Yesterday, The Bishop asked, “You Can Spend Up To $100,000 On One Car. What Will It Be?” That’s plenty of dough for some very expected high-performance, high-luxury cars, and I certainly won’t throw shade on anyone having such basic tastes as “I’d get a new Corvette.” I mean, I probably would, TBH.
But, being Autopians, your choices were much less expected. And all winners – here are but a few:
Captain Zoll
Sensible option? Something like a Porsche Taycan.
Less Sensible option? Jag XK140s are surprisingly affordable.
Cars? I’ve owned a few
Right brain: Maybe the cleanest, well-maintained Pagoda 280SL if I could find one with a stick. Otherwise, some NSX.
But left side of my brain is screaming get two cars: Acura Integra Type S and a new Camry XLS. If left brain is limited to one car, maybe a Crown Insignia, optioned to the hilt.
I Farted So Hard it Hurts
I’m getting the most amazing gussied up with every option Yugo along with a lifetime of spare parts. There. That’s my honest answer.
Respect. I suggest you hunt down the 25-mile example Antti wrote about a little ways back.
Fix It Again Tony
I bought an LC500.
McLovin
This guy gets it.
Lots of love for the LC500 in the replies. Makes sense.
SlowBrownWagon
Good question! So many options! I’m pulled 3 totally different directions.
Lotus Evora you can find a lightly used around 100K
E63 AMG Wagon – the future unicorn of my destruction.
Or a beautifully restored ’58 Imperial convertible. $75-85k
Probably go with the Imperial and use the leftover money to build out the garage so I can park it.
Worth it for the spare-tire integration alone. And the fins, of course.
Canopysaurus
A fairly modern, say early 2000s, U Series Unimog. The AI Apocalypse is coming, gotta be ready.
I have my eye on a U-series Unimog as well, but it’s only about $300.
Eggsalad
I’m assuming that I will be responsible for insurance, fuel, and maintenance, and given my late stage in life and my practicality, I’ll take a brown Toyota Crown Signia Limited. Throw the entire accessories catalog at it, and I’m still under $60k. Keep the change. Buy something nice for yourself.
I’m like “Oh, that looks nice,” every time I see a Crown. Does anyone need more normal car than this?
Spikedlemon
How much would it cost to recreate a Ford Festiva SHOgun?
It can’t be more than 100k, can it?
In pure smiles-per-miles: I’d be laughing the whole way.
I gotta believe you can build a SHOgun facsimile for under $100K. Now there’s a car that does what it says on the box (flares).
67 Oldsmobile
1993 Dodge Viper rt/10. I just checked, and I am shocked they’re not more expensive. A 100 grand would even buy you a good one.
Unlike other cars in that performance bracket I would possibly even afford to maintain it too.
I could get down with a Viper for boomer-cruising, but I would not be able to restrain myself from going full-Viper and all that entails. Having briefly driven a Viper, what that will surely entail is a ditch, and me in it.
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I’d probably buy or build my dream RX7. Keep the rotary but push it to somewhere between 400-500hp. Heat management and reliability mods, change the look to be 1999+. It would have to be a lhd model, add some nice wheels and coilovers, Spirit R seats would be nice, if there’s anything left over, use it for when it eventually breaks.
Reliable and 500 horsepower? I feel like that’s a “pick one” situation, but I’m no RX7 expert.
Alexk98
Later 3.2L, 6-Speed NA1 NSX. Just practical enough to daily if the weather is right, reliable enough to drive it anywhere without fear, special enough to be worth that kind of money, one of the prettiest cars ever made, and just all around everything I would want out of a sports/super car.
Cloud Shouter
1954 Dodge Power Wagon. It’ll cost me $245 but I think I can swing it.
I’ll allow you the extra $245! Man, what a beauty. And a lot more fun than the one Jason reviewed, I bet.
Mark Tucker
Good lord, I couldn’t live with myself if I spent that much on any car, even if someone gave me the money. I’ll take this nice Dodge Daytona for $6,500, if I can donate the rest to charity.
Whoa, that is nice! And bold of you to donate the rest to charity. There are billionaires who can’t seem to manage to do that.
