2013/2014 Garage Update

[mini_cooper4]

Ok, it's been 2 years since I last bought a brand new car.
Currently I don't even have a suitable daily nor a family car.
During 2013 I've managed to collect almost all the money people owed me and also managed to save some cash by being penny-wise. I said in 2011 that a garage update is coming in 2013... now it might be coming in 2014 as times are tough now.
I have two budgets:

Smart: 100.000EUR
Stupid: 200.000EUR

Which one I'll go with? It all depends on the cars that are about to come
In this thread I'll post my impressions from various test drives.
You can also suggest any car/s you can think of that fit my budget/s.

Currently on my mind are:

Winter car:
VW Touareg V8 Diesel - I need a car for the winter.

Track toys:
Ford Fiesta ST - I want a manual , precise, fun, FWD car just for the track.
Toyota GT86 - I want a manual, precise, fun, RWD car just for the track.

It will be the perfect stable as I already have an AT, AWD R8 V8 for the track.

PS: Suggest any car... as most of you already know I'm considering them ALL!

 

[Levi68]

Ok, it's been 2 years since I last bought a brand new car.
Currently I don't even have a suitable daily nor a family car.
During 2013 I've managed to collect almost all the money people owed me and also managed to save some cash by being penny-wise. I said in 2011 that a garage update is coming in 2013... now it might be coming in 2014 as times are tough now.
I have two budgets:

Smart: 100.000EUR
Stupid: 200.000EUR

Which one I'll go with? It all depends on the cars that are about to come
In this thread I'll post my impressions from various test drives.
You can also suggest any car/s you can think of that fit my budget/s.

Currently on my mind are:

Winter car:
VW Touareg V8 Diesel - I need a car for the winter.

Track toys:
Ford Fiesta ST - I want a manual , precise, fun, FWD car just for the track.
Toyota GT86 - I want a manual, precise, fun, RWD car just for the track.

It will be the perfect stable as I already have an AT, AWD R8 V8 for the track.

PS: Suggest any car... as most of you already know I'm considering them ALL!

LFA

But seriously, it depends on what you want and how badly and on how often you change garage.

 

[mini_cooper4]

LFA

But seriously, it depends on what you want and how badly and on how often you change garage.

2-4 years

 

[mini_cooper4]

Driven: Maserati Ghibli S 410HP

Like:
Drive wise it feels like a modern day E39 M5*... and that's probably the best thing about this car.
*Maybe thanks to using a chassis of this era.
The sound is amazing. There's plenty of passion about this car.

Dislike:
Tho it looks better than the 4Porte it still looks cheap inside out... mostly inside.
Reliability might also be an issue.

Result:
Test driven as promised.
That's what AR should be.
I'm not buying this car.

 

[Levi68]

Driven: Maserati Ghibli S 410HP

Like:
Drive wise it feels like a modern day E39 M5*... and that's probably the best thing about this car.
*Maybe thanks to using a chassis of this era.
The sound is amazing. There's plenty of passion about this car.

Dislike:
Tho it looks better than the 4Porte it still looks cheap inside out... mostly inside.
Reliability might also be an issue.

Result:
Test driven as promised.
That's what AR should be.
I'm not buying this car.

I hope the Alfa will be sportier, use more CF to make it lighter (Alfa 4C is CF), and it will look completely different without cheap parts. 159 had no bin parts, everything was redesigned.

 

[mini_cooper4]

I hope the Alfa will be sportier, use more CF to make it lighter (Alfa 4C is CF), and it will look completely different without cheap parts. 159 had no bin parts, everything was redesigned.

I'm really sad to see the 159 design language die so fast. A bigger, more premium 159 based on the Ghibli would have been great.

 

[Gianclaudio]

I'm really sad to see the 159 design language die so fast. A bigger, more premium 159 based on the Ghibli would have been great.

You're not the onlye one, baby boy
I've been looking for an used post 2011 159, but prices just keep going higher. It seems the decision to stop producing them has raised the resale value. A pitty, as nothing in the segment can fulfill my heart like the 159.
I guess my next car is going to be betwen an used W204, E90, or a new Megane or A3, which have a very attractive price in my country.

