Cars. What does the typical audiophile drive?


Just curious. People have asked about watches,
cigars, beer, and even ones income here.

1: What do you drive (daily & weekends)?
2: What might you be driving in the future?
3: What would you drive if $$$ was no object (pick 2 ;-)?

My answers to the above:
1: Toyota truck.
2: Newer Toyota truck.
3: Lamborghini Murcielago & McLaren F1.
houndco
KARTS are UNREAL. Thanks is almost too much abuse for me for any length of time though (depending on the techincality of the track). But talk about a rush!! Right on Ed!!
Gunbei and Bob Crump, you and my "Pop" can hang out and talk about cars. He used to have a 1969 red and black Charger R/T with a .060 over 440 / 4 speed in it. His previous car was a 1966 Coronet Convertible with a 426 wedge and a 4 speed. He was sorry that he sold the Coronet to get the Charger when all was said and done. I bet that the Coronet would be worth more money nowadays too.

As to where Bob fits in, my Dad loved his Jetta and supercharged Corrado. He dumped the Corrado for a Taurus SHO and was very sorry. The SHO had a great motor in it but was WAY too "boaty" in terms of the handling that he was used to. I told him that we needed to stuff that SHO motor into his Corrado : )

Personally, i've never been a Mopar fan. Some of their cars looked great ( Charger, Challenger, Cuda, etc... ) but i never dug their motors. I would have been REALLY happy if we could have gotten Ford's racing division hooked up with Chevy's "common sense" division. THEN we would really have something. Ford made the most factory racing parts and always had the best breathing intakes but could never figure out how to get the potato out of their exhaust ports. That's where Chevy's "common sense" approach would have come in handy.

I've always wanted to stuff a massively built Old's quad four into a worked Fiero GT. Talk about a "sleeper" : )

Oh well, just like audio, to each their own : ) Sean
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Had a '70 Hemi Roadrunner and both a '90 G-60 Corrado and a '92 VW Corrado VR-6.....I always liked cheap, mean and easy cars, just like my ex-wives.....
Sean, there two aural deserts in life besides a lovely women's voice that I love. One, is the sound of that lovely voice coming from my ever improving audio rig. And the other is the visceral experience of beautiful engine note.

I work on the west side of Los Angeles, not too far from Beverly Hills, Hollywood, etc...so I see a lot of expensive aluminum cans driving around. I can remember standing on a corner after lunch once and having my attention snatched away by the sound of an idling Ferrari 360 Modena, and the beautiful wail as it trailed away. I think that guy driving it was winding each gear out just for my enjoyment.

Then, there was the time when I was driving to school many years ago on the 405 freeway, and a gorgeous 1970 Dodge Charger in the same paint scheme as the one in Bullitt slowly edged passed me. Even 20 years after I can remember that awesome car and the beautiful sound of it's exhaust. The guy must have had a 4.10 or 4.70 rear axle to have it sound like that at 65mph.

And then, there was the time when I was cruising on the 91 freeway and an all original early 1970's Ferrari Daytona 365GTB Berlinetta cruised pass me in the same manner as the Charger. NOTHING sounds better than the song of a Ferrari V-12 motor. I love that ferocious melody so much, that there are times that I just sit and replay those moments of the movie Gumball Rally where the 365 is accelerating hard or even downshifting.

I had a blast revving the life out of the Integra GSR I once had, and the M3 I currently drive has a seductive, complex note from inside the cabin. Powerful and sexy. But nothing compares to those three moments I described. I wish I could own those on XRCD2!
A Ford F-250 Diesel Crew Cab, Fire Engine Red...not exactly a sport vehicle. But we enjoy RV'ing and 30-foot travel trailer does not pull well with a Porsche. Come to think of it, you can't fit 100 bd. feet of white oak into a Porsche either which would prevent me from pursuing my other hobby, furniture building. Sometimes a vehicle is just practical.
Don't mind me, just sour grapes..if I could afford it I would go for a Lotus GT1 type 115 in a heartbeat!
Sean, how do you know so much about so many things? It's amazing!

I'm changing my vote for the $ no object car. Did a little research and am now lusting for the Porsche 911 GT2 -- 462 HP and low weight. The kids have left home so I don't need a back seat ;)
I was told by a guy that i used to work with that i was a fountain of worthless knowledge. I guess he was right : ) Sean
>
1) Arctic Silver/Boxster Red Porsche Boxster S, obsessively upgraded and modified: shortened shift, lowered stiffened suspension, aluminum pedals, Euro indicators, stainless exhaust, hidden front and rear radar and laser detectors and of course upgraded amp and speakers, all A/D/S.

