$100K Everyday Car Thread (from the GT-R Discussion)

[Joey D]

It seems many of you overlooked the "everyday car" part of the question. Sure many of those cars would be awesome to own but could you really drive them every single day?

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, you used to be able to drive a Charger around everyday, but being as rare as they are now, it's a weekender, now, for sure. On the other hand, it would be comfortable, roomy, and a fairly good cruiser. remember, yesterday's midsize was today's fullsize. On the other hand, the GT-R Is a bit more practical for the modern day, especially for someone who doesn't really intend on getting married, and who's also willing to wait awhile for the hoopla to dissipate.

(Of course, there's the little plasma hitch...but, you remember, in the Charger's day, owners had to adjust mechanical lifters and synchronize carbs. I'm sure an owner who could adjust lifters could perform refills. I hope they make it that easy, anyway, that I could do it while flushing the radiatior and changing the trans fluid...)

 

[Joey D]

I'm still doubting the GT-R's everyday use. I have a feeling there is too much power in it to make it manageable on the road and the track tested suspension may be too rough. I guess this is something we need to wait for a review on to see for sure.

 

[Famine]

Just for reference,

US$100,000 = CA$98,340 = €68,966 = £50,421 = AU$114,495

This isn't much us insofar as buying cars goes - £50,000 in the UK gets you $60,000 worth of car in the US. Employing the Golf Adjusted Price as used in the Scavenger Hunt thread:

1 VW Golf GTi 5-door = US$23,230
US$100,000 = 4.3 VW Golf 5-doors

So...

US$100,000 = CA$131,473 = €110,295 = £90,760 = AU$171,957

Feel free to experiment within either sets of limits.

 

[Jim Prower]

I'm still doubting the GT-R's everyday use. I have a feeling there is too much power in it to make it manageable on the road and the track tested suspension may be too rough. I guess this is something we need to wait for a review on to see for sure.

Personally, I think that won't matter too much to me. Power? well, the Corvette Z06 has plenty of that, and it's perfectly manageable on the road. It doesnt' even have the Magnaride suspension. I've seen many owners out ther, I've seen none of them looking out of control. Keeping your foot out of it is a big thing. Furthermore, the GT-R has 4wd, an advantage the Corvette doesn't. It should make things easier.

on stiffness: Believe me, it should ride better than the Viper. Everything rides better than the Viper. I'd also think that a Ring-Tuned suspension would actually be more compliant whan one would think: that track's rougher than a bastard file. Many dips have to be dealt with...see if you can find a video of Larini in his '94 155 V6 DTM going around the Karrusel. very bouncy.

The main hitch is the Plasma fill thing, so I feel that if they can make it simple enough that a talented shadetree mechanic (about the skill level of something fairly easy, like tranny fluid and cooling flushing) could perform it, I'd be okay with it. I'd like it if someone could look into how it's done.

However, you drive a Mini, you're used to a fairly smooth ride: I'm in a Nova...which has a bit of jounce to it. It's fairly involving though, despite 80 series tires.

 

[Joey D]

Where did I bring up the Z06 at? I wouldn't want to live with that every day either, granted they are awesome cars (the GT-R is as well) but to live with it every single day through the rain, snow, city driving, trying to fit stuff in them, etc. is just something I do not think is possible.

You guys are missing the point of this thread, it's not what car would you buy for $100K or less but rather what car could you live with for under $100K, meaning day in and day out driving for 365 days a year.

Like I said, I probably would have a BMW X5 since you can carry whatever you want, it can tow if need be, you have five seats, and it's fairly fast considering it's an SUV.

 

[Jim Prower]

*shrugs* Perhaps some of us are willing to give up some utility. You know, how practical a car needs to be really depends on who you are. Who are you to define a practicality limit for everyone else, when you aren't everyone else?

If I were married, and had kids, well, I guess, then I'd get a Town and Country and perhaps a sport sedan, a C-Class or something, maybe the weekender Charger, too. But since I'm not, and I'm young, and I really don't go anywhere or carry things, I can get something a little less practical for myself.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Audi RS6 Avant

Pretty simple. All about practicality and enough power to get you down that road in quick style. Wagons are incredibly useful, oftentimes as much room as their SUV counterparts, but with the driving dynamics of the car they are based on. Both cars look awesome, too! The choice would come down to whichever felt lighter and more communicative.

My choice, and well explained. I will add that its 4WD pushes it way ahead of the BMW, since I live in a cold wet country.

I have two and only two choices if I'm choosing to spend $100k USD on a vehicle and no less.

1) http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/cayenne/cayenne-turbo/

In white or black only.

Oh dear. You'd be spending $100,000 telling the world you're a c**k. Yes, the Turbo is quick, but it's not comfortable, it's not particularly practical, its styling makes children cry, and it's a classic example of the problems of scaling. Porsche are good at small cars, remember?

