This past weekend I was the Tour de Elegance Car show in Geneva Il. They were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911. Although Im not a huge 911 fan, I respect that it is one of the best sports cars on the planet and a total hoot to drive. I was hanging out with two of my good friends that day looking at various cars from the Model A through the brand new Lexus LFA. Its amazing the diversity and history in cars at a show like this, so many with stories and so many of them now rare and collectable.
The discussion came up as the car that you should have purchased or not gotten rid of 5-7 years ago. For one friend it was his 1991 NSX coupe that he has no good reason for getting rid of at the time. I remember the car to, red on black, racing seats and beautiful carbon fiber parts purposely showing through the red paint in various spots. It was a real sweet ride. The car to purchase was decided as a E30 M3 as they have nearly tripled in value over the last 5 years and are still considered one of the best driving cars of all time. See, so much more of what a car actually is can be based as what it can do and what it feels like doing it. A good example of this is the Mazda Miata. Most of the population pokes fun at the Miata, but you can't deny how fun they are to drive and drive hard. Car guys the world over have praised this fun little car and when you consider that they had around 135 HP you can start to see the picture of what really makes a great car.
For me, 6 years ago was a 2004 Audi S4 Wagon. I know what you are thinking, a station wagon is what you regret getting rid of? Truth is, yes! See I owned this car when I met my wife for the first time, and she makes fun of me and it till this very day. Ask her sometime and she just shakes her head. I guess I can kind of see her perspective as a guy that was 27 with no family at the time, I deserve it... but here is my case for this car that many car guys can agree upon.
The Audi S4 Avant, as they call it in Europe, was a hot rod bred for the autobahn, but in wagon disguise. A close ratio, manual, short throw 6 speed transmission coupled to a 4.2L V8 engine that red-lined at 7400 rpm and made near 400 hp was its fire breathing heart. My shagin wagon sat on Ohlins racing dampers with remote adjustable reservoirs and 19" RS4 Replica wheels and R compound tires that completed the look. It still remains the car that I have personally traveled the fastest in, 168 MPH and it had no issue getting there quickly with 0-60 times well under the 5 second mark. The interior was fantastic, plenty of room for us tall guys and the seats were right from the Recaro factory, trimmed in heavy bolsters and black leather. From a utility standpoint. it has 4 doors, 4 real seats, and a suv sized cargo area. It held my mt bike on the roof and was great to camp out of every fall trip to the north woods. To top it off it was always impressive in the snow with the proper winter tires which often caught us off guard on our trips around the UP of Michigan.
Like all cars, it seems that things end up going because something cooler comes along that we just gotta have. This car was traded in on a 2007 Fj cruiser.. which has shaped many of the things I do today in a very positive way. Do I regret the decision, no, not really, but it would have been a wonderful car to keep and enjoy for many years.
The discussion came up as the car that you should have purchased or not gotten rid of 5-7 years ago. For one friend it was his 1991 NSX coupe that he has no good reason for getting rid of at the time. I remember the car to, red on black, racing seats and beautiful carbon fiber parts purposely showing through the red paint in various spots. It was a real sweet ride. The car to purchase was decided as a E30 M3 as they have nearly tripled in value over the last 5 years and are still considered one of the best driving cars of all time. See, so much more of what a car actually is can be based as what it can do and what it feels like doing it. A good example of this is the Mazda Miata. Most of the population pokes fun at the Miata, but you can't deny how fun they are to drive and drive hard. Car guys the world over have praised this fun little car and when you consider that they had around 135 HP you can start to see the picture of what really makes a great car.
For me, 6 years ago was a 2004 Audi S4 Wagon. I know what you are thinking, a station wagon is what you regret getting rid of? Truth is, yes! See I owned this car when I met my wife for the first time, and she makes fun of me and it till this very day. Ask her sometime and she just shakes her head. I guess I can kind of see her perspective as a guy that was 27 with no family at the time, I deserve it... but here is my case for this car that many car guys can agree upon.
The Audi S4 Avant, as they call it in Europe, was a hot rod bred for the autobahn, but in wagon disguise. A close ratio, manual, short throw 6 speed transmission coupled to a 4.2L V8 engine that red-lined at 7400 rpm and made near 400 hp was its fire breathing heart. My shagin wagon sat on Ohlins racing dampers with remote adjustable reservoirs and 19" RS4 Replica wheels and R compound tires that completed the look. It still remains the car that I have personally traveled the fastest in, 168 MPH and it had no issue getting there quickly with 0-60 times well under the 5 second mark. The interior was fantastic, plenty of room for us tall guys and the seats were right from the Recaro factory, trimmed in heavy bolsters and black leather. From a utility standpoint. it has 4 doors, 4 real seats, and a suv sized cargo area. It held my mt bike on the roof and was great to camp out of every fall trip to the north woods. To top it off it was always impressive in the snow with the proper winter tires which often caught us off guard on our trips around the UP of Michigan.
Like all cars, it seems that things end up going because something cooler comes along that we just gotta have. This car was traded in on a 2007 Fj cruiser.. which has shaped many of the things I do today in a very positive way. Do I regret the decision, no, not really, but it would have been a wonderful car to keep and enjoy for many years.
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