You move to the USA, what car do you buy?
Discussion
Plymouth Barracuda huh? I know nothing about them, but do like my classic cars. When I have a garage for toys there will be plenty of possibilities, but the first of the toys will have to be a 911.
That V10 M5 looks the business, but I really feel like it has to be yank tank. Maybe I'll try a muscle car and yearn for German automotive sophistication - the option is always there to sell and try something else.
That V10 M5 looks the business, but I really feel like it has to be yank tank. Maybe I'll try a muscle car and yearn for German automotive sophistication - the option is always there to sell and try something else.
After a few years on the other side (SoCal), here is my 2 cents.
Avoid modern-ish Mustangs, they are for secretaries and squaddies.
Most "good" cars here are Mercs and BMW. Go one size up from Europe, 3-series here are mostly for college kids. 5- is a normal size car, 7- for the grown-ups.
In the really good car category, Maseratis are a popular choice around these parts. If they are in budget, I'd seriously consider them, they look/sound nice...
If you want to go american, I would suggest avoiding the modern muscle cars, plenty around and mostly military/rich kid's cars. Interesting options would be:
- a huge pick-up truck. F250 or F350, raised if you feel stupid. You'll never get a chance to own one of these in Europe...
- some US barge: e.g. big Cadillac, Lincoln Town car, etc.
- Vettes are everywhere. But Vipers are much more exclusive.
Avoid modern-ish Mustangs, they are for secretaries and squaddies.
Most "good" cars here are Mercs and BMW. Go one size up from Europe, 3-series here are mostly for college kids. 5- is a normal size car, 7- for the grown-ups.
In the really good car category, Maseratis are a popular choice around these parts. If they are in budget, I'd seriously consider them, they look/sound nice...
If you want to go american, I would suggest avoiding the modern muscle cars, plenty around and mostly military/rich kid's cars. Interesting options would be:
- a huge pick-up truck. F250 or F350, raised if you feel stupid. You'll never get a chance to own one of these in Europe...
- some US barge: e.g. big Cadillac, Lincoln Town car, etc.
- Vettes are everywhere. But Vipers are much more exclusive.
YankeePorker said:
I really feel like it has to be yank tank. Maybe I'll try a muscle car and yearn for German automotive sophistication - the option is always there to sell and try something else.
Just remember if it's not quite how you want it, then modified cars are the norm. Out of the showroom most American cars are a bit more "meh" compared to Euro ones. But the aftermarket is massive, all of the big makers have in-house tuning departments too (GM Performance Parts, Ford Racing, MOPAR). They all offer things like suspension & brake upgrades, engine tuning and even things like supercharger kits.YankeePorker said:
2 doors doesn't have to rule out kids in the back, so that increases the options a bit. I know what you mean about dynamically challenged, but that doesn't stop them being fun.
Went and had a look at pictures of Pontiac G8s - it isn't very exciting is it? Looks a bit like a BMW, i.e. not very muscle car. It's the looks that keeps bringing me back to the Challenger even if the V6 version I'm driving is a very lazy thing after a Porsche turbo!
Depends what you're looking for, but I needed 4-doors and decent rear legroom. The subtle yet muscular looks of the G8, rarity, space, and it being the nearest thing you can get to a 4-door Corvette (same platform as the Camaro too) is what attracted me to them, as well as them being good value. And it was value that I was struggling with as like for like used cars in the US are much more expensive than in the UK.Went and had a look at pictures of Pontiac G8s - it isn't very exciting is it? Looks a bit like a BMW, i.e. not very muscle car. It's the looks that keeps bringing me back to the Challenger even if the V6 version I'm driving is a very lazy thing after a Porsche turbo!
I like Yank muscle cars, but less so after having been here for a little while and having the opportunity to drive them. The top end ones look and go well, but that's really all they have going for them. Beyond the looks they're fairly crude and cheaply made, very common, and are often driven by tough guy types so the novelty of the looks soon wears thin.
Anyway, someone above mentioned a Maserati, either 2 or 4 doors is a great call as they're fairly good value on the used market, however running costs I imagine are pretty steep. However a much more special car than anything mentioned so far.
Just back from house hunting in St Simons Is (just north of Fl, but we have to use Jax) - have decided to go for a Pontiac Soltice, I think they seem a lot of fun for the money, you don't see them in the UK, plus not too OTT (Mrs Petrus says that's frowned upon in these parts!). Strangely we're currently wrapping up life over in UK/France (Cannes) first too.
