ok, talk me out of it..........
Discussion
Been thinking of changing gf's jeep (we need a family wagon) and looking at various alternatives, range rover, audi s4/s6 avant etc etc.
Now thinking of doing it backwards and changing the Maserati for an audi RS4, gf can use in the week & I can play on the weekend & at brunters, and also getting something like an elise to go to work in when I'm not taking the bike. thoughts gents???
I think whats mainly putting me off (and maybe I'm being an @rse) is that I like having something exotic, hmmm
ps.open to suggesions for something instead of an rs4, must be about 30-35k
mach
vmax15000bhp
Now thinking of doing it backwards and changing the Maserati for an audi RS4, gf can use in the week & I can play on the weekend & at brunters, and also getting something like an elise to go to work in when I'm not taking the bike. thoughts gents???
I think whats mainly putting me off (and maybe I'm being an @rse) is that I like having something exotic, hmmm
ps.open to suggesions for something instead of an rs4, must be about 30-35k
mach
vmax15000bhp
If you need to keep the space / useability of an estate shape vehicle yet don't absolutely need 4x4 off-roadability then why not have your cake and eat it:
Maserati for fun / aspirational object / exotic (no need to rationalise when a car looks this good anyway)
BMW M5 Touring for everything else. Bags of fun if you want too. Dynamically peerless (far superior to, if *slightly* slower than S4/6) and beautifully built. In fact, if you don't need the boot then a late E34 M5 3.8 is just about all the car anyone could ever need. Added bonus is the relative subtlety of the M5.
M5 too much? Hello 540i.
Maserati for fun / aspirational object / exotic (no need to rationalise when a car looks this good anyway)
BMW M5 Touring for everything else. Bags of fun if you want too. Dynamically peerless (far superior to, if *slightly* slower than S4/6) and beautifully built. In fact, if you don't need the boot then a late E34 M5 3.8 is just about all the car anyone could ever need. Added bonus is the relative subtlety of the M5.
M5 too much? Hello 540i.
rubystone said:
Why not plump for a boggo s/hand S4. 1999 cars can be had for £12k or even less. That way you get to keep the Maser. Try one before dismissing this idea
pretty good sense this - it's the family wagon and it's going to do miles / see a fair amount of crips / chocolate on the seats (and then theres the damage that kids can do!)
does it have to be an 'uber' wagon? If it's going to be the everyday load lugger do you really need 400hp?
Perhaps pick something along the lines of the best engine bar the AMG/S verison (e class / a4 estate), still lots of fun but probably more forgiving over putneys speedbumps, and likely to be less harsh on fuel / tyres etc...
boring but practical, but it preserves the 'exotic capital', and means that when you decide to change for a new exotic at some point (which obviously you will!) you won't have to re-arrange the family cars to do it....
If you are getting an Audi you really need to be aware that you'll have to spend some time working on it before it becomes fun IMHO. Standard brakes and suspension/steering really lack feedback and are completely uninspiring. Gearchange is long and sloppy.
Obviously you can mod around these things to a great extent...but ultimately Audi's just aren't sportscars, IMHO after owning an S4 and an S3.
Of course the old RS2 is supposed to be bundles of fun...but pretty long in the tooth now.
I've tried to get a fun/inspiring multi-purpse car, but everything is just too damn compromised..hence my extended garage at the moment LOL
Rgds
Chuck
(Sori, lurking here as thinking of losing the 911 and moving to Italy...C4S is just less of an 'event' than I'd hoped, so Maser 3200/4200 looking tempting right now
)
>> Edited by chuck_ster on Wednesday 31st March 15:31
Obviously you can mod around these things to a great extent...but ultimately Audi's just aren't sportscars, IMHO after owning an S4 and an S3.
Of course the old RS2 is supposed to be bundles of fun...but pretty long in the tooth now.
I've tried to get a fun/inspiring multi-purpse car, but everything is just too damn compromised..hence my extended garage at the moment LOL
Rgds
Chuck
(Sori, lurking here as thinking of losing the 911 and moving to Italy...C4S is just less of an 'event' than I'd hoped, so Maser 3200/4200 looking tempting right now
) >> Edited by chuck_ster on Wednesday 31st March 15:31
I agree with the opinions being expressed. I came very close to buying an RS4. If you had to limit yourself to one car to do everything you need it is certainly a great all-rounder, but ultimately they are not that special, either to drive, be in or look at (IMHO! ) I concluded they are a good all round compromise, but why compromise if you don't have to! 
