00TL-P3.2

Go big. S65 AMG

Aman

x2 for V12

Do you have any year preferences? It sounds like you're looking mostly at newer options, but an Audi RS4 hits all your criteria if you're fine driving a 17 year old car. You even get to stay V8. Same deal with the IS F but that's automatic only.

How do you feel about convertibles? If you can keep the top down most of the time I bet that would make loading and unloading kids easier. Camaro ZL1 comes in vert.

Civic Type R also hits your criteria on paper, depending on your definition of "fast".

SamDoe1

Haha, I'd prefer to not have a car that would bankrupt me immediately.
No real year preferences. One of the cars I really want to own one day is an E46 M3. I'd buy one now if it would fit my needs so an old car is not out of the question. The Audi RS4 is notoriously unreliable and hard/expensive to work on though. They didn't make a ton of them and parts aren't that easy to find anymore. IS-F is an interesting idea though.

My issue with back seat is need for leg room, not head room. Loading and unloading isn't really that hard even with the Mustang, the issue is feet getting jammed into seat backs and/or the dashboard for front passengers. The Camaro has a very similar back seat situation to what I have now.

CTR is also an interesting thought. I've also pondered a Focus RS.

Another thing is a Bronco...but I'd rather have the Jeep.

PhilB81

Depending on the generation, If you want leg room in the back seats, the IS has none. We looked at one many years ago, it was good bit smaller than the 3g TL.
too bad panamera dropped the sport turismo…

SamDoe1

I'm going to keep my eyes open for a Panamera ST but we'll see what comes around. Will likely end up with a F80 M3...maybe a G80 if I can find one at a price and spec I like. I'll deal with the beaver nose for the green paint and orange interior with a manual and no carbon buckets.

00TL-P3.2

Not as but there's also the E36 M3 sedan. Or a E9x M3 sedan.
Didn't you previously say that the FoRS was horrendously harsh to drive? I've not been in one, so no ability to comment on that.

JLUR392?

Golf R Or a RS3

SamDoe1

E36 isn't great IMO. E90 sedan would be cool but they are almost always some combination of modded out, super high miles, or ludicrously expensive to the point that you might as well buy the F80.

Focus RS is harsh to drive but this isn't going to be my daily so IDGAF. The GT350 is not exactly a plush luxury car either lol.

The Jeep 392 is still a $100k Jeep...

I've already had a Golf R and, while I absolutely loved it, I'd want to try something new. RS3 doesn't have a manual and, if going auto, I'd try and find an RS5 or C63.

00TL-P3.2

The Golf R was a bit tongue-in-cheek. And probably not as fun with a stick as the DSG.
Haven't looked at the 392s, didn't realize they were still that high.
Fair point comparing the FoRS to the 350. IIRC you'd tested the FoRS when looking for a daily & going with the VW?
#MBFanboi, but I'd have the C63 over the Audi
Loved & miss my C300. but would definitely go a bit newer than the 2015 [first model year] if I did it again. And would likely go into an E over a C this time.

E43 & E53 here in Houston for not bad prices [30-70k], but I'm a cheap mofo and can't even look at a x63
Quite like this spec [except the wheels], and a CPO. Looks to be about in line with market price
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...Type=spotlight

SamDoe1

Yep, I wouldn't daily drive a Focus RS for sure. It's too much for that.

I need to go drive some things eventually and see where I want to go. I've driven E90M and F80M and liked both. I've heard the G80 is even better. Haven't driven a RS5 or a C63/E63, probably should go do that soon. I had a JLUR as a rental when I was in CO a few months ago and liked that a lot better than my JKUR haha.

The cheapest Jeep 392 on cars.com right now is $70k. It's not at all worth it to me to have a 392 over a normal Rubicon or a 4xe.

00TL-P3.2

The stick option in the M cars is a big plus over the MB & Audi, IMO. Sadly, only Audi saw fit to give us a power wagon, of those 3.
I really liked the JLU we look at a few years ago as a possible Flex replacement, but it was just a Sport S with leather & the 2.0T. I'd be curious to try a 4xe. The small JK experience I have was used ones on the lot when I worked for a Chevrolet dealer in college. All autos & pretty awful [low trim, basic models].
JT Rubicon? Though, redundant to the Rivian I suppose.

SamDoe1

No need/want for another truck. Rivian is perfect for a daily.

Sarlacc

Are you mixing up malls? Century City has Tesla and Lucid. I don’t ever remember Fiskar (but the grove had one)and Fiskar only had the Ocean SUV unless you’re talking about the old fiskar and the Karma. But that definitely wasn’t at century city.

ttribe

If you are willing to go without the manual, F90 might actually be better for you given that it's AWD, meaning it would be better for your weather. Prices on the F90 are still pretty high, though, and don't look like they'll be dropping due to the release of that hybrid monstrosity that BMW just called the new "M5."

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Sam, do you know what you want?

SamDoe1

Nope, not yet. Leading contender is a F80 M3 but we'll see, they are alarmingly hard to find in the condition I'd buy one in. Meaning stock, not tuned/modded, manual, clean title, no accidents. Kind of want to check out a previous gen M2 as well but guessing the rear seat situation won't be a whole lot better than what I have today.

Would love to also find a E63 wagon to check out as well.

I realize this is the epitome of first world problems but I'm not sure where to go from here. M5 is too big, no need for something like that, same with the X3M. I know the E63 is the same-ish size as the M5 but the novelty of the wagon would do it for me. Not interested in sedan version. Maybe I should look into a C63? The AMG GT 4 door would be cool too but the only ones in the price range I'm playing in are the poverty spec (lol) GT43 models.

