What are your down-to-earth dream cars?

"edu-petrolhead" (edu-petrolhead) 03/25/2014 at 09:30 • Filed to: list; question

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I mean, what cars you actually can buy (this excludes most Ferraris, Lambos, Paganis and Mazdas 787Bs) populate your dreams? I can't choose just one, so my list is

1) Volvo 850 SW T5-R

For me, few things are cooler than a Volvo turbo-brick. And the balls Volvo had to put the 850 wagon in the BTCC made me dream of owning one. There are a couple of them in Brazil costing around R$25k

2) Chevrolet Caravan SS

A Chevy Opala wagon, with a 4,100cc inline 6 engine (although I'd swap it for a V8...). Also around R$25k, but the nicer models top R$40k

3) Mazda RX-7

We don't find them in Brazil, but there are some nice specimens on Argentina which very good prices. Do want because Wankel.

4) Subaru Legacy Outback

Subaru's rally history, AWD, dat blue color... For something around R$30k it is very "buyable"

ntl0505 > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 09:36

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I have a 95 T-5R. Black, non wagon. Unfortunately, an old man decided to smash into it over the winter. Great car though! The thing loves boost!

edu-petrolhead > ntl0505 03/25/2014 at 09:39

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Since you have one, I want to ask you a question:

How tough is the engine? I mean, what about the durability of the parts? Volvo never sold really well in Brazil and the parts are quite pricey if you buy them here. I really, really want a Volvo, and they aren't expensive, but if the engine is a durable as an Alfa engine, I couldn't afford the maintenance costs...

Jayhawk Jake > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 09:41

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What defines buyable? I can't really buy much of anything right now, but in the future I have many options.

Give this a few years to depreciate and I might have one

On the lower end, there's a few cars on my radar

And in the long term, like 10 years or so from now, I'm really hoping the value of these comes down into the ~$40,000-$50,000 range

quarterlifecrisis > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 09:44

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Realistically, for some point in the next 10-15 years...CTS-V. Air cooled 911, not even picky about generation. That's really about it, unless the market falls out of F-cars substantially to where I could justify having one around.

edu-petrolhead > Jayhawk Jake 03/25/2014 at 09:46

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Buyable is something a common person could buy without winning a lottery, for example. Something in the price range of a common beigemobile or a soccer-mom minivan.

DConsorti > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 09:46

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Nice list! And you give me some ideas on used cars buying in Argentina!!!!

My list would be, beside the Volvo and Caravan (althoug I prefer an Opala):

Camaro RS/SS or Z/28 '68: unfortunately, over here, as you know, they cost around R$100K

Audi RS2 (a nice specimen would cost about R$60K):

Dsscats > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 09:53

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This is easy! GMC Syclone or 2002-2007 6 speed Mini Cooper S

Jayhawk Jake > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 09:54

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But that's not really fair as we aren't all common people. Some people on here can and do own cars that many of us couldn't

I think the more interesting question would be in 5 years, what car would you like to buy? For me that's likely a second hand Corvette, STI hatchback, or Tesla's Model E if it comes to fruition.

edu-petrolhead > DConsorti 03/25/2014 at 09:56

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I dream about a RS2 too, I know they're reasonably priced here (costing less than a Ford Fusion, or roughly the same as a Corolla). But the maintenance... It made me disconsider this as buyable.

jariten1781 > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 09:59

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Mark IIs have started appreciating. They can still be had in really nice (non-concourse) condition for around 30k , but I need to get one in my life before they become high dollar. They basically were Ford's attempt to steal market from Rolls and Bentley, and it worked with Sinatra, Elvis, Crosby, and Liz Taylor being some of the big name owners. Easier to keep running than their contemporaries too with a lot of the running gear being from the Ford catalog.

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 10:01

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I think..
1) FRS/BRZ
2) AE85, or AE86
3) Impala SS (1994-1996)
4) Mercury Marauder

I can "afford them" but I don't have the garage space for them.

Your boy, BJR > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 10:11

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And more than anything else, but in tan.

BarryDanger > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 10:17

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Sportmobile

Cebu > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 10:17

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1) Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Only the best 4WD SWB chassis ever made.

2)Honda Crosstour. Perhaps the best ass I've ever seen on a crossover. Also has a large boot in which many things will fit, if you care about that stuff.

3) Toyota MR2. Virtually bulletproof handling setup (tuned by Lotus!) made of glorious Nippon steel, folded over ten tousand times.

