Which mid-life crisis car?
Discussion
So, you're married or in a long-term relationship, mortgage, 2+ kids, cars have slipped down your list of priorities and you're driving something "white goods" and possibly diesel. Ten years ago I was driving one of these:
now I'm driving this (and it's only a year younger than the MX5)!
The 30 year old white goodman would probably be driving something like this, had he remained a bachelor!
However, it would be my daily driver and has to be comfortable and practical for everyday use and my kids are still young (and still enjoy spending time with me), so something with four seats would probably get used more. Oh, and I have to be able to afford to buy and run it! I was thinking possibly of something along the lines of a four seat convertible.
BMW 330Ci Cab manual?
Had an E30 325i Cab after the MX5 to free up some capital and loved it. This would be undoubtably quicker and better and perhaps the closest a 4-seat convertible can get to driving like a proper sports car but nice ones are still surprisingly expensive. I thought that they looked great at a time but I don't think they have dated that well compared to the other E46 bodystyles and the E30 cab is still way cooler IMHO! Would love an M3 Cab but too expensive to run, out of my price range and surely an M3 Cab is a bit like a slip-on running shoe (kind of missing the point)?
Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Cab?
Obviously, it would be an auto (but that suits a Merc just fine). I liked the smooth, solid-feeling drive of a Mercedes but were the early 2nd gen CLK cabs poor in terms of quality?
Audi A4 Cab?
Never owned an Audi but the A4 Cab (particularly the B6 version) looks lovely and surprisingly cheap too. Would also consider an early B7 if they are significantly better and not much more. The FWD 2.4 V6 with a manual gearbox would probably be perfectly adequate but would a 3.0 quattro be the one to go for? Again, an S4 Cab is mightily tempting but probably more car than I need to be honest.
Saab 9-3 Turbo Cab?
These look good, I like a turbo and I might get more car (i.e. a newer car) for my money. It's good that it's not a BMW/Audi/Mercedes too. Is it in the same class though? I'm also not aware of a good Saab specialist close by and getting hold of parts might be more of an issue?
Which one of these would be the one to go for or did you go with something different?
now I'm driving this (and it's only a year younger than the MX5)!
The 30 year old white goodman would probably be driving something like this, had he remained a bachelor!
However, it would be my daily driver and has to be comfortable and practical for everyday use and my kids are still young (and still enjoy spending time with me), so something with four seats would probably get used more. Oh, and I have to be able to afford to buy and run it! I was thinking possibly of something along the lines of a four seat convertible.
BMW 330Ci Cab manual?
Had an E30 325i Cab after the MX5 to free up some capital and loved it. This would be undoubtably quicker and better and perhaps the closest a 4-seat convertible can get to driving like a proper sports car but nice ones are still surprisingly expensive. I thought that they looked great at a time but I don't think they have dated that well compared to the other E46 bodystyles and the E30 cab is still way cooler IMHO! Would love an M3 Cab but too expensive to run, out of my price range and surely an M3 Cab is a bit like a slip-on running shoe (kind of missing the point)?
Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Cab?
Obviously, it would be an auto (but that suits a Merc just fine). I liked the smooth, solid-feeling drive of a Mercedes but were the early 2nd gen CLK cabs poor in terms of quality?
Audi A4 Cab?
Never owned an Audi but the A4 Cab (particularly the B6 version) looks lovely and surprisingly cheap too. Would also consider an early B7 if they are significantly better and not much more. The FWD 2.4 V6 with a manual gearbox would probably be perfectly adequate but would a 3.0 quattro be the one to go for? Again, an S4 Cab is mightily tempting but probably more car than I need to be honest.
Saab 9-3 Turbo Cab?
These look good, I like a turbo and I might get more car (i.e. a newer car) for my money. It's good that it's not a BMW/Audi/Mercedes too. Is it in the same class though? I'm also not aware of a good Saab specialist close by and getting hold of parts might be more of an issue?
Which one of these would be the one to go for or did you go with something different?
shakermikee said:
I went the VXR8 route.
Not that I consider it a mid-life crisis car, but most people who know me call it that
I just promised myself I'd be sat in one when I hit the big 4 0 and I'm still in it 3 years after.
Good for you. I think I'm about to hit an early mid-life crisis (35 in January). Whenever I go shopping, I feel compelled to "buy my 2 year old daughter" another Matchbox/Hot Wheels car. The "Fast and Furious" collection is particularly good (I, I mean we, now have an orange Supra and a black 1970 Charger)! Fortunately, my daughter does share some of my interest (she takes the blue Viper to bed with her every night)! Not that I consider it a mid-life crisis car, but most people who know me call it that
I just promised myself I'd be sat in one when I hit the big 4 0 and I'm still in it 3 years after.
green911 said:
Mid life crisis you say? Has to be the men-o-Porsche. 996 Cab fits little-ins and has the added excitement that it will definitely implode every time you use it!
You're right of course, that is the perfect solution and that neatly scratches my Porsche itch too but sadly my budget is about half that of a decent 996 Cab (up to 6k possibly)! 
white_goodman said:
Good for you. I think I'm about to hit an early mid-life crisis (35 in January). Whenever I go shopping, I feel compelled to "buy my 2 year old daughter" another Matchbox/Hot Wheels car. The "Fast and Furious" collection is particularly good (I, I mean we, now have an orange Supra and a black 1970 Charger)! Fortunately, my daughter does share some of my interest (she takes the blue Viper to bed with her every night)!
I do the same with my son and have created a mini-me / monster!His bedroom wall is like a shrine to cars, mitsubishi gto spoiler for a shelf (with working brake light!) to display his model cars on. Number plates on the wall including one from a camaro, posters, drag race time slips, dealership banners....
Just how I'd like my bedroom wall!
When I hit 40 I had an Alfa GT Junior in the garage going nowhere and a 1 litre Nova which I was using to hack around and pick up parts in.
I realised that life was too short to be driving such a crap car so sold the Nova and bought this-
So my "mid life crisis car" was a four door saloon.
I think I did it wrong.
I realised that life was too short to be driving such a crap car so sold the Nova and bought this-
So my "mid life crisis car" was a four door saloon.
I think I did it wrong.
white_goodman said:
Good for you. I think I'm about to hit an early mid-life crisis (35 in January). Whenever I go shopping, I feel compelled to "buy my 2 year old daughter" another Matchbox/Hot Wheels car. The "Fast and Furious" collection is particularly good (I, I mean we, now have an orange Supra and a black 1970 Charger)! Fortunately, my daughter does share some of my interest (she takes the blue Viper to bed with her every night)!
I know what I'm going to start collecting 
I never knew they did them. Mound Dawg said:
When I hit 40 I had an Alfa GT Junior in the garage going nowhere and a 1 litre Nova which I was using to hack around and pick up parts in.
I realised that life was too short to be driving such a crap car so sold the Nova and bought this-
So my "mid life crisis car" was a four door saloon.
I think I did it wrong.
A rear wheel driven Alfa can never be wrong I realised that life was too short to be driving such a crap car so sold the Nova and bought this-
So my "mid life crisis car" was a four door saloon.
I think I did it wrong.
......
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