As I do more research and price things out it seems I have been getting overwhelmed by the amount of available options and competition coming from this price range of the performance car world.

So then I tried to separate my decision into cars I would like and cars that I think would be good for me (i.e practical, usable performance, quality, etc). Comfort is very important to me as I like to have my cake and eat it too.

I have no brand loyalty to anyone and while I would prefer to be new I wouldn't be opposed to used if it was the right car. I want something that won't be in the shop all the time or be a pain in the *** to get serviced. Essentially it has to be something that I can buy and drive it without worry every day what is going to happen if it breaks.

As of now my top choice is the new GT3 but it is at the tip top of my budget at 155k MSRP and while if I really wanted to I could stretch to that but I don't want to unless i absolutely have to. And the GT3 is the only car I would stretch to that amount for.

For all other practical purposes my budget is more around 125-135k.

At this range I considered a 911 carrera s or 4s which the s optioned to 136k and 4s would be the same but just the extra cost of the AWD which I think is like 6k? So 142k. I know I could get at least 10k off both of those. Making them really 126k and 132k.

Then I considered the panamera 4s which comes to about 142k as well. I considered the cayenne turbo which comes to around 137k. I have no clue what kind of discount I can get on these besides 3-5k due to my local dealer being a truecar price dealer so I know I can get that at a minimum but they have done more in the past.

I also considered maserati GT MC which comes to around 150k and they told me if it is one on the showroom I could get 10-12k off.

Aston vantage S or regular both for me come to around 150k again if it is one on the showroom I could get like 12k-20k off depending how long it has sat there. (this one I am leaning towards the least because a redesign is on the horizon and it is also IMO the least worth it, with the highest price)

I considered a 2007 F430 at 135-140k but again the maintenance worries me and also the fear of something major breaking. I could buy the extended warranty but its like 4k-6k a year. Not really worth it. I don't want a lamborghini it is too flashy. Also considered a 599 which actually would be my top of the list but it is still too expensive but maybe in a year or 2 it will drop to the 130-150k range for cars actually being sold.

Audi r8 v8 I considered at well mine optioned to 148k and I know I can get 10k off on that one as well maybe a tad more if I really showed to my dealer I was serious.

I want to buy in one year by next winter. Ideally my top of the list is the GT3 but I probably would have to wait 2 years because I refuse to pay MSRP for that or any car. Also I no longer want a manual. I had a zr1 I sold and a shelby before that so I am use to manuals but now I want something with a dual clutch or comparable to the f1 automatic like in the f430.

So yea any opinions or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Gonna put a specific candidate in your mind. Get a C2S with X51 performance package !
It's comfy, all everyday driving amenities available, but still a monster, most GT3-like engine you can get in the line-up. I'd say its a cross between a GT3 and a Panamera, and a great candidate that ticks all your boxes ;-)

Maserati and Aston Vantage. All old technology, Italian and British engineering, they don't last like Garman engineering. Skip those !

F430, old technology. Ferrari is an accessory, very prone to fashion, old car is obsolete when new one is introduced. Italian engineering. Only buy if you like to be center of attention !

Porsche is different, a 911 will always be a 911, no matter what the generation is ! Choose color wisely and it can satisfy an attention ***** as much as a discrete connoisseur !

R8 is dated, especially inside, but could be a viable option ! Less comfy and less practical than 991 though ! Less discrete too !

 

The c2s with x51 is going to be 156k MSRP. Too much and the depreciation on that will just flat out make me angry. At that proximity to the GT3 I would just get the GT3. But I appreciate your help. Yes I do agree though with the obsolete tech of the other brands. I was thinking maybe even real low key to get an sl63 but it gets too expensive with all options.

 

I forgot one:

have a look at the new Jaguar F-type (convertible and coupe) !!!!


Merc SL63, I do NOT like the new iteration ! Design is off !

 

One of my friends told me to get that one. lol. I like it but I still just don't like jags. Maybe if it was under 100k with the options I want then it would be great since it is so much cheaper. The one I optioned was around 105k-110k I think and that seems to be too close to the porsche. At that point the extra 15k would be worth it. Plus I'm not really looking for a convertible. I prefer a coupe.

My ideal thing would be to wait for 991 turbos to hit the market but they usually never have the options I want. They are all pretty much black and white turbos with black interiors. It seems everyone who buys a turbo and sells it likes that combo and they are usually bare bone cars.

If I could swing it I would get the turbo in a heart beat. But the one I option comes to like 165k. It was something around there.

