Choosing a car: GTO, E39 M5 of S4?

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BlackedoutRX7LM

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United States
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So im working on getting what will be my second car and i want to get something sporty but still somewhat practical. My budget is about 20k, so thinking of the cars listed

GTO: I can find a 6.0 with under 50,000 miles for less than 20k easily. Its fast but doesnt stand out and i really would like a sleeper car, especially to burn all the Audis running around town including my best friend and his A6. GTO is obviously only a 2 door but im not in terrible need of space as Im still fairly young and marriage is on the back burner. Plus i can always use my explorer if i need to haul something

M5: I have always been in love with the M5, and while i'd prefer an E60, that's out of my range. This would push my budget and even then i would probably end up with a high mileage model. Nice thing is the four doors allow me to take coworkers or friends in comfort. I don't think you can call a BMW a sleeper, but the M5 packs that punch that only enthusiasts will notice.

B6 S4: Like the M5 this will stretch the budget and ill likely have to settle with a high mileage ride. I feel like this and the M5 will have a smoother ride and handle better, but neither have the raw power of that LS2 GTO. The main appeal to the S4 is the Quattro as i will still be dealing with Chicago winters for a few years.

If anyone has owned/driven these cars, input would be appreciated, also a recommended price for each
 
Alex Roy began practicing for his cross-country racing in an Audi S4. He raced it at over 100mph through Manhattan. Then he got an E39 M5 and used it for nearly every race he entered, and is still using it. That's all you need to know about those two cars.

Also, I have a friend with an 800+ hp twin-turbo LS2 GTO. That's all you need to know about that car.

Buy all three of them.
 
Let's not encourage illegal activities on this forum, alright?

You DO have the Explorer, which, in reality, would be better than any of the three in the snow. I've lived with Illinois winters...which, to be honest, downstate is better than out by the lake, but it can get pretty gnarly out there, particularly with the ice we get. Any of them sound alright for what you're looking at.
 
Between an E39 M5 and the LS2 GTO, thats a tough choice. While that generation of the M5 is by far one of my favorite cars ever, its the high cost of insurance and replacement parts that would generally make me think otherwise. That being said, its been my understanding that they're fairly reliable, but I'm not a BMW-type person to confirm it.

As for the GTO, that would likely be where I would want to go, but my needs are a bit different. As far as reliability is concerned, you're going to be hard pressed to find an engine/transmission combo thats better than what is offered in the Pontiac. Match that with a pretty high-quality interior, what I believe to be a very attractive exterior (esp the LS2 models), it seems like the better deal.
 
Jim Prower
Let's not encourage illegal activities on this forum, alright?
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Where is the evidence of illegal activity? All I see is you making an assumption.

What characteristics do you want from your car. Would you consider tuning your car in the future?
 
buickgnx88
Forza, he's talking about this part:
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Oh I see, I thought he raced it on a racetrack in manhattan. Only 100mph in a S4 though with those big american roads. He wasnt trying hard enough.

Dont tell me you have never gone over the speed limit though jim.
 
M5 or S4. unless reliability and price of ownership is a concern. GTO hands down if thats the case.
 
While I'm aware it isn't on your list...
I've said it a jillion times and I'll keep saying it:
Infiniti G35 or G35x
I found a load (37) around the Kansas City Metro of G35 and G35x sedans, (Only 2 or 3 coupes in the $20,000 range).
Many with less than 50,000 miles
a handful with under 30,000 miles.
Most were '03 and '04 models, however quite a few were 2005 models.

You get the convenience of a decent sized sedan, with the underpinnings of a 350Z.
There were also quite a few AWD x's on the list.

Edit:
I looked around the Chicago area, on www.cars.com and came up with 200+ G35's in your price range.
 
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GTO! As long as it's the LS2. Reliable motor and a car with a decent amount of after market parts to choose from if you ever decided to mod it some. Plus parts are cheap.
 
Buy an M5. There's a reason why BMW call their cars the "Ultimate Driving Machines". You are trying to compare it to a Pontiac (nice on its own but in comparison to an M5...) and a nicely built but nose heavy, less sporting Audi (also nice but as far as I have read/heard not a patch an equivalent BMW).
Sell family members/organs/limbs to keep it running if neccessary.
 
GTO, the other 2 won't give the glorious sound of the Chev small block, and the looks on the Euro car kid's faces will be much more disappointed (and therefore funny to you) when they lose to muscle.
 
Keep in mind that the GTO/Monaro is technically "European" in look and deameanor. The only things American about the car are the engine and transission, as well as the arrowhead badge on the hood. Otherwise its a mixed breed of European (ie German) and Australian goodness.

...Thing is, against the E39 M5, its a tough choice. Me being who I am, I'd likely go for the GTO in the end (it will be far-cheaper to own/operate), but that damn BMW has me on a short leash as well. It is quite possibly one of the most-perfect cars ever...
 
Thanks for all the feedback.