2) Ferrari 360 Spyder in Titanium/Bordeaux if Ferrari prices crash even more

3) Not quite price no object -- probably less than the Ferrari -- but I particularly covet the rare 1997 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo S, in blue with tan. The last and greatest air cooled beast, in my opinion.
Oh....one important note I forgot to mention: for both the Porsche Boxster S and the Ferrari 360, I would swap my ARC and Levinson amps and Magneplanars for an MP-3 walkman and Bose speakers before I would drive either car with a clutchless transmission.
1.) BMW 330i, Jet Black with the Sport Package - 5 speed of course...

2.) Acura TL 3.2 Type S...Also in Night Hawk Black

Would like to upgrade to the BMW M5
Ok question for all of you guys with nice cars-WHERE WERE YOU FOR THE ARE YOU GUYS RICH THREAD!!!! So you have serious money in systems, cars, most likely houses. Bah this is just probably youth being jealous of a lifetime of hard work-gives me something to look forward. To be honest I am surprised there are soooo many nice cars among us-I was expecting lots of 89 tempo's and 200k+ mile toyota's etc...

1. '93 Porsche 911 RS America
'97 Range Rover 4.6 HSE
'99 Ferrari F355 Spider

2. I'm about to replace the RR with a Mercedes G500 next week.

3. Three different answers for the future:
I'd like to get a fuel-cell or hybrid vehicle a few years from now to help alleviate the guilt of all that poor fuel economy above. The car that intrigues me most right now, alas, can't be had in the US: the Lotus Elise. Please, please Lotus, bring that car to the US! At some point, I'd like to own a vintage Ferrari, but I work and travel too much now to be able to care for it properly.

-james
Jmarkarian-there is an importer for the elise in this country, albeit it has a modified front end and a honda civic type R engine in it. I am not sure if it is streetable even with said modifications DOT still wants air bags in the front drivers and passenger side. There is actually a small mention of this in this weeks Autoweek magazine. I love those cars to death myself, so much style, so much performance, no luxuries!! a true sports car. There are a few cult like groups who worship those cars, a fellow by the name of Dom in the UK has a yellow elise and has a very helpful website if I can find it I will post the link, he is also very helpful in private emails, if you have money he can probably make it happen.
~Tim
Q's:
1: What do you drive (daily & weekends)?
2: What might you be driving in the future?
3: What would you drive if $$$ was no object (pick 2 ;-)?

A's:
1: Mazda 2002 Protoge'5 & stake bed truck w/lift gate.
Weekends: BMW 2002 M Coup (315hp) & GMC Syclone
(335+hp/400+ ft lbs trq, 525hp plans pending, has ZR-1 9f/11r" rims + much more...).
Also have a Lotus Elan M100 which is waiting for it's new out of state owner to collect it.
Fun, but British.

2: BMW 2002 M Coup super charged (417hp w/Nordic super charger) and a few suspension improvements. BTW, the 2003 Mini Cooper S also looks very interesting.
*Last year for the M Coup. With only 800-850 built yearly this August will be the end of it.
Get one while you can! Unique, fast, rare, and GREAT to drive, plus phenomenal resale value (90% at the TWO year mark). BMW has never built a car this size with this much power before, and will probably not do it again. Yes, it is faster than the M5 excluding top speed (governors removed; 171 vs 182).

3: McLaren F-1 (BMW M engine, FYI) & 2004 BMW M6 (V10, 500hp).

----> M5 fans (lots here I see):
By 2004 the M5's 394hp V8 will be replaced with a 500hp V10 (according to BMW).
Z8 will get the same (according to my assumption).
1. 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier (129K miles)
2. 2000 Oldsmbile Intrigue (wife's)
3. 1972 Monte Carlo (mine)
Dream Cars: Yellow Corvette Z06, 1969 Hurst/Olds or 442 W31

I would gladly trade my dream cars and a lot more cash for a 36 foot skater catamaran w/575 c.i. blown big block Chevy's (any boaters in here?)
I can't afford a car of my own -- my audio/music-mania took care of that. So, company car: Mercedes A class. Great parking, reasonable acceleration, and it fits wife & daughter...
2) The same, because I can't afford anything else, anyway.
3) Probably a Toyota Land Cruiser, the HUGE model, just because it's ridiculously useless and contrary to everything our Euro-crats recommend:
*It takes up about 2 parking spaces
*How energy efficient can you get @ 6,7,? litres in town
*You can drive up to nth floor w/out taking the elevator (if the car fits)
*You can drive through Europe in a straight line (more or less)
*You'll never really drive it to the ground
*You can climb trees remaining in the driver's seat
*It's cheaper than a Ferrari.

