What kind of car would you buy for the money?

Inspired by the buy/lease a car thread, I was wondering what you guys would come up with in different price ranges. I'm not talking best car for the value in the range, just the car that you'd most want to have, new or used. Break up the ranges more (or less) if you like, I just didn't want to go overboard with it.

$9,999 or less -- probably something Japanese and used
$10,000-$19,999 -- A Wrangler just because I always wanted one when I was a kid.
$20,000-$34,999 -- 1970s Corvette Stingray. You can get them cheaper, but to be safe. HM: a new Dodge Charger.
$35,000-$49,999 -- Fully-loaded Mazda RX-8.
$50,000-$59,999 -- A new Corvette Coupe. I prefer the look of the cheaper one to the Z06. I don't want a hatchback Corvette.
$60,000-$79,999 -- The car that Winston Wolf is driving in Pulp Fiction. It probably costs this much and I like the sound it makes.
$80,000-$99,999 -- Mercedes SL Roadster. May have to sneak over $100 grand to get the good options.
$100,0000-plus (money no object) -- Aston Martin Vanquish S or DB9. I can't decide. Either way I could pretend I was James Bond, and that's all that matters. HM: the $452,000 Mercedes. Just because it costs that much.

 

I'm so poor, I don't even know what the cars I really like cost!

 

I want another mid-80s Isuzu Impulse. Loved that little car.

 

Neither the Corvette Coupe nor the Z06 is a hatchback.

 

I know. The Z06 just looks like one to me.

 

$9,999 or less -- used Lexus (my current car)
$10,000-$19,999 -- used Lexus
$20,000-$34,999 -- used Lexus.
$35,000-$49,999 -- new Lexus (my future car).
$50,000-$59,999 -- new Lexus.
$60,000-$79,999 -- new Lexus.
$80,000- no need for anything higher.

 

$9,999 or less -- Whatever strong, dependable used Japanese car - Toyota, Nissan or Honda - one could find. Either that or a used Z (either '76-'78 or possibly '90 or '91 ... if the mileage and possible corrosion didn't doom the car before I got my paws on it.
$10,000-$19,999 -- Toyota Corolla S ... unless one can somehow get a Camry in this price window not completely stripped.
$20,000-$34,999 -- Acura RSX Type-S if you can find a 2006 sitting on the lots ... otherwise, a maxed-out Civic Si, which is pretty much the same thing, hence why Honda/Acura nixed the RSX. Should max out at under $24K.
$35,000-$49,999 -- Nissan 350Z Track ... should come in under $40K.
$80,000-$99,999 -- Acura NSX (make sure to garage it, though ... aluminum body panels aren't easy to fix)
$100,0000-plus (money no object) -- Ferrari F430 ... a reach, but so is the category.

Gotta agree with HejiraHenry. I had a version of the Izuzu Impulse - rebadged as a Geo Storm GSi - and it was a great car for me. Gave me four-plus years and I bought it from my parents with 150,000 miles. Almost 80,000 miles later, still ran well ... only absorbed $1,400 loss over that time ... OK, that and a clutch overhaul (hey, the original lasted 180,000 miles).

 

So in other words, you want the convertible. The coupe is the hatchback and there is no C5-style notchback coupe available for the C6. [/Corvettenerd] And the RX-8 drinks oil; it's just the nature of the beast. [/rotarynerd] And you'll have to spend $100K to get an SL, even before options and dealer markup.

$9,999 or less -- Suzuki V-Strom 1000.
$10,000-$19,999 -- Scion tC. (It's a Toyota, it's a three-door coupe and it has a lively engine.)
$20,000-$34,999 -- Three right off the bat I'd consider in this price range: Ford Mustang GT; Honda Accord coupe V6 with the 6-speed manual; and the Honda S2000 sports car.
$35,000-$49,999 -- BMW 335i coupe.
$50,000-$59,999 -- Two (well, three) choices: A Corvette coupe or a BMW Z4 3.0si, in roadster or coupe form.
$60,000-$79,999 -- BMW M coupe or roadster (the hotted-up version of the Z4).
$80,000-$99,999 -- Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa (very cool, very rare) or BMW M5 ... 4 doors, plenty of room for passengers and luggage, 507 horsepower and more fun than ... well, anything you can name, pretty much. Downside: the ever-annoying iDrive..
$100,000-$125,000 -- Mercedes SL550 or a BMW M6 (M6 engine, two fewer doors).
$125,000-plus (money no object) -- Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano. Oh, wait ... no object? Audi R10 TDI.

 

Mazda RX-8 is little more than a toy ... manufacturer has added two doors to something considered a sports car, which is worse than a football coach claiming he has two starting quarterbacks (usually, it has none). Additionally, rotary engines pretty much epitomize the term "nightmare maintenance."

And 2MCM, while I like the S2000 - would like it a lot more if it weren't a ragtop - good luck getting one for under $35K.

 

$9,999 or less - Vespa scooter
$10k to 20 - Basic Jeep Wrangler
$20k to 35 - Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (with plenty of after-market accessories)
$35k to 50 - Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (four-door) Rubicon (with plenty of after-market accessories)

The only thing I might consider in the higher brackets is a Land Rover Defender G4 Challenge edition (imported from England). The steering wheel would be on the wrong side for America, but those are great vehicles.

 

$0-30,000 - a pre-owned Cadillac DTS.
$30,001 + - a pre-owned Cadillac DTS and a bull horn to tell the world how much cash I've banked.

I love cars, but I hate the cost involved. The car I'm driving now I bought new mainly because it was the last 2004 left on the lot in April 2005 and they lopped more than a third of the sticker price off. They're a horrible investment...and don't bullshit yerself. Anything that costs that much is an investment.

If a stock broker called you and said "I have a great opportunity for you: gimme thirty grand and, in three years, I'll turn it into twelve," you'd hang up on his ass.

 

Dodge Stratus.