///AMG4EVER

The issue I see with the A5/S5 is that it is in another price bracket. It is by far the best choice; but it's clearly $10K+ in the wallet. You are getting into another spectrum of options at $50K.

OPM

I would reconsider A4. It seems like the best choice. Granted, it is not as visually appealing as A5, but you will get nearly identical car for $20K+ less. I would get 2.0T Quattro. Add GIAC chip, StartupRacing Gran Turismo Suspension Kit and Ferodo DS2500 pads. You’ll end up with a fast great handaling car that’ll feel at home at the golf club and ski lodge.

Donmun

My brother just bought a 335i and honestly that is a nice car. it is ALMOST as fast as the C32 and is as comfortable. the ride is not as harsh as predecessors but handling is not compromised. the thing that i like most about the 335i is the MPG (if you drive with some civility) 28-30MPG on the highway, 20-23 in mixed driving. straight engines are much more fuel efficient all other configurations. if you are going with a 'V' engine get a E500 or E550

jturkel

stock almost as fast. modded, some are now trapping 117 (piggyback, turboback, intake, fmic)

BryanW203

2008+ CLK550 with AMG package is a blast to drive!

c32used

my choice would be a 1. A4/S5 or 2. 335i/135i also LET is in the tuning of these Bmrs so vishnu will have competition.

Newzchspy

[/B]

+1, 2006 E55 with unlimited mod potential; Not a drop top BUT BOY can they go and go??? Nice ones in the low 30s now

AWDman

coincidental Craig as I am leaving the c32 fold as well. :-( i'll post my goodbye separately.

how about a starmarked clk 63??? give the gray haired old ladies the middle finger as you yowl by at 7200 rpm the forged pistons hammering out 475hp in the plasma arc coated cylinder bores.........

it may even be possible to have a mb extended warranty if you purchase from an original owner. up to 3+ yrs/total 100k from expiration of the 50k/4 yr new car period. mb had a link on their site it's gone now.

i like the xkr as well.

saabs are jiggly.

911 back seats are useless in the vert. spose you could consider the targa.

bud4ya

Well congrats on selling. Let's keep in touch as I want to get back down your way and look at the F car. Maybe you can take me for a ride. I just missed a deal in a 2002 911 C2. It had 25K on it, one owner, no paint work and he sold it for $26K. He said it sold within houres. Oh well the search goes on for me. Found a couple E39 M5's in the area but everyone had been re painted in some form.

Fifth Ring

OOOOoooohhhhhhhhhhh.




PS: Just so it's out there, I'm making a change (probably late winter) basically to have a convertible in the household. Due to a series of circumstances, we once had FOUR cars at our disposal, including an Audi TT Roadster. The absurdity of four cars and two drivers led us to sell the TT but we miss the open top fun. So we decided to make my next daily driver a four-seat convertible.

I still love the C32. Quick, reliable, classy.

AWDman

of course i meant to address Greg sorry. no harm done...we are all in the same boat!

Craig a 2002 911 is not a bad place to be- that was an attractive price. the market will come down more by spring due to cars ageing and economic conditions. i may look at the TT with the X50 package. a ecu reflash unlocks some serious performance (will need a cheap tow vehicle). Or stick with original plan which is a 2004/2005 X5 4.8is.

let me know when next you're in my neck of the woods (better next spring) you can check out the ferrari.

Greg imo the revised g35 is not as pretty at the 1st version. but it still looks good and has the room you need.

one thing i'd consider in verts is the distance from the top of the windshield to the drivers head. most 4 seat convertibles put the driver close -so much so that you don't actually have much of a sensation of being in an open car. when i owned my 3000gt spyder and honda s2000 the difference between the 2 cars was startling.

AWDman

hmmm....we have 7. i'm working on whittling down to 6 tho...

Fifth Ring

If I had garage / driveway space, I'd have a dozen cars! I'm in a "close" suburb, with a 2-car garage. I widened the driveway to make a 3rd spot, but the 4th was becoming a pain. I also find that the administrative burden of multiple cars becomes a headache too. Insurance, registration, emissions all start to pile up.

I also like to tell myself that you can only drive one at a time, so maintenance and repair of three cars will be the same as one -- just spread out over multiple vehicles. But that's not really true. Lots of stuff breaks having no connection with miles accumulated. Switches, bulbs, MODULES, hoses and belts can all croak with age or just randomly.

PS: The G37 fits my needs, but I see a little hint of the fat-azz profile that I despise in the Solara and Lexus convertible. Thx for the thought on the windshield header. Excellent point.

bud4ya

I have heard good things about the G37. They are pretty quick

bud4ya

If you are interested in a Sequoia LTD for towing let me know. I will send you a PM also

Vomit

1960 Lincoln Continental Convertible (AKA the "Kennedy car")

Not fun to drive in the "canyon carving" sense, but fun to cruise in.

Classic American pig iron, and not too hard on the eyes either.