Re-thought my approach to this.....If someone would want to give me 50K, I would go, OK, where's the money, get it from them, go tire kicking for a couple of days and then fly off to the French Riviera and blow it all on loose women, debauchery and gambling....it would last maybe two weeks, I wouldn't really be fired for being awol that short a time and Madam Treasurer would probably buy my story of a business trip to Senegal or some such where phones are hard to get to.....I'd still have PKT RKT when I got back......

 

>>No question...
>>
>>M3 w/ SMG trans. and all the packages I could stuff into it for that price.

Me too. SMG for sure.

 

I would rather save the money. I would never dump $50K on a single car, no matter how good it is.

 

personally i would get a MCS and mod the sh*t out of it. i'm talking about going all out on performance. i'd proably try everything to make it a rearwheel drive (s2000 engine anyone?) turbo, suspension. basically everything else to make it a sweet *** track car but at the same time make it street legal and try to make it as reliable as possible. thats what i'd try.

 

>>personally i would get a MCS and mod the sh*t out of it. i'm talking about going all out on performance. i'd proably try everything to make it a rearwheel drive (s2000 engine anyone?) turbo, suspension. basically everything else to make it a sweet *** track car but at the same time make it street legal and try to make it as reliable as possible. thats what i'd try.

that will cost you more than $50K

 

I hate to say it but if I was given $50k to get a car for two years. I'd get the Cadillac CTS-V. 400 hp! Would be a fun car for two years and I'd beat the hell out of it.

 

Without question I would buy a MINI. I would buy the same MINI I have now, but I would throw rally lights on it...lol...that would leave me with a ton of cash for other motoring accessories, right?!

The only car that in my opinion challenges the MINI is the Lotus Elise. I got into that thing at the car show here in Chicago and damn near broke myself doing it...lol...getting out was a bear too. But, well worth it. If I can drive it, I would drive it, but it and nothing else would take the spot of the MINI for me. Great everyday driver, intense handling right out of the box, good enough pickup for my little street attacking lead foot moments, and insanely cool, untouchable styling. On top of that, headroom to spare, comfortable in the way that I like cars to be (feeling of the road being hugged, not that boring old driving a cloud feeling) and big enough to take a couple big guys (I am 6'3, one of my best friends is 6'4) and a couple of ladies out with no problem, and plenty of excitement.

Simply untouchable. Motor on!!!

--DuDe

 

plain and simple....CORVETTE

 

In my post I said that nothing could compete except for the Lotus Elise...I have to correct myself...nothing competes that is made today with that exception.

If we go back to the old muscle car times...oh man....the MINI starts getting a serious, serious run for her money. The old Cudas, Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros, GTO's -- and all those other beastly awesome machines were always my love before this little car came along. I actually really disliked small cars before the New MINI was created. Now my two favorite cars are big enough to fill the back side of any decent pickup...lol. My third favorie vehicle of today is the Jeep Wrangler...the only things you cant do in a MINI, the Jeep is awesome at (off roading stuff) which the Hummer of course is also awesome at, but rediculous to drive around on the street. If I couldnt get old school muscle, it would be MINI Cooper S, Lotus Elise, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon in my driveway. If I could get old school muscle, MINI would stay, and would have the company of a 67' shelby GT 500, a '67 vette, and a 66' light blue mustang with a 289 (my pops car). As long as were dreaming, a couple cool bikes would be nice too...um...Moto Guzzi Jackel, and an R1.

I need a big garage and an even bigger income...lol....dreams are good. I love the MINI though, and when I am in it, no need to dream, just motor...the thing's awesome, and I love it!

--Dude

 

I'd have trouble justifying spending $50K on a car. That's one of the things I love about MINIs...lotsa car...reasonable price. I'd probably get one MINI, one Mini, and another daily driver.

 

Hmmmm. Can we say twin engine MINI.

 

I'm suprised that so many people would drop $50k on a Mini. I agree that it's a very cool car, but IMHO $50k could put you in a whole different league, mods or no mods.

To the people that wouldn't spend it on a car, in this hypothetical situation you've got to spend it or loose it. And you've got to spend it on the car or car related stuff. I'll say two Minis or a Mini and a motorcycle would fit within the rules. For the record, I'd also have a very hard time dropping 50 large on one car...

skokie: I think a muscle car would be sweet :smile: Though my garage would have an old school Landcruiser instead of the Jeep. If we're talking motorcycles, I'd probably add a Moto Guzzi, a couple of BMWs and an SV650 to the Aprilia I've already got. Mmmmm... Twins...

