Help me buy a new car.

[BigRedChief]

My beloved 2005 Mustang has reached the end of its life. 144K miles its time to move on. Going to start a new job with a commute across a long bridge over water. Going to miss it.


You help me decide. Point me in the right direction. Give me the great info that puts me in the right car.......I'll send $50 to the charity of your choice.

Criteria:
I want to spend between $30k - $40K.
Automatic
Got some style
Have to be able to fit in the car comfortably
Prefer a coupe


Right now I'm thinking new Challenger, Nissan 370Z, Mustang etc. Son is telling me to look at used Mercedes, Lexus etc.

What ideas do you have?

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Update 03/11/2015
It's a done deal. I've bought and ordered a 2015 Challenger SCAT Pack Shaker. 392 Hemi 6.4L, 486 HP, 475 toruque, 4.1 second 0-60 time. Has all the same luxury "stuff" as the BMW and Lexus's.

Last years "Shaker" models sold out in 4 days. I decided if I was going retro, go all in and went with the lime green 1971 Challenger remodel. Bumblebee stripe and the Shaker hood. I deleted the stripes on the roof and the hood. Will take 6-8 weeks for delivery. Dark wheels.

I gave $50 each to the charity of their choice to Bearcat and Miles. When Simply Red shows back up, I'll get his charity the money.

The Car arrived finally......

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

oh my!

Looks a lot like a Lime Rock edition but thought those were only 2013.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Miles

Looks a lot like a Lime Rock edition but thought those were only 2013.

I like it a lot - I even like the steering wheel. LOL.

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

oh my!

Ahhh! My eyes!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

It's going to cost me $175 a month in insurance to get the 8 cylinder. And I'm not really that interested in going fast. Just get up on the on ramp and around big ass tractor trailers.

Update on my insurance costs. Between $100 - $300 a year for the 8 cylinder. So the 8 cylinder is back in the hopper.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Fantastic. Going to have to be more patient.

For me at least part of the fun is the hunt but can be hard to stay patient.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Update on my insurance costs. Less than $100 a year for the 8 cylinder. So the 8 cylinder is back in the hopper.

Nice. Haven't driven one before but think its best looking of the throwback style muscle cars and sounds great. While its easy to use reason to justify something like the v6 over the v8 for me at least every time I see and hear the v8 I'd think about it. Once the newness wears off the itch will return for what I really wanted.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Update on my insurance costs. Less than $100 a year for the 8 cylinder. So the 8 cylinder is back in the hopper.

Nice. Haven't driven one before but think its best looking of the throwback style muscle cars and sounds great. While its easy to use reason to justify something like the v6 over the v8 for me at least every time I see and hear the v8 I'd think about it. Once the newness wears off the itch will return for what I really wanted. In part my previous car only lasted 18 months because of this.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

The 5.7 Hemi is plenty for me, just south of 400 hp and I have seen as high as 28 mpg actual

Think the R/T is the one I was recalling. However looks like they have some crazy new one called the R/T scat pack that has the 6.4 but less expensive than the SRT.

[Miles]

I you want to consider expanding budget a little for something crazy there is a Challenger R/T Scat Pack that has the same 6.4 Hemi from the SRT. Well optioned MSRP on their website is is around 43K at MSRP. 8 speed auto, 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque of madness. 0-60 from the usual magazines is 4.2-4.4ish.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Miles

I you want to consider expanding budget a little for something crazy there is a Challenger R/T Scat Pack that has the same 6.4 Hemi from the SRT. Well optioned MSRP on their website is is around 43K at MSRP. 8 speed auto, 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque of madness. 0-60 from the usual magazines is 4.2-4.4ish.

[Simply Red]

I paid 43k for my '10 BMW M5 w/ 39k mis on it.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

Super ****ing bright orange is not available so you may be ok. They have had that color on Claallengers before though because my neighbor has one with black rims.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

I paid 43k for my '10 BMW M5 w/ 39k mis on it.

That M5 was nearly $100k new and the engine is still a masterpiece. Though the SMG...

Crazy that a new car can offer that much performance for mid 40s.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Miles

That M5 was nearly $100k new and the engine is still a masterpiece. Though the SMG...

Crazy that a new car can offer that much performance for mid 40s.

you don't like the orange look huh? I wouldn't own it - but I'd own the 4 in that weird dark powder blue.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Miles

That M5 was nearly $100k new and the engine is still a masterpiece. Though the SMG...

Crazy that a new car can offer that much performance for mid 40s.

The only time I truly see the M5 shining in the SMG version - is in 3rd around 60 MPH - it absolutely rips in that situation.