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]

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

[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

[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.

[devianb]

My income does not permit me to participate in this thread.

[Beltfed]

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.

[compy222]

In a thread titled:

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

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

there was no specification of past or present. if you read the OP, it implies that you buy a more recent car (as inflation numbers change), but does not say you MUST buy a current MY11/12 vehicle.

if that is the case, i'm going with a Boss Mustang.

[Assle]

Do kit cars count? If so, then a Superformance replicar and/or any of several Caterham replicas. If kit cars do not count, then I cannot participate in this thread.

[x1000rpms]

New car that I could afford that is a lifetime keeper...

Ariel Atom

If we can do kit cars where we can purchase the kit new.. then I might go with something cheaper in a kit version...

Like a factory 5 or locost/super7


I don't see myself keeping a car for life unless it is really out there or something I put my own hard work into like a kit car. ... And honestly - even then - it's a slim chance that I'd actually keep it for life. I've told myself I would keep every car I have ever owned for life... turns out variety is awesome, technology improves, and resources are limited.

[x1000rpms]

there was no specification of past or present.

From OP:

"To start: if I were buying now and buying new ... since the M Coupe no longer exists."


Thread Fail.

[02GTIFREESKIER]

Hmm this a hard one.

I guess if we are talking something I could truly afford the payments on for the next five years, And still have a good chunk left for fun It limits my options to an .:R-GTI, Scirocco(they are still making those right?), or a WRX. I know those aren't true sport cars, but thats the crux of having to be able to afford it.

And since we are stuck with whatever turd we pick for life, I'd go with the Scirocco. Only one I can see being at all collectible 30 years down the road. Plus I like the Idea of having a Scirocco that's newer than my Corrado.

This one even comes with a blonde

[epbrown]

From OP:

"To start: if I were buying now and buying new ... since the M Coupe no longer exists."


Thread Fail.

That was more an anecdote than a restriction. The insistence on buying new (practically anathema to most of TCL) was restrictive enough.

[Brendan@bwalkauto]

Afford now, and keep forever? Ardent Red on Black Evora with Premium Pack Sport, Tech Pack, sports gear ratios, back up camera, starshield, and the sport pack.

Basically, this, minus the supercharger: http://www.boardwalklotus.com/new/Lo...2469c0cd1a.htm

Given the deals we've been doing on these, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to get into a non S. Alas, I have better things to spend money on at the moment.

[someguy123]

Who here "ACTUALLY bought" a S2000 brand new?

My neighbour actually bought his s2000 in year 2000 and still has it(in storage).

I would buy a BRZ.

[skitzafit]

Without a doubt...

[cheap sunglasses]

The answer to your question is GT3. Or maybe Boxster Spyder, if you can still find one of those new.

[feels_road]

Being relatively certain one would keep it "forever" is a high threshold (even for me - who almost always keeps cars beyond 150,000 miles). Reading the thread heading, before looking at the OP, my first thought was a Cayman (seems like the OP and I think alike). An Audi TT with the upcoming all-new 2.0T may also qualify, so does of course the TT-RS. A 500 Abarth (a poor man's sports car, if you can even call it that) one may get tired of for one or the other reason. I'd also second the BRZ - but only on paper, so far, and there may be a ton of things I won't like about it once I sit in one and drive one, or after owners complain about them.

Of course, chances are that I buy a 3.0TDI Q5, retire, and never own a sports car in my life...

Yugo

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.

That would also give me a SenseOfRejection. (I work in a field in which less-educated, less-qualified people in industry traditionally have made about twice as much - so I can relate).

[epbrown]

Being relatively certain one would keep it "forever" is a high threshold (even for me - who almost always keeps cars beyond 150,000 miles).

Which begs the question: "Is switching cars part and parcel with being a car enthusiast?" The majority of TCL seems to get bored with their cars, no matter how much they like them. There seems to be more "Man, I wish I'd kept that car" posts throughout the forum than "Man, I'll never sell it!" I don't know where the next group of old guys with nice, one-owner classics will come from, but not many will be telling Hemmings "Yeah, I used to hang out on The Car Lounge...".

That may tie-in with the reluctance to buy new you see on here. That first year of depreciation is less of an issue to someone keeping the car 10+ years than someone keeping it 2-3. I sprung for a brand new M Coupe because I knew I'd be keeping it a while, and I've got to say I value the satisfaction of knowing every mile it's covered more than I do the money I could have saved.

I dunno if I'd have the commitment of the Cobra owner in the article, though. If someone offered me a million for it down the line...

[Mosbius Designs]

Since people were listing used cars, I'm going to go with NSX.


Yeah, I've been seeing a bunch more NSXs out lately (and phyrix's thread definitely doesn't help). I could definitely seeing that type of vehicle being a lifer. I do want to make my current 944 a lifer as well (since I'll probably never get an NSX) - got some good plans for that one