Top used cars in the 25k to 35k range?
...maybe the GT500
For an untouch/ out of the box/stock car nothing will touch a used C5 Z06(405hp). You will not find a single car on that price range that is not modded that will beat the C5 Z06 stock. Within that price range there are many other nice cars that fill the gap but performance wise the C5 Z06.
Carlos
Carlos
I'm looking for cars in about the same price range as well (30-40K) and my options are the following:
Evo X MR
SL55 AMG
996 C4S
The only one I haven't driven is the SL55 though I did drive an SLK which I was kind of 'bleh' about.
Here's how I see them stacking up.
Evo X MR - obvious win on performance and utility and probably the cheapest on cost as well.
996 C4S - biggest upside is that it's a 911 and that's also the biggest downside since I'll instantly become a douchebag for owning one. Crappy, dated interior.
SL55 AMG - without a doubt the best looking car of the bunch and loaded with the best features. Probably the most expensive option of the three.
I think the Benz might be disqualified from the running though because I'm not sure if it will be able to suffice as a sole vehicle. For that matter, the 911 is in question as well.
Anybody with experience know how well those cars can cope with snow/rain?
Are there any other cars I should be considering?
The car that didn't quite make the shortlist was a 335xi coupe.
Evo X MR
SL55 AMG
996 C4S
The only one I haven't driven is the SL55 though I did drive an SLK which I was kind of 'bleh' about.
Here's how I see them stacking up.
Evo X MR - obvious win on performance and utility and probably the cheapest on cost as well.
996 C4S - biggest upside is that it's a 911 and that's also the biggest downside since I'll instantly become a douchebag for owning one. Crappy, dated interior.
SL55 AMG - without a doubt the best looking car of the bunch and loaded with the best features. Probably the most expensive option of the three.
I think the Benz might be disqualified from the running though because I'm not sure if it will be able to suffice as a sole vehicle. For that matter, the 911 is in question as well.
Anybody with experience know how well those cars can cope with snow/rain?
Are there any other cars I should be considering?
The car that didn't quite make the shortlist was a 335xi coupe.
Evolving Member
Joined: Aug 2004
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if its a DD, get a nice luxury car. tons of deals '03 Jaguar S-Type R with supercharged 400hp V8 & 60k miles is around $10k. or an '04 twin turbo V12 Mercedes CL600 wth 30-40k miles for $30k. Another decent car is the '00-02 BMW M5.
if it's a toy, ur options open up depending on how far u wanna build it. lots of '00-05 Vettes, '96-00 Vipers, 04-05 GTO's, 04-07 STI's, 02-04 M3's, 91-95 BMW 850CSI looks hot + has a V12. or if u know the right ppl u could get a Nissan R32 GTR Skyline or Mitsu EVO6.5 TME for $30k...
if it's a toy, ur options open up depending on how far u wanna build it. lots of '00-05 Vettes, '96-00 Vipers, 04-05 GTO's, 04-07 STI's, 02-04 M3's, 91-95 BMW 850CSI looks hot + has a V12. or if u know the right ppl u could get a Nissan R32 GTR Skyline or Mitsu EVO6.5 TME for $30k...
I'd buy a formula 1 car. I saw one on ebay go for like 15k.
On a more serious note, deffinately check out an SL55 AMG - my dad used to own an CL65 AMG and there's nothing like letting a really angry bi-turbo V12 ruin someone's day
On the flip-side, unless you're like me and enjoy noise, vibration, and harshness, the Merc will definitely be the pick - a true "gentleman's sportscar." Downside is that this makes the car really heavy (approaching 5k lbs)- my IX with basic bolt-ons will blow the doors off an SL65 in a 0-60. As a matter of fact, the stock IX would come very close as well.
Of course, when you get the thing rolling it's neither a competition nor funny - Road and Track tested the SL65 (a year with a smaller displacement than current) and it beat the Ferrari Enzo in a "passing" scenario - 40-70 in so little time that you better have the freakin' thing pointed straight or you're in trouble!
A little story: when I would pass on our local highways, the thing would hit so hard that the sunroof cover would fly back.
Very fond memories of that car - if you can find a 55 AMG, you won't be disappointed.
P.S. - went on to look if there were actually recent AMG's going for less than 40k... look what I found
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=200319506114
On a more serious note, deffinately check out an SL55 AMG - my dad used to own an CL65 AMG and there's nothing like letting a really angry bi-turbo V12 ruin someone's day
On the flip-side, unless you're like me and enjoy noise, vibration, and harshness, the Merc will definitely be the pick - a true "gentleman's sportscar." Downside is that this makes the car really heavy (approaching 5k lbs)- my IX with basic bolt-ons will blow the doors off an SL65 in a 0-60. As a matter of fact, the stock IX would come very close as well.
