Replace a CTS-V with...... What?

[gwoods]

Don't worry about where your going to put the golf clubs if you buy a old Ferrari, you won't have time or money for golf any more.

[Rex]

I never thought about it, but Wes does look a little like Tom Selleck.

Well, he'd need the 'stache.

[gwoods]

In what I perceive his situation to be its really the only choice. A Ferrari always attracts alot of attention. The 308's are not fast by todays standards but they are extremely reliable. The timing belt needs to be changed every 5 years/30,000 mile but you can do it yourself with the motor in the car by removing a wheel and liner. 308/328 are the Camry of Ferrari's plus the sound is amazing even if the acceleration is so 1980's.

That 348 for 30k is pure awesomeness not sure about the mechanical needs....either way golf or ferrari a choice will be made.

[Bubba1]

Don't worry about where your going to put the golf clubs if you buy a old Ferrari, you won't have time or money for golf any more.

This^^. Buying an 30 yr old Ferrari is the cheapest part. Their maintenance/repair costs make owning porsche seem like a hyundai.

[Bubba1]

In what I perceive his situation to be its really the only choice. A Ferrari always attracts alot of attention. The 308's are not fast by todays standards but they are extremely reliable. The timing belt needs to be changed every 5 years/30,000 mile but you can do it yourself with the motor in the car by removing a wheel and liner. 308/328 are the Camry of Ferrari's plus the sound is amazing even if the acceleration is so 1980's.

That 348 for 30k is pure awesomeness not sure about the mechanical needs....either way golf or ferrari a choice will be made.

FWIW, the least expensive Ferrari to keep is probably the Dino 246. V6 in a sexy body. Problem is their prices have risen significantly and the 308/328's have kept on dropping. Ferrari's are known for their general reliability, particularly the V12's, but keep in mind, very few owners use them as DD's and most are garage kept. You don't see many around with over 120K miles.

[gwoods]

But if he has the Q to drive if something goes wrong with the Ferrari who cares. Wes is pretty mechanically inclined so I think with time he could probably fix anything that came up.

True story a few years back my wife and I were dating. A 16yo girl ran a stop sign and T boned us. Her dad showed up at the accident in an old Lambo never turned it off. My wife was so impressed he had a Lamborghini. I was impressed it was running. I pointed out to her he never turned it off, probably because it wouldn't start again.

I have a short list of fun cars I want to own as my 4th car and a Ferrari 308/328/348 makes the list. My current 4th car is a 1965 CJ-5 but I have been working on forever. I am itching for a 240z,

[Bubba1]

That's cool, and likely true about the ol' Lambo's. My father owned an old Ferrari (330 America) for many years, so I have an unusual perspective about the ownership experience.

[elwesso]

That's very tempting. I actually read a little bit about the 348's online and they really don't seem to be that bad.... They seem like they may have their share of gremlins, but outside of normal service (which typically requires engine removal) they don't really seem to be unreliable. The engines apparently are pretty bullet proof (as I would hope, being race bred), it's the clutches and belts that you have to worry about. They also don't seem to be too hard to work on, I mean it's like anything else if it can be put together it can be taken apart, especially when they design engines around being removed for doing services.

I really think that working on an old Q is like dealing with an older exotic car, after all having an all aluminum, DOHC, sequential fuel injection, coil on plug, making 300 HP out of a 4.5L V8 was pretty exotic for 1990.

30k is like at the end of my budget, and I don't know about that. I will own a ferrari some day, but maybe at the age of 26 that's not a priority? I definitely would want a 348 over a 308, the 308's look pretty dated where the 348's design is completely timeless.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

What about a boxter S? Drop the top man!

[gwoods]

Cool on the 348 I have seen them cheaper then 30k but not cleaner then the one in that auction.

At 26 your a little young to appreciate the awesomeness of the 308.

[Kompresshun]

Wes, what about a G37S with a 6spd? Then you have the option of a coupe or sedan.

Personally the only other thing i'd go for in that price range would be the Cayman hands down.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

A g37 is nowhere near on par with a CTS-V

[elwesso]

Agreed. I've never been a huge fan of the G's (or really the VQ engines). G is about 13.9 in the 1/4, CTS-v is 13.1, and a cayman is 13.3, but 0-60 in 4.8 vs the CTS 4.7.

I've also never been a fan of the boxster, even though they're build on the same platform as the cayman. Seems like something my girlfriend should be driving. I think if I wanted a rag top Porsche I'd have a 911..

gwooods, what's so awesome about the 308?

[Bubba1]

gwooods, what's so awesome about the 308?

I think can answer that. The combinaton of being sleek sexy, agile, smooth, comfortable, with wonderful sounds makes for an intoxicating driving experience. They're also among the more reasonably priced models you can buy to join the club.

[gwoods]

gwooods, what's so awesome about the 308?

