So I know my range is huge, but I'm debating on what I want to do with my money. I don't drive a lot anymore due to my job having me travel 85% of the time now. So I'd prefer to get a used car, just because depreciation has been brutal on my car now (2009 Hyundai Genesis). Oh another issue, I'm 6'4, so a lot of small sports cars are out. These cars below have worked.

So far the things I've looked at and enjoyed have been:
1994-2001 Mercedes SL (closer to the low end on the price spectrum).
2003-2004 Mercedes SL (I enjoyed the one I drove)
2003-2006 BMW M3
2002-2007 Infiniti G35 Coupe
New Hyundai Genesis Coupe (goes against the depreciation thing, but I've loved the car when I have driven it and they're giving me about 5k more in trade for it than other dealerships).

Corvette is out the one I sat in at Hendrick my head was against the roof and knee hit the steering wheel. Bummer there. I'd like to try to get to Porsche and look at a 911, but am worried about having my hopes and dreams shattered.

Like I said I don't drive a lot. In the past year I've driven 4-5k miles, so I just want something that when I'm here is fun (here being Raleigh - though I may be relocated to Atlanta or Dallas). I have so many free rental days I don't need anything practical as I can just use those for when I need practicality.

What would you suggest on the above? Or add to the list, I just need to get something done before June as my car's registration is up and I'd like to have this done before then. I know my range is pretty up in the air, but I'm flexible on it as I have cash in hand for anything on that range.

4/25/2011 9:29:02 PM

This thread will go far

4/25/2011 9:34:52 PM

996 911 or e46 m3

4/25/2011 9:35:18 PM

M3

4/25/2011 9:44:29 PM

^^^ It doesn't have to go far, just want some opinions on what to look at. I mean I still have about 2 months. So no urgency yet.

Who has an E46 on here? What issues have yall who have them ran into?

[Edited on April 25, 2011 at 9:50 PM. Reason : .]

4/25/2011 9:44:57 PM

996 911

4/25/2011 9:59:05 PM

GTO w/ LS2

4/25/2011 10:31:12 PM

Why are you getting rid of the Genesis?

4/25/2011 10:58:12 PM

I like it and all, but am at the point that I only drive so much, why not have a more fun car. It's a great car, and if I was commuting every day like I was in my last job I'd keep it. Right now it doesn't make a ton of sense, because it's just collapsing in value.

I'm still thinking of keeping it, and just putting money in a fund to buy a car for fun. It truly is a solid car and nothing like any Hyundai before it came out, but it lacks the sports car fun I want right now.

4/25/2011 11:41:29 PM

bigt716, 1in10^9, and statepkt all own or have owned e46 m3s. i don't think anyone has had any problems with their cars.

there are a few others on here but idk their names off the top of my head.

4/26/2011 12:05:16 AM

97 civic. That'll save you 11k-25k

4/26/2011 6:48:37 AM

He said a "fun" car, not a "funny" car.

Not everybody can handle a super car, so easy there fella.

4/26/2011 10:19:44 AM

Not onky funny but I'm too tall for it. I've driven my grandmothers 99 and crack my head coming in and out of it. Ahmet where have you typically purchased your Porsches? I'm looking to keep my options open right now so any help on that is appreciated. I am already sick of dealers saying they have the car on the lot then when you get there it is gone magically in fifteen minutes.

4/26/2011 2:58:52 PM

How tall are you?

4/26/2011 3:06:52 PM

6'4 and have a size 15 shoe which has also killed cars because I've hit gas and brake at the same time.

4/26/2011 3:09:26 PM

That sucks man

4/26/2011 3:10:39 PM

Tell me about it. So many awesome cars have been eliminated because of one of these two issues. I can sit in a Lotus, but can't hit the gas without hitting the brake and vice versa without being extremely uncomfortable. Head hits the roof in Corvette. Old Mercedes SLs I have a huge list of problems. I'm getting used to it though as I've been this tall for 4 years or so since I stopped growing when I about hit 20.

4/26/2011 3:14:34 PM

Dealers/individuals. Dealers generally suck however...

Of everything on your list, honestly only the 996 and the e46 M3 seem like logical options. If you don't want a straight out sports car, a 335i would be a very nice choice as well I think.

4/26/2011 3:15:01 PM

if you have a size 15 show you may not need a porsche because your dick is probably already big enough

4/26/2011 3:15:17 PM

I have a neighbor who repeatedly makes a Porsche/penis joke everytime I have either a new one or a friend stops by that drives one (or mostly any other sports/expensive car). With the C4S it was some story about how if you're hung like an elephant you don't need a Porsche. He also tells me how he can get laid w/out a Porsche. I have been telling him the same thing for years "I guess I still need a Porsche".