Of course, when you get the thing rolling it's neither a competition nor funny - Road and Track tested the SL65 (a year with a smaller displacement than current) and it beat the Ferrari Enzo in a "passing" scenario - 40-70 in so little time that you better have the freakin' thing pointed straight or you're in trouble!
A little story: when I would pass on our local highways, the thing would hit so hard that the sunroof cover would fly back.
Very fond memories of that car - if you can find a 55 AMG, you won't be disappointed.
P.S. - went on to look if there were actually recent AMG's going for less than 40k... look what I found
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=200319506114
Last edited by adamweldonjohns; Mar 21, 2009 at 06:11 PM. Reason: My taste for cars is kind of how I view single life - why have one model when you can have two! :)
I'd buy a formula 1 car. I saw one on ebay go for like 15k.
On a more serious note, deffinately check out an SL55 AMG - my dad used to own an CL65 AMG and there's nothing like letting a really angry bi-turbo V12 ruin someone's day
On the flip-side, unless you're like me and enjoy noise, vibration, and harshness, the Merc will definitely be the pick - a true "gentleman's sportscar." Downside is that this makes the car really heavy (approaching 5k lbs)- my IX with basic bolt-ons will blow the doors off an SL65 in a 0-60. As a matter of fact, the stock IX would come very close as well.
Of course, when you get the thing rolling it's neither a competition nor funny - Road and Track tested the SL65 (a year with a smaller displacement than current) and it beat the Ferrari Enzo in a "passing" scenario - 40-70 in so little time that you better have the freakin' thing pointed straight or you're in trouble!
A little story: when I would pass on our local highways, the thing would hit so hard that the sunroof cover would fly back.
Very fond memories of that car - if you can find a 55 AMG, you won't be disappointed.
P.S. - went on to look if there were actually recent AMG's going for less than 40k... look what I found
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=200319506114
On a more serious note, deffinately check out an SL55 AMG - my dad used to own an CL65 AMG and there's nothing like letting a really angry bi-turbo V12 ruin someone's day
On the flip-side, unless you're like me and enjoy noise, vibration, and harshness, the Merc will definitely be the pick - a true "gentleman's sportscar." Downside is that this makes the car really heavy (approaching 5k lbs)- my IX with basic bolt-ons will blow the doors off an SL65 in a 0-60. As a matter of fact, the stock IX would come very close as well.
Of course, when you get the thing rolling it's neither a competition nor funny - Road and Track tested the SL65 (a year with a smaller displacement than current) and it beat the Ferrari Enzo in a "passing" scenario - 40-70 in so little time that you better have the freakin' thing pointed straight or you're in trouble!
A little story: when I would pass on our local highways, the thing would hit so hard that the sunroof cover would fly back.
Very fond memories of that car - if you can find a 55 AMG, you won't be disappointed.
P.S. - went on to look if there were actually recent AMG's going for less than 40k... look what I found
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=200319506114
On further consideration, I've ruled out the SL55 AMG. If it were a purely fun car, it would definitely still be considered, but I really have my doubts about how the car would handle adverse weather conditions due to the short wheelbase and as 596736 mentioned, upkeep is pricey. Edmund.com's estimated cost of ownerhip on the car is like 82K over 5 years which whether or not you beleive the raw figures, is about twice what the cost of owning a new evoxmr would be.
Right now I'm really liking the idea of a 04-06 CL55 AMG. I've been so obsessed with Mitsu for the past 10 years or so that I've completely never paid attention to how many kickass cars Mercedes makes. As housedj said, for a dd, it's really hard to beat a luxo car with a decent helping of sportiness.
I've pretty much scrapped the idea of a P-car too for a number of reasons. Not least of which, the insurance is easily double the price of any other car, it's not as nice as a Merc, nor remotely as fast as an Evo.
Right now I'm really liking the idea of a 04-06 CL55 AMG. I've been so obsessed with Mitsu for the past 10 years or so that I've completely never paid attention to how many kickass cars Mercedes makes. As housedj said, for a dd, it's really hard to beat a luxo car with a decent helping of sportiness.
I've pretty much scrapped the idea of a P-car too for a number of reasons. Not least of which, the insurance is easily double the price of any other car, it's not as nice as a Merc, nor remotely as fast as an Evo.
hmmm...hard choise....I love VW R32's...I would love to buy a cheaper one and have it shipped off to HPA for a total rebuild and twin turbo set up...mmmmmm
or a R33 or R34 Skyline for the right price since we're talking dream cars
or a R33 or R34 Skyline for the right price since we're talking dream cars
