OT: Grown-up Car, Audi TT, S2000, ??? Options

[bryanf]

I've been driving my '75 2.0 daily to work for the last 12 years or so and have loved it. For those of you familiar with bay area I probably have the perfect 914 commute because I drive from half moon bay to Menlo Park...so its about 12 miles of twisty mountain roads followed by about 12 miles of blasting down the highway. Unfortunately, I'm getting to the point in my career where I need to project a successful "image" and my poor little 914 is just too tired looking...

Sooooo I need a new car...my criteria are

1. Fun
2. Professional
3. Fun
4. under $20k (used)
5. Reliable


Drove a tt and had a blast, but haven't driven an s2000 yet. I would love an Elise, but it is just too spendy right now.

suggestions?

[mudfoot76]

I've been lucky to have the chance to put quite a few miles behind the wheel of a TT Quatro coupe and S2000. The TT wins hands down as the better looking car, but driving it, I felt like I was in a torpedo. The TT cabriolets, IMO, look like (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) but if they are still as fun to drive I could get over the appearance. The TT is also has better road manners on the highways. For canyon carving, the S2k really shines. Revving to 9k is just awe inspiring, but is also makes for sucky stop and go driving as the motor feels as gutless as my 914 did after it dropped two cylinders. If you fit in a TT, it makes for the more comfortable daily driver, and since you have an SUV for when you need to collect people from the airport, the complete lack of passenger and luggage space isn't an issue. Not that the S2k has a big trunk either...

I also happen to own a MINI for my daily driver and I think it is great. Good fuel economy (and I have the S), if I need to haul stuff I just fold down the back seats and away I go. Plenty of room for luggage, or a lawnmower (done this), or 5 Fuchs (done this too multiple times) and other parts for my 914.

E36 M3 four door would also be nice. I think that really would be the best of all the worlds. If I had to sell my MINI and 914, I'd try to get one of these...