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Yeah, I know. I just wanted some outside opinions in case I'm missing anything. GT350 is manual only, no? I like the idea but auto only..
In that case, get a 2018 Mustang GT with the 10-spd auto. Unfortunately that might be above your max budget if you can't find a used model. The engines are rated at 460HP but they are putting down closer to 500 crank HP. The auto is actually faster than the 6-spd. Plus it has a backseat if you ever need it for the kids.
But I'm a bit biased. My 3rd, and soon to be 4th cars are Mustangs.
OP - I know your situation quite well, but I sort of stumbled into mine (3rd car), and really happy that I did!
Had a 2015 VW GTI (mine) and wife has a 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited (replaced our 2008 Volvo XC90 V8 with it, we hated our Volvo actually). Highlander now has 82k on the clock and running great. Also have two kids (9 & 7) so I know of the destruction you speak of. Wife would love a Range Rover, but I'd have a stroke if I hit the brakes driving it and a chicken nugget came rolling out from underneath my seat. So the Toyota will be our family car for a long time to come.
Last spring I had the itch for a more cruiser friendly car, as my commute is roughly 60 miles round-trip. VW had 35k on the clock, and really wanted a VW Toureg. They were slashing prices on them, so I went and looked. Brand new, top Executive model, $52k. I was sold. Then came time to discuss the GTI (which I bought from them just 2 years earlier). Long story short, the subprime lending world is in the automotive realm these days, meaning used cars aren't worth nearly what they should be anymore. We love the GTI (4-door), it's got all of the options, etc. Really wasn't excited about getting rid of it, and knew I would regret it one day, but also needed something more cruiser friendly too.
Conclusion, for less than the price of that Toureg, we now have a 2015 VW GTI that we (and the kids) love, and a CPO'd 2014 Mercedes Benz E350 4matic that I bought with 20,000 miles on the clock instead. Between the two, I'm $7k less than just the T'reg, and LOVE having the option every morning of either cruising in the Benz, or zipping in the GTI. And wife loves it too. Takes the kids to school in the Highlander, and then goes shopping and lunch with her friends in either the MB or GTI (says she looks hot in that little sport(y) car).
The other benefit of having 3 - Far less mileage being put onto just one, meaning you'll get to enjoy them that much longer. I commute 20k a year. On the VW, I was looking at a new one every 5 years. Now I can split the mileage and put 10k a year on each. Helps with maintaining value, and helps to keep my nose out of cars.com when I get bored of driving the same car every single day.
My advice to you, if you can do it, totally go for it!!! But I would get something that is both fun but also can be used in a pinch for family usage too. Our GTI can do both, and we've needed it a couple of times while the other was being serviced. I would also get something totally different than what you've got. You have a muscle car with the SS. You have the family buggy with the XC. But what you don't have is a......convertible!
How about a CPO'd Audi A5 convertible? Everyone can ride in it at the same time for a nice sunday cruise, or you (or your wife) and just cruise in peace alone with the top down on those fun spring days. AWD makes it useful in all weather situations, and the 2.0t engine is really quite good! If you want more power out of it, just google "APR Tuning" and with $500 take it to your nearby shop to turn it into a friggin' german land missile. If you're worried about cost of repairs and whatnot, their CPO program has treated me very well over the past 10 years (3 GTI's) to the point of not having to spend a penny on any of them myself (other than service once every 10k miles). If you're a marginal DIY-type, you can do the brakes yourself with genuine OEM parts for less than $400 for the entire car. Very easy to service.
Trade the Volvo and go for a second hand MB E350/550 or Audi A6 - perfect family car offers class and drivability.
Depends on your location you can choose either rear or double drive.
The E350 is the European workhorse, many cab drivers in Germany use it for many years.
I don't see anybody complaining of driving what in my opinion are best value sedans (class, quality, performance).
In that case, get a 2018 Mustang GT with the 10-spd auto. Unfortunately that might be above your max budget if you can't find a used model. The engines are rated at 460HP but they are putting down closer to 500 crank HP. The auto is actually faster than the 6-spd. Plus it has a backseat if you ever need it for the kids.
I rented a 2017 Mustang GT down in Orlando last summer, it was fun for the week I had it. I had never driven a Coyote Mustang before so I was impressed with the power delivery. My first new car was a Fox body GT so I have a soft spot for Mustangs. Hell, maybe I can grab one of those rentals one day (not!).
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwguydc
That would be great if your friend would sell you the older Porsche. I was convinced by my friend to sell him my M Roadster because his wife put her foot down about no motorcycles when they have children under the age of eighteen. And, at the time he had two, and now has four, so that's going to be a while.
The bevel gear can confound some of the Volvo specialists who are used to the old bricks, but tires? That would never fly in the Volvo belt for an indie mechanic. I have one in Westchester whom I have used for years, and actually worked on my grandparents' and parents' Volvos, so they are worth their weight in gold. However, with a C70 FWD T5, you would not have the same problems with the AWD system.