Chris
) I concluded they are a good all round compromise, but why compromise if you don't have to! Chris
You do realise don't you Craig, that you are a lunatic asking a bunch of other lunatics for advice? Not one of us going to say "stick with what you've got Craig, you don't need another car".
I tried something similar with a 911 as a daily driver and something red for the weekend. Sounds like petrolhead nirvana doesn't it? The assembled inmates sit in relaxed poses, nodding sagely, and willing me to get the fluck on with it. It wasn't. It's pretty inevitable that with cars of sporting intent you'll start making comparisons, and one or other will start to piss you off, because it's lacking in some department. In my case I was hacked off that the 911 wasn't an 'everyday Ferrari'. Unfair I know, but hey, we make our own rules in here.
In the end I got an A4 Avant, a 1.8 FFS! It's not fast, but then I don't expect it to be, and can sit back and just relax. Sometimes, this can be enjoyable too.
Kevin
PS Can you get nitrous for an Audi?
Not one of us going to say "stick with what you've got Craig, you don't need another car". I tried something similar with a 911 as a daily driver and something red for the weekend. Sounds like petrolhead nirvana doesn't it? The assembled inmates sit in relaxed poses, nodding sagely, and willing me to get the fluck on with it. It wasn't. It's pretty inevitable that with cars of sporting intent you'll start making comparisons, and one or other will start to piss you off, because it's lacking in some department. In my case I was hacked off that the 911 wasn't an 'everyday Ferrari'. Unfair I know, but hey, we make our own rules in here.
In the end I got an A4 Avant, a 1.8 FFS! It's not fast, but then I don't expect it to be, and can sit back and just relax. Sometimes, this can be enjoyable too.
Kevin
PS Can you get nitrous for an Audi?
Craig,
I think I have found the perfect solution to the problem....
www.exoticcarsite.com/pages/ferrari_456_venice.htm
Frostie
I think I have found the perfect solution to the problem....
www.exoticcarsite.com/pages/ferrari_456_venice.htm
Frostie
Come on Craig, let's work out your entire budget and we'll sort you a couple of cars out
What about a Volvo X90 thing? Meant to be the dog's and every time I see one I think they look fine (for a 4x4).
The Maser's a lovely 4 seater hoon-mobile. But if you want a change, what about a 456? Or a DB7 (though I think these are a little effete personally).
What about a Volvo X90 thing? Meant to be the dog's and every time I see one I think they look fine (for a 4x4).
The Maser's a lovely 4 seater hoon-mobile. But if you want a change, what about a 456? Or a DB7 (though I think these are a little effete personally).
456mgt said:
You do realise don't you Craig, that you are a lunatic asking a bunch of other lunatics for advice?
ROTFLMAO!
I will second or third the M5 option. However, having two sports cars with diferent abilities might indeed have you disliking one of them (as mentioned before). Maybe even both.
Maybe something sane and non sporty might be the way (straps on kevlar vest) as you will not be expecting anything from it when you drive it.
However, you came here to hear what you wanted (as we all do). Forget sense, forget practicality, flick a rather large extended middle finger to the "sensible Susans" and get yourself into something fast, fun and tasty. With an engine preferably
M5, RS2, ?156gta? Maybe a Stadale for you and a smart car for the Mrs? If you parked them close enough it could look like an estate at 2am after drinking the entire pub dry
If you're up for buying a new car I always use the obvious rule that we have little time on this planet for making any decisions I know the Mrs would not approve.
Repeat "it could be all over tomorrow so why not" as often as possible and especially when signing the cheque.
How we all like to think about imaginary car collections. My $0.10 FWIW: the biggest expense in running a car is depreciation, something I am keen to avoid. You will take a massive hit when you sell the Maser so why not keep it, sell the jeep and buy one of the last of the old shape Subaru Impreza Sports Wagons (non turbo) for the GF? They cost buttons now so someone else has had the worst of the depreciation, they last forever and have PH type credibility. Far better than anything from Germany.
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