Help me! I'm so torn!
03-14-15 | 03:08 PM
#31
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,313
Likes: 141
From: Illinois
Like I said in my earlier post, the GS F is a sedan with RWD. The same as the HELLCAT. But the GS F is a lot slower AND a lot more expensive, so it doesn't make sense.
Don't get me wrong. I would never consider a Charger, not even the next one down with the 392 HP engine, as a substitute for the GS F or the regular GS. But the HELLCAT is not an ordinary Charger.
I don't know. It is a Dodge. The last Dodge I owned (an AWD mini van when my kids were little) the engine caught on fire. I haven't gone near a Dodge since, but this is a Charger HELLCAT, and I'm assuming all the American brands have improved.
Such a hard decision. Every option has a negative.
Don't get me wrong. I would never consider a Charger, not even the next one down with the 392 HP engine, as a substitute for the GS F or the regular GS. But the HELLCAT is not an ordinary Charger.
I don't know. It is a Dodge. The last Dodge I owned (an AWD mini van when my kids were little) the engine caught on fire. I haven't gone near a Dodge since, but this is a Charger HELLCAT, and I'm assuming all the American brands have improved.
Such a hard decision. Every option has a negative.
03-14-15 | 04:11 PM
#32
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: PA
Trek, you're struggling with the classic left brain (sensible) vs. right brain (creative, impulsive) battle. i feel your pain. 
it's always cheapest and easiest to keep the car you have, but also the most boring. i recently traded in an 8 year old vehicle that was perfectly reliable but i was bored of it and wanted newer safety and other features and just something 'new'.
i tried going practical and getting a 'sensible' vehicle, but ended up spending a lot more to get something i grin from ear to ear every time i get in it or see it in a parking lot. i'm sure i would have been ok with the other vehicle, but i'm glad i made the decision i did.
so you can be practical, or you can do something fun. without being morbid, none of us knows what tomorrow brings (or doesn't). it's ok to plan for retirement, but not to the point of not having some fun and happiness in the present. material things aren't everything but they can certainly be very enjoyable. i just love new cars and each year they really do get better and better.
oh and on your list... for me it would be the macan. a friend on here has one and LOVES it. he struggled some with whether to treat himself, but he has no regrets now.
and while the hellcat is incredible, i'd get a loaded corvette instead for that money - a vastly superior vehicle technically, or a jeep grand cherokee srt
]
it's always cheapest and easiest to keep the car you have, but also the most boring. i recently traded in an 8 year old vehicle that was perfectly reliable but i was bored of it and wanted newer safety and other features and just something 'new'.
i tried going practical and getting a 'sensible' vehicle, but ended up spending a lot more to get something i grin from ear to ear every time i get in it or see it in a parking lot. i'm sure i would have been ok with the other vehicle, but i'm glad i made the decision i did.
so you can be practical, or you can do something fun. without being morbid, none of us knows what tomorrow brings (or doesn't). it's ok to plan for retirement, but not to the point of not having some fun and happiness in the present. material things aren't everything but they can certainly be very enjoyable. i just love new cars and each year they really do get better and better.
oh and on your list... for me it would be the macan. a friend on here has one and LOVES it. he struggled some with whether to treat himself, but he has no regrets now.
and while the hellcat is incredible, i'd get a loaded corvette instead for that money - a vastly superior vehicle technically, or a jeep grand cherokee srt
]
Those of you urging me to save money make a lot of sense. I can't do something as selfish as buy/lease a 100K car, especially with retirement looming in four years. The guilt would be overwhelming.
03-14-15 | 05:49 PM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,607
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Originally Posted by Trek
Those of you urging me to save money make a lot of sense. I can't do something as selfish as buy/lease a 100K car, especially with retirement looming in four years. The guilt would be overwhelming.
Last edited by mmarshall; 03-14-15 at 05:54 PM.
03-14-15 | 07:30 PM
#34
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 3
From: tx
I have never owned a Porsche, but if I am not mistaken exotic cars do come with exotic maintance and reliability is alaways in question. Are you willing to spend thousands if dollars for the rest of your life considering that its going to be you last fun car?
03-14-15 | 08:25 PM
#35
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: PA
03-14-15 | 08:43 PM
#36
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 3
From: tx
Why? Its just my opinion. It doesnt mean I am right. Trek, you have a very tough decision to make, only you know your finacial status. If you are well off and can afford say $80k car and not worried about maintnace or any break downs in the future, then I dont see why would you not buy a car your heart desires.
If you are not well off,
It would not be smart not to think about things like maintnace and breaks down that are very costly for any luxury or sports vehicle. Also, it would not be smart not to think about resale value, you never know when you may need the money and may need to sell it.