He's never said anything about M3s or 25+ year old VWs or the Volvos/Saabs though, some of which I've loved dearly.

4/26/2011 3:23:43 PM

How many cars do you currently have? How much was your C4S?

4/26/2011 3:28:46 PM

I have 3 but one I bought mom to get around in while she was in the U.S. for a few months. Clean C4S' usually go around $35-45k. I do not have any interest in owning something that nice, I want an old'n busted turbo w/a few battle scars and a few hundred more hp.

As for you, buy a 02-04 996 and call it a day IMO. The C4S does look gorgeous and has a crap ton of grip/brakes, but not 50% more bettar!1 My opinion of course.

Oh, I keep thinking the 370z may be worth a shot, but I've grown tired of Japanese cars a long time ago. NSX/S2000/Type-R and anything older than mid 80s naturally don't count...

4/26/2011 3:33:56 PM

I hit my head on the ceiling in the 370z. I was pissed too. They had one at Carmax the day I got my car appraised and it was a good deal. But such is life.

4/26/2011 3:37:15 PM

I have a friend who's 6'4" that drives a GT3 w/room to spare. He drives a sunroof 996 on occasion as well w/out a problem, but on track w/a helmet he doesn't fit well w/the sunroof. This can be remedied to a degree w/a car that has aftermarket seats. Also, Targas have an additional 1.5 inches of headroom. Any e46 M3 should have plenty of headroom also, and they're not impossible to find w/out a sunroof as well.

4/26/2011 3:45:06 PM

Quote :

"rbrthwrd All American 1968 Posts user info edit post if you have a size 15 show you may not need a porsche because your dick is probably already big enough 4/26/2011 3:15:17 PM "

I lolled

4/26/2011 3:51:23 PM

A Porsche is def not necessary with size 15 shoe.

E46 m3s are very inexpensive these days. seems to be the best on your list.

you lucked out on the 370, NMSJ.

4/26/2011 5:48:30 PM

4/26/2011 5:48:50 PM

^ Those things are fucking garbage, which is unfortunate, because I'd like for there to be a viable microcar option for us here.

Quote :

"6'4 and have a size 15 shoe which has also killed cars because I've hit gas and brake at the same time."

Sometimes you want to hit the gas and brake at the same time.

4/26/2011 6:09:38 PM

I am leaning on the M3 side, though driving my car today was a lot of fun since I'm in town this week. Damn this is tough. I might just tint my car, change all of the emblems to the Korean ones seen below and be done with it (I already added hood and trunk, just need wheels and steering wheel). Most of the cheap M3s are so high in mileage or have terrible title scores. I'd like something lower mileage, but those are still in the upper 20s which is too much for a car that is 7+ years old in my opinion (the SL was at least over 100K so I excuse it).




^ but with the same foot all the time?

[Edited on April 26, 2011 at 6:11 PM. Reason : Added response.]

4/26/2011 6:10:37 PM

E92 335i

~25k, < 4 years old, factory + 100k CPO warranty

4/26/2011 6:14:34 PM

Didn't you just buy that?

4/26/2011 6:37:03 PM

Get a lotus Elise 06.

As a fellow 6'4 lotus driver, buy the car, head over to sector 111 and get

Downlow seat rails

and

Adjustable pedal set with widened accelerator

These two things make the car amazingly better for tall and bigfooted folks.

4/26/2011 6:47:34 PM

I've thought about the Lotus a lot as I have seen tall people have them. I love the Exige and the Elise. How much trouble was installing the rails and the pedals? Without the fix, could you drive the car? What's it like getting in and out? Again I love the Lotus and I was told years ago (when I was in college) that my foot was too big to drive them by the dealer in Chapel Hill or Durham whatever that is there.

4/26/2011 6:53:54 PM

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/buying-advice/tall-and-short-of-it/overview/tall-and-short-of-it.htm

Quote :

"10 Best For Tall People: Ford Flex Limited Chevrolet Colorado LS Honda Accord EX-L Dodge Nitro SLT Honda Odyssey EX-L Jeep Liberty Sport Lexus LS 460L Lotus Elise Mercedes-Benz ML350 Mitsubishi Eclipse Mercedes-Benz S550 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR Nissan Murano SL Nissan Z Touring Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited Porsche 911 Carrera S Volvo S80 Porsche Boxster Volvo XC70 Toyota FJ Cruiser "

[Edited on April 26, 2011 at 7:03 PM. Reason : ...]