 

Since you used the words "DD and exotic" and your budget is 125K-135K, a great choice would be a lightly used 2011-2012 R8 V10. That's exactly the price range for that car. If are going to spend the same amount for a 2014 R8 V8 and a used R8 V10, I'd certainly opt for the V10 with a manual trans. The first generation R8 is at the end of its product life and so good deals can be had. The only place the car is "dated" is in its infotainment package. If you go with a R8, be prepared for being video's and photographed, because in the U.S., this car still generates a great deal of excitement. It is truly both a DD and an exotic.

 

What does your build look like for either the GT3 or C2S? That info might help us offer up a more useful opinion.

For example my C2S with X51 package is $135,000. It sounds like you may have added a bunch of useless stuff. I have a bunch of crap in my build that is completely unnecessary. I couldn't imagine adding another $20,000. Also, if I would have done a GT3, it would have been $1,000 less than C2S. I wanted back seats and didn't want to wait 2-3 years.

 

991 GT3 is only offered with PDK, as far as i know they no longer make GT3's with MT.

 

GT3
guards red
18 way seats with black leather/suede with red decorative sticking
LED head lights
clear glass taillights
automatic dimming mirrors
front axle life system (this I probably could save 3.5k on )
instrument dials, sport chrono, seat belts in guards red
light design package (i would switch with LEDs anyways so I figured do it now)
fire extinguisher (140 dollars here is meaningless)
air vents slats painted red
additional interior package dashboard trim in leather (i wanted the red sticking to be on top too to complete the look)
voice control
fuse box covers in leather (again for the red sticking)
pedals and footrest in aluminum
sirius xm and hd radio

I was trying to add some color inside the car because black/suede is so plain and boring and goes against the personality of this car. Then if I got the GT3 I was thinking of putting some gold or bronze HRE p101sc on to try and copy the carrera gt bronze wheel look or the scuderia gold wheel since they both look good and really contrast well with the guards red.

c2s
guards red
carrera classic wheels with full color porsche crest
still debating interior between luxury beige and expresso
18 way seats full leather interior
premium package for 18 way seats and bose audio package
LED head lights
clear glass tail lights
park assist front and rear
power folding side mirrors
pdk
pasm with pdcc
power steering plus
sport chrono
sport exhaust
seat ventilation
automatic dimming mirrors
gauges and sport chorno guards red
seat belts luxor beige or guards red
sport design steering wheel
porsche crest on seats
pedals in aluminum
voice control

 

I was saying I don't want a manual so no one recommends I buy a car that has a manual. Not referring to the GT3. I know it is pdk only now.

 

The main reasons i like the gt3 is such
styling
9k RPM
N/A engine
rear wheel steering
4s wide body
pdk s
better steering
rarity/difficulty to get

Even with the x51 package a carrera S wouldn't have any of those. Plus the GT3 is the only porsche I have configured with the lowest price of total options. Everything else is like 25-30k extra in options which I will may get 5k back total of.

When I go back and do a bare bones option list on the GT3 of options that are ABSOLUTELY must haves otherwise I won't want the car I get a price of $144,500. But then I just think well for the extra 13k I could have it be perfect lol. I wish the turbo started at like 138k instead of 148k. What was porsche thinking on that one. Or at 148k at least make all the performance options standard or have very little option value. It is pathetic on their part that when we choose the turbo options we still have to pay 10k extra for mandatory performance stuff (not including PCCB).

 

best DD in your group is the 911, you may have trouble getting a new GT3, not sure. That being said, I don't consider a 911 an "exotic" maybe that's me, idk.
Exotic DD I'd recommend looking at is a used SLS in the $135-150k range. You should be able to get a decent discount and still have a few years of warranty. Pretty bullet proof car and no doubt an exotic IMO.

I looked at f430, MC Maser, R8 and 991. The 991 S did the trick for me, I love F-cars and will get one eventually, but for now, my Stuttgart steed will do just fine

 

Most turbo buys aren't too concerned with prices ($10k here, $10k there, eh), that's my opinion anyway, I could be wrong

 

If the GT3 is even remotely on your mind you should put your order in asap. IMO and by all accounts, there is no other 991 variant or other manufacturers car that comes close to it in price, performance, and versatility.

If you are still undecided, maybe Victoria's Secret can help with your "Right DD Exotic" requirement!

 

now that's an exotic DD I'd like to get my hands on, hahaha
Thx Haku!