You hit the exact reason I'm probably going to sell my classic here soon too. To make it worth really driving on a regular basis I've got to pump another 3-4K into it for better brakes and some AC.
I had no problem commuting in my late 80's/early 90's cars. They are modern enough to be safe and comfortable. I DD'ed my MR2 for a couple years.
aircooled wrote: Not sure what people think of a 65 Corvair doing 85 (rare aftermarket 5 speed) down the freeway, but it works for me.
Probably about the same as when I rip down the hwy in my Spitfire, GT6 or Mini. 
My ex- was also good for that. She would rarely be under 70 with either her 1800ES or her Spitfire (after overdrive was installed in both). Few of our classic car friends ever wanted to follow her. She drives them about as fast as her normal cars.
IMHO, as classic cars go, the later (69-73) Volvo 1800's are some of the best when it comes to driving with modern traffic. Other than lacking anti-lock wizardry, the four wheel disc brakes are damn near as good as anything else on the road.
It's funny. The 4Runner will be coming up on 30 years old in June, but I don't think of it as old. It would probably fold up like a tin can in a wreck, but I'm not concerned at all. Maybe because I ride a bike with 6 volt lighting and drum brakes in the summer.
I've resigned my own fate.
Dr. Hess wrote: That's a 100K car. You can't retire on 100K. Interest on that won't even get you a Starbucks coffee a day.
I have low 7 figures invested, not assets, and I cannot retire on that. Not in California and not at 34 years old. Nothing is paying more then 2% reliably with minimal risk. Pulling about 5-6% above inflation but its a hell of a mix in real estate, cash, cars, vanguard and some individual stocks here and there. I am hustling hard to get that. I wish I could pull 4% without risk at the rates that are out there. I would not be buying a fancy car that is for sure, I would just be throwing money into vanguard.
So onto cars since you guys are the only ones I know who actually like this sort of stuff. Nobody in the family cares and my fiends are more interested in hiking and biking which I like to do as well.
Driving the F350 to work until I get things worked out with the i3. The i3 apparently only has 7-8 months left on the lease so I can walk out of it for 2-3K if they refuse or cannot fix its persistent issues. The F350 is a xl Its an automatic, it high up so I can see easily and every single body panel on it is already destroyed. If someone wants to hit me from behind they get 1/2 inch of steel in the form of my lift-gate, the front has a brush guard that I can push them out of the way. Best 5K I have ever spent on a car. It has AC and a Radio that plays a few stations. Fine for puttering back and forth to work while I get something for the weekends and say two days a week when the traffic is light. Until I get bored of it.
So drove some stuff today.
F430 is a fantastic car at speed, it is the most annoying thing in the world in traffic. Unlike a 360 though you can actually use it in traffic. Got to drive it today in traffic for the first time, the F1 kills the car. The manual adds 80K to the price though. Drove a spider in the F1 as well, its serious fun. Actually has a automatic mode and the maintenance is not terrible, very Italian feeling if that is a thing. The thing at 30 miles an hour is 10x time the fun of my old R8 at 100mph. It is so eager to go fast, and has so much more usable power then the F360. Super clean on the inside design as well. Stock it sounds amazing, the 360 is better sounding but the 430 is actually usable. 430's are almost fully depreciated out right now so I would not loose my shirt on it.
Drove the new Viper is fantastic, but its got all the issues of the ones I have had in the past. Much better OEM suspension though and its much more controllable. Its a riot to go fast in a straight line but the limit is so high on the street that its not fun unless you are breaking all the rules.
Looking at a V10 Manual R8 spyder tomorrow, might be the best of all worlds. Though I have had the V8 in the past. There is a sapang blue manual v10 roadster for sale about 200 miles from here that would fit, but it has the light interior.
The 4C is the cheapest bolted together thing I have ever seen. Its laughable.
The MP4-12C is the fastest, most controlled, most comfortable and to my eye worst looking of all the cars that I have looked at. But to get a good one I am looking at 140K to say 95-100K for the F430. Plus both times I have driven one they have had warning lights on the dash light up for no reason. So comfortable, but 20-30K repair costs for the transmission and no local dealer cut it out of the running.
Still thinking of getting a SS Bentley or a CGT Bentley. Both are fun, I can get a CGT for sub 70K now all day long with no miles. Maintenance cost is not a issue but they are not depreciated out fully by any stretch. So lots of downside there.
Before anyone says Miata, I actually am going to go look at one. I still like a simple roadster. Its a classic MG to me in every way except it actually runs, the electrics work and it will not overheat.
Also 911 is not the answer, they are boring to look at in the low spec's and in the GT3/Turbo/GT2 range they are bordering on idiotic in price. Though a 09 or so Turbo with PDK would be the smart choice in all of this.
Hey, don't you know the Cayman is the new 911?
If you like small sports cars and are looking for something a bit upscale, I would look at a z8. I think they are great looking cars and they seem like they have good power. They are a bit old now though so that might not be ideal for you.
From what I've seen & read (they were profiled recently in the 3/16 issue of Hemmings S&EC) Z8's haven't been 100K since shortly after production stopped. Top condition cars are on pace to hit half a million. If looking for an investment car and you can find one in the low to mid $100K range, then one might be a safe bet.
