I'll throw this out there, if you are up for something different how about Aston Martin?

No more unreliable than a Maserati but SO much better looking. Find a rag top manual and you are going to stand out in any crowd, if that is your thing. V12 even better.

They've caught my eye, too! Affordable. Reliability? Not so sure though with the older ones I'm sure that the gremlins have been more or less worked out via ownership. My former brother in law had a DB9 - never got to see in person (he's in CA). He has a Ferrari California now (and loves it - too rich for my blood).

A buddy of mine runs point for a guy here - taking care of the guy's cars is one of his duties. They bought a brand new Aston Martin DB11 Volante back in 2021 and it spent more time being repaired in its first six months than being driven. When it worked it was also rather boring to drive, audio system sucked (speaker blew and fell out of a rear panel??), top didn't work right, etc. To be fair the guy also owns a couple of McLaren's so that's probably where the boring part comes in. The car also lost something like $50k in value within the six months that it didn't work so it was dumped (for another McLaren.. if I recall correctly... he was livid having lost so much so fast in a car that was a lemon from the start).

Do Jags share any DNA with Aston Martin? Seems the look awfully alike.

Not sure it would be my thing anyway - kind of gaudy.

The N/A SL63 AMG (2009-2012) sounds better then the SL55 AMG IMO but I think the SL55 is more fun to drive with the Supercharged V8. I have one of each in stock right now. The 2013-2016 SL63 AMG is a totally different beast though. I'll take one of those in a heartbeat over either older one. PM me Hellcat info and I can give you buy opinion on what it's worth wholesale. All GMTV does is buy them and send them through Manheim Auction.

My point is the used cars haven't been a deal since before Covid.......Women do like both but I can't see a guy wiht a 600+ HP Hellcat buying a Miata or 4 banger Boxster

The OP clearly has more of an open mind. It's not always about HP...well maybe not from this group and I get that.

Good thing, he has lots to choose from. That is a good problem to have.

​​​​​​​

Thinking outside of the box - What about a used Viper Tom?

Nothing like a Rentech chipped SL600 twin turbo v12. 600+hp, 700+ ftlbs.
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Lol - that was a hard no from the Mrs (really more like a, “are you feeling okay?” kind of no).

Eric, I like how you think!

Thats pretty sweet right there.

Open minded for sure but the car has to have some good to serious power and comfortable for long drives. The feeling of torque putting me in the seat is really important.

whoops 😀

Boxster is a flat 6, not a 4 banger. Not super fast but has a great sound to it.

The base motor in a boxster or cayman is a 2.0 4 cylinder and they sound as exciting as a UPS truck.

Introduced in 2016 for the 2017 model year, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman were renamed the Porsche 718 Boxster and Porsche 718 Cayman (internally called the 982), reviving the historic 718 moniker while switching engines from naturally-aspirated flat sixes to small-displacement flat-four turbocharged units

Why don’t you just wire me whatever your budget is, I’ll hit EBay, and drop something off in your driveway - after I “test it” for a couple weeks…..

I have a 2011 E550 cab launch edition as a weekend car for about 5 years and I still love it. 382 HP and it still brings a smile when I drive it. When you stamp down the sound of the naturally aspirated v8 and the push in the seat never gets old. Thinking I will be keeping it for a while. Only thing I thought about buying to replace it was a db-9 volante or a S Class cab.

I can see this working out well, lol! :ernaehrung004:

I think I have my mind set on a SL.

The Mrs. loves the idea, and though she occasionally enjoys the "cool factor" of the Hellcat she too sees it as a bucket list car. Time to go to the new owner.

So, SL. I'd really love to get into a SL55 (R230) and I very may well if I find the right one, but ABC is coming up on twenty years old on many of them so hoses, accumulators, struts, pump are coming due even on cars that have had religious maintenance (but a swap to coilovers and sway bars fix it up). The BCM and fly-by-wire brakes are also a real concern. But damn I love the look and most importantly how the car drives - there's a reason why they're at the top of the list.

Now to find the right one that won't break my budget of purchase and repairs. I'm probably going to start to consider the later R230 cars - not sure I'm all in on the R231 though - some cool features but other areas are downgrades. We'll see.

I'll keep the thread updated as things come about.

The brake system, SBC, has a 25 year warrantee.

As for ABC, the suspension, it's what makes these SLs special; no roll in corners. None at all. As far as I am concerned, well worth whatever is needed to keep it stock. I would never do a coil-over conversion.

BCM is a coming issue, but I believe somebody will pick up the ball and start rebuilding them. I've been thinking of pulling both of mine out (SL500 and SL600) and having them re-capped, which I believe is the problem. The capacitors get old and fail.

SL55 is pretty cool, but being a glutton for punishment, the SL600 is a beast. Nothing better than a bi-turbo V12.

2007 SL55 AMG 38K Miles

I’d stay away from the V12 personally even though I have a CL65 AMG. Coilpacks go out and there goes $5,000 real quick.

Man, I would love to get ahold of your 2007, but for what we’re trying to do, it’s out of the budget for now. Beautiful car!

