I have two cars. The around-town daily driver is a '95 Volvo 850 turbo. The Hoo-Hah Mobile is a 2004 VW Phaeton with the W-12 engine.
The Phaeton was a marketing flop, which makes used the used car bargain of all time. I paid $53,000 for one with 18,000 miles. I intended to drive it only 5,000 miles a year, but I've now put close to 13,000 miles on it in 12 months. I'm finding all these excuses for road trips.
Other than it not having a turbocharged engine, the Phaeton is virtually the same car under the sheet metal as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, which costs $200,000 in the version that people typically buy. Among other things they both have the same sound system, and it's damn good.
Biggest problem is speeding tickets. Two on the same day last summer.
Typical?... probably not! My '78 Volkswagen van that I bought from my brother-in-law (original owner) for $2,000 in 1983 has dragged my gear around to more new set-ups than I would like to remember. If it was just a little bigger, maybe I could set up the gear while I am moving... A great mechanic (relatively low maintenance costs) and a new paint job make her reliable and (I think) beautiful. She probably turns more heads now than when she was new. As for the gear, 165 lb. speakers, 100 lb. amps... no problem. What I might be driving in the future? I have my eye on a '78 Volkswagen van and it is already in my garage. Cost no object... Just thinking of all the test driving I would have to do... might even be worth cutting into my listening time.
When I last responded to this I was driving a 2002 E39 BMW 540 with Dinan Stage 1 kit. It's now full stage 3 and then some. I have also just picked up a 1992 E34 M5. Excellent condition. I do like my BMW's :)
Tvad, you gotta watch out when balancing those oversized sized bronto ribs on your passenger side. They have a way of destabilizing cars. Even ones with tires like cement steamrollers.
Just bought a close to mint 96' 993 C4 cab- it is a car an analog lover would enjoy. Still a little primitive, but modern enough to function as a daily. I don't consider myself a Porsche guy at all- this is my second one, though (I had a 996 GT2 that was a complete animal)- and cannot speak highly enough of the virtues of the older, air-cooled platform. Build quality is superb, car is relatively small and tossable, certainly not about brute force, or straightline performance, but it captures the essence of the driving experience in a way more modern sports cars do not. (In those, you have to go so fast to get to the sensation that it is not fun, at least on the street, where you put lives at risk).
2007 Volvo XC70 Cross Country It has all available mods (including rubber floor mats), a certifiable Hummer killer, replicates the driving experience with a 'you are there' palpability, smokes anything up to 5x the price, albeit with ultra low emissions.
I hate to call myself an "audiophile" because I am not IMPRESSED with myself enoough to wear that title, you know, like the people at the dealership where my wife bought her Bimmer.
But anyway, I drive a 2003 Ford Explorer and frequently ride in a 1994 E-One Sentry Pumper at work.
I haven't owned a car since 1990 and with all the money and time I've saved I have more music, sound, and bicylcles than 99% of USA. My bikes are JP Morgens, a Litespeed, and a Miyata.
Cars are certainly my next passion besides audio, I alternate between a 2006 Porsche C2S Cab, a 2006 BMW 750Li, a 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo and a 2001 Jeep Cherokee. They are all fun cars to drive in their own right.
Bio: Whart is correct, that M3 is a great sports sedan!
When living in Italy 5 years ago, I drove a new Alfa. I only wish they sold them here. Phenomenal build quality, a blast to drive, and every design curve spells sex.
The reason why you seldom see a rude Alfa driver is that so few of them can make it out of the driveway as their cars molder into rust/dust. :) I have been looking for a clean Duetto. But, make no mistake- the M3 is a great car for that vicious fight we call the morning commute to NYC.
Why am I not surprised that the same people who cut me off in traffic, the BeeEm owners, are the same people posting on 'gon? Why is it they don't know the difference between an actual sport sedan like an Alfa, and their yuppie-mobile?
1) I go-through alot of company cars and have to say that the new Caddy STS-V6 that I'm driving is "da bomb".
3) If price was no object ... how about a '37 Cord Sportsman and a '36 Auburn boattail Speedster - or maybe a '41 Packard Darrin conceding the need for reliability.
Certainly there's no such thing as a 'typical' audiophile. I drive a 1983 Toyota Corolla. I don't have a commute, I keep it up and Toyota makes cars to last. It cost me well under $8000.00 back then.
Having said that, if audiophilia nervosa hadn't struck me down, I very well might be driving a newer car.
For daily commuting Suzuki Baleno 2005,also got MB 450SEL(W118),280S(W108),250(W114)& BMW 735i(E28).These are old cars but real pleasure to drive. Thanks AAK
Drive? A car? Can't afford a car. spent the funds on audio gear. 'sides, me driving a car just ain't a good idea. not driving is doing my bit of 'public service'.
Were I able to drive and afford anything... either a '67 Cobra w/427 cid... or a hemi 'Cuda.... or a 'Benz.... oh, and a truck.
Black 1999 Mercedes C43 AMG. Eight-cylinder engine shoehorned into the C-class. Tight steering, fine acceleration, superb road feel. Stealthy, too. To make up for the 4.3-litre displacement, our other car is a hybrid (Lexus RX 400h).
My previous car was a Citroen CX, which I loved, but having a tube amp and pre-amp took up all my tweakpatience. I needed something that would start pretty much every time you turned the key, not, say, two out of three.
2002 Ford Crown Victoria with all the bells and whistles, aka "dollar bill", (its green) is my daily load. 1972 Duster is my goof off car. 1964 Dodge 330 Max Wedge if cost is no option :-)
Currently driving a 1997 mazda 626 with a "dead" sound system! All my money is in my home system! But,,, if I had the $s, I would be driving a Vipper with a killer sound system.
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