Aston Martin?
I saw a Cayman up in NH on Friday covered in ice - right after a snow storm. Made me smile to see a car like that being used as a daily driver up there in snow country.
I like the Z8 a few friends have them but yeah they are approaching 300K for a good one right now. Not outside what I could spend but way outside what I think that car is worth. 120K or so it would be in the running especially the Alpina version.
describing your commute, I would just get a nice luxury or semi-luxury car and revel in it's smoothness, luxury, and safety so you can save things like the caddy for days when you do not have to face that trip into work..
Think soft, think nice to sit in, and think that it might ultimately be disposable
Why not just get a bolt or leaf? It's a commuter. The i3 was supposed to fill that niche but that seems like a nightmare. What about a tesla?
Ian F wrote: ... Z8's haven't been 100K since shortly after production stopped. Top condition cars are on pace to hit half a million....
Poop! Well I guess I was right about them being nice car then!
I am pretty much positive I saw one in the wild the other day, so someone is brave. I guess I will not be seeing many more. 
Z8's are not everywhere but a weekly occurrence in La Jolla. Saw one yesterday.
I don;t mind the commute just don't want to be bored in the car when I am doing it. Plus it would be nice to keep myself to say two cars. Right now I have 6. Thinking that a used CGT might actually be the ticket, it's comfortable and I can get a good one for about 55-60K locally. Keep the Thunderbird for perfect weather and when I know I can get out of town. FYI the Ferrari black hole is strong, keep thinking about it, if it was a manual and in budget I would have it in the garage.
IMHO, the ultimate Ferrari daily driver is a 550 Maranello. I just love the way they look and your budget should get you a very nice one. Apparently, values have been creeping up. $50K cars a few years ago are now selling for $70K+.
I can't help but think the R8 must be close to perfect daily driver sports cars given the number I see in Manhattan every day even in the snow.
What about an F-type? They are drop-dead gorgeous, not nearly as common as P-cars in SoCal, can be had with a manual, and depreciation + taxes on a new one would probably be less than a lot of other vehicles you are looking at. Plus, you won't have to worry about smog.
Ian F wrote: IMHO, the ultimate Ferrari daily driver is a 550 Maranello. I just love the way they look and your budget should get you a very nice one. Apparently, values have been creeping up. $50K cars a few years ago are now selling for $70K+.
A 550 in the 70s? I don't think they're that cheap, are they? I'm not seeing them for that....hell of a car for 70k
Don't want to be board? Would a motorcycle be out of the question?
wearymicrobe wrote: Z8's are not everywhere but a weekly occurrence in La Jolla. Saw one yesterday. I don;t mind the commute just don't want to be bored in the car when I am doing it. Plus it would be nice to keep myself to say two cars. Right now I have 6. Thinking that a used CGT might actually be the ticket, it's comfortable and I can get a good one for about 55-60K locally. Keep the Thunderbird for perfect weather and when I know I can get out of town. FYI the Ferrari black hole is strong, keep thinking about it, if it was a manual and in budget I would have it in the garage.
Agreed that the Z8 value is completely bonkers.
If you're thinking about a CGT, I figure I should share this post:
http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/i-was-wondering-when-this-was-going-to-show-up-in-a-tav-1749531968
In reply to Cotton:
Well, I was seeing them in the 70's... Haven't looked in awhile.
Instead of trading your classics, why not keep them and buy a Prius? Ours kicks ass for a short boring commute. Youd be in ev mode most of the time and who cars if somebody hits it? Somebody backed in to our 2015 and I felt no emotion. Zero. We just got it fixed and moved on. If somebody hit my classics, id be crushed. They fill a need and they are fantastic commuters.
Have you looked at a Jag or a Aston Martin?
Put a offer on a V10 R8 spider with a manual. Loved my last one, all the Ferrari's were a bust. 2K miles ALL options around 115K give or take we are working that out.
If it falls through I am going back to the Viper world and buying a 2008 ACR hardcore with the AC/stereo added back in White/Red Black stripe and just making it as nasty as possible and leasing a Lexus.
Don't you still have an R8 coupe? You'll have a coupe and a convertible R8?
dyintorace wrote: Don't you still have an R8 coupe? You'll have a coupe and a convertible R8?
Sold coupe to buy another house and keep the rental. Should not have done it, should have held onto it. It was perfectly optioned.
Best of all world's. Except maybe MPgs...
iadr wrote:bastomatic wrote: I tried commuting in a classic - but even the 73 Volvo with 3 point belts and power disc brakes at all 4 corners felt like a death trap in traffic.Maybe you have the wrong 73 Volvo? (mine, several years ago, still have, paint job is not perfect, but front fender does match the door. Not sure what's with the pic. Got wheel spacers and different tires shortly after this.)
That's the one. I had a 145. The brakes were worlds better than all the other classics I've driven, but not nearly up to par in gridlock.
The worst was that it was so underpowered, and didn't like going above 70 mph. I'm sure a 71 without all the emissions stuff and an M41 transmission would have helped, but modern 80mph freeways aren't a friendly place for underpowered, underbraked 70s iron.
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