A fresh Autopian Asks is coming up. I need to think of a good question …
Top graphic image: Classics Auto Trader
Missed it. Mine would be a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth in Moonstone Blue.
Appreciate that my comment was appreciated!
I had to give a lot of thumbs-up to many of the other commenters as well. What a great community!
Thanks for that rear angle shot of the Imperial, besides the bustle I just adore the vast expanse of sheetmetal and the amount of lead fill and labor to make those panels. Maybe all that lead is why they are possessed – with the face and interior of Christine’s rich snobby cousin.
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I meant to respond to this with a 6MT straight 6 BMW Supra. There’s not many straight 6’s attached to a stick anymore. I’d really rather it be a Morgan with the same drivetrain but that won’t be $100k.
Practical old man makes the cut. Film at 11!
I needed ideas, so I cruised over to the Hagerty auction reults and forgot to come back and answer the question. I know it’s a pretty boring answer, but I think I’d go with the best C2 Corvette I could get.
As I started kicking around options, I was shocked to see what has happened to the F355 market. When did those cars blast off in value?
Realistically the LC500, cayman GT4, or 911 997.2 some variant.
The Dodge Power Wagon would be fantastic too.
Jealous of the folks with the smarts to choose the NSX.
I need to revise, I’d take the power wagon I have and send it for a restoration.
I was already interested in the LC500, then one past by my work today while I was on lunch getting some walking laps in: I get it.
The noise it made is the best I’ve ever heard a 5-liter V8 produce! And it was in a dark-ish green, oof!
I get why people want one now. I want one now too!
Nori Green, absolutely.
100k Plus for a powerwagon!! I once had the chance to buy one for $4,000. Oops
Wow! I got the headline. Didn’t expect that.
Thank you!
On the XK140: The owner of a ’54 Jaguar XK120 let me sit in it at a car show (I didn’t even ask, it was offered to me!) and WOW I do not even remotely fit. I’m only 5’9″, 190lb and my left arm was jammed against the door, and my right left against the shifter. I don’t think it was physically possible for me to drive unless I put a 12″ steering wheel on it, as I was literally unable to get my legs under the wheel. Just how small were they making people back then??
That is why the XK140 was made with more interior space.
Yeah I wasn’t sure how similar in size they were, but it just reminded me of that experience.
I have to admit, Eggsalad’s choice of the Crown Signia is likely the thing I would actually buy if I had the money, brown on brown too (though I also like the red and light blue). If they had depreciated at all on the used market I’d have bought one earlier this year, but instead I’ll have to play the long game to own one, likely with high miles to make it affordable for me.
After some thought, I want to change my answer to a Jaguar XJS Lynx Eventer.
Truly grace, space, and pace!
Not enough Firebirds. How everyone didn’t answer Firebird is beyond me. /s
Sadly, SD-455s are now more than $100K. 🙁
Crazy how those are hemi prices now. I would love a Super Duty T/A or Formula but between my dad and I we have a 77, 79 and 89 (77-78 is my favorite style 78 is better due to ttops) so for me would really like a nice clean 67-68 at some point that just looks original exterior and interior wise but can be suped up under the hood. Also would like an 98-02 at some point (there I would like a ws6 formula with cloth seats and a 6 speed hah).
I drove a friends WS6 a while back, and the stability and handling at speed were a revelation – far better than I had anticipated.
I like the SHOgun tribute car idea. It would be a good use for the slushbox Festiva from yesterday’s Shitbox Showdown.
Even just dropping in a decent motorcycle engine would give it the juice it needs.
This makes me wonder, what would happen if you spent 100 grand on a regular car you already own. Like how could I even spend that on my 2011 Juke? Turn it into a low-rider?
You can piss a lot of money away on a car’s paint job and interior.
“Yo dawg, I heard you like…”
I stand by Lancia Fulvia HF and still think its the correct answer. Greatest front drive vehicle EVER. and the most beautiful.
I didn’t bother posting my vote for an LC500 because I was confident others already had me covered. For normal-car money the answer might always be Miata, but at $100K the answer is always LC500.