Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I know that many old timers will harp on me for buying an EV, but here it exists.

I've been in the market for a while now, saving for a C8 Z06. After hunting around for a car at MSRP I found them all delayed, severely. Like they won't promise anything till lat 2025, maybe not even 2026. . I wanted a stripper C8Z with Comp seats, and Z07 package. Aka all the performance, none of the fat.

So I said screw it, cancelled and started searching for whatever OTHER car interested me. I will return to the C8 Z06 in a 2-3 years when the market and supply has calmed.

I looked at a few cars. Among them were:

• C7 Z06's
  • Jeebus, forget those used prices, the boomers think they are sitting on gold. Asking 70-90k for 2015 C7Zs. "The last front engined vette!!!!"
• C6 Z06's
  • Same boomers inflating the prices on these too. Pre-pandemic they were mid 30's. Now, more than 5 years later, they are asking even MORE for these cars.
• Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
  • None local unless I wanted a brand new 2024. I'd love one. So impractical, but it has passion, SOUL!!!! The 500hp Ferrari based TT V6 is music, and the handling sublime. Older used ones can be found under 40's, but its one of those cars that when used, you really have to see in person.
• Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo
  • These are hard to find, but they are around occasionally. But always out of warranty in my price range. And the drivetrain, suspension, etc is magical, but impossibly complex. Did you know the Suspension, and Transmission use GPS nav data to automatically adjust for incoming curves along with your inputs? It's why the car is so responsive. It's using every sensor in the book to guess what you are gonna do before you do it. The sway bars are 48v actuated sway bars that keep the body level even under extreme cornering. Amazing machine, amazing money pit. Needs a clean room to fix when it breaks out of warranty.
• Porsche 718 GTS / GT4
  • Phenomenal car, but it didn't quite fit right now. A 718, or Z06 is more of a replacement for the Focus, or GTA than a new daily. So, like the Alfa it gets left till later.

The C8Z was going to replace the TransAm and the Focus RS was to remain the daily. I was planning on later trading the Focus RS in for an EV, probably a Model 3, or Y several years old and doing a trade-in + cash deal, no financing. But since the C8Z was off the table, the budget went up.

Ultimately decided I wanted a no BS daily driver I'd have zero desire to mod, but one that was still FAST as hell, and excellent on ride comfort.

The Focus RS is awesome, and alive in a way few other cars are. Hardly anything can touch its handling and telepathic feedback. It's like the chassis dynamics are beamed straight into my brain. And you really CANNOT upset this car. That said, it's underpowered compared to everything else on it. To balance the power with the existing handling it needs another 100-150hp.

The TransAm, well, its on its last legs and needs significant care to fix. After all these years, I'm not sure if I have the heart left to spend the kind of money it would take to really fix the car, or if it's even worth it. While it hasn't reached rot, but there is rust EVERYWHERE. And it likely needs an A-Pillar replacement. It's rusting under the windshield and god knows whats under that. It was never a nice car to begin with. Just about everything by the drivetrain is worn to the extreme. It would be a good candidate for a race car if you stripped it and threw in a cage.

But with the cancellation of the Z, I wanted something fast. So I went and bought fast, REALLY, REALLLLLY Fast.

My new daily driver is a 2021 New To Me, Tesla Model S Plaid. It was a highway driver in Indiana before it came to me with 46k miles. The interior is super clean, no smoke, no tears, rips, stains...etc. So much room for just about everything. Comfortable to the extreme. Has probably the best factory stereo I've EVER heard in my life. It also has a Tesla certified warranty that will last till 2029, or ~95000 miles.

And my god, it's so fast. So immediate. Acceleration is truly oppressive and it does NOT STOP. If you stab it from a dead stop, it accelerates nearly as fast from 60-130, as it does from 0-60.

That said, it's not perfect. The steering is vague. The A-Pillars are quite large (problem with most newer cars anyways). You can feel the weight.

Its got stone chips from its previous owner, but they aren't really noticeable, most are touched up. I can barely notice them. There are a few I'm likely going to clean the touch-up paint out and redo with the squeegee method followed by a cut & buff. That should make them basically invisible.

50-70mph in just 1 second. 60-130 is less than 5 seconds.






And now all 3 cars are snug in the garage.

WildCard600

Congrats, OP.

