TCL: what sports car THAT YOU CAN AFFORD would you buy new and never sell?

[epbrown]

Recently, Insideline posted a feature about a 72 year-old guy that's owned his Shelby Cobra since new, having shelled out $6000 plus fees for it. Now, I've often said I plan to keep my Z4 M Coupe for life, and it turns out that if you adjust for inflation, we paid about the same for our sports cars - $6000 in 1964 was $39,715 in 2007. So, while neither of us spent exotic/supercar levels of money, we both laid out a decent chunk of change for our respective time-periods.

Now, unlike me and Mr. Williams who paid cash, I'm willing to accept Chris Harris GT3 RS 4.0 levels of debt, as long as you can swing the payments and keep the car (CH is currently selling his GT3, btw) and it's currently for sale brand new. So, what would you get?

To start: if I were buying now and buying new, I'd have to go with a left-over 987 Cayman S with 6-speed, since the M Coupe no longer exists. A BE if I could find one:

[6cylVWguy]

There isn't one. Unless my salary doubles, I don't ever see myself buying a new Corvette, Viper, or Cayman. And if the Elise ever comes back to the US, I wouldn't buy one of those new either.

A keeper sports car would have to be used or not at all.

[chuckster1]

[Chris Stack]

Bought my S2000 used (they weren't making new AP1s when I could afford them) but otjer than that my car is a keeper. For life.

[cabzilla]

Will keep my s2k for life.

[Waarp]

Boxster S. Don't let the IMS thing deter you. Its like FRAM filters. They are fine.

[epbrown]

Boxster S. Don't let the IMS thing deter you. Its like FRAM filters. They are fine.

A lifetime with a 986 or 987 Boxster? That would be nerve-wracking - my stomach drops every time the engine stumbles. And while I've only done a couple thousand miles in mine, I don't feel that bond with it like I do the Z4MC. I planned on keeping it about a year, and so far nothing's changed.

[1Point8TDan]

The goal is to buy a brand new 911 (preferably Turbo but base would due too), and keep it pristine as long as possible. This ain't gonna happen anytime soon though...I could sell everything and squeeze it but then I can't run my business.

[compy222]

i'm with the s2k crowd...

[mk_ultra]

s2000

[Lwize]

If I'm going to keep it a long time, it won't be a DD car.
Maybe something I probably will never buy but the 12-year-old inside me still kinda wants - an American V8 muscle car (call it a pony car - I don't care).

I think a yellow Boss 302 would do the trick.



A new Porsche would be nice, but I can't afford a real one (i.e. Carrera).
(OK, I could, but would require a complete mental breakdown to do it)

[JacksSenseOfRejection]

Yugo

[Lwize]

Yugo

New?

[JacksSenseOfRejection]

New?

I work in the documentary film industry. That's what I can afford new right now. I'm sure there are some still sitting cherry on the lot, waiting to be snatched up.

[Spatzle]

For me it would be a lowered F150 if they would ever put a eco-boost in a rcsb.

I even went to Ford to ask while I was with my buddy picking up his truck, and they had even asked Ford a few times at customers request. Ford only sells them in a rclb, and then the extended and crew models.

[Pool Runner]

For me it would be a lowered F150 if they would ever put a eco-boost in a rcsb.

I even went to Ford to ask while I was with my buddy picking up his truck, and they had even asked Ford a few times at customers request. Ford only sells them in a rclb, and then the extended and crew models.

He He, while you would prefer the EcoBoost I would love to have a lowered OEM+ FX2 looking standard cab/ short box with the 6.2L

[Pool Runner]

With a mortgage, two small kids ( 9 mos & 3 years ) + child care bill that makes my mortgage bill seem small. Sadly I could only afford this, but would have to "trade" wifes Outback.

Base WRX hatch for me

[phryxis]

Bought my S2000 used (they weren't making new AP1s when I could afford them) but otjer than that my car is a keeper. For life.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...-14-42_211.jpg

Awesome

Will keep my s2k for life.

Awesome

i'm with the s2k crowd...

Awesome

s2000

Awesome

I think the S2000 is a truly wonderful car. I got to borrow my friend's for a weekend and it was a really fantastic experience.

I plan on keeping my Prelude and NSX for life, and I've thought that way for a long time.

In terms of current cars, it's harder to say. I'd say FRS/BRZ because I think it'll be an icon in the future, and would love to own one.

[TM87]

Unfortunately i cant keep a car for long. I get bored w it, regardless. I would like to keep my TT, but i have it for sale already

[x1000rpms]

In a thread titled:

TCL: what sports car THAT YOU CAN AFFORD would you buy new and never sell?

With an OP that says:

To start: if I were buying now and buying new, I'd have to go with a left-over 987 Cayman S with 6-speed, since the M Coupe no longer exists.

In the year 2012 - when they stopped making s2000s in 2009....

Bought my S2000 used

Will keep my s2k for life.

i'm with the s2k crowd...

s2000

MFW it's 2012 and you haven't been able to buy an s2000 new since 2009.

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

Realistically, I'm actually thinking about getting a new later this year or next...

[Dr. Woo]

There isn't one. I could see myself buying an R8 V8 and keeping that forever, but I can't even afford the poverty special.

Everything I can currently afford would be a throwaway at some point. Who'd buy a base Scion FR-S and keep it for the rest of their life?

[Mabe]

There is no vehicle I will keep for life, to me one of the few things that you can change in life....is your cars.

I have a collector mentality, just not with cars....I like change.

This.

Keeping a car 40 years is a cool story, and you have a great bond with the car. But I don't know if Id want to paint myself into a corner like that. I'm already married to my wife and married to a career. I don't need to marry myself to just one car forever. Gotta change it up every now and then.

.

[Mosbius Designs]

This.

Keeping a car 40 years is a cool story, and you have a great bond with the car. But I don't know if Id want to paint myself into a corner like that. I'm already married to my wife and married to a career. I don't need to marry myself to just one car forever. Gotta change it up every now and then.

.

Meh. The way I look at it, my wife is always going to be getting a new car every 10 years, and I'll be swapping out a daily driver every 10 years. I would like to keep driving a semi-interesting daily, so if I can find that one car that I get an instant bond to and want to hold on to, what's the harm?

Still getting the tingly feeling of a new car every 5 years or so (if you stagger it out with the wife), and you still have that one to keep.

[Roboturner913]

Cayman R in this exact configuration. It would be an enormous budget hit and my wife would murder me but technically I could afford it at around 67K.....and since I'm keeping it forever anyway I can do a 10-year loan.

[abingdon]

I can't believe this thread got to page 2 before any Financial Lounge experts have chimed in. Let's just get it out of the way. Ahem.

You can't really afford that car loans are bad debt is bad you rent LOL buy a house scrape and save I drive an undesirable car but have no debt you are a moron.

[Smigelski]

It's nowhere near new, but I don't have plans on getting rid of this:

[MrKevkevL]

'07 Cayman

[Cousin Eddie]

Hank Williams came into what was a healthy amount of money at that time and a promising career. I don't think everyday blue collar TCL is quite on par for income.

However, i appreciate your clarification on the question and I will give some hypothetical thought to what I would buy if I put all my car enthusiast loonies in one basket.

[rnp614]

I have to say that my audi could very well be a car I keep forever. I just couldnt ever see it not being a useful fun car to have. Its a 2.0T 6MT titanium edition car with a stage 3 turbo kit providing the thrills. As a guy that will potentially soon be having kids, I'll need something that keeps me awake while driving and can still handle a car seat. Barring engine failure I dont know what would have me give this car up.

The FUN fun cars will probably be leases