Not even a question.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...s=&transmission=&max_price=104000&cardist=300

It's an interesting choice for a young single chap with no responsibilities or cares or need to actually do anything useful with the car.

From now on, I will attack every poster in this thread who did not choose the Ferrari 550, and tell him why the Ferrari 550 is better than his choice.

I know you're prodding, but I also note that you have consistently failed to prove that the Audi would not be a better all-round car.

I mean, it is a hatchback…

Okay, seriously, if I had a family and stuff to move and bicycles to carry and yada yada, I really don’t know what I’d get. I’d probably go for my old standby:

I realize that’s nowhere near the price cap, but that’s as much car as I’d ever need.

Sage, Sage Sage Sage Sage... I'm all for the meagre lifestyle (actually, that's a lie), but seriously, you cannot come on a car forum and tell us that the Volvo V50 is all the car you're ever going to need!

Who really needs to carry five people?

The Ferrari works in every weather condition, it can carry stuff, and it can be parked outside at night. All works except the five people thing and be honest.

Oh, yeah, about this. No, no, not really, no, and no.

2 (wheel drive) < 4. Think on this the next time you need to catapult out of a city side street in the wet.

ISOFIX preparation in the back? No? You shock me! Enough space for a wife, two children, and 10 days' luggage? The ability to transport same across France at 90mph and 30mpg?

People still scratch Ferraris, even old ones, and I bet the snout rain intake goes really well with all those plugs.

The five people thing I'll let you off with, you young single thing.

So, about the RS6?

 

[exigeracer]

Agreed, totally agreed. Except for the 'least attractive' bit, the 550, while (in my opinion) stunningly good looking is a car for people with too much money who know little to nothing about racing and think that because its a ferrari it'll go fast round a track. Its pretty close competition, but the Porsche beats the 550 in the track criteria and so I'd have to go with that

Uhhmm... The 550 was never meant to be a track monster, it is supposed to be the sportier of the GTs in the lineup. It pulls it off, it has been known to be one of the best handling cars of all time.

 

[AMG.]

So, per request of the mods, its presumably better to do this here. The big question:You've got $100K, what car do you buy, having to live with it everyday, in all weather and road situations, both in and out of town? They key word here is EVERYDAY, so this is the car to drive to school, take the wife or the girlfriend out to dinner in, race to Grandma's house for Christmas in four inches of snow, maybe take out to a track day (if applicable), haul the friends (or maybe the kids?) in, etc.

Considering I am single and don't want to be bothered with hauling other people around I'd settle for a nice 997 Carrera S. And there is no snow out here, so I don't need a SUV

Single too, so I have no need for 4 seats.
USD 100K doesnt even get you a Cayman in Netherlands. Cars are ridiculously expensive here.

Fortunately I own a Carrera 4S, and that suit me fine. I do drive it everyday. I'd even drive it in the snow, but not in 4 inches of the stuff. Haul friends, nah they can use their own car and as for Grandma's; they died yrs ago.

A Ferrari, nice but, nah, too high in insurance, too finnicky, hi maintenance and still prone to breakdowns, cop magnets and I dare not leave it out on the street if Im visiting friends.

AMG.

 

[Jim Prower]

You lucky sunnuva gun.

Your situation sounds similar to mine...other than the fact that you obviously have far more money in real life.

 

[006r]

I am thinking I would need something with 4 doors, AWD (snows alot here) and some decent kick. Something like the RS4, S60R, S4, BMW 335xi, Legacy Spec. B, G35x... Probably all well under the 100K mark but all "practical". Plus I have a child so a coupe is out of the question.

If I could go RWD...the IS F, G37, M3, M5, or a C63 AMG.

 

[Tornado]

It seems many of you overlooked the "everyday car" part of the question. Sure many of those cars would be awesome to own but could you really drive them every single day?

Watch me. If I had the 512TR, I would drive it anywhere and everywhere.

 

[YSSMAN]

You guys are missing the point of this thread, it's not what car would you buy for $100K or less but rather what car could you live with for under $100K, meaning day in and day out driving for 365 days a year.

Exactly!

The thing is, people always say "if I had the money, I'd go off and get X or Y" and they usually don't consider the fact that they'd have to drive it every single day, to work, to school, maybe across the country to visit family, etc.

I'd be willing to splurge a bit (hence the Jaguar XF choice), but more often than not, I'd be happy with a $32,000 Pontiac sedan/wagon. Insurance wouldn't be too outrageous on either, the repair costs certainly would be very cheap on the American/Australian model, and in the end both could be driven fairly easily in all weather conditions.