I think can answer that. The combinaton of being sleek sexy, agile, smooth, comfortable, with wonderful sounds makes for an intoxicating driving experience. They're also among the more reasonably priced models you can buy to join the club.

This AND the 308 was the star of Magnum PI on TV for years. It carries the same status among 30+ that a modern 'bumble bee' camaro would from the Transformers movie to 20+.

[Kompresshun]

A g37 is nowhere near on par with a CTS-V

I wouldn't say that it's nowhere near... while it may not be quite as quick, it's not that far off.

IMHO, if you're trying to go better than the CTS-V and you're not willing to go BMW or Merc, you start getting limited options in that price range. Personally, i'd jump on a BMW and live with the repair costs if it were me.

What about a current generation Mustang or Camaro?

[gwoods]

2007-2008 G35 sedan is the fastest G. The G37 makes 22 more power but its lost in the 7spd.

The only Mustang worth having is the new 5.0 GT and it should be out of the price range. The 4.6 GT's even with lite modifications are slower then a 2007 G35 Sedan (search my threads for plenty of drag strip video proof).

I like the new Camaro looks but am too tall to comfortably drive one. Even the new SS is slower then his old CTS-V.

[Kompresshun]

I like the new Camaro a lot, but I haven't actually gotten around to driving one yet. I wouldn't go anywhere near a 4.6L Mustang GT - they're not even worth wasting time on. Although an '03-'04 Cobra would be a sweet choice and in your price range. Buy one and toss a Kenne Bell on it, with some minimal mods and it'll make you wet yourself.

It's going to be hard to find something that's really better than the CTS-V, with what you're looking for. You're either going to have to sacrifice power, reliability, or comfort - all of which you already have in the CTS-V.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Thw logical progression is an STS-V. Supercharged Northstar makes 440 ft-lb!!!!

The only downside is that there were no manual models. But 440 ft-lb!

STS-V is most likely what I'll replace the LS8 with.

[frapjap]

Wes, there are very few cars I could see you in, but heres what I picture that would suit you well.

CL55AMG


If that is too old, a CLS63AMG would be a hoot. A friend of mine just picked one up, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but it is a fantastic car.





Then, theres always the dark side.





400hp, 465ft/lb, a full G pull, 6 speed manual sex machine.
I could picture you with a s*** eating grin burning the rubber off the tires.

[krash]

Totally crapped on the budget

[frapjap]

Totally crapped on the budget

No way man! Every one of those can be found for less than 30k. Granted, not much less, but they're still a bargain for the amount of car for your dollar.

[krash]

seriously? WOW. The Viper (gts coupe specifically) was my childhood dream car. Never thought it would be selling for under 30k

[Rex]

Have you looked at the Trailblazer SS's or GTO's all? They both came with a stick.

[gwoods]

The problem with all these other cars is they are not Ferrari's

[Rex]

The problem with all these other cars is they are not Ferrari's

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l380 ... /photo.jpg

No arguing with that at all.

[frapjap]

seriously? WOW. The Viper (gts coupe specifically) was my childhood dream car. Never thought it would be selling for under 30k

Yuppers. I hear you on the dream car! I have preference to the GTS, but then again the open air of the Roadster would be pretty amazing, too; more of a total package that way. Anyway, 37 cars with a range of mileage (7,800 to 60k) all under 30g's. Sounds like a bargain to me! They're probably reasonable to insure as well considering responsible folks (read: older) are the only ones who can afford them and that they're part time drivers. Plus, I'm confident that the Viper is at the bottom of its deprecation and Wes could sell it at what he paid for it after enjoying the car for a while. Maintenance wouldn't be a b**** either, though I'd be sure to get one with good rubber still on the wheels.
Heres the search results:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 0000&Log=0

Some standouts:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 0787&Log=0
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 1721&Log=0
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 7643&Log=0
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 6335&Log=0
(mmmmmmm, side pipes)

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 5501&Log=0

EDIT:
Heres a beautiful yellow '01 for 36k
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/3311579354.html

[MinisterofDOOM]

If that is too old, a CLS63AMG would be a hoot. A friend of mine just picked one up, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but it is a fantastic car.

Yeah, but you have to LOOK AT IT. The CLS is SO DAMN FUGLY. It was certainly fuglier with the old fascia, but it's still a far, far, Uwe Boll movie based on Far Cry away from anything resembling attractive.

SO FUGLY.

No.

Then there are MB's chassis. They suck. AMG has become a joke in recent years. They cram huge engines in EVERYTHING with no regard for anything but power output. That's fun for a guffaw and a smile maybe ONCE, after which you wish you'd spent ALL THAT MONEY on a real car that does real car things.

AMG built an effing R-CLASS FOR SMEG'S SAKE.

There are no words. NONE.

[krash]

Hey, an AMG Pacifica!

[MinisterofDOOM]

Hey, an AMG Pacifica!

THAT'S WHAT I SAID!