 

[mini_cooper4]

You're not the onlye one, baby boy
I've been looking for an used post 2011 159, but prices just keep going higher. It seems the decision to stop producing them has raised the resale value. A pitty, as nothing in the segment can fulfill my heart like the 159.
I guess my next car is going to be betwen an used W204, E90, or a new Megane or A3, which have a very attractive price in my country.

In EU every single AR model is depreciating like hell

 

[Gianclaudio]

In EU every single AR model is depreciating like hell

I dunno mate, I've been checking the prices of the latest 159s closely and they're not depreciating at all, but the contrary

 

[mini_cooper4]

I dunno mate, I've been checking the prices of the latest 159s closely and they're not depreciating at all, but the contrary

Then importing one is even more reasonable

 

[LaArtist]

SLR?

 

[mini_cooper4]

SLR?

If you find me a decent one for a reasonable price... maybe
I'll stick with the Cabrera... until I find out it's inspired by the Vomito

 

[LaArtist]

Seriously though get the new GT3 and call it a day

 

[mini_cooper4]

Seriously though get the new GT3 and call it a day

I'm not interested in the GT3 anymore. The GT3 RS on the other hand might impress me.
It's still too much money for a Porsche. If the Cabrera doesn't cost more than 250k EUR VAT incl. and I like it I'll go for it and will also get a daily with the money I'll get from selling the R8.
In this thread I'm mostly looking for a family car for the winter and a couple of track toys.

 

[mini_cooper4]

What does my American friends think of the 2013 Ford Mustang?
I need your advice. How reliable it is, is it good to drive and whatever you can think of.
Thanks in advance!

@Sunny @Merc1

 

[Sunny]

Last Mustang I drove was 2 generations old V6 model - rental crap. It is obviously come a long way since then, but my knowledge is not any more than what I read in magazines - and I have read good reviews about the Boss model. And I secretly fantasize about a GT500.

 

[mini_cooper4]

Last Mustang I drove was 2 generations old V6 model - rental crap. It is obviously come a long way since then, but my knowledge is not any more than what I read in magazines - and I have read good reviews about the Boss model. And I secretly fantasize about a GT500.

Thanks, mate!
Here, they don't even sell it and I have no chance of driving one. During my time spent in the US I used to drive the LP560-4 which I later bought from my friend and as you can imagine I wasn't at all interested in test driving Mustangs or anything American back then A US friend of mine told me once "If you want an American car you should buy a Ford" He said that they are the most reliable(isn't the case in EU), good to drive and so on. I just wish to check if that's really the case and if it goes for the Mustang too

 

[mini_cooper4]

Driven: Maserati Quattroporte GTS 2013

It was black on black interior.
In bright colors and in pictures... the interior looked like shit to me.
In real life and in black... I was shocked... it was simply great! Yes, there's plenty of cheap stuff in there but overall it's a masterpiece! I love it and I do admit that it looks far more expensive than I've expected.
The car drives pretty similar to the Ghibli... it's just a lot more powerful. It has that brutal sound and "sport" does indeed make a BIG difference. This car should be everybody's dream... and I don't know why I'm saying that but I guess Italian cars are just that impressive and make you feel so passionate. I still dislike the front tho... it's just weird looking IMO. The rear lights look really cheap. There are some angles tho... from which it looks like the best thing ever!

Result: Dark interior and the right wheels make this car my favorite in this class.
It's something I'd pick over any competing German "alternative"!... or would I, really ?

 

[LaArtist]

I have a new proposal for you:

CLK GTR?

 

[Levi68]

Driven: Maserati Quattroporte GTS 2013

It was black on black interior.
In bright colors and in pictures... the interior looked like shit to me.
In real life and in black... I was shocked... it was simply great! Yes, there's plenty of cheap stuff in there but overall it's a masterpiece! I love it and I do admit that it looks far more expensive than I've expected.
The car drives pretty similar to the Ghibli... it's just a lot more powerful. It has that brutal sound and "sport" does indeed make a BIG difference. This car should be everybody's dream... and I don't know why I'm saying that but I guess Italian cars are just that impressive and make you feel so passionate. I still dislike the front tho... it's just weird looking IMO. The rear lights look really cheap. There are some angles tho... from which it looks like the best thing ever!

Result: Dark interior and the right wheels make this car my favorite in this class.
It's something I'd pick over any competing German "alternative"!... or would I, really ?

Interesting how your view of it is different compared to Merc1's.