You could get this for $29k, I'm tempted

 

I hear your criticisms of the SL and can't say that I entirely disagree with you. I think, though, that it could be a lot of fun anyway.

Nonetheless, my question isn't about the SL...

Thanks for the stats. It does look like the car is appropriately priced, and it also looks like the V12s are cheaper than the V8s, which was my suspicion. Thanks for the pic, too. I dunno how to post pics.

Anyway, I thought of anyone here, rai, you would have some spefici thoughts on the issue of instant vs. delayed gratification...

 

Wait and get the car you truly want.

 

rai, I posted after I saw your, as expected, thorough post.

 

[QUOTE=cbehney,Feb 18 2008, 07:58 PM]
Got it.

 

I'd like to say I am currently thinking about the whole M3/ISF/C63 etc.. as well as Cayman S (etc..)

I do have to draw the line (ish) meaning $70K or less. I know the GTR comes into play.

My best car to own would be the 997 GT3 but may seem more of a toy or more than I need. I mean great car (etc.) but costs 6-figures same with the R8 etc.

So I do realize where the SL600 comes from say it's 2018 (10 years from now) and I can buy a R8 for $25K or a GT3 for $25K (what the heck?) but I don't see that happening to those cars since a nice NSX is still $30K (ish) and surely there is a floor where a car like a GT3 won't go any lower. It does seem that the SL600 is one of those cars that drops in value much more I mean it's 20% of new price.. that'd be same as a 96 NSX for $12K not happening at least not for a great condition car. So probably cars like R8/GT3 etc. may hit a floor at $40K. Still great values but then priced against what will be a new car such as a future 350Z (etc..) for the same cost people will consider if they want a new or a 11 year old car.

insidentally just FWIW.. I have been going up and down on what I should do so I looked at the Mini (web-site) with a nice little bugger Mini S costs about $25K low options. Or a new but discounted RX-8 not much more (low options)..

I just think either way it's toy money but $25K can buy like you said a SL600 pimp car or just a little bugger like a Mini S or a RX-8 I wouldn't think less of you either way you go.



Now did you say C6 how's the wfe on that front? I mean yes the SL600 is great but Vette = more power and half a ton less

 

what's your real-world trade-off when you buy a $25k car now? i'm not talking money, i'm talking results: 2 years on the C6, a few vacations, early retirement, what do you get instead? and how about if you don't get it--would you constantly feel the need for something new, or would you put the top down on the S and forget about it? this is all personal, and it's all wants, not needs, so i would look to justify the decision based entirely on emotion and not look back.

logic and reason are great tools when the goal is to fill your belly, but emotion and passion do the job better when you want to enjoy a steak.

and i'd buy it.

 

I'd say the bottom line is your budget. If you are saving $ for rainy days and retirement, and after your bills are paid + savings.....you can figure out your monthly budget for cars. If what you want doesn't fit into your monthly budget then save your $ until you can get what you want, and afford it comfortably. I could do that now if I had dual income at the house, but I don't so I have to plan more for my purchases. My impulse buy would be right now to put myself into a new Sti or Evo. And I've thought about it a lot but in the end I like having a DD and a weekend car instead of everything rolled up into one car. Wait and get what you want.

 

go for a new porsche
be like this lady http://cbs5.com/local/auto.loan.defaults.2.645976.html

 

It's a 2004. It's a fabulous car in a lot of ways - as a combination of great looks, luxury, innovative technology, every convenience (that's not consumer electronics!), smooth power with plenty of torque (I only have the base but it still has about 320), a gorgeous interior (and with 9 interior storage compartments, 7 of which lock automatically when you lock the car so you can leave the top down!), handling that's better than people think (it does weigh a ton but you can throw it around okay), decent acceleration (slower than the S2000 but only if the S gets a proper launch, otherwise...), attention-getting without being flashy, ability to drive top down from 20 degrees F upward, on and on. And that's not even the 600 trim. But it's not a sportscar. I missed my S2000 every day for the first 2 years after I traded it in on this.



But as I said, it's something you should experience - great luxury in a GT package that also feels like a toy because of all the technology in it.

But if you do get it, promise yourself you won't drive with the leather-wrapped rollbar in the up position...