Favorite Car Lists #3: Coupes/Convertibles

Mercedes SLS AMG

It has been awhile, but it's time for the third installment of my favorite car lists - this time, coupes and convertibles (basically, anything with 2-3 doors). Click through to see - do you agree with my lists?




If I had $30,000 to spend on a coupe/convertible, I would buy:
1. Volkswagen GTI
2. Dodge Challenger
3. Mini Cooper S
4. Chevrolet Camaro
5. Volkswagen Beetle

If I had $60,000 to spend on a coupe/convertible, I would buy:
1. Mercedes E350 Coupe
2. Mercedes C350 Coupe
3. Audi S5
4. Cadillac CTS Coupe
5. BMW M3 Coupe

If I had $100,000 to spend on a coupe/convertible, I would buy:
1. Porsche 911 Targa 4
2. Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe
3. Jaguar XKR
4. Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
5. Mercedes E350 Coupe

If I had $200,000 to spend on a coupe/convertible, I would buy:
1. Mercedes SLS AMG
2. Aston Martin V12 Vantage
3. Audi R8
4. Maserati Gran Turismo S
5. Porsche 911 Turbo S

If money was not an object, I would buy the following coupes/convertibles:
1. Bugatti Veyron
2. Mercedes SLS AMG
3. Lamborghini Aventador
4. Lexus LFA
5. Aston Martin One-77
Honorable Mention: Ferrari 458 Italia, McLaren MP4-12C

Look what I saw...a Lexus LFA and Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Two of my favorite sports cars in the same parking lot...what are the chances?! Well actually, I live across the street from a fancy restaurant with a valet service and correspondingly often see fancy cars - I regularly get to see the finest specimens from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes AMG, and Aston Martin, new and old. This pairing of the LFA and DB9, though, was practically screaming out for me to take pictures! Click through to see more pictures and a comparison.

The Aston Martin DB9 is unequivocally one of the most beautiful sports cars in the world. I still prefer the smaller Vantage, but the DB9 is close behind.

I wouldn't call the Lexus LFA beautiful, but it surely looks like it was sent here from the future. A crowd gathered as I was taking pictures. Similar to the Radio Shack commercials, men automatically make a beeline to the LFA, which looks like the ultimate gadget - a cutting edge machine you would find at Brookstone or Sharper Image. The wife of one guy said loudly, "I think it's ugly," pointing at the LFA, to which I replied, "I beg to differ." The styling is not everyone's cup of tea, but it sure makes a statement and evokes a reaction - good or bad - from onlookers.

The DB9 was all alone; no one (besides me) even noticed it next to the LFA. The DB9 has been around since 2004 and was featured in Entourage and a couple James Bond movies, so it's a bit overexposed compared to the brand new, super-limited LFA.

Look at the color-coordinated interior - yummy! To be fair, the LFA ($375k) is practically double the price of the DB9 Volante ($190k), so this is not an apples-to-apples comparison. And despite "only" having a V10 compared to the DB9's V12, the LFA is considerably more powerful, with 552hp compared to the DB9's 470. The LFA is also lighter at 3263 lbs., vs. 3880 lbs. for the DB9. Fuel economy is comparable (and terrible) for both cars (around 11/17 city/hwy). The LFA is a true 2-seater, whereas the DB9 has a pair of useless rear seats that make more sense for golf clubs than humans. The LFA will enjoy a very limited production run of only 500 cars, which will make it quite exclusive and rare.

However, if money was not a constraint, which would you choose? The technological wonder or the classic beauty? I'm quite torn...and never thought I'd say this...but I'm leaning toward the spanking new LFA.

Look what I saw...a 1980 Ferrari 308 GTSi

This weekend I saw this head-turner sitting in Columbus Circle, NYC. The 308 is one of my favorite Ferraris (although I am more partial to the GTB coupe than the pictured GTS targa). The "i" was added to the end of the GTS and GTB monikers in 1980 due to the introduction of fuel injection in response to higher fuel economy requirements coming out of the crisis period in the late 1970s. In every other respect, the GTSi was largely the same as the previous year's GTS, aside from small nuances, such as alloy wheel design, leather seat stitching, and a slightly rearranged dashboard.

The GTSi has a 90-degree transversely mid-mounted V8; the US model pumped out 205 bhp. While relatively slow for today's standards, it was very quick back when introduced. The GTSi was produced from 1980-1983 and only 1,749 models were produced! Judging by current Ebaymotors listings, it looks like you can buy this car for between $30-50k. That sounds like an attractive entry point to own a Ferrari...that is, if the maintenance costs weren't so high.

Design-wise, everything about this car is flawless. The headlights are stowed away to avoid dust and grime. The front end is very shapely; the curvy front fenders fit snugly atop the tires. The rear pillars extend all the way to the taillights, giving the car a distinct frame. The scoops on the side are unique to the 308. The interior is barren, as a Ferrari should be. None of the fancy computer electronics in today's models. The only downside of owning this car in NYC is the limited number of months the driver can take it out for a spin!