that different from other Caymans, and there are a lot of them on the road.  So it kinda depends on how much he wants to stand out.

Of the cars on the list, I'd be inclined to look at the R8 (for the more practical, reliable end) or the McLaren.

I'm guessing the lack of prancing horses in the list is because of the budget and the 5 year old limit?

At this price point and reason for buying, it really comes down to which one blows up his skirt the most, along with not being painful to own (like an NSX is reliable, McLaren is the opposite, etc).  Your list has hit all the right choices. 

icaneat50eggs said:

In reply to spacecadet :

Are we talking the old gt4 or the new one, or both?  I haven’t seen the price on the new one or when they may actually hit dealerships but it’s on our list.

 

he likes the fact he has ridden the flat part of the s2000 depreciation curve for years.

Based upon what BMW88 pulled up both are "accessible" in the way any of the $100k track cars are. 

Now that the 718 GT4 is coming the old GT4 will probably see a little depreciation. But nothing like how much everything else at that price point will depreciate. 

I was driving to work today in my black Z4 coupe. I thought I looked cool. In fact, I DID look cool. And then I pulled up at a light next to a silver AMG GT. 

Guess what? My Z4 didn't look so cool at that point...

You might have missed the most important information- does he plan to wrench on the car himself, or will he need to take it to a shop to have repairs done?  There is nothing more frustrating than owning a beautiful expensive car that just sits there because it doesn't work.  When you start looking at $100k cars to put on the track, you need to also consider the total cost to run them.  Many of the cars on that list require an NA Miata's worth of tires and brake pads at least once a year, and that's just the ante to sit at the table.

If he's not the handy type, I think late model Porsche is the right idea.  GT4 is a great suggestion; seems like there are a lot of used GT3's in that price range too.  If it were me though...

- brand new top of the line 3/4 ton diesel truck with all the bells and whistles

- amazing enclosed trailer/toy hauler with all the bells and whistles

- 3 or 4 year old Cayman S

I think he just about nailed it with the AMG GT. Fast, nimble, drop-dead gorgeous and is still reasonably practical for a two-seater.

We can work on most things.  I have a shop and lift.  My brother worked in a high end shop that did major work on dang near every type of enthusiast car.

AMG GT is great. I would also consider a 911 of some flavor but they are like cockroaches around my part of the world where as the AMG GT is not and it would definitely have a much bigger WOW factor.  

I don't have a ton of perspective on longevity, but the CTS-V should 100% be a consideration. That car is beautiful (especially in white), and fast as hell - it would absolutely throw away the light feel, but every *professional* who reviews them seems to like them.