00TL-P3.2

I can attest that 2 carseats [forward facing in harness mode] fit well in a W205
C63 would be a blast

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

If daily is auto,
fun must be manual. No 2 ways about it.
Sam is an enthusiast.

00TL-P3.2

Manual - check
Power - check
Unique - check

But, only 2 seats, guess that's a non-starter, sorry Sam. I'll call Horatio & take your name off the list.
https://acurazine.com/forums/automot.../#post16942748

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Strap the kid to the spoiler - they'll be fine.

SamDoe1

I'm not super into the C63 though. It's auto only and you have to get a relatively new one in order to get the infotainment that doesn't suck.

This. Absolutely. The car would have to be somehow special in another way to overcome the manual issue. For example I'm willing to forgive an auto in exchange for an AMG or Porsche wagon.
I tried but he already sold them all.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I still don't think that it being an awesome car will overcome the lack of manual when you go out and want to enjoy it.

SamDoe1

True. Also heavily considering just getting back into a Wangler.

00TL-P3.2

JLUR?
Shame they didn't make a E46 M3 Sedan.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

What is manual, mid engined, rear wheel drive, has a space for at least one car seat AND reliable?


00TL-P3.2

Also available supercharged [auto only IIRC]

Or, manual, rear-engined, rear [or 4] wheel drive, boxer engine...


RPhilMan1

Are CTS-V wagons with a manual pretty rare to find or demanding too high of a price?

Yeah a search reveals only 13 manual iterations, and most are older and no wagon.

Also looks like no CT5-V under $80k. Hmm.

Is a slightly used CT4-V out of the question? https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/8...-d24bcb437763/

This 2023 looks really nice: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/3...-50d8eb82e40e/

Edit: Ah saw you already mentioned Blackwings are too high in price and not a good time to get in one.

SamDoe1

Yep. Might even be able to get into a brand new 4xe with minimal out of pocket given all the rebates and crap still out there. Would then get wrecked on registration costs though lol



I don't think I'm cool enough for either of those.

BW's are awesome but I think they still have a ways to go for depreciation and I'd lose my shorts on something like that.

CTS-V wagons with manuals are rare and expensive unless they have a fuck ton of miles.

I've also thought about a CTR like you have but I feel like that would be too "daily driver" lol.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I went and test drove my old CTS-V Wagon. I have kept in touch with the Father and Son that bought it...
I opted to walk away, wasn't nearly as engaging as the Z06 and overall felt so heavy. I was actually happy
driving my Volvo away from his house.

SamDoe1

As a car guy I hate to say this but there is such a thing as too much power to the point that it's not even fun anymore. I'm a total believe in slow car fast > fast car slow.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Agreed, if you have so much power you twist the frame & shred the tires unless you give no throttle it destroys the fun. Balance is so important. That is what BMW figured out with the 2002 1000 years ago.

lol

SamDoe1

Definitely.

And I understand that I say this as an owner of a 840hp pickup truck that will beat a Lamborghini down the quarter mile...so yeah!

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

The thing that amazes me is just about any "fast" car today will beat a Countach or other "super car" of the 70s-80s.

lol

SamDoe1

The Countach is relatively slow by modern standards, a 0-60 time (if it's working properly) in the mid to upper 5s range and a QM time of mid 13's isn't fast at all by modern standards. It still looks fucking insane though and that's why it's worth what it's worth lol.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

My point. Pretty much everything from that era is slow compared to today's cars.

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...-cars-1980s/As with the 1970s, turbocharged Porsches once again crushed the competition in the 0-to-60-mph acceleration metric during the Reagan years. General Motors had a strong—and boosty—showing, too, with three of its brands and one of its properties represented on this list, all of which were quicker than the Ferrari 4.9 Superfast that topped our 1950s rundown. We aimed for a nice, round group of 10 cars, but ties dictated that we include 13.

Be sure to also take a spin through the quickest cars we tested in the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, ’90s, 2000s. and of all time.
1

13. 1986 Ferrari Testarossa — 5.0 seconds (tie)

00TL-P3.2

I got lucky & got a ride in a '57 300SL Gullwing in college.
Was doing neighborhood security [gate guard man] & got invited by a resident to an 80s party at their house.
They were giving rides in a red Ferrari 308 & it was my turn, folks at the party goaded him into bringing the Merc out.
Quite rapid in a straight line, but he said the 308 was leave it behind if it got twisty.

SamDoe1

The thing about old cars is that they FEEL fast even if they're not. There's a lot of noise, vibration, and drama that goes along with it all. It's not a Model S Plaid that will melt your face while not making any noise or vibration whatsoever. Even the S2k feels like it's going 100mph when haven't even cracked 50mph yet, it's a ton of fun.

00TL-P3.2

True.
The Gullwing actually felt fast, solid push in the back when he punched it. Didn't feel far off from how my buddy's dad's Roush 427R feels on a hard pull.

SamDoe1

Also, in continuing my search for a Mustang replacement I went and took a look at a M2 Comp (previous gen, not the fugly one) just for shits and giggles and there's actually a TON of space in there. Like substantially more than what's in my Mustang which is astonishing. The wife was comfortable in the front seat with my kid in the back (we all went lol) so that was a VERY interesting development. The trunk is also a lot bigger even though the car as a whole is a lot smaller on the outside. Also drives awesome (unsurprisingly), pretty comfortable to live with, and the build quality is unsurprisingly much better than the Ford.

00TL-P3.2

Sounds like we know what's next to the M3 on your shortlist.

Sarlacc

Mustang replacement? What happened to the Stang?