Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Decisions, decisions

[LS (lashdeep]

Is a CTS-V too small? All of my E39 M5 friends sold them to get the
Caddie. They also claim it's superior to the M5 in all areas now 12 months
into ownership. One even sent his to Mallet in Cleveland to have a 7 liter
C5R conversion done...525rwhp with remote reservoir Penske shocks and 19
inch wheels.

Anyways...I'm almost in the same boat as you. I have a *MINT* E34 BMW 540i
in my favorite color (black) that is a great car. But, I've recently
realized it is "not me". I'm opting to split daily duties between a
project 427 Vette and my motorcycle. 

Good Luck!
LS

PS-Drive the 996, you already own it!

--- Dennis Liu <BigHeadDennis [at] earthlink.net> wrote:

> So...  Sigh.  Need some input from the boys (and girls) on this one.
> 
> My "daily driver" for the last, oh, 6 years or so has been an E38 BMW
> 740iL,
> 1995.  I've gotten it up to 163k miles, mostly reliable.  The usual E38
> problems, all addressed.  Runs great, but its time is drawing near,
> especially as someone (not moi) managed to rear end a truck yesterday
> with
> it.  Cosmetic damage, but probably $1500 worth.  Dang, too bad, as I
> loooooooove(d) this car.  So, what do I do?
> 
> 1.  Fix it and keep driving it until it blows up.
> 
> 2.  Dump it for whatever it'll fetch (any ideas?), and buy one of the
> following.  For a "daily driver", I would like a "biggish" sedan, as I'd
> much prefer to go on trips in it with my two young daughters and all
> their
> stuff in a sedan (or wagon) than the big SUV or the minivan.
> 
> 
> 
> 2A.  1999-2001 E38 BMW 740i SPORT.  Asking prices seem to range between
> $10k-$24k, with mileage between 75k-133k miles.  Upside - I love the
> 740i
> sport.  I'd make sure that all of the known problem areas are addressed,
> or
> else take a reserve for it.  Downside is that these are getting a bit
> old,
> and miles are getting higher.
> 
> 2B.  E39 M5.  Between $23k-$40k, mileage all over.  Upside - hey, it's
> an
> M5!  Downside - wow, potential maintenance and repair costs are scary. 
> I've
> already spent way too much on those friggin' Eyetaliano beasts, so
> really
> not interested in adding another delicate beast to the fleet.
> 
> 2C.  Brand new Dodge Magnum R/T.  $28k-ish.  Upside - hey, 340 hp Hemi!
> Possibly the Charger instead, but why not get the added utility of a
> wagon
> too?  (no, not the 350 hp Charger Daytona package, a little too garish
> for
> my taste, methinks).  Decent fuel economy.  Fair bit of interior room
> (not
> quite 740iL, but close to 740i I think), lots of room in the back, great
> performance, new car warranty.  Downside - not much, aside from the cost
> and, well, it's a Dodge.  How dependable is it?  Depreciation is gonna
> hurt?
> 
> 2D.  Brand new Dodge Magnum SRT-8.  $35k-ish.  Upside - hey, 425 hp
> Hemi!
> REAL performance.  Warranty, room, looks pretty cool too.  Downside -
> fairly
> horrendous fuel economy (no variable displacement in SRT version, so big
> mileage hit, grrr).  And what will probably be a deal killer for me: 
> the
> $2100 gas guzzler tax.  YOWWWWWWWWWWWZA!!!!!!!
> 
> 2E.  Brand new Toyota Avalon.  $27k-ish.  Upside - relatively fast,
> fairly
> luxurious, and will run 200k miles with nothing but oil changes.  Bullet
> proof.  Downside - FWD, and, well, it's a Toyota sedan.  If only they
> (or
> Honda) made a RWD equivalent, like a competitor to the
> Charger/300C/Magnum,
> and I'd be the first in line.
> 
> 
> 
> 3.  Get rid of the Bimmer, and just use the wife's 996 as a daily
> driver.
> No room for kids, but way cool ride.  Could put snow tires on the spare
> set
> of rims (currently running slicks for track outings), and take out
> PFC-97
> race pads and install OEM pads.  Kinda shame to put the mileage on it
> (only
> 43k miles right now), but the thing has been BULLETPROOF to date, and
> also a
> shame to just let it sit in the garage.  Upside - no money outta pocket,
> baby!
> 
> 
> 
> 4.  Anyone have another good suggestion?  I've never been attracted to
> Mercedes-Benz.  The Bangle-ized 745/750 is wwwwaaayyy ugly.  Blech.  The
> Audi A8 is pretty sweet, but I like RWD, and it's too pricey for my
> needs.
> The Infiniti M45 sounds about right, but too expensive for my purposes
> right
> now too (why oh why doesn't Nissan have a version of the M45?  Or make
> the
> Maxima in RWD??).  Had an E39 BMW 528iT wagon, and loooooved it, but
> just
> too small for this purpose (hence another strike against the M5, and why
> the
> Infiniti G35 isn't on the list).  The older I get, the less I care about
> "prestige", and the more I like "no hassle".  Though I still like to
> drive
> vehicles I enjoy (hence, no Lexus LS on the list).
> 
> Anyway, that's where I stand.  Any thoughts would be appreciated!
> 
> Vty,
> 
> --Dennis
> 
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