The other car that might be worth mentioning, though might be a stretch at the higher end of the proposed budget as to year/mileage would be a Jaguar F-Type. However, like the Mercedes, it would be better to get one as new as possible, which is going to be $40k, unless Carmax had one of the early models and you get their warranty. If they had a Boxster/Cayman in your preferred range, and you got the warranty, that would mitigate any potential expenses to a large degree, since the couple of thousand you'd pay upfront would cover some expensive issues were they to arise.
I had to chuckle with the Corvette, since they are popular on LI, and many ladies do drive them. The flooring contractor my aunt used at her place out east drove a bright yellow Corvette, but she also had the perfectly sprayed LI hair and immaculate nails -- quite glamorous in her Corvette.
Mmm M roadster, I've coveted a clown shoe since they were available new. Once in a while I'll see one around and I'm always tempted to leave a note.
I like my Volvo indie despite the AWD mishap. They did send me to the dealer rather than attempt to repair it themselves which was the right course of action in the end. One thing I like about them is that they have a fleet of old Volvos that they use for loaners. They're not the prettiest loaners but they are mechanically sound and are good enough to get me to/from work for a few days at a time.
Funny, I was just admiring an F-Type on the road the other day, even before me and the wife had this conversation. It's such a handsome car but I would be really nervous about buying a used Jag. They are pricey too, even used.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NC211
OP - I know your situation quite well, but I sort of stumbled into mine (3rd car), and really happy that I did!
Had a 2015 VW GTI (mine) and wife has a 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited (replaced our 2008 Volvo XC90 V8 with it, we hated our Volvo actually). Highlander now has 82k on the clock and running great. Also have two kids (9 & 7) so I know of the destruction you speak of. Wife would love a Range Rover, but I'd have a stroke if I hit the brakes driving it and a chicken nugget came rolling out from underneath my seat. So the Toyota will be our family car for a long time to come.
Last spring I had the itch for a more cruiser friendly car, as my commute is roughly 60 miles round-trip. VW had 35k on the clock, and really wanted a VW Toureg. They were slashing prices on them, so I went and looked. Brand new, top Executive model, $52k. I was sold. Then came time to discuss the GTI (which I bought from them just 2 years earlier). Long story short, the subprime lending world is in the automotive realm these days, meaning used cars aren't worth nearly what they should be anymore. We love the GTI (4-door), it's got all of the options, etc. Really wasn't excited about getting rid of it, and knew I would regret it one day, but also needed something more cruiser friendly too.
Conclusion, for less than the price of that Toureg, we now have a 2015 VW GTI that we (and the kids) love, and a CPO'd 2014 Mercedes Benz E350 4matic that I bought with 20,000 miles on the clock instead. Between the two, I'm $7k less than just the T'reg, and LOVE having the option every morning of either cruising in the Benz, or zipping in the GTI. And wife loves it too. Takes the kids to school in the Highlander, and then goes shopping and lunch with her friends in either the MB or GTI (says she looks hot in that little sport(y) car).
The other benefit of having 3 - Far less mileage being put onto just one, meaning you'll get to enjoy them that much longer. I commute 20k a year. On the VW, I was looking at a new one every 5 years. Now I can split the mileage and put 10k a year on each. Helps with maintaining value, and helps to keep my nose out of cars.com when I get bored of driving the same car every single day.
My advice to you, if you can do it, totally go for it!!! But I would get something that is both fun but also can be used in a pinch for family usage too. Our GTI can do both, and we've needed it a couple of times while the other was being serviced. I would also get something totally different than what you've got. You have a muscle car with the SS. You have the family buggy with the XC. But what you don't have is a......convertible!
How about a CPO'd Audi A5 convertible? Everyone can ride in it at the same time for a nice sunday cruise, or you (or your wife) and just cruise in peace alone with the top down on those fun spring days. AWD makes it useful in all weather situations, and the 2.0t engine is really quite good! If you want more power out of it, just google "APR Tuning" and with $500 take it to your nearby shop to turn it into a friggin' german land missile. If you're worried about cost of repairs and whatnot, their CPO program has treated me very well over the past 10 years (3 GTI's) to the point of not having to spend a penny on any of them myself (other than service once every 10k miles). If you're a marginal DIY-type, you can do the brakes yourself with genuine OEM parts for less than $400 for the entire car. Very easy to service.
That's my $0.02 worth (before tax).
Wow, thanks for typing all that out. When I met my wife, her dad was a lifetime VW tech at a dealership. Her and her dad both drove Rabbits and her mom had a Golf in the garage (this was in the late 80s). I always wanted a GTI so I bought a used MkII 8v model in red (86). Why not, her dad had a garage full of spares! It was one of my favorite cars and I always think back to those simple days with no responsibilities, hanging out with my friends and cruising around with my girl. I actually said "how about a GTI?" a few months back and she wasn't keen on the idea.
I like the CPO Benz idea, maybe even a convertible E-class like bmwguy mentioned. To be honest, if I had my druthers I'd just order her a new E-class wagon and be done with it. She doesn't like wagons however, so I'm still working on it. I'm trying to let her pick this one as I have been selecting what she drives for most of our relationship and now I want her to have what she wants.
Thanks again all, there's a lot for me to chew on here.
To go in a completely different direction, how about some sort of Jeep, rather than a sports car?
That’s what the post above yours says! It’s ok, I had to look it up.
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