4/26/2011 7:03:21 PM

Copy/paste fail on the list. Most of the cars on the left (the ones good for those who are tall) are not fun to drive. Ford Flex really? The Mercedes S class would be fine, but I mean it's just a more expensive of what I got now.

4/26/2011 7:14:00 PM

^^lol, I love how the list have the same worst cars for short AND tall drivers.

4/26/2011 7:39:50 PM

lotus does not meet the price range FWIW.

4/27/2011 12:23:46 AM

^you can find an elise for ~25k fairly easily on lotustalk.com

4/27/2011 12:44:21 AM

thats funny because i looked yesterday, and searched the entire country on autotrader for one.

my coworker sold one recently.


i saw a salvaged title one for 25k....

4/27/2011 10:10:31 AM

^I think they're in the same area online where you can find 996.2 911s all day for $20k.

4/27/2011 10:22:17 AM

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/fs-2005-elise-storm-titanium-37k-miles-mods-98684/ 25k

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/fs-2005-lotus-elise-chrome-orange-98251/ - 25k

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/2005-elise-midnight-blue-w-camel-leather-int-98642/ - 25k

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/fs-2005-elise-98854/ - 27k

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-Lotus-Elise-/110669207119?pt=US_Cars - just sold for 26k

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/2005-lotus-elise-silver-super-clean-93118/ - 26.5k

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/2006-elise-chrome-orange-27k-miles-99190/ - 23.9k

http://www.dmentertainment.biz/Lotus.html - 25.5k

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/2005-lotus-elise-clean-title-fully-loaded-99067/ - 24.5k

and i didn't even finish the first page of the for sale section

4/27/2011 10:44:09 AM

wtf forum was I on, lol. maybe i was on a candian lotus website hahaha.

why would none of these be listed on autotrader

4/27/2011 11:25:49 AM

because people are too cheap to pay to list a car there? idk

4/27/2011 11:35:30 AM

hahaha

CUTTIN INTO MY PROFITS

4/27/2011 11:40:55 AM

Great list, though a lot had already sold. I will definitely start browsing forums more as that might be the better route. How often are you driving your Lotus? The only issue I might have with it, is that it would be my only car and though I said I don't need practical, I will need to go food shopping once in a while and all, so just wondering if you do those things with it.

4/27/2011 12:37:17 PM

2012 Toyota FT-86

or has its intro been pushed back another year??

4/27/2011 12:51:54 PM

nevermind all of this. You said you are 6'4"

[Edited on April 27, 2011 at 1:16 PM. Reason : .]

4/27/2011 1:05:35 PM

Quote :

"^I think they're in the same area online where you can find 996.2 911s all day for $20k."

Could you please find me one? I've been looking for a while. I'd say I spend a good 25 minutes a week checking, I've come across 1 (one) with a clean title under $20k in the last year. It had 137k miles.

4/27/2011 7:03:17 PM

autotrader is a worthless site for any small-run vehicle.

I routinely see vehicles (Astons, Maseratis, etc) that sell for 10-20k below what they show up for on Autotrader and the like, because they sell them on enthusiast forums where they know the buyers won't dick them around, or any of the other shenanigans that pop up from anonymous internet buyers.

Quote :

"I've thought about the Lotus a lot as I have seen tall people have them. I love the Exige and the Elise. How much trouble was installing the rails and the pedals? Without the fix, could you drive the car? What's it like getting in and out? Again I love the Lotus and I was told years ago (when I was in college) that my foot was too big to drive them by the dealer in Chapel Hill or Durham whatever that is there."

Took me an afternoon to install the rails. Not difficult, just a bit awkward. I don't have the pedals (I have pretty normal feet), but I know several folks who have them and it they swear by them both on the road and on the track.

Getting in and out is just the same as the regular seat. You will look like Jim Carrey coming out of the Rhino's vagina from Ace Venture. I try to drive with the top off as much as possible because a) it's awesome, and b) getting in and out is 1000x more natural.

The dealer was right in talking about the stock pedals.

[Edited on April 28, 2011 at 2:33 AM. Reason : .]

4/28/2011 2:29:41 AM

I could fool people that I spent a lot even though it's an 88 Fiero.

http://www.ferrarilife.com/classified/view.php?id=651

4/28/2011 12:52:36 PM