Agreed on the V12. I watched a whole thing on trying to get one to run right after the coil driver ate itself. Not pretty. Actually, that car was pretty messed up to begin with. Battery and hydraulic issues. Cheap from the auction. But not cheap at all.

I agreed for ~6 years...BUT the down-time (during repairs/parts/etc...) reduced my enthusiasm and I have come to accept the "passive" (but good) handling for more drive time.

Yep, I knew about the replacement for the SBC but I thought it was 20-years. Heard wrong I guess.

BCM…do the cars really catch on fire??

2007 SL55 AMG 38K Miles
Hmmm...let me think :-)
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Understood. I would try and find the newest, lowest mileage car in your budget. Stay away from 2003’s at all cost!! I’d try and buy a 2005 oldest, at least that has the newer nav screen.

Agreed. The SL500 that I had experience with was a 2003. Great car but when it broke, it really broke.

I’ve been focused on 2006 through 2008 though for my price point, 2006 is probably where I’ll end up unless I go with the later cars. I don’t think a 2009+ will get me into an AMG reasonably unless it has ridiculous miles or something else wrong with it.

the older ones are all NA flat boxer 6 cylinders. Started with a 2.5 and then a 2.7 for the base. The S model was a 3.2 flat 6. The 718 with the turbo 4 has more horsepower than the old ones

S model was a 3.4 liter flat six.

The turbo 4's do have more HP but they sound terrible.......souless.

depends on the year. I have a 986 which went up to the 3.2
Engine

• 2.5 L Porsche M96.20 flat-6 (1996–1999)
• 2.7 L M96.22/M96.23 flat-6 (1999–2004)
• 3.2 L M96.21/M96.24 flat-6 (1999–2004)

Transmission

• 5-speed automatic
• 5-speed manual
• 6-speed manual

I've eyeballed convertibles for years, but I can't bring myself to buy or recommend any of them unless they have a full legit roll bar installed.

My EX-GF was shopping for a convertible Camaro many years ago. She ended up with this V6 T-Top FireChicken instead. It was actually a great car for her. One night in May 2007, I was driving it around Smith Mountain Lake, VA to go meet up with friends as I couldn't get there via boat as I damaged a drive that weekend. I came around a curve, and a car was over the line into my lane. Long story short, I avoided that collision and subsequent eminent broadside collision, but pendulum swinged around, and the car flipped into the woods.

I walked away, but not unscathed. I had to be medevac to a trauma center, ruptured aorta/spleen, etc. etc.
Had she bought a convertible, I'd have likely been killed.

For that reason, I'd only look into Targa top or other cars that still have a roof structure, factory rollbar, unless you want to install a roll bar that will protect you in a rollover. I was a Firefighter/EMT for 10 years, and I've seen ALL the bad stuff.

But it really didn't hit me...
...until it hit ME.

Now, my two "fun cars" are a Corvette with the Targa top, and my oddball/rare Lincoln Mark V with T-Tops.



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"Broomstick Test" that we use in NASA racing and HPDE for convertibles:

Global MX-5 Cup 2017. Race 2 Barber Motorsports Park. Tim Probert Start Crash Flip - YouTube
Another: (Click link in quote below: )

So while I see your point, I'd have to play the odds on another crash were life or death is determined by convertible or not. I'm not a convertible fan, I don't need more sun in my life and in Florida its honestly too hot most of the time even with A/C seats. If you ride a Harley then worrying about a convertible seems over-cautious. The track videos also show a risk that most drivers aren't taking driving to the mall. With lifted trucks being so popular I'd be worried about getting run over/ t-boned more than rolling over.

I've bought 2 brand new convertibles in my life (M3/911) and one stayed 20 months, the other stayed 11 months. Wonderful cars but I prefer hardtop versions better.

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Feeling blue anybody?:cool:
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A convertible in FL in the summer would be a huge NO for me!! I was in Atlanta last summer and I rented a Mustang Convertible. It was in the mid 90s all week. It was friggen hot! I had the AC on full blast since I paid extra for the drop top! But I could see winter in FL being perfect for the top down

Actually found a Renntech SL600 up in the DC metro area. Low miles but has been passed around some. Leather is a little worn too. Still, it’s a 600+ hp car and relatively cheap. Not sure I’d want the V12 headaches though.

Holy ****!!

The SL’s have a pop-up roof bar… does that count?

Nice here Sunday so my Drop Top came out. Granted NOT 600 HP but almost as fun.


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When I want some HP- I have these 650 ponies to play with.:drink:
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83 SC cab? My first 911 was the hard top twin!

Went to a PCA event two weeks ago and I couldn't believe how tiny the 80's 911's looked next to current models. Most of the owners of the new stuff would be horrified driving an old school one, weak a/c, no power steering/brakes/no abs and oh yeah 1/2 the HP! I'll always love the black 83 SC!

Stick with the V8 cars and buy the nicest/newest you can find. V12 stuff is just 1/3 more cylinders and more expensive parts! Buy one to enjoy not fret about a new light popping up on the dash.

They do not count for a track/race car, but it's better than nothing. Here are a couple quick videos. I didn't watch the second one all the way through, but the guy is very knowledgeable with his channel.