Cost of ownership probably will be a concern as i still have college loans that i had to take freshman year, not to mention I still have another year and a half of school. Also i dont ever want to get stuck paying thousands in repairs for my cars unless its replacing ceramic brakes on a Ferrari.

The Merc 500e is a nice car but Im not a fan of Mercedes for their weight and automatics. Plus i figure the cost of ownership is probably exorbant.

I don't mind the G35 coupe but the GTO has it beat it just about every way except luxury. The sedan is pretty meh to me

Right now im leaning heavy towards the GTO, because like many said its more dependable. The EPA gas mileage is much better than my explorer which was kinda surprising consider its a full 1.0 liter bigger and has almost 200hp more, I thought it'd be about even. The more I think about, the more I'm falling in love with the GTO. I've never been an American car (though i was raised alongside a GT500, Charger, Cuda, Vette, and 'stang) but I don't even consider this an American car because of the Holden bloodlines. At about 17.5K for 30,000 miles I don't know if there's a better car around for the buck.

Im undoubtedly getting a stick, so if any of you guys are familiar with any of the transmissions especially over the long term, that probably be something for me to consider. Also, reading up on the GTO, wikipedia says the hood scoops have no functional purpose. I've always been a function before style person, so if this is true I'd rather get an 04 hood if its interchangeable.

Finally, as for modifying, I don't how much I would do other than simple bolts, like maybe a cold air intake, possibly exhaust if I could get something that wasnt obnoxiously loud. The M5 and GTO certainly have ample power so I'd probably do more if i got an Audi.
 
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BlackedoutRX7LM
Im undoubtedly getting a stick, so if any of you guys are familiar with any of the transmissions especially over the long term, that probably be something for me to consider.
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Its all the same stuff that you see in the Corvette, the big trucks, the Camaro before it, etc. The replacement/repair costs shouldn't be too bad, but I have no idea how they're packaged under the car. That may be something that the Aussie members could go into detail with a little better...

That being said:

There is at least one daily-driven GTO in my neighborhood, and one not too far away down the street. They're apparently very good cars in almost all conditions, and trust me, these guys have them out in the snow quite frequently. That'd be Michigan snow. Yes, we're crazy up here.
 
It may have been pointed out, but you say you're budget is $20,000? You better have more than that when the time comes to repair the M5. That V8 isn't cheap by any standards, and though some E39s live long past 100K miles, some of them are still plagued by the electrical problems of the older 7s & 8s. Good ones are usually $25K and up, though. Anything below won't be that far from 100K miles.
 
BlackedoutRX7LM
Im undoubtedly getting a stick, so if any of you guys are familiar with any of the transmissions especially over the long term, that probably be something for me to consider. Also, reading up on the GTO, wikipedia says the hood scoops have no functional purpose. I've always been a function before style person, so if this is true I'd rather get an 04 hood if its interchangeable.

Finally, as for modifying, I don't how much I would do other than simple bolts, like maybe a cold air intake, possibly exhaust if I could get something that wasnt obnoxiously loud. The M5 and GTO certainly have ample power so I'd probably do more if i got an Audi.
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If I remember right you can make them functional. But I may be wrong, as it was probably somebody who custom fabbed them to be functional that I am remembering.

Either way it's a great car and I'm sure the hoods interchangeable. Going stick shift will bump up your gas mileage 2-3 MPG.

The T-56 is a stout transmission, you shouldn't have much issues with it as long as it was beat on extremely hard.
 
Isnt the main issue on the 2.7 V6 of it blowing its turbos around 60-80k? Perfect excuse to go bigger imo.
 
xXSilencerXx
If I remember right you can make them functional. But I may be wrong, as it was probably somebody who custom fabbed them to be functional that I am remembering.

Either way it's a great car and I'm sure the hoods interchangeable. Going stick shift will bump up your gas mileage 2-3 MPG.

The T-56 is a stout transmission, you shouldn't have much issues with it as long as it was beat on extremely hard.
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Ha, only if Im broke and need to save gas, otherwise I'll be pushing more often than not.
 
I would say S4, it feels more exclusive than the other 2, it's the safest and the best looking than the other 2, might be the most expensive but you can't go wrong when it comes to modern German cars. It also has 4WD so you don't have to worry about getting killed because you made a mistake in heavy rain or in a blizzard, you have more gadgets to play with, what more can I say?
 
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The G35 Coupe is sorta "bland" compared to the GTO.
But IMHO a Q-ship is the definition of stealth.
And the AWD version gives you some extra grip when the white stuff starts falling from the sky.
 
There was a person on another forum that used to won a GTO 6.0 (400 horses I believe), and he said it was terrible to drive during the winter. I believe he lived in California. I definetely would look to get an AWD car if winter driving is a necessity, especially with cars of this caliber (350 to 400 horsepower).

I don't know how winters in Michigan are, can't be any worse than here in Calgary (we get quite a few days of under -30C here during the winter), so I would suggest getting winter tyres.
 
What a tough choice actually. I'd lean towards the M5 only because its an M5. I love the GTO and S4--but its an M5 for christ sakes!
 

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