LF: Suggestions for an off-the-beaten-path 3-pedal weekend ride

"notsomethingstructural" (notsomethingstructural) 01/20/2020 at 21:50 • Filed to: None

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But first, a story. I’ll try to tl;dr this. Last time I posted on Oppo it was pulling my hair out in a full-blown crisis. I test drove a Maserati 4200 Coupe GT that I knew I couldn’t quite afford, but weeks and weeks later I still really, really wanted it. Which is i ncredibly out of character for me. Y ou all said don’t buy it if you can’t afford it, you idiot, what’s the mat ter with you what kind of stupid question is that anyways. UPDATE!

I tried to walk away, and the dealer gave me the consignors bottom dollar, and I... I couldn’t just walk. The deal was too good. Once in a lifetime. So I resourcefully considered some... unconventional financing avenues available to me, got the green light from the bank to draw down my cash, found an off-duty Ferrari Master Tech to do an on-site PPI, and was ready to go this past Saturday cash in-hand. But the weather had other plans (4” of snow) and I laid it off a week, figuring at least the weather meant no one else could take it.

Incorrect!

The very next day someone called, the dealer sent out a purchase agreement, the guy paid full ask over the phone with no conditions, arranged his own shipping, and it was gone the next morning before the first snowflake fell. After being listed for 6 months!!!!!!!! So I’m sure “my” car will have a lovely home in the back of some rich d-bag’s garage.

Anyways, now that I’ve already gone through all the bullshit to actually get this financing moving, I might start looking for something in earnest. Ultimately I was going to get something in a year anyways, the question of now-or-later just comes down to how much I have available.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Here’s what I’m looking for :

3 pedal is a must, as is RWD/AWD.

$50k absolute max (in a year or so) , $25k MAYBE $30k I can get it now.

Comfy enough for 3+ hour drives for someone like 6’5”

Something special enough people will think twice before parking next to it

NO R32’s, JDM 90’s halo cars, Camaros, Stangs, Vettes, 1, 3, 5, or 6-Series, or Porsche of any kind. Not that I would never consider these, its just not where I want to start.

Maintenance is not a concern, I’m guessing 1000-2000 miles a year max. Willing to travel for the right car.

Like 13.5s in the 1/4 or better

So far my list is: Maserati Coupé GT (4200), Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, maybe Lotus Evora? And for two way the fuck out there candidates: Panoz Esperante and a restored, RB25DET swapped 240/260/280z.  

What’s your ideas, Oppo?

AestheticsInMotion > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 22:15

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Volvo V70R.

AWD, available not only with a manual, but with a spaceball manual that is unique to this single model.

The absolute best examples of 3 pedal good color cars are still just approaching 20k.

Seats that make those old cushy Buicks feel like church pews.

Definitely special. It’s the lesser known, much quirkier Swedish M3. Oh and that 5 cylinder sounds sublime.

Can you find V8 R8s in that price range yet? It's a shame the TT-RS never had a manual

someassemblyrequired > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 22:16

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10 years ago I would have said Ferrari 456GT, but not anymore. $30K will still buy you a decent Mondial, but it definitely won’t run 13s in the 1/4.

Ford-era Aston’s are a screaming deal, that’s probably where I’d end up if it were me.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 22:18

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What's the used M2 market look like these days?

notsomethingstructural > someassemblyrequired 01/20/2020 at 22:20

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Sadly the DB7 Vantage is like the only true manual that’s a blazing deal. $50k also gets a pre-refresh V8 Vantage, but that’s just a reasonable market rate . Those cars were cool as shit, but it wasn’t until post-refresh that they had the speed to match.

notsomethingstructural > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/20/2020 at 22:23

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Trying to stay away from Bimmers. Those are super, ridiculously cool dailies or “every weekend” cars , but I don’t want to spend this kind of money to buy it and put 2000 miles a year on it.

notsomethingstructural > AestheticsInMotion 01/20/2020 at 22:24

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Weird flex but OK

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > AestheticsInMotion 01/20/2020 at 22:31

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Last gen TT-RS was manual only...

someassemblyrequired > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 22:36

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Yeah the budget limits things a bit, but still, Aston. Box ticked.

You can get the Jag F-Type with a manual, and they’re available in the 30s .

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 22:36

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F-type?  Not sure if depreciation has taken enough toll yet and the manuals are probably rare.  

For Sweden > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 22:44

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You are describing a Corvette.

I know the feeling. I refuse to accept that the perfect car for me is a Subaru Impreza.

AestheticsInMotion > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/20/2020 at 22:46

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Huh, had no idea. They must be rarer than hens teeth. Seems like it was 2012-2013 only

notsomethingstructural > For Sweden 01/20/2020 at 22:55

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Yeah ‘vette / 997 Carerra S is definitely the go-to here, but I’d rather travel and make an adventure out of it because I’m an obstinate fool. The Mas checked all the boxes too, as my friend said, “don’t worry I’m sure the perfect, alarmingly cheap and perfect Maserati a town over from a free garage will come up again soon”

notsomethingstructural > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 01/20/2020 at 22:56

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I honestly know very little about the F-Types. How did they hold up and how did they stack up to competitors? Were these Ford era? I took an early 00's Jag in a trade and that car was a gigantic shitpile. Really soured me on the brand.

notsomethingstructural > AestheticsInMotion 01/20/2020 at 23:07

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I looked at those a day or two ago... and there are a lot more online than DB7 V12's and Maserati’s in manual, so, it’s all relative

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 23:07

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Saab 9-3 TurboX

Dodge Viper from the past 15 years?

