Convertibles
10-22-2023 | 06:56 AM
#11
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I think the Mrs and I are in the market for a convertible to use as a fun car.
Daily driving duties are handled by my 8.1 Suburban (which I absolutely love) and the fun car is a Hellcat Challenger. I’m driving the Hellcat less and less these days, and with the very high propensity for theft and a very high value, I’m thinking it’s time to put it up for sale. The Hellcat was a bucket list item for me and I’m glad I had the opportunity to own one, but it’s time to go. With the equity I have in the car, I can walk away with some real cash and buy a used replacement outright or have a very small note that could be taken care of very quickly.
Convertibles. Must be performance oriented but comfortable/capable for long trips.
Some cars on this list:
SL550/SL63
CLK550
S550 (would need to be a really good deal)
Maserati Granturismo (2013 plus+)
Jag Type-R (V8)
And my favorite… 911 (997.1 - I think the 997.2 is out of the range).
I’m not interested in a Corvette and not a big fan of BMW. A few of the ones on my list have big maintenance costs, but I can do a lot myself (interestingly, the Maserati suffers from the worst depreciation making it really affordable - it’s also very reliable which is a rarity for Maserati - though may be too gaudy for me and the Mrs).
Would love some thoughts and any other suggestions as well as experiences.
TIA!
Daily driving duties are handled by my 8.1 Suburban (which I absolutely love) and the fun car is a Hellcat Challenger. I’m driving the Hellcat less and less these days, and with the very high propensity for theft and a very high value, I’m thinking it’s time to put it up for sale. The Hellcat was a bucket list item for me and I’m glad I had the opportunity to own one, but it’s time to go. With the equity I have in the car, I can walk away with some real cash and buy a used replacement outright or have a very small note that could be taken care of very quickly.
Convertibles. Must be performance oriented but comfortable/capable for long trips.
Some cars on this list:
SL550/SL63
CLK550
S550 (would need to be a really good deal)
Maserati Granturismo (2013 plus+)
Jag Type-R (V8)
And my favorite… 911 (997.1 - I think the 997.2 is out of the range).
I’m not interested in a Corvette and not a big fan of BMW. A few of the ones on my list have big maintenance costs, but I can do a lot myself (interestingly, the Maserati suffers from the worst depreciation making it really affordable - it’s also very reliable which is a rarity for Maserati - though may be too gaudy for me and the Mrs).
Would love some thoughts and any other suggestions as well as experiences.
TIA!
Maserati is sexy but if you get a deal on one you will have to give a deal on it to sell it.
I just traded a 2022 911 C4S cab and the resale is insane, replaced it with new 911 GTS coupe. I'm not a convertible guy, too hot in Florida/never put the top down.
AMG stuff is great but a stock SL550 is certainly no slouch.
I drove the Jaguar F type 6 cyl and V8 back to back and I actually liked the 6 cylinder better (handled better too). The previous generation XKR is great looking and they can be had cheap.
I have known Bobby/ Lucky Strike for almost 20 years now and just did a car deal with him last month. Easiest car deal I've ever done! Everything was done via email, wire and flatbed truck!
10-22-2023 | 10:21 AM
#13
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From: Virginia Beach
10-22-2023 | 10:33 AM
#14
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From: Virginia Beach
Maserati is sexy but if you get a deal on one you will have to give a deal on it to sell it.
I just traded a 2022 911 C4S cab and the resale is insane, replaced it with new 911 GTS coupe. I'm not a convertible guy, too hot in Florida/never put the top down.
AMG stuff is great but a stock SL550 is certainly no slouch.
I drove the Jaguar F type 6 cyl and V8 back to back and I actually liked the 6 cylinder better (handled better too). The previous generation XKR is great looking and they can be had cheap.
I have known Bobby/ Lucky Strike for almost 20 years now and just did a car deal with him last month. Easiest car deal I've ever done! Everything was done via email, wire and flatbed truck!
I just traded a 2022 911 C4S cab and the resale is insane, replaced it with new 911 GTS coupe. I'm not a convertible guy, too hot in Florida/never put the top down.
AMG stuff is great but a stock SL550 is certainly no slouch.
I drove the Jaguar F type 6 cyl and V8 back to back and I actually liked the 6 cylinder better (handled better too). The previous generation XKR is great looking and they can be had cheap.
I have known Bobby/ Lucky Strike for almost 20 years now and just did a car deal with him last month. Easiest car deal I've ever done! Everything was done via email, wire and flatbed truck!
Interesting observation on the Type R. The Mrs has driven the V8 and loved it, but I think she was more in love with the looks vs what it could really do. This was a few years ago. When she looked, the local dealer didn’t have any 6-cyl cars on the lot so the V8 was it. I was surprised that she really liked the cracking exhaust note!
Porsche - I’d really like to but as you said, the resale is insane. Prices are continuing to go up on the used ones especially cabriolets (fallout from the pandemic). While I’d like a 997.2, a 997.1 is probably in the range of paying cash without going into any other accounts. The 997.2 is so much better a car though so I’d end up with the other and be second guessing/wanting - I don’t want that to happen. My goal is a car that I’ll hold onto for many years.
That brings me back to the SL. I really loved driving the 2003. Definitely no slouch. I have not driven a newer 550 or an AMG so that will be next.
Looks like I need to start getting after this a little sooner than later. Prices are starting to drop on the slightly older Hellcats - at least from trends that’s I’ve read about recently.
10-22-2023 | 10:36 AM
#15
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From: Virginia Beach
I had a older SL (folding soft top) and swore OFF MB until I drove my SL55 AMG. The power/brakes and dynamic ABC suspension are (were) outstanding. Due to age/complexity/maintenance costs (when the ABC started to have too many issues), I pulled the ABC and replaced it with a great adjustable coil-over suspension and swaybars...knock on wood, trouble-free.
