Ronstar
Moderator Emeritus
Bought a new corvette in 2001 and spent 13 summers driving it to work. Now that I'm retired, it mostly sits in the garage.
My retirement present was a brand new 2003 GMC 4WD pickup truck that replaced the 18-year-old '85 Chevy pickup. It now has 97k miles on it and I have no plans to replace it anytime soon. It probably will be the last pickup truck I own though because at 67 I just don't use that capability much anymore.
Maybe I'll get a sports car then....
You may want to keep the truck. Sports cars are not easy to get in and out of as we get older.
Did you buy a fancy sports car when you retired?
I have my eye on a nearly new Porsche Boxster but don't want to be a cliché
....or maybe you 'treated' yourself to something else as a retirement gift...from you...to you?
I have my eye on a nearly new Porsche Boxster but don't want to be a cliche ?
You can buy Mercedes benz SL 55 or 63 AMG and get 500 supercharged horses for around 20-30K. Lots of value, but when it breaks down, bend over
Many moons ago I owned a Fiat 124- what a blast to drive, probably the must fun car I've owned. I did my own maintenance then and over the 80,000 or so miles I owned the car the only thing I remember is I had to do frequent tuneups for top performance. Spark plugs, points, condenser adjust the timing - that sort of thing. I also owned an MG and frankly the 124 was a lot more fun.Yes ! next spring when DW and I are both retired we will get a sports car . I have already looked at the Porsche Boxter and decided it is more problem then I want . Some cars that I am looking at and this is just opinion but check out the maintenance on the Porsche.
If you like the Porsche mid engine , check out the Toyota MR II real dependable and cheap to maintain.
Probably the top rated roadster for the money are the Mazda Miatas.
Tons of Camaro's Mustangs out there used ones are pretty cheap and easy to maintain.
I know this is crazy as hell but we took one of the Fiat 500 Abarth's out for a test drive . We loved it . It seemed like we were driving a go cart on public roads . ...........But again they are not one of the top rated cars by any means.
The old days I used to rebuild Triumphs and MG's so easy to work on . Older brother still does Jags.
It seems like Italian cars are designed with the idea that the owner/mechanic will fiddle with them all the time as part of the "fun"
Many moons ago I owned a Fiat 124- what a blast to drive, probably the must fun car I've owned. I did my own maintenance then and over the 80,000 or so miles I owned the car the only thing I remember is I had to do frequent tuneups for top performance. Spark plugs, points, condenser adjust the timing - that sort of thing. I also owned an MG and frankly the 124 was a lot more fun.
No idea what the Fiat 500 is like but if it is anything like the 124 I'm sure it's a fun drive. It seems like Italian cars are designed with the idea that the owner/mechanic will fiddle with them all the time as part of the "fun"
You can buy a brand new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider now, should be more reliable since it shares a lot of parts with the Miata.Many moons ago I owned a Fiat 124- what a blast to drive, probably the must fun car I've owned. I did my own maintenance then and over the 80,000 or so miles I owned the car the only thing I remember is I had to do frequent tuneups for top performance. Spark plugs, points, condenser adjust the timing - that sort of thing. I also owned an MG and frankly the 124 was a lot more fun.
No idea what the Fiat 500 is like but if it is anything like the 124 I'm sure it's a fun drive. It seems like Italian cars are designed with the idea that the owner/mechanic will fiddle with them all the time as part of the "fun"
With a forum name like "Breedlove", and after reading your post, it's would seem clear to me you are probably not related to Craig Breedlove. If you grew up in the 60's and loved really fast cars, you'll know who that is without looking it up.Something to think about , you can buy a really over powered car that you can never run out . Or you can buy a slower car and hit the back roads , like what the Triumphs and MG's were for . I don't think these cars had 100 HP but on a curvy back road it was fun .
Tesla Model 3 on order, but not really a sports car.
Something to think about , you can buy a really over powered car that you can never run out . Or you can buy a slower car and hit the back roads , like what the Triumphs and MG's were for . I don't think these cars had 100 HP but on a curvy back road it was fun . This is why we are watching the Fiat 500 Abarths they call them a street legal go cart.
190 HP 2300 lbs a tiny car that goes 130 MPH . Slow compared to the Mustangs or Vettes .