Cadillac V-series

F-type S would be my choice. Or a Z4 coupe.

Some people would look at your list and think “Ah-HA! Lotus Evora!” and I will step in and say they are wrong. If you had a bit more room on budget, I’d say Audi R8 as those will hold value while it sits. Evoras just hold problems.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 23:12

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With that criteria, a 4C would be in the budget next year. It doesn’t have three pedals, but a snarling engine with the bejesus turbocharged out of it coupled to a carbon tub makes up for all kinds of sins. I love a good manual, but e verytime I’ve driven a modern dual clutch (and increasingly even modern automatics), I’m reminded that the manual transmission is a technical problem that has been solved.

notsomethingstructural > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/20/2020 at 23:16

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Not gonna lie, half the reason I stop at $50k is because at $51k I’m selling my organs to buy a 5.2 V10 R8. That’s an absolute no-brainer for me. I don’t think I’ll ever get to own one, but if I ever possibly could, ever, as in, “if I can ever buy an R8", I will buy an R8.

Driven a few Saabs, hated all of them, the Viper is actually on my list but couldn’t remember what the 4th car was (thanks), the CTS-V I’ve considered but it’s right there with an Aston DB7 V12 on price and I mean if you can FIND the Aston you gotta take the Aston there. The F-Type S I have to look into more.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/20/2020 at 23:17

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Although, the height thing might be a problem.

notsomethingstructural > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/20/2020 at 23:19

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Ah yes, the 4c, home of the world famous “bolt-tightening service interval”. If I was to get an automatic it would be shortlisted, along with (boy going the total opposite direction here) a Continental Coupe GT

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 23:26

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Well damn, I didn’t know DB7s were so cheap with the V12 and stick shift. ANd wouldn’t you know it, there’s one for sale right now, in green.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-Aston-Martin-DB7/303454326480?hash=item46a7498ed0:g:qh8AAOSwA75eJeMc

notsomethingstructural > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/20/2020 at 23:35

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No!  Shoo! Go away! I already lost one car dammit!

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > notsomethingstructural 01/20/2020 at 23:59

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No pretty recent, still made new. I remember reading a couple glowing reviews about them really being the business as far as performance .

They were available in manual for a couple years (I’m roughly guessing around 2014-2018 or so). Gorgeous and the interior is a nice place to be too.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > notsomethingstructural 01/21/2020 at 00:04

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Prices on autotrader range from around $30 to over $100k, for example:

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=535212922&zip=60060&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D60060%26sortBy%3Drelevance%26incremental%3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26marketExtension%3Don%26modelCodeList%3DJAGFTYPE%26makeCodeList%3DJAG%26searchRadius%3D50%26isNewSearch%3Dfalse&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0&modelCodeList=JAGFTYPE&makeCodeList=JAG&searchRadius=50&makeCode1=JAG&modelCode1=JAGFTYPE&digitalRetail=true&clickType=listing

Not sure if there are any manuals on there, they might be extremely hard to find.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > notsomethingstructural 01/21/2020 at 00:09

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I did find a couple on Car Gurus. Manual was only sold  with the V6, but I’ve heard it’s still plenty violent if you want it to be.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?zip=60060&showNegotiable=true&sourceContext=untrackedExternal_false_0&distance=50000&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d2209#listing=261708993

Tristan > notsomethingstructural 01/21/2020 at 00:11

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CTS-V, Chevy SS, ‘05-‘06 GTO, Z06 Vette...

Wait... Those are just the cars I want. What was the question again?

LSx is love. LSx is life.

notsomethingstructural > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 01/21/2020 at 00:18

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It’s definitely a good looking car. Probably would have to stack up with a TT RS if I’m going with something late model, but yeah the V6 is definitely in range.

notsomethingstructural > Tristan 01/21/2020 at 00:20

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Z06 is a long-lister, but I can’t get from one stoplight to the next without seeing more than one Corvette around here. They don’t sell a ton of them because they’re shitty cars though, and thats not lost on me.

Tristan > notsomethingstructural 01/21/2020 at 00:24

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Shitty build quality, but somehow incredibly reliable with obscene longevity... Which is totally moot for your 1,000-2,000 mile/year requirement...

Aston it is, then!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > notsomethingstructural 01/21/2020 at 00:34

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DO IT. DO IT. DO IT.

notsomethingstructural > Tristan 01/21/2020 at 01:17

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That’s just the thing about the stuff I called out. There’s nothing wrong with any of it , but aside from a 997 Carrera S it’s a lot of money to spend on a car that’s engineered to be bulletproof, and then have it be somewhat of a garage queen . I hate admitting that waiting a year to buy the Aston is probably my move here.....

notsomethingstructural > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/21/2020 at 01:19

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If I can find a well-sorted DB7 V12 in a good colorway and that passes a compression test for $30k, I would probably buy it ( assuming my financing comes in as planned) . 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > notsomethingstructural 01/21/2020 at 01:38

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Nice! I would like to get a raise here at work soon to do something similar in a few years, but I am allowing myself to shop for a Veloster N if they make one in yellow, orange, or green. Or a different blue. Or red. Or basically anything besides their current lineup. 

notsomethingstructural > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/21/2020 at 01:46

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Took me 10 years of working, and if I didn’t make some good real estate choices, it would probably take me at least 3 more. Got lucky and there’s not a day that goes by I’m not grateful for being where I am now.