So, IMO if you are well off then buy what you really want and dont worry about a thing.
Just go do a little research how much things like battery, breaks, spark plugs, oil cgange will cost. And then you can kinda get an idea what it would cost if anything more serious would break down like a sensor or a solenoid etc...
My dad has a 1999 mercedes, the cheapest battery we could find is $185. I mean this stuff is very important if you plan to keep the vehicle for more than 5y!
If you are not well off,
It would not be smart not to think about things like maintnace and breaks down that are very costly for any luxury or sports vehicle. Also, it would not be smart not to think about resale value, you never know when you may need the money and may need to sell it.
So, IMO if you are well off then buy what you really want and dont worry about a thing.
Just go do a little research how much things like battery, breaks, spark plugs, oil cgange will cost. And then you can kinda get an idea what it would cost if anything more serious would break down like a sensor or a solenoid etc...
My dad has a 1999 mercedes, the cheapest battery we could find is $185. I mean this stuff is very important if you plan to keep the vehicle for more than 5y!
Last edited by FastTags; 03-14-15 at 08:51 PM.
03-14-15 | 08:55 PM
#37
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 3
From: tx
My wx boss owned a 2007 Viper, he replaced tires every year, it cost him $4000. It wasnt his daily ride, he drove matrix most of the time. He did take the car on the track once in a while. Still $4k for tires every year! And again, if you can afford it, then go for it. If not, then think twice before you make a purchase.
IMO if you really want an exotic ride, maybe a smarter choice would be buy a year old Car, and that 20% that you saved can fo towards the maintance
IMO if you really want an exotic ride, maybe a smarter choice would be buy a year old Car, and that 20% that you saved can fo towards the maintance
Last edited by FastTags; 03-14-15 at 09:04 PM.
03-14-15 | 11:43 PM
#38
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 49
From: CN
I'm not gonna tell you how to spend your money but... wait, I am 
Why not go electric for the daily driver? A Tesla with a smaller battery is less than 100k although the top P85D with AWD costs 120k+. Or how about a GS450h or ES300h? You could then get a cheap Miata for summer drives and track days.
Why not go electric for the daily driver? A Tesla with a smaller battery is less than 100k although the top P85D with AWD costs 120k+. Or how about a GS450h or ES300h? You could then get a cheap Miata for summer drives and track days.
01-09-16 | 08:12 AM
#42
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,607
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I would not recommend the Hellcat where you live. One problem with the Hellcat is that, even over and above its not-cheap base price to start with, dealerships tend to gouge with big markups. Also, where you live, Pennsylvania has a lot of roads torn up by salt and bad weather, with potholes and frost-heaves. The Hellcat's stiff suspension and tires, pounding over those bad roads, probably wouldn't do your sore back much good. If a pothole does damage one or more of those big wheels and ultra-low-profile tires, which is easy to do, they are quite expensive to replace....though insurance might take care of that. The many mountainous, curvy back-roads roads in PA,of course, are fitting for a stiff suspension and good handling, but not necessarily to that kind of power. And, of course, the PA State Police tends to enforce speed limits in the state, particularly on the Turnpike. So, IMO, there are better choices for you if you are going to stay in PA.
01-09-16 | 10:01 AM
#43
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,145
Likes: 9
From: Southeastern PA
I would not recommend the Hellcat where you live. One problem with the Hellcat is that, even over and above its not-cheap base price to start with, dealerships tend to gouge with big markups. Also, where you live, Pennsylvania has a lot of roads torn up by salt and bad weather, with potholes and frost-heaves. The Hellcat's stiff suspension and tires, pounding over those bad roads, probably wouldn't do your sore back much good. If a pothole does damage one or more of those big wheels and ultra-low-profile tires, which is easy to do, they are quite expensive to replace....though insurance might take care of that. The many mountainous, curvy back-roads roads in PA,of course, are fitting for a stiff suspension and good handling, but not necessarily to that kind of power. And, of course, the PA State Police tends to enforce speed limits in the state, particularly on the Turnpike. So, IMO, there are better choices for you if you are going to stay in PA.
01-09-16 | 10:34 AM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,607
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Last edited by mmarshall; 01-09-16 at 10:43 AM.
01-09-16 | 08:45 PM
#45
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,147
Likes: 253
From: Long Island
i'm glad i checked the post date because i was about to say get a slightly used 2014-2015 E63 AMG. in terms of performance, practicality, comfort, features, refinement, performance (performance twice becuase there's so much of it), there really is no other option. and it's also got AWD for the first time in an AMG and i can personally verify it's great in snow, and with a mere tune it'll demolish just about everything you come across, even more so than it already does.
but... f type it is then
but... f type it is then