If I had the money for said Cruiser, I'd buy music instead. So, I'll never have that, or any similarly priced, automobile in this life!
Stealth ES for special occasions

Ford Explorer for everyday

Chevrolet Extended Cab for long trips

1971 Chevrolet Pick Up, Classic for car shows
My daily driver is a '77 Lincoln Towncar w/a 460 4-BBL. My "fun" cars are a '67 Lincoln 2-dr. Coupe w/a 462, and a FiberFab MGTD kit with a 302 shoehorned into it. Oh, and of course, my '65 VW bus...hence the "Vdub" handle...
Daily...1999 Infiniti Q45t
Weekends...2001 BMW M5

In the future...the same.

$$$ no object...Lear Jet
Answers:1) BLACK/BLACK 2002 BOXSTER S
2)RED/BLACK NSX
3)RED/TAN Lamborghini Murcielago, Silver/Red GT2 OR SILVER VINTAGE 550 SPYDER
OH yes, I drive my wife's Lexus LX450(SUV) on week ends. And answer to no1 also my 88 Prelude with KILLER stereo.
Daily: company supplied Ford F-250 Pickup

If I ever have to supply my own: Jaguar Sedan, I had one a few years ago and it was the best ride I have ever been in.

Money no object: means I've won the lotto, Harley & a F-250 to to go fishing in.
Nil-Man I didn't know you had an NSX too! Those cars are hands down the easiest cars to drive incredibly fast at any price range! you just point and it goes!! a blast on the road. How's the box. S treating you? better then the SLK I bet ;)
Tim, Yeah the Boxster S is much better that the SLK. Very Fast. Styling to kill. I am working on the Audio upgrade right now, a challange in a limited space. NSX (answer to 2 nd question)I wish to have may be in future...(I loved thoes pop-out headlights-they chaged it for this year)I need that extra $30000...over the Box S. But I am enjoying the Boxster S now immensely. It sure is a head turner.By end of summer I hope to have the speedster humps and may be a hardtop before next fall, may be HR springs to lower/improve the car. Lots of upgrades in mind-not enough $$$ and time as always. I need to talk to Cwlondon, another boxter man on the Gon.
1.) 2002 Toyota sr5 "sport" 4-runner
2.) BMW M3
3.) Ferrari f355 or MB clk55 AMG coupe.
I have so much money in audio I can't afford any car. I do however have rollerblades. Nothing fancy though just your ordinary garden variety pair of rollerblades.
Typical??? heh
Daily 1992 Camry 4 cyl 5 spd./1987 loaded GMC conversion van
Weekends. Nice red and white bowrider with GM power :>)

No limit car......would not be a car at all.
If you wanna know what I would have, no $$ limit...here it is www.502ss.com :) :) :) :)
Gumby, very nice! I wonder what can be done with my wife's mini-van? By the way, some of those hoses look a lot like my MIT cables -- maybe that's why I like the engine so much ;-)
Damnit Gumby, that's a badass Suburban! That G-Tech must have you on the gas, all the time. Me and M3 would have ended up like that Z28 you suckered, heheh. I like the instrument panel at night. Very cool. So, Gunbei and Gumbydamnit both like cars AND Tab 50s. Hahah!
Yeah, that truck gives me a full on ch@&&y!
Can you imagine pulling up to the light with a Z28 and ROASTING him?? Oy, The HUMANITY!!!

Did you catch the guys window rolling up as the race ended?
What about the shake when the driver goosed it at the light?
Talk about shame.....he he

Gumbydammits favorite vehicle of all time: 1979 Ford E150 Cargo Van with a self-installed ONANL634TA Diesel (right out of a UPS delivery van....boy was that fun!) witha four speed behind it. 24 MPG, 125 Horses and GOBS of low end. Plus that nice turbo whistle...ahhhhhhhh
People with the Navistars used to ask me why it whistled. Home built cars are very rare and cool, always!
Something like that Suburban would be for after I make my second million :>) I like practical. On land anyway. On water, now that is a whole different affair.

BTW, I dont own the Tab 50's. Mine are the first issue of the TabII's...
(Dating myself huh?)
They are playing the MFSL LP Alan Parsons Tales of Mystery and Imagination as I type this. Ahh such a smart guy!
I should have listed this as a recording to die for!
Houndco:

You want to know the answers to the follow questions:

(01). What do I drive (daily and on weekends)??
(02). What will I be driving in the future??
(03). What would I be driving if money was no object??