It, more or less, is an assessment of what you need in an everyday car. I don't require much, I drive a 12 year old Jetta (Vento) for God's sake, but I do require a fair bit of "rational" options these days...

 

[exigeracer]

Watch me. If I had the 512TR, I would drive it anywhere and everywhere.

I know someone who owns an 89 Testarossa, and I've been in it countless times. There is no way you could live with that daily. Sure, it is plusher than many other sportscars out there, but forget about daily. The roadsalt would chew through it in a couple seasons as well.

 

[Tornado]

There is no way you could live with that daily. Sure, it is plusher than many other sportscars out there, but forget about daily.

I'm sure once the "OMFG, I'm driving a Testarossa" feeling wore off, I would go back to doing things the way I do now. I don't actually drive that much anyways, so I don't think it would be too much of a problem.

The roadsalt would chew through it in a couple seasons as well.

The first thing I would do upon receiving a 512TR would be to move north or southwest.

 

[Joey D]

Exactly!

The thing is, people always say "if I had the money, I'd go off and get X or Y" and they usually don't consider the fact that they'd have to drive it every single day, to work, to school, maybe across the country to visit family, etc.

I'd be willing to splurge a bit (hence the Jaguar XF choice), but more often than not, I'd be happy with a $32,000 Pontiac sedan/wagon. Insurance wouldn't be too outrageous on either, the repair costs certainly would be very cheap on the American/Australian model, and in the end both could be driven fairly easily in all weather conditions.

It, more or less, is an assessment of what you need in an everyday car. I don't require much, I drive a 12 year old Jetta (Vento) for God's sake, but I do require a fair bit of "rational" options these days...

You know after thinking about it I really wouldn't require much either, something nice and something a bit sporty when I want it to be. With that said after looking over some more options I think I will say no to the BMW X5 and say yes to a BMW 335xi saloon. Fully loaded it comes in at about $65,000 and that includes the upgrades 19" 199 rims, aero kit, and other goodies.

The 300hp I6 would provide enough power to go out and have fun with, and the AWD would be perfect for those snowy days. I really like the coupe version or even the drop top one, I just can't see it being easy to carry people and things around with.

So here is my final choice on the everyday car under $100K:

Options:
Base MSRP $40,800
Black Sapphire Metallic $475
Black Dakota Leather $0
Dark Burl Walnut wood trim $0
Cold Weather Package $850
Premium Package $2,550
Sport Package $900
• Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters
$100
• 18" Light-alloy wheels Star Spoke (style162) w/mixed run-flat perf. tires
$600
STEPTRONIC automatic transmission $1,275
Active Cruise Control $2,400
Comfort Access system $500
Navigation system $2,100
Rear manual side window shades with power rear window shade $575
HD radio $350
Satellite radio $595
Park Distance Control (rear only) $350
19" Star Spoke 179 Wheel Set $5,225
Destination & Handling: $775
Total MSRP as Built $60,420

 

[006r]

I like that Joey...I forgot BMW made a AWD car... nice choice! I add that to my list as well. To bad the M3 isn't an "x" model

 

[Onikaze]

2004 Lotus Elise
1990~ Mazda Miata
F-150 for Father in law (not new, just one that works well, has good mileage, and fits the budget)
Honda Accord for the Mother in Law (mid-late 90's model, they're fairly bulletproof last I checked, and she isn't easy on cars, as they're just tools to her)
Camaro for my Mom
If I had enough left, an Infinit M-Car for my woman.

Screw spending $100k on a new car .

If I have to go with new cars though, a Z4 Coupe, and a 335i Sedan.

*Forgot how much he loves the Z4 Coupe*

 

[///M-Spec]

19" Star Spoke 179 Wheel Set $5,225

Sweet baby Paul Roche in a basket. Good looking wheels, but insane price tag. Other than that, good choice 👍


On topic: I can't decide. If I had 100k to spend on automobiles, I couldn't see buying just one to use as a DD. It just doesn't make sense to me anymore. As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to find a way to retire the Z4 M from daily driving duties as soon as I can manage it, and buy/lease an inexpensive DD. I'm thinking a Mk V GTI.


M

 

[bennyrrr]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SERV...oryZ6212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

550. Game over. I drive around a medium size town with almost no traffic, im 45 mins away from fun roads in the foot hills of Nor Cal, and I can blast to Napa in an hour. $99,500. Id buy gas and cigars with the rest.

 

[Famine]

2004 Lotus Elise
1990~ Mazda Miata
F-150 for Father in law (not new, just one that works well, has good mileage, and fits the budget)
Honda Accord for the Mother in Law (mid-late 90's model, they're fairly bulletproof last I checked, and she isn't easy on cars, as they're just tools to her)
Camaro for my Mom
If I had enough left, an Infinit M-Car for my woman.