Dave Hedgehog said:
this will do me
So a quick update, final result was that I bought:
- a 2012 Honda Odyssey for the family and the dog, 8 seats, 3.5 ltr V6 petrol engine, efficient and winning prizes over here.
- a lime green (my wife wanted something BRIGHT) 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 as above, 6.4 ltr V8, 470 lazy hp, nice noise, manual 6 speed.
8 days later the Dodge has already broken down and is back being fettled.....arghh
After a thread currently on PH I am now looking at E39 M5s and am very tempted to buy one with the view of then selling on the Dodge after half a year or so. I like the look of the Challenger, but reading about the problems owners are having it might end up driving me mad.
YankeePorker said:
Dave Hedgehog said:
this will do me
So a quick update, final result was that I bought:
- a 2012 Honda Odyssey for the family and the dog, 8 seats, 3.5 ltr V6 petrol engine, efficient and winning prizes over here.
- a lime green (my wife wanted something BRIGHT) 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 as above, 6.4 ltr V8, 470 lazy hp, nice noise, manual 6 speed.
8 days later the Dodge has already broken down and is back being fettled.....arghh
After a thread currently on PH I am now looking at E39 M5s and am very tempted to buy one with the view of then selling on the Dodge after half a year or so. I like the look of the Challenger, but reading about the problems owners are having it might end up driving me mad.
its like dating kelly brook and finding out shes cheating on you, at the end of the day your shagging kelly brook
SystemParanoia said:
...so's the other guy lol
Wouldn't be as bad if the other guy was a girl.....Amazed it broke down though, I can't remember a single person I knew with an American car who had a problem the whole time I lived there.........the E60 and W211 owners however seemed to be constantly at the dealer with some niggle or other.
I bought a BMW E60 and have had few issues, but not a M5. Am now looking at an E61 convertible with cooler Florida evenings ahead until may next year. have a hankering for another classic but need a car for some travelling. Would not buy any US manufactured car, the quality is dreadful.
belleair302 said:
Would not buy any US manufactured car, the quality is dreadful.
Reliability surveys find Japanese and US manufactured autos to be the most reliable. BMW don't make it into the top rank of any sector.If you're talking about superficially cheap feeling plastics then you've got a point in some cases.
Matt Harper said:
Wow! That's not good. What broke?
Car had a brain fart as I was accelerating away from a toll booth - lots of dash lights came on (ESP, traction control, electronic throttle, check engine) and it lost all power. Turned the engine off, restarted and it was OK for a short distance. Limped home like that then got it towed to the dealer the next day.Dodge have replaced a faulty wheel speed sensor but are running further diagnostics, so wife is running around in a smashing Toyota Corolla loan car. Once we get it back I'm going to take it down to the long, straight, cop-free farm roads of Homestead to "test" the repairs.
I shouldn't have given into wifey's bright colour demands - the Challenger should be matt black to go with the noise it makes!
Funny you should be looking at getting an E39 M5, that is what I went for myself.
They are more expensive than in the UK, but $15-20k should get you a good one. Early ones apparently use plenty of oil, mine is a 2002 and uses none.
I find them to be rather good and well suited to US driving, although they are clearly designed for high speed cruising, and US speed limits are quite low unfortunately. And as you know, gas is cheap enough that 17mpg is not as big a problem as it would be in Europe.
Based on my Socal experience: although they look great in black/black, they do get pretty hot in the sun! ;-)
Also, I doubt it will be an issue if you are in Florida, but in case you want to drive in snow, they may not be ideal. You are not supposed to fit snow chains on the 18" rims. Instead of getting a set of 17" winter wheels, I found some low profiles snow chains which should work well, but I have not yet had to use them.
M5board seems the best online resource.
They are more expensive than in the UK, but $15-20k should get you a good one. Early ones apparently use plenty of oil, mine is a 2002 and uses none.
I find them to be rather good and well suited to US driving, although they are clearly designed for high speed cruising, and US speed limits are quite low unfortunately. And as you know, gas is cheap enough that 17mpg is not as big a problem as it would be in Europe.
Based on my Socal experience: although they look great in black/black, they do get pretty hot in the sun! ;-)
Also, I doubt it will be an issue if you are in Florida, but in case you want to drive in snow, they may not be ideal. You are not supposed to fit snow chains on the 18" rims. Instead of getting a set of 17" winter wheels, I found some low profiles snow chains which should work well, but I have not yet had to use them.
M5board seems the best online resource.
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