You're going to spend $50-55k on a car, what do you do?

Bobzilla said:

manual Chevy SS, supercharger, wheels/tires and lots of gas.

The Chevy SS does absolutely nothing for me. The only 4 door car I'm really considering would be the Audi RS3.

Cayman S/997 any 2009+ to avoid the IMS bearing issue that never really got corrected in the earlier years.   

Or new C7 Corvette - I know these can be bought for $55k and under brand-new, check autotrader nationally because there are dealers out there that specialize in Corvettes and sell at big discounts.   55K won't buy a  Z06 but Z51 is a lot of car.      

Jaynen said:

The only thing wrong with the ATS-V is the Camaro SS did the platform better by having the v8

I have a '16 Camaro.  The rear legroom is almost non-existant.  Even in an ATS coupe, I can sit in the back (at 6'2").

Here is the video from the run in the ATS I did.  V series cars have an optional data recorder system, made by Cosworth, available.  Cosworth owns Pi Data, one of the biggest names in race data logging systems.

Daytona ATS-V laps

I'm directly behind the instructor, along with two other 'students'.  The instructor is who you hear over the two-way hand-held radio.  Unfortunately, we caught the group in front of us almost immediately, and someone pulled over in the infield at the start of our third lap, so they black flagged the session.

Flyin Miata LS3 ND Miata...Because if I could already afford and justify $55k+care and feeding of a high performance German car, I could figure out how to afford and justify the other $15k to get what I really want. 

Oh wait---what about an E30 M3? Just because?

aw duck it, you should get a Porsche. 

Cadillac had IMSA DPi drivers Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi on hand that weekend, and with one in the CTS and the other in the ATS, they set times only two-tenths of a second apart, despite a roughly 200hp difference!

JG's mustang  if it's still for sale.

SivaSuryaKshatriya said:

Honestly, the FRS is very special. I have driven a decent amount of cars, and NONE of them have felt as responsive and tight as the FRS. The FRS steering is just on a different level, it's beautifully responsive and extremely precise. It makes carving up any car an absolute joy.

I don't regret my choice of buying the C6 Z06, but I also think I would have been happier with simply turbocharging the FRS. It would have been the perfect car at that point, as it would have had power and handling with a decent amount of cheap and abundant aftermarket at its disposal.

I agree fully with your thoughts on the FRS chassis. Really is the best I have ever driven. I also know enough about the Subi engine in the FRS to not ask it for even one more HP than it was delivered with. In the quest for light weigh, the engineers left zero margin for handling more power on this platform.

But then, there is this option:

The CanBus stuff has been resolved from what my reading tells me, so you can have a stupid fast family car in the price bracket you seek.

I'd echo others on a p-car 987/986 tt or, cayman/boxster s, another possibility - a 993. I've owned modern bmws, seems the newer they are the heavier and more disconnected. The domestics have good performance but get a fair depreciation hit and interior quality is lower than the Germans. Anyway that's where I'd spend my hard earned money.

Oh the backseat in the Camaro is terrible. I just wish the ATS had the v8 option for the twin turbo 6.

In general if I had that kind of money to throw at a car I would probably buy a P-car that I could enjoy without having it depreciate much. Probably thinking 911 over Cayman because I think they hold their value better and would be a better around town car also

Any interest in a used Nissan GTR? I haven't heard anyone call them refined, and I have no idea what it costs to feed them or how they hold up long term. They can be found in the high 40s, which leaves room in the budget for a nice power increase and tire upgrade. 

In reply to Cotton :

This may sound silly but I think I'd rather have the TA. Or a 392 Charger for that matter. 

STM317 said:

Any interest in a used Nissan GTR? I haven't heard anyone call them refined, and I have no idea what it costs to feed them or how they hold up long term. They can be found in the high 40s, which leaves room in the budget for a nice power increase and tire upgrade. 

No, although I got ride in a tuned GTR summer before last, it made my man parts tingle. I have a feeling it would be an expensive beast to maintain as well. 

Even though it wouldn't be under warranty I'm not a fan of Nissan going, "Hey we included launch control in this car for mind blowing starts off the line, however, if you actually use it we will void your warranty."

At the moment, I'm leaning more and more toward a new M2. That way I can make sure it's over-maintained from the start. And yes, initial depreciation will be rough, but I would buy it with the plan on keeping it for at least 4-5 years and again, it wouldn't really see many miles per year.

I would wake up from my dream.

Chadeux said:

In reply to Cotton :

This may sound silly but I think I'd rather have the TA. Or a 392 Charger for that matter. 

 

I really do love the look of the new Chargers and nearly 500hp stock off the floor. 

Even though HPDE will be infrequent, the curb weight is just a killer. And they are WAY undertired for their weight and power from the factory.

That kind of cake will buy a really nice v2 ctsv. That's where my money would be

parker said:

I would wake up from my dream.

 

It is a crazy amount of money, trust me. I think maybe "Just buy one of the '17 Mustang GTs dealers are trying to unload and do suspension and wheels and call it a day"

But that's boring and I want a new experience.

Hoping the company stock continues it's insane rise from the beginning of the year. First round vests in Feb.

mndsm said:

That kind of cake will buy a really nice v2 ctsv. That's where my money would be

Yeah, I just don't have any desire for a sedan. At all. I haven't looked to see, but if I was and could swing it, I'd look at a V10 M5.

But again, sedan just doesn't do it for me.

Have hookers and blow been mentioned already? 

There are a few used V8 miata's that come up. I drove most of what are being suggested and that's where I settled. So much fun. I now DD mine when the weather is not raining. I've found myself now putting so many miles on it, I no longer see a reason to have anything other than a beater for a second car. 

The only other car that I found close was the GT350. Maybe I just had a lust for fun V8 cars. 

I find it odd that you are having this dilemma, considering your background I'd of thought you'd of already found that 'IT' vehicle.

I know of a few Cayman S with 911 motors, GT3 engines too. 

1st gen CTSV, and $40k in XOM

I'd test drive a new Camaro ZL1 1LE.  If I liked it I'd wait a couple of years until I could get a slightly used one in my price range.

Not that I'll ever be in that position...

z31maniac said:

Chadeux said:

In reply to Cotton :

This may sound silly but I think I'd rather have the TA. Or a 392 Charger for that matter. 

 

I really do love the look of the new Chargers and nearly 500hp stock off the floor. 

Even though HPDE will be infrequent, the curb weight is just a killer. And they are WAY undertired for their weight and power from the factory.

The weight is inescapable, but the lack of rubber is part of the reason why the 392 now has the optional "Dynamics Package" with 6 piston brakes and 275/40R20 Pirellis.