And now, here are my answers:

(01). 1999 Honda Accord EX (V-6 version with leather).

(02). Don't know at the moment. Probably a newer version of what I am driving now. Or maybe an Audi A4 2.8 Turbo (if I finally stop buying audio/video equipment). We'll have to wait and see on this one, won't we??

(03). Lexus SC430 Luxury Sports Convertable (Man...... That thing is SEXY..... I don't care what nobody says..... Oh... I'll take mine in black with a black leather interior. Is it possible to get one like that??).

--Charles--
And Houndco:

Here is couple more for good measure:

My second "dream" car a TOL Mercedes Benz (preferably, one of the "Kompressor" models with the powered hard-top that disappears at the touch of a button).

And now, I am going to throw in a couple of cars that will always have a soft spot in my heart, no matter what they are, or how old they are. And they are:

(01). 1969-72 Chevrolet Chevelle SS (with cowl induction).
(02). 1970-73 Datsun 240Z.

Only I would leave the Chevys exactly as they are, but I would probably put an expensive sound system inside of the "Z".

I know that not what you asked for, but I thought I would include them anyway. Because just in case I end up getting a "mid-life" crisis, then these will be the two cars I am going to be "AGRESSIVELY" seeking out. After all, how many times in a man's life when he's going to get an opportunity to hold what little youth he has left.

--Charles--
Chaskelljr2001- There is no audi A4 2.8turbo, there is a 1.8turbo or a 2.8(naturally aspirated motor) also the S4 which is a 2.7T.
Tireguy:

Sorry about that. But that was what I meant. An Audi A4 2.8 (but anyway, unless I stop buying hi-fi equipment, Hondas are going to be all that I can afford to drive) :).

--Charles--
I don't know what is going on here, but it seems like everytime I print this, part of my post seem to get cut off. So, I am going to state what my "dream" cars and my "most loved" cars once again, in the hope that this time, they'll show up when I print them to read when I am off of the computer.

My "dream" cars once again are the following"

(01). Lexus SC430 Luxury Sports Convertable (black exterior with black leather interior with the DVD based navigation system and the Mark Levinson audio system).

(02). TOL Mercedes Benz Convertable (Kompressor model with a powered retractable hard top).

And again, my most loved cars (no matter what age they are) are:

(01). 1969-72 Chevrolet Chevelle SS (with Cowl Induction).
(02). 1970-73 Datsun 240Z.

Hopefully, these will show up in print form this time.

Have a great day, everyone!!!!

--Charles--
Me Wife
2001 GMC P/U XCab 1998 Volvo T5
1998 BMW 740il 2001 GMC Yukon XL

Dream Car
Acura NSX Saab Convertible
1/ 1987 VW Jetta Diesel (even though my hifi system is modest at a value of 8.5K it's value is 4 x that of my car. - and it suits me fine)

2/ 2000 VW Golf TDI (turbo diesel injection)

3/ 2003 VW Golf TDI (turbo diesel injection) (even if I had millions - though I might be tempted to get a Eurovan for travelling)
Current Car: 2002 BMW 330i Sport

Future Car: BMW M5

Dream Car: 1956 Mercedes SLR Roadster
Current vehicle: 1999 Honda CR-V 5 speed

Also, Robinhood 33 downeast flybridge cruiser, name: "Eidolon". It doesn't get any better than that.
Linkster- So did those new Diamonds fit in the CR-V or did you have them delivered ;) I assume you have them now, correct? what do you think(I realize it is virtually impossible to have them broke in by now) of them so far? ~Tim
1.Beemer M5 Station version, 1997 (in order to transport big ELS speakers really fast!)
2. Audi RS6
3. Bughatti/ Lamborghini Miura S
1. 1991 Toyota Corolla DX 4dr. (Don't have a radio. A broken driver window that can't roll up or down because the window handle is mess up. So i have to use my hand to push up or down. A bad seal in the driver window that makes wind noise during driving. At 65 mphs and up, the car is very unstable. It whopple left and right on the highway. Some other minor trouble in the car.)

2. a very budget car that i can afford and does not have car trouble. Probably a honda civic. I had a chance to replace the car but instead, i just brought $16,550 B&W demo speakers instead.

3. not sure what car that i want if i have lot of money. I just probably will spent it on a really expensive audio system, just like that 1 million dollar system at the HE2002 and a very nice house with a big living room.

Brian