All the cars mentioned except the C5 (and the new caddys as I know very little bout them) do not have much in the way of long term reliability. How long do you plan on owning this car? If its just for a couple years then any of these options will work. But if you want a long term car you will hate it. Most luxury cars are designed to last 5 years. After that the company wants them off the road so that they dont turn into beaters and hurt their image.
I would not buy one of those cars unless I was rich enough to get rid of it every 2 years. Subaru WRX...... If you want a turd in sheeps clothing by all means, buy a subaru.
I still recommend the hardtop C5.

 

I smell sex and candy

 

Finally I get a look at the CTS-V plus. Personally I don't see what all the excitement is about except the hp numbers and how much does this Caddy weigh? Most Caddies are heavy but the thing I don't really like is the look of it. Mind you Cadillac is moving in the right direction to attract younger buyers but when the first CTS rolled off the line it lacked power and looks, one more improvement needed for sure. I laughed everytime I saw a Caddy commercial playing Led Zepplin's "rock and roll". Since we are talking luxery car how about the Lexus 450 SC vert. Man that new car kept up to my hawk on the open highway. Shaun, you having that vert bird makes this a tough question to answer but bang for the buck get a C5 Z06 or wait for the new C6 Z06, 600hp stock will be hard to argue with, I just saw the new C6 commercial on tv and I'm drooling big time, this new vet will really stand out in the crowd. Be the first in the group to get one before me.

 

Since you already have the truck and TA I'd go with an Infiniti G35 for a daily driver, got alot of great reviews on these.

 

Ok I'll list them out in order of what I would get:

Performance Sedans:

New M5 with 500 hp V-10 (not released)
AMG E55 with 469 hp
Current M5 with 400 hp V8
Cadillac CTS-V 400 hp LS6
Current M3 with 333 hp I6 (most resonably priced sedan-can get an 01 Hard Top for around $50K)

Two Seaters:

New C6 Z06 with 500 hp (not released)
C6 vert or Hard top - 400 hp LS2 (soon to be released)
Current Z06 - 400 hp LS6 (can get an '02 for around $50K and an '01 for less)
Current C5 Vert - 350 hp
New Cadillac XLR Vert - 320 hp, new C6 platform - Sweet Looking car but overpriced.

Those would be my choices.

 

Nice choice of cars Rybar but correct me if I'm wrong. I thought the new vet coupe and vert were 500hp and the C6 Z06 600hp?

 

Nope, the new C6s are being advertised with 400hp. I think they will make around 370-380 rwhp personally, which would make GM's rating under-rated.

The C6 Z06 is all rumor and speculation at this point. any number you see is a wild *** guess at this time.

 

Thanks for that tidbit of info Draco. Probably be next year before I add another car to my collection. If I can't really afford a new C6 at that time I'll settle for a smokin deal on a C5.

 

Any idea on the msrp for the C6?

 

I would think close to what a Z06 goes for now. Check out the corvetteforum, some of the dealers that support that forum have already pre-sold some cars and might have posted the MSRP

 

I salesperson at gm said it will go for around 90k for the coupe and 100k for the vert......but thats BS

 

WEll I went and test drove a 300 C again. Very nice, I certainly could live with it.

Then I went to Preston and looked at an '04 ZO6. Sticker price is $78k but they are willing to wheel and deal. Black on. I said that if they get to a point where they are GIVING them away, give me a call.

But



They also had a silver '04 CTS V.


My Oh My is that a fabulous cockpit. Great looking car. Sticker was $72k and they said that they wanted MSRP.


Definately my top pick but still too rich for my blood.

 

 

I checked-out the 04 Honda S2000, it has more power and a new front end with bigger flares to handle the upgraded rubber. The black vert goes for just under 50k, sweet little sports car. I also heard that the new C6 vet prices will stay in the same range as the C5.