My former girlfriend sold hers because it was going to need an insane amount of money to fix (for her anyway… she replaced it with a 3-series - junk).
I didn’t know there’s was another option to fixing those issues, and you know I like to work on stuff so…
10-22-2023 | 11:19 AM
#16
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From: Seaford, VA
The C8 would be out of my planned price range ufor now - have considered a C7 but there’s just something about it that makes me shy away. Once the kids are out of the house, I might try a C8 - I feel it’s right on par with its European super cars counterparts - just not in the cards right now.
I’ll say though… the C8 is one quick car! Lots of traction. I’ve run a coupe with the Hellcat, and it takes everything I’ve got to come around one on the street. With drag rubber it’s another story - I’ll miss driving a stock mid-10-sec capable street car (bragging rights mostly).
I’ll say though… the C8 is one quick car! Lots of traction. I’ve run a coupe with the Hellcat, and it takes everything I’ve got to come around one on the street. With drag rubber it’s another story - I’ll miss driving a stock mid-10-sec capable street car (bragging rights mostly).
Gotcha - I wasn’t real attracted to the vette platform until the C8, but now that I’ve gone down this path I’d love to circle back around to a Z06 C7 - would love to have that Manual Transmission.
it’s quick. Lacks a bit of grunt at certain times that I’m sure the Hellcat has but if you point it somewhere it goes wherever you point it. It’s honestly like my childhood go-kart, despite its weight and the DCT is simply incredible. Unreal that you can buy a 1LT entry level vette with that performance for 6x,xxx bucks….
As a Merc F1 fan - go with the AMG!!
10-22-2023 | 02:20 PM
#17
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From: Perdido Key, Madison, NC
Tom, that whole suspension issue was the only real detractor for me.
My former girlfriend sold hers because it was going to need an insane amount of money to fix (for her anyway… she replaced it with a 3-series - junk).
I didn’t know there’s was another option to fixing those issues, and you know I like to work on stuff so…
My former girlfriend sold hers because it was going to need an insane amount of money to fix (for her anyway… she replaced it with a 3-series - junk).
I didn’t know there’s was another option to fixing those issues, and you know I like to work on stuff so…
https://www.goldelementautoworks.com...s-r230-03-11-1
https://www.vvkusa.com/products/vvk-...s-and-hardware
10-22-2023 | 02:42 PM
#18
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Yep, that’s what I understood about the Maserati, too.
Interesting observation on the Type R. The Mrs has driven the V8 and loved it, but I think she was more in love with the looks vs what it could really do. This was a few years ago. When she looked, the local dealer didn’t have any 6-cyl cars on the lot so the V8 was it. I was surprised that she really liked the cracking exhaust note!
Porsche - I’d really like to but as you said, the resale is insane. Prices are continuing to go up on the used ones especially cabriolets (fallout from the pandemic). While I’d like a 997.2, a 997.1 is probably in the range of paying cash without going into any other accounts. The 997.2 is so much better a car though so I’d end up with the other and be second guessing/wanting - I don’t want that to happen. My goal is a car that I’ll hold onto for many years.
That brings me back to the SL. I really loved driving the 2003. Definitely no slouch. I have not driven a newer 550 or an AMG so that will be next.
Looks like I need to start getting after this a little sooner than later. Prices are starting to drop on the slightly older Hellcats - at least from trends that’s I’ve read about recently.
Interesting observation on the Type R. The Mrs has driven the V8 and loved it, but I think she was more in love with the looks vs what it could really do. This was a few years ago. When she looked, the local dealer didn’t have any 6-cyl cars on the lot so the V8 was it. I was surprised that she really liked the cracking exhaust note!
Porsche - I’d really like to but as you said, the resale is insane. Prices are continuing to go up on the used ones especially cabriolets (fallout from the pandemic). While I’d like a 997.2, a 997.1 is probably in the range of paying cash without going into any other accounts. The 997.2 is so much better a car though so I’d end up with the other and be second guessing/wanting - I don’t want that to happen. My goal is a car that I’ll hold onto for many years.
That brings me back to the SL. I really loved driving the 2003. Definitely no slouch. I have not driven a newer 550 or an AMG so that will be next.
Looks like I need to start getting after this a little sooner than later. Prices are starting to drop on the slightly older Hellcats - at least from trends that’s I’ve read about recently.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...challenger-15/
10-22-2023 | 02:46 PM
#19
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Got a sawzall (or 25K)? Apparently there was a company that made Challenger convertibles for Dodge
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...challenger-15/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...challenger-15/
These were the last generation XKR's. The previous ones were 50 HP less but cost 1/2 what these sell for
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...convertible-4/
10-22-2023 | 03:07 PM
#20
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Posts: 1,854
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From: Lighthouse Point, Florida
Tom, that whole suspension issue was the only real detractor for me.
My former girlfriend sold hers because it was going to need an insane amount of money to fix (for her anyway… she replaced it with a 3-series - junk).
I didn’t know there’s was another option to fixing those issues, and you know I like to work on stuff so…
My former girlfriend sold hers because it was going to need an insane amount of money to fix (for her anyway… she replaced it with a 3-series - junk).
I didn’t know there’s was another option to fixing those issues, and you know I like to work on stuff so…
However, I agree there is nothing like a SL55 AMG. I like the 07/08 best as there are a few changes over 03-06. ABC repair $ has come down quite a bit and I’ve never seen all struts go out at same time. Usually LF goes first. We get reman struts with warranty I think they are $600-700 if I remember correctly.