 

assuming it's pre-tax cost, zed zero six...most definitely

same as above, the second choice would be the SSR

third choice would probably be a 3.0 land shark (Z4)

 

3.0 Z-4. The balance of the money would cover 2 years insurance and a few nice mods!

 

After reading, I couldn't resist a second post on this thread. Some very interesting choices here. If the 50 thousand was all for the most exciting and fun SECOND car, I'd go 2-seater, but if it would buy my only car, then my first measure would be the car as a daily driver. Then I'd take the choices and put them through the testing mill- handling, speed, practicality (remember: daily driver), looks and overall appeal. IMO, there just isn't a better overall package out there for the money than a beefed up MCS, even @ 50K. M3: way fast, handles well, practical, but too common to look at. New Cadi's and old big block beasts: exciting and cool to look at, but handling? Vettes, Z-4's, Cobras, 350 Z's, Elises, even Boxters- fun, fast, all look good, all handle well, most are 2 seaters w/ little to no cargo room. Drop the MINI's back seats, put in the guitars, amp, and other gear, and off to the gig. Or load up some camping gear, meet up w/ the 2 seater crowd and compare motel bills after a cross country backroads run. Of course, before MINI it was many years with an ultra-practical minivan, so I really did go from famine to feast. Hard to imagine life now w/out a Cooper

_________________

 

as a man without a child or pet...
i would drive the elise everyday, no question.

 

I'd get a Cabrio, but I would not loose my current one.

I want a cab and a non cab but do not want to afford both. the 50K would easily allow me to have both.

Not exactly what you asked but that's my opinion.

 

~30K: 1972 FIAT Dino Spider 2400
~20K: keeping it running for two years
------
50K


I know. I'm a masochist.

 

///M3
///M3
///M3
Nothing else.

 

As a pure performer, Lotus Elise tops my chart with its unbelievable handling while providing excellent fuel efficiency. However, safety would be a great concern as the car is exempt from frontal crash test for the first 2 years in the US. For this very reason, I would postpone my purchase of an Elise for a couple of years.

 

>>As a value buy, the V6 Porsche Ceyenne would make a pratical choice, but a bit lacking in the hp department.
>>
>>Lexus GX470 with TRD supercharger, header, and exhaust, will pump out near 375 hp, making it powerful and yet practical with 3 row seating capacity. Moreover, the price with TRD goodies will easily exceed $50k limit.

Dave, would you consider the Touareg in with these, and if not, why not? I think it looks better than either the porsche or the lexus.

>>In conclusion, MCS with perfomance mods might be the ultimate choice for me if I have no kids.

 

>>Dave, would you consider the Touareg in with these, and if not, why not? I think it looks better than either the porsche or the lexus.

The GX470's boxy design is relatively conservative, while the Porsche Cayenne reveals a more aggressive stance, especially the frontal view resembling its 911/Boxter siblings. Appearance is a matter of personal taste. Although, both Porsche and VW share the same V6 engine, I personally feel that the Toureg's appearance to be somewhat mundane in the ever-popular world of SUVs. After test driving the V8 Tubo Cayenne, I'm totally infatuated with its 450 ponnies, making it really hard to resist!

I also like the design of the new RX330, which I purchased last June as a graduation present for my wife when she received her MD. Because it was newly released at the time, I paid a "pretty penny" for it due to the law of supply and demand.

 

50k would buy a lot of mini. Where would I start,... no waorry for the warranty. I can tell none of you actually lost your Mini, you would do anything to replace it. I lost my MCS 2002 to an idiot in a Neon who did know how to use his breaks. My car is history and I am back to driving my old Status (fixed up with the basic mods at least). With 50 k to buy and spend on a mini, you could kick an m3 *** all over the track. Anybody hear of a 215 Horespower MCS coming out for the 2005 model? If there is, must supress urge and wait.

THe worst thing about not having a MIni, is not seeing it in your garage every morning to drive it through 1 hour of traffic to work.


S

 

I like your chain of thought. FOr those who have kids, the minivan and suv is for the wife to drive during the week and you drive it on weekends. At least my Town and country has Autostick and a 10" DVD for the three kids. Monday through Friday, a MCS is my choice for the daily comute with the 50 mile detours.

 

>>That's a lot of cash. I'd be tempted to look at a lot of cars, including the Audi S4, WRX STi, EVO, RX-8, 350Z, M3, S2000, C6 Corvette, etc.
>>

I like your selection countrymn, my list would be almost the same. Previous to my MCS I had a 2003 M3 and a 2002 Corvette Zo6. Unfortunately the M3 was stolen. I always wanted an MCS so I got one as my daily driver, with the vette for the track and the weekends.

If someone was giving me $50k and I had to give up the vette to accept it, I would consider the Elise, Audi S4, and the new C6 vette but I would wait for 2006 for the 500hp version.

If I could get two cars with the $50k, I would probably get an MCS and an Subaru STI.

RaceCarDriver