What's scarier? Entry level exotics

I know someone who quasi-daily drives a 308. He claims that it's not bad as far as European cars go as far as maintenance is concerned. Everything came from something else.

Tough choice.

Here's some scary things about the Montreal- the burman steering box is very easy to break. And totally unique to the Montreal. Well, one thing. But bad...

I think if I were to lean toward the scariest- I would have to lean to the Ferrari- just the fact that it has a prancing horse puts an extra 0 on all the parts cost, and probably two of them for labor. Although, the Maserati... well...

What's NOT scary about the Montreal- it's basically a GTV under the body. V8 is robust, SPICA is well known, ZF box may be unique to the Monty, but I think it's seen in other cars... And most of the Alfa shops have no problem working on them. Just too tame, I think. And they have the best of both worlds in V8 sound- low speed like American, high speed like Italian.

Sex-on-wheels looks, incredible handling, Honda reliability.

C5 if you are just looking at the fun factor. others if you want the look at me factor

Knurled wrote: I know someone who quasi-daily drives a 308. He claims that it's not bad as far as European cars go as far as maintenance is concerned. Everything came from something else.

I've still read a bunch (on Ferrarichat) that even a 308 is still brutally expensive if you have a shop maintain it--and that's how they keep their value. I can't remember the specific figure, but it was something like $5000 for every 30k miles driven.

That said, I LOVE the 308GT4. Boy, would I love one in my garage.

I owned a Fiat Dino. Beautiful car, nightmare to own. Parts? HA! Oh, you can get them, but they are from Ferrari parts suppliers that want your wallet, your first born, and your dog.

I looked at Esprits briefly but they are cramped, questionably reliable and have poor resale when you get tired of their "charms".

The Montreal is a neat car but doesn't do it for me, and being a more vintage piece, will drive more like an old car.

I think I'd take the C5, frankly. Great bang for the buck, fun to drive, and will always be worth something.

RexSeven wrote: Sex-on-wheels looks, incredible handling, Honda reliability.

I was wondering when somebody would mention this. Possibly the easiest exotic to own and live with.

In reply to RexSeven:

As I've said before: The problem with the NSX is that nobody wants an exotic with a functional climate control system.

Oh, and David, a Stevens Esprit is actually fairly reliable for an exotic, and especially for an English car. Maintenance is higher than other cars, but reliability is not too bad. I'm doing a clutch on mine right now, but at 60K, that's in line with other performance cars. GM MPFI went a long way to improve things. Garrett turbo, most of the Lucas stuff exorcised. At our English car club, I would kinda feel bad, just driving my car when everyone else was wrenching and making "smoke" jokes.

RexSeven wrote: Sex-on-wheels looks, incredible handling, Honda reliability.

Absolutely this^ or even this:

Or best

Dr. Hess wrote: In reply to RexSeven: As I've said before: The problem with the NSX is that nobody wants an exotic with a functional climate control system.

That's why I said early NSX. Beside being hard-tops instead of T-tops like the later models, the early ones used R-12 refrigerant. If the owner didn't refill it or change it to R-134, then the A/C won't work anyways.

In reply to Mr.Benjamonkey:

Good call on the Pantera. I can't imagine what the rest of the parts cost but the Ford lump should be bulletproof and easy to upgrade.

For those of you who seem to not understand what a 308GT4 is:

This will be the first Ferrari I buy. Last of the truly classic bodies.

While I would personally lean towards the Z06, the nice thing about the exotic is that if you buy smart and don't beat it death, you might actually get to own if for "free".

I have a buddy that bought a mint '89 Lotus Esprit for around $15K. It was his dream car since he was a kid. His plan is to own/drive it for a few years and try to sell it for what he paid.

I'd sell both of my children into slavery for a sorted Montreal. Seriously! I'm really not much for exotics, but that body, and that sound... Amazing.

Vette is too commonplace, 308 is too much of a maintenance risk, Esprit... Lacks something for me. There just isn't much of a hook there to grab me like it should. The NSX and it's variants are great cars.

So what would I buy? The cleanest SVX I could, swap in a stick, pull the mufflers off, and stash the $15-30k I'd saved for a healthy head start on my nearly-enslaved children's college funds. But then, I drool for the different.

Maybe not an exotic but I want a Bentley Turbo R. Big fast and classy.

gamby wrote: I've still read a bunch (on Ferrarichat) that even a 308 is still brutally expensive if you have a shop maintain it--and that's how they keep their value. I can't remember the specific figure, but it was something like $5000 for every 30k miles driven.

That's not expensive for a European car, nowadays. Can be downright cheap. I've seen some "Brand A" cars run $40k over the course of 100,000 miles.

the GT4 is a neat variant.. I but I would rather have a 308

96DXCivic wrote: Maybe not an exotic but I want a Bentley Turbo R. Big fast and classy.

There was one on Craig's List, earlier this summer, eastern Ct, asking 25K.; it was listed for about a week. Surprised the hell out of me when I saw it listed.

ddavidv wrote: but they are from Ferrari parts suppliers that want your wallet, your first born, and your dog.

So THAT'S what really happened to Enzo the dog

nsx would (will, someday) get my vote.

The problem the lotus has is that it looks like a fiero, a supercar shouldn't be confused with anything else.

The corvette is cool but anyone with slick backed hair and a leather jacket can have one.

I think an aircooled turbo 911 fits the bill also.

this would be real scary,like a nightmare that wakes you up in the night and makes you run and turn all the lights on and open a bible

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benzbaron wrote: The problem the lotus has is that it looks like a fiero, a supercar shouldn't be confused with anything else.

Not the original. Maybe the softened restyle (is that the "Stevens" one that Hess is going on about?), but the original is like nothing else. Heck, even the soft ones have a presence that a Fiero will never have in person. But the originals - they're just so pure.

Plus they can turn into submarines!

Ahh the allure of the exotic.

Intoxicating for sure, but sooner or later you are going to have to put pads and rotors on it and even if they are readily available, what will they cost?

The price to acquire one is one thing, then we have the cost of tracking one, when it is all combined is what I am concerned about, I am currently looking at alternative track choices as well. It appears to me that there is a serious premium to pay for uniqueness.

Over on the Classics forum, there was a great post by a 308 owner.

I would argue the NSX is the "Lexus" of exotics rather than a C5.

Someday I'll have my head under the hood of an 850... my g/f wants one... so it's only a matter of time.

Ok I might have to change my mind. Maybe you should go with an NSX or an aircooled turbo porsche...

Fun factor: C5.

Other great choices: NSX and AC turbo porsche... I almost feel like the truly "exotic" nature of some of the others negates the fun in owning it unless you have a garage full of them and are a trust fund baby...