4) 2006 Honda CR-V. Okay, okay. This is actually mi madre's car. The more I drive it, however, the more I fall in love with it- that silly 1.6 VTEC four-pot, the terrible interior, the faint smell of cat wee, the way you can feel the imperfections in the road through the heavy steering wheel... Luckily, she says that this is probably what I'll drive through college. I figure dropped, with better suspension (my GOD is the ride bad) and swifter, lighter steering, it'll make an interesting car.

Disclaimer: This car is fun at 45 mph. Not so at 35mph. 65mph is just pushing it.

5) '06 GTO: Looks like a Trans Am, but is actually a quarter-mile weapon when tuned.

6) Golf R32: Actually fun hatchback based on a Golf. (You can tell I have a thing for short-wheelbase 4wd, can't you?)

sebdel > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 10:55

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1st gen Range Rover, befor all the electronics

1st gen LS400

Lada Niva, for some cheap (really cheap) off roading.

And my number one, VW Saveiro, I love these

Greasemonkey > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 11:16

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Lincoln LS
06 Mustang
Ranger
Colorado Crew
WRX or BRZ

Greasemonkey > Greasemonkey 03/25/2014 at 11:23

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I will add:

Wrangler
Golf gti
Focus st 3 door
Scirocco

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 12:17

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69 Camaro SS

Going for around 25-30k

Textured Soy Protein > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 12:40

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Here's my list, based on 3 criteria:

1. Under $30k

2. Not "too" old

3. Not going to obliterate you with maintenance costs

3a. Not made by VW or Audi because I just don't like them

2007 - 2008 Acura TL Type-S - ok it's a tarted up Accord, but it's a very handsomely tarted up Accord that has a stiffened suspension, Brembo brakes, a 6-speed manual transmission and LSD.

2002 - 2006 Acura RSX Type-S - drives way better than what's basically a Civic has any business of doing. If you can find one that hasn't been beaten to death by previous owners. Great mileage (on Premium gas though).

2001 - 2004 Corvette Z06 - it has "only" 405 hp and the interior is kind of a piece of crap, but thanks to lightness and gearing is noticeably quicker than any of the non-Z C6 models.

2004 - 2007 Cadillac CTS-V - same motor as the C5 Z06, big brakes, decent handling for a midsize sedan, crappy interior (but not as bad as the Corvette)

1998 - 2003 BMW M5 - whereas the CTS-V is kind of unrefined and brute force, the E39 M5 has similar power and much more refinement. Maintenance won't be the cheapest but it's still feasible for a normal person budget.

2001 - 2006 BMW M3 - the earlier cars could possibly have some engine issues (most of the affected cars were fixed under recall) and other typical E46 problems but still tolerable upkeep costs

2006 - 2008 BMW Z4 M Roadster & Coupe - quicker in a straight line but hairier handling than the Boxster/Cayman S (which can be kinda fun) - the coupe is holding its value better, but I'm a convertible fan myself - good roadsters can be had in the mid-$20k range

2006 - 2008 Dodge Magnum SRT8 - interior's kinda crap (better than the C5 Z06 though) and it's hard to see out of the thing, but holy hot rod station wagon!

2003 - 2007 Infiniti G35 coupe - classic modern lines before Infiniti started making their cars look like melted bars of soap, the 6MT version gets all the nice performance bits from the 350Z like Brembo brakes and LSD but unlike the Z you can actually see out of the thing

2003 - 2004 Infiniti M45 - total sleeper 340 hp luxo bruiser that can be had for like $15k or less

2006 - 2009 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Spec B - total sleeper, has all the best Legacy GT bits including rear LSD plus uprated suspension with Bilstein shocks and some other goodies

Saracen > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 12:50

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These days I keep thinking fuck it, ditch the golf R and get an RS4 or an M3.

In the next couple of years: 997.2 Carrera/S.

In five years the RS2 which will be 25-year-loophole-legal.

ntl0505 > edu-petrolhead 03/25/2014 at 15:52

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I honestly didn't put a ton of miles on it. I drove it about 8 months before it was totaled. They are known to be tanks though.

PW Sherman > edu-petrolhead 03/26/2014 at 15:56

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Hopefully this year I will be able to find one of these in my price range.

Manual Ferrari F430

Manual V10 R8 in Purple :)

They're both really hard to find, and don't make much financial sense, but I want em so bad.

718Rogue > edu-petrolhead 03/28/2014 at 08:34

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Many... but mainly Starion, S12, Z31, Soarer, first gen Aristo.