Okay, I really didn't want to start a thread until much closer to when I planned on buying, or at least making a decision on what to buy. This post might be a bit on the long winded side, so I apologize if you lose interest half way through.
So the timeline is anytime after my Civic Si is paid off, which is April of 2025. My budget is discussed here
https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=120647.0 but let's assume it's around $80K before taxes (possibly stretching to $90K if another year is added to the payments). I would like it to be paid off in 4 years but could extend that out to 5 years if necessary. The Civic Si will be kept as my bad weather beater, as well as my wife's CR-V. 4 years loan to pay it off would line up on when both Honda's extended warranties are done and likely when the warranty is almost done for the new vehicle.
Why am I even bringing this up now you ask, well some of the vehicles I'm interested in you have to plan more than a year or two in advance. Just the way the market is currently. Gone are the days you can just go to a dealer lot and pick from a couple of Vettes.
I can see the end of the ICE & manual cars and I really want to get something special before they stop making them (I predict there won't be anything that fits that description in a decade). I have had a Golf R (hot hatch), a GLI & Civic Si (sports sedans), and it's time to start adding some real performance. My car bucket list includes a RWD sports car, Muscle Car, Luxury Car, and Grand Tourer. In my mind some cars can fit into two of those categories (depending on which model and options you pick).
I prefer buying new, typically better financing rates, know exactly how it was treated, warranties while it's being paid for, having that new car smell, and just doing my job of adding more manual performance cars to the list. Now some of these vehicles I'll list aren't manual, but I did/do consider them. So the point of this thread of kind of discussing what others think about the choices and if I'm missing something. Of course there are oodles of used vehicles out there to discuss and choose from, let's ignore them.
Let's start with the American Iron.
Chevy Camaro SS 1LE, great performance, loads of power, great powertrain, horrible visibility, price isn't terrible, it's getting quite old, will they even be selling new one's in spring of 2025 (likely not). This would fit in my Muscle Car and RWD Sports car category (due to the 1LE package). I don't think this one makes a whole lot of sense.
Chevy C8 Vette, supercar looks and performance, price with the Z51 package is at or above my budget, hard to source (but locally I could get one at MSRP), NO MANUAL. I just think the price, the lack of a manual, how impractical it is, having to store it in the winter for sure, etc, just doesn't make a lot of sense. This would really only hit my RWD sports car category, maybe you could argue luxury car but it's a stretch.
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, great performance, good looks, great manual, RWD, sleeper, decent price, hard to source (although likely could at MSRP locally if I put a deposit down now), it's a sedan, are Caddy's really that luxury. Seems like just another sports sedan and would be a bit redundant with my Civic Si and previous GLI fitting into that category. (I'm excluding the CT5-V Blackwing because the price has gone up more than $10K and takes it out of my comfort zone).
Dodge Challenger, great sounding engine, manual, RWD, great looks, comfy ride, price is a bit high for the level of performance, not a dodge fan really. This one just doesn't make much sense, even though it would fit both the Muscle Car and Grand Tourer category. I just can't see this being something I go crazy over.
Ford Mustang GT with performance pack (or Dark Horse if the price falls around the $75K mark), good looks, new, great engine, need the Dark Horse to get the good manual, Ford dealer prices to maintain, can fit both Muscle Car and RWD Sports car categories. This is actually a very good option and one I'm very much so considering. The new one is arriving soon and I'm eager to see and read the reviews. Should be easy enough to source, won't have to put a deposit down for like a year at the earliest. I would have to store it in the winter as I don't think any true Muscle Car should be driven in the winter, so that's an extra expense and PITA.
Japanese Options
Toyota Supra GR Manual, great performance, decent looks, not a horrible price, fully loaded with no real options, service at a Toyota dealer (I HATE our dealer here), two seater, it's a bit cramped inside, will I drive it in the winter (possibly). This has the right amount of performance that I'm looking for, for whatever reason it just seems less special. I would have to get it serviced at an indy or in another city/town because the dealer here is just sooo bad. Could fit this into two categories maybe, RWD sports car and possibly luxury car (but that's similar to the Vette in that it's a bit of a stretch). This seems kind of like a backup plan as I think I could order one within 6 months of when I want one and actually get it.
Nissan 400Z (or whatever it's called), good looks, RWD, manual, price isn't horrible, but the performance makes it more of a GT, the interior isn't anything to write home about, will it feel special. This one is rather easy to right off, just a bit of a disappointment and I can do better elsewhere.
Subaru BRZ, cheap, fun, amazing handling, easy to control and drive nearer the limits, interior is not the best, is it fast enough (no), does it feel special (maybe). This only fits into the RWD sports car category. If I was to buy this it would be because I'm using that $30K down payment on something else (maybe land for a cottage, pay off mortgage outright, etc), or that I'm also upgrading my Civic Si to a Type R/Golf R. Not really an option, but I am going to drive one this summer to see if I might just fall in love.
The Germans.
Basically a two horse race here.
Porsche Cayman base model with very few options, has the most prestige, not the most exciting engine, looks great, handles amazing, should feel special, hard to source, closest dealer is like 4 hours away. Am I really going to be that guy who buys a base model Porsche sports car and puff my chest out like it's a GT3? I don't see that. I'll save my Porsche plan for a later date and hopefully get a nice used 911 instead.
BMW M2, has more than enough performance, somewhat practical with a rear seat (dogs could fit back there but might need helmets), RWD & Manual, will fit the RWD sports car and luxury car category, is at the top of the budget, not the best looking but also not as bad as the M3/4, dealer is 2 hours away, I would be looking to drive this year round using the Civic as the bad weather car. Sounds like I can source one, the dealer seems decent to deal with, no dealer markups beside the $500 admin fee. Is this the one? It's the one I'm leaning most towards currently.
Okay, so those are the players. I don't think I'm missing any options really (Miata doesn't appeal, and GR86 is more expensive than BRZ). What say you fellow Auto's people?