Been looking at getting a model 3 for my wife since it would be a perfect commuter car. She wouldn't ever need to stop at sketchy gas stations ever again when you can just charge at home. As a transportation appliance within their limitations, they have some very compelling selling points.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I agree. I do consider the Tesla an appliance. A fast one, but an appliance none the less.

it’s ungodly fast, but kinda soulless to drive.

Used Model 3s can reliably be found for under $30k now still in warranty. and the ones under $25k qualify for the Used EV Tax Credit

I wish my GTAs shell were worth saving. But by the time I have the roof replaced, frame straightened and all of the rust fixed it’s getting into crazy money. I’m better off finding a good shell and transferring the drivetrain.

aliceempire

iTrader: (14)

That's how I feel with just about anything post drive by cable. The 'personality' of cars is lost, to me at least. That being said, fast is still fast. Electric stuff is fun. It's just not the same fun I have with my slow car(s). And that's ok.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

my Focus RS is DBW and it’s definitely not soulless. The EPAS is the best if any car I’ve ever been in. So much feedback. Between the steering feedback and the chassis balance it’s an extension of yourself. The suspension is however tuned for the track so stiff, even in normal mode.

vinny R

Congrats on the purchase, for what you were looking for and the money spent you bought well.
I drove my son's friend's Dual motor Tesla, not sure the model. Everything you all said is correct. Very fast but very utilitarian. I also did not like the interior, very plain IMHO, the lack of gauges and this big TV screen coupled with no engine noise or vibration I felt like it was more video game simulator. The power is undeniable and would be super fun to drive. After the honeymoon is over and pay off those traffic violations I think all that will be left is something that really just a gets from point A-B. Albeit very fast>

For me personally I am a great Canidate for an EV. I have a place to charge and I put 10 miles a day in my daily commute (that includes coming home for lunch). For me right now I will continue with ICE vehicles. I too will be in the market for a new to me Vette in the next couple years. I will evaluate the vehicle cost at that point and determine the model/year that will suite me, I am not looking for all out power. I love the new tech in all the newer cars and trucks but I also feel that they have gone to far with it. Are we sacrificing the WHOLE driving experience for ???

Tom 400 CFI

What's not to love? I think they're totally awesome...even if they render every "bad ***" muscle car of our time, irrelevant.

Very cool car, nice buy....congrats.

The thing is? ALL new cars are appliances w/no (or relatively little) soul. Even that C8. I know the C8Z "makes sounds" (at least) but with all the refinement, isolation, and no manual trans -rather, a seamless shifting DCT...the experience is rather detached....blase'. Rather "sterile". I used to joke when I had my C6 -which was a manual trans, that it was "the boringest fast car ever made". It was totally uninteresting, unrewarding to drag race, hammer on, etc. That's just cars now days; soul-less appliances.

Using the C8Z as an example, I love this video to illustrate. If it doesn't take you there, go to 9:18, and watch the "unbridled mayhem" that ensues as she makes a 10.xx second pass.


I mean....she could be playing a sim. Or sitting in her living room couch.

So w/the Tesla....yeah, it's soulless, but at least it'll rip almost anything a new one, while providing other significant benefits.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Congrats on the purchase, i think 🤔 😄.

I can't bring myself to get new stuff, much to sterile of a feeling when driving. Fast, but boring if thats possible.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Pretty much all straight line runs are boring to me. I gotta have curves so I have to mix braking, cornering, acceleration...etc.

Tom 400 CFI

Both are fun for different reasons. But that doesn't matter; the vid was an example to illustrate a point; ALL new cars, even a car running a 10 second pass, are blase'.
Thus, it's hard, IMO to fault a Tesla for being that way. Everything is that way -even a high strung "racy" car.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

That's kind of true as time passes anyways though. Think of the old 60's muscle cars on Bias Ply tires running 14's compared to how blaise it was for a 350 TPI car to run those same 14's.

Technology marches on. What was once wild is now common place.

I remember the old thread here on TGO about how to build a supercharged 500hp TPI on these forums and all of the things you had to do to make it happen? Now that's common place with naturally aspirated engines, no boost required, nor giant cams.

Tom 400 CFI

Yep.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Acceleration is painful. Stabbing it at 40mph feels like you got rear-ended by someone.

vinny R

Acceleration Awesome!...Video game dash Cheezey!

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Im not against EVs or whatever. But i like the sound of a V8 engine, the smell of burning tires, the nostalgia i guess.

novadk13

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I do it for the 9 second 1/4 miles and the unbelievable 60-130 time.