Screw spending $100k on a new car .

If I have to go with new cars though, a Z4 Coupe, and a 335i Sedan.

*Forgot how much he loves the Z4 Coupe*

What car. ONE car. Singular. Individual. Unique.


A nearly-new Aston Martin V8 Vantage (using GAP currency exchange).


Edit: benny... Please stop posting. That's FOUR times you've posted the same thing. One click does the job just fine...

 

[Tornado]

Rationalize it all day long, the Countach will always be the more desirable car.

I know and agree (especially because of the model. I would honestly rather have a Testarossa than a 512TR, or in a perfect world, a 512TR with a Testarossa body; and the Lambo strums up more chords than either regardless), but I'd rather have that money tucked away if the Ferrari breaks. And you know if anything on the Countach breaks it will cost far more than $3,000 to fix.

 

[Pupik]

Driving a Ferrari every day would be a maintenance gamble; you might have a trouble-free car, and you might not. There's plenty of high-priced cars of any marque that are bulletproof, and you get others which seem to be cursed, from my dealing with rich people and their servicing woes.

I personally would not want a Ferrari as my only car, unless I was single and didn't mind driving a rental car every time a part had to be special ordered from Maranello. It seems like too much of a pain in the ass, by the time you've answered your tenth question about the car, and running away from Doug.

Anyhow, we don't get the RS6 Avant or M5 Estate here, but I drove an S6 Avant, and thought to myself...hmm, game over! I'd probably side with the M5 Estate, though, 'twere it available.

 

[JCE]

Sweet baby Paul Roche in a basket. Good looking wheels, but insane price tag. Other than that, good choice 👍

19" AMG 3-piece wheels are over $9,000 USD. Now that is some expensive wheels.

 

[GM]

I'd get a used M6 (aroud £45,000 on Autotrader) They seem ok to use everyday.

 

[McLaren]

I was just screwing around. I'd be surprised if, given $100,000, anyone chose the Ferrari.

That's probably because most people don't realize there's Ferrari's available for under $100,000. On the other hand, there really aren't that many.

It seems many of you overlooked the "everyday car" part of the question. Sure many of those cars would be awesome to own but could you really drive them every single day?

Sure. As I mentioned before, there's a black Viper SRT-10 I see driving to-and-from-work everday during most of the year. His only problem is gas and the comfort of the car since Texas weather is normally good weather all year round for such a car.

Driving a Ferrari every day would be a maintenance gamble; you might have a trouble-free car, and you might not. There's plenty of high-priced cars of any marque that are bulletproof, and you get others which seem to be cursed, from my dealing with rich people and their servicing woes.

Excellent point. Even though the Maranello is probably the BEST Ferrari for every day driving, it will see a problem eventually considering these are used cars nowadays. Even with a terrific PPI, you might still find it a trouble-some car. Now, if they were new, these chances would be lower.

And even though I wouldn't mind the Maranello, I agree with your second point. Even if you find a terrific example, you'll still be paying a nice yearly fee for it. However, the Ferrari would probably remain my 2nd or 3rd choice right behind the BMW. The BMW's maintenance plan is pretty much the reason why I chose it over the Maranello or NSX. Sure, I might not look as good as I would in the Ferrari, but it's still a M3, which has to count for something.

 

[exigeracer]

His only problem is gas and the comfort of the car since Texas weather is normally good weather all year round for such a car.

But how can you blow off comfort when it is probably the single biggest deciding factor in its daily capabilities? Just because you see a guy who DDs his Viper doesn't make it any more or less practical. I know people who DD their Exige track cars, but that doesn't make them any better to live with every day. They're actually quite frustrating to own and drive every day from any rational point of view.

 

[McLaren]

But how can you blow off comfort when it is probably the single biggest deciding factor in its daily capabilities? Just because you see a guy who DDs his Viper doesn't make it any more or less practical. I know people who DD their Exige track cars, but that doesn't make them any better to live with every day. They're actually quite frustrating to own and drive every day from any rational point of view.

Who knows? Maybe these fellows who daily drive the Elise & Viper around here don't care about the comfort. My only guess is that they want to get the most of their cars or they're used to it.

Personally, I'd do the same. See, even though I realize a Viper is not like a Maybach, my level of comfort isn't very demanding. In other words, as long as I feel the car is somewhat nice to at least sit in, I'll use it. It's kind of like steaks. I realize a steak from Chili's isn't going to be like a steak from Outback, but as long as I like it and I think it tastes good, I'm happy. I know the other steak is better, but I don't need it to feel satisfied.

Strange comparison, I know, but that's generally how my mind works about everything. I don't need the best or the most decent, just something that I feel gets the job done.

 

[exigeracer]

You just said comfort of the car was an issue for him.