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Is the Volvo going to be put out to pasture and never driven again? If so, why not trade it in? Or is this new car just going to be something fun to drive on the weekends and the Volvo still her daily driver?
Is the Volvo going to be put out to pasture and never driven again? If so, why not trade it in? Or is this new car just going to be something fun to drive on the weekends and the Volvo still her daily driver?
I did say retired but I meant semi-retired. It would still be used for kid duty and hauling stuff. The 3rd car would be driven as often as possible, some days by her, some by me (I can keep the miles off the SS, didn't even think of that!).
I like the Miata idea but nobody wants an automatic Miata.
if you have $50,000 to spend, look at a restored Jensen INterceptor Convertable.
That's a sweet car but if I think parts will be hard to source for my Australian-built SS, I can't imagine finding parts for a Jensen! I always liked the shape of the coupe, though. If I wanted something obscure like that, I would probably go for a 928 S4. I've been looking at those lately too (not seriously, though).
Thanks, I realize that after the Volvo threw 2 new warning messages in the cluster yesterday. I haven't seen those messages before until yesterday which is scary. I'm waiting for it to say, "sell or trade me now" one day.
I hear you and I would definitely feel like that if my SS wasn't a manual. I get what you're saying, I purchased my first SS in 2015 and it was an automatic. That's all that was available at the time and I was never really happy with it. I drove it for over a year and when GM announced a 20% off sale for the second time, I jumped on it and got the color and options I wanted (no sunroof, stick, spare). My wife was none too happy at the time but I offered to teach her and she refused. I don't want to sound selfish but at the end of the day, it's my car so I lived with the fallout for a few weeks. If we did go with a C6, she would drive it to the office on occasion and we'd drive it like a parade car on Sundays so I'm fine with an auto.
Good stuff here, thanks. I drove a few C70s over the years as loaners while they were still in production and it's a nice cruiser. It also has a "real" T5 that would likely last a long time. I do have a Volvo specialist here in town but I'm not crazy about them. The angle gear for the Haldex system blew out on the XC just as my warranty ended so I took it to them for evaluation as the AWD wasn't working (FWD only). They advised me that the AWD was not functioning because I had replaced the OEM Z rated tires with H rated. I shook my head and laughed my way out of there and took it to the dealer where I purchased it. Thankfully, Volvo covered the part and labor under warranty as it would have been an expensive repair.
I like the E-Class idea too though I would want one as new as I could find which would be outside of the proposed budget. I really like the new model and the backseat has more legroom than the outgoing model which would be great for the kids. I like the Porsche idea (so does she) but I fear that any Boxster in our price range would potentially have the dreaded IMS issue. My best HS buddy back in NY has a 911 Cabrio that he never drives and I've been trying to get him to sell it to me for a few years now. It sits in his garage and I can hear the seals rotting from here in Texas.
As far as the Corvette goes, we grew up on Long Island. She would drive a Corvette.
Thanks for the replies all, keep 'em coming.
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.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
That's a sweet car but if I think parts will be hard to source for my Australian-built SS, I can't imagine finding parts for a Jensen! I always liked the shape of the coupe, though. If I wanted something obscure like that, I would probably go for a 928 S4. I've been looking at those lately too (not seriously, though).
Delta Motorsports Phoenix AZ
It has a Chrysler engine and transmission. 383 or 440; the 383 is better.
You wife woudl be pleasantly surprised to learn how easy it is to learn manual in a Miata - or anything that has enough power to weight to not stall out all the time. I taught my daughter (who was terrified to learn) in a few hours during a road trip in a Z28.
1st car - Fiesta ST. Enough room in the back seat for 3 tweens. 2 8 year olds fit great. My very tall 10 year old fits very well. Fun. Easy to drive up and down the east coast.
2nd car - Volvo sedan. Big. Automatic turbo. Kinda boring. Practical. Comfortable to drive cross country.
3rd car - Miata. Fun. Kid loves to ride shotgun.
4th car - Lotus. Even more fun. Zero cargo space. Only downside is it's a pain in the butt to get in or out of. And it's only 42" tall.
Going by my analysis of your needs and wants, the best car for you is a Lotus Elise or a ND Miata
The Miata comes in either a Manual transmission or an Automatic. The Automatic has push peddles on the steering wheel so you can drive it like a Manual (but without a clutch). This car is by far the most fun I've had driving it than any other car I've owned or driven and I've been driving more than 40 years.
You owe it to yourself to at least test drive one. One exception, if your wife or you are over 6 ft tall, you will not fit comfortably in a Miata ND, but you might fit in a Miata NC.
I'm planning on a budget of maybe $25-$30k and my first inclination is to find a clean, one owner C6 Corvette. What do you recommend? The only caveat is that it has to be an automatic, she refuses to drive a manual but I have that itch scratched with my SS anyway.
Fire away!
Get something eco friendly since you already have a toy. We have our 4Runner for towing and my R6 is the toy but we drive the gas saver Honda Civic most of the time.
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I second this.
