The Griff is all about that #Jaloplyfe and has some tailored changes to blow into something with two doors, solid performance and highway comfort. Reliability is a bit lower on the list. He was torn between gifts from Germany, Italy or England. What car should he buy?
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This is the script.
I’ve got $45,000 to buy a two-door, four-wheel-drive GT. Do I go German, English or Italian? I want Fast. Most are impractical. Comfortable at 85 all day. This is absolutely a fun car I don’t have kids and I love road trips. I also like cars with a dedicated, if not eccentric, community. I have 2 other cars for daily driving and inclement weather driving.
Quick info:
Budget: up to $45,000
Location: Washington state
Daily driver: No
Would like: Two-door, fast, long-distance cruiser
Do not want: Less than 6 cylinders, more than two doors
Expert 1: Tom McParland – You asked for it
I do my best for most of this What Car Should You Buy to look at it from the buyer’s point of view and remove my own preferences from the equation. I can’t do it this time around because if I were to drop my money on a GT coupe with no regard for reliability there was only one choice… Maserati GranTurismo.
This car has become my absolute favorite ever since I witnessed and heard the roaring V8 coming from Ferrari many years ago. Maserati has only have started updating this model with a new powertrain that makes it a bit more modern. I’m sure the new car will be fine, but it won’t be the same.
The great news is there are tons of GranTurismos under $45,000 with timeless style that will look like you dropped six figures on an exotic Italian car. I know reliability isn’t a primary concern, but I imagine you’ll at least want something with a clear history and solid maintenance record. This is a typical example in CA sold by a Maserati dealer that is regularly serviced at home.
Expert 2: Andy Kalmowitz – ‘s Cadillac Grand Tourers
Griff, my friend, I’m jealousy your location. I hope one day you will be in your right place, and so I will suggest you the car. I will buy if our roles are reversed.
Behold: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe…with manual transmission. It may not be the weirdest car in the world, but it has everything you’re looking for. There is great power, impressive looks, practicality and a dedicated community around it.
If 556 horsepower isn’t enough for you, there’s always room to improve GM’s supercharged LSA engine. that is a beast. All the power going to the rear wheels is nothing short of fun in terms of fun, but when you want just cruise, the CTS-V can do it. Put her in 6 and let that V8 guide you down the highway. In short, Griff, it’s perfect.
The exact car I found for you is a 2013 listed on Carvana for Below your budget. At $38,590, this example has only 73,000 miles on it. That’s nothing for one of the bad boys. It also boasts zero accidents during the tenure of its two previous owners. Enjoy it, Griff. I know I will.
Expert 3: José Rodríguez Jr. – Money pits starting with the letter “M”
Griff, the general feel here is reminiscent of Italian or German performance coupes. Really, there’s no general feeling of being “hungry,” but if it is, it will make you fall in love with a car that breaks your heart when the cost of owning it is revealed. It’s an Alfa or a BMW M. Maybe an Alpina because you like a highway cruiser.
The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider failed on cylinder count (and price,) while BMW M3 with a naturally aspirated V8 better suited for carving than traveling. Then, M6 that is. Here BMW M6 2016 under $44,995 budget, but pretty far from Washington state; competition package and ceramic brakes might be worth the trip.
The BMW M6 powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 560 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque. Big Bavarian will sprint from 0-60 mph in just over four seconds, and it sounds lovely doing it – even if its discharge notes are a bit fake. This M6 doesn’t come with a manual transmission, but that’s fine for a long-distance car.
For long rides, I prefer a larger vehicle, so I’ll throw in one coupe with two side doors. Here 2015 Alpina B6 Gran Coupe technically still a “coupe”, but it’s more concerned with comfort than outright performance.
Expert 4: Erik Shilling – Big Cat
It’s not clear to me how serious this question is, as the asker gives “Griff” as their name and also writes, apparently without sarcasm, that they have “45,000 dollars to blow”. I’m also a bit skeptical as to why Griff here is only interested in German, Italian or British cars. But I’ll play ball anyway, because Tom is right that Griff deserves a Maserati or the like, because Griffs, if they’re serious, seem intent on owning themselves.
Griff also said that he has two other cars to drive every day (?), and that he has no children, because perhaps Griff considers cars to be children. Anyway, Griff should probably just save up some money and buy a Volkswagen Phaeton, that would seem to quench his thirst for being rich but being European. Some went on sale on Wear A Trailer recently for under $20,000. Or, maybe, a 996 911, though that might be too believable.
I would suggest a used Jaguar F-Type instead, which is a completely stupid car to own for someone who both covets unreliability and hates money. This is one for sale in New Jersey at $62,000, it’s over budget but for the likes of Griff it shouldn’t be a hindrance. And Griff says he likes road trips, so let’s drive it back to Washingtontate doesn’t seem to be a problem. It even has two doors.
