Choosing the next car

This vehicle has been at the top of my "desires" list since it was shown as a concept in 1994, then known as the Lemans. I just could not wait to see it. And when the R8 V8 was revealed, I fell in love. At first I had a few reservations, in that it might not date as well as, say the 911, but with the introduction of the V10, and it's stunning interior, I am feeling a bit better about it. With it's Lamborghini sourced 525hp V10, it is an amazing ride.

The Hold Up.
My wallet. It starts at $147,500, and you know it goes up from there. I wish it had a sun roof. A Targa would be very cool too. Of course there is now a V10 Spyder, and while I really like this one too, it does loose the side blades and the overall shape of the car.

Audi is about to bring us all yet another gift. The RS5. It was original not planned to come to the US, but apparently there is a God, and they've changed their minds. It won't get here until this spring. and it comes with a 450hp 4.2-liter V8. I have an S4, which has got to be one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. In fact, I can not seem to part with it. I am expecting this one the raise the bar, inside and out... and it looks great.

The Hold Up.
It's not here yet.

Let me just start by saying that this car is simply amazing. It looks great. It's roomy (some might argue this, but it is fine for me) and it goes, and fast.

Finally GM (and Cadillac in particular) put something on the market that would make me consider parting with my German friends. It's even a bargain when you consider what you get. A supercharged 6.2L V-8 delivering 556 horsepower. If that's not enough, it's available in a manual. The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is simply impressive.

The Hold Up.
This is really silly to point out (but frankly, it is silly that they did it to such a great effort) but the choice of trim in the interior, other than the $600 wood option, is a cheap looking printed reproduction on plastic of carbon fibre. Honestly, I just do not see the logic here. If you have to cut a few pennies out of the production, do it in the trunk, where I can't see it. Even a simple clean material, like aluminum, or even just a solid anything would be better.

I don't care for the limit of 3 color choices of the interior - all black, (the call it Ebony), all light grey (they call it Titanium) and only one in two-tone, black and yellow (they call it Ebony and Saffron), or the $3,400 Recaro seat design, even thou they are better than the stock ones. I would love to at least have the option to get a two-tone interior in black with titanium inserts. The $700 sunroof does not open, it only flips up, altho there are a few dealers offering a smaller, after market install that does open for round $1200. (you would order your vehicle without it, and then they would cut a hole and install the new one).

And this might be an odd choice, but I think I prefer the V-shaped egg-crate grill that is on the regular CTS coupe over the X-shaped one on the V.

And speaking of the devil, here comes the wagon. Seriously, could GM make a better chest pump? Where are you going to get a wagon that looks this good, with a supercharged 6.2L V-8 delivering 556 horsepower for $62,990? It's even available in a manual! I mean, come on, what's it gonna take?

The Hold Up.
Other than the very minor points attributed to the coupe above, it is difficult to slam this vehicle (some would point out that IT IS a wagon, but to those I say, whatever, go buy the coupe or the sedan).

Everybody likes Ferrari. Everybody. What's not to like? It's a jewel in the automotive industry, with it's storied past and amazing vehicles. The 458 raises the bar in what I think is a stunning shape, particularly the shape of the front and the headlight cluster.

The one gripe for me has been their interiors, they felt a bit dated, but this too has been addressed and the new interior makes this car extremely desirable. When most people think of a Ferrari, they think of a red one, but a few days ago I saw a gorgeous charcoal silver one and I swear it was like a diamond calling my name.

The Hold Up.
My wallet. And, it does not come in manual.

There are countless variations of the 911 on the market today (I own one of them) and most, if not all are amazing executions within their segment, particularly the high end models.

I recently had the opportunity to drive a very tricked out 2010 911 GT2, and I have to say that it is one of the best machines I've ever driven. And it isn't even the top of the line.

For a period during my research I was completely stuck on having a 911, almost bewitched by it. I tried them all, even classic 993s. Somehow I got to a place where I realized that it was starting to feel a bit old, and it was magnified when the new Panamera came out with it's stunning interior, and then followed by the refresh of the Cayenne.

The Hold Up.
Porsche has been releasing an unusual amount of 911 models lately, including the latest, the Speedster. I think this is an indication that something new is about to be born. The rumor is that a new 911, codenamed the 901 is currently being tested. It will be a bit longer and wider that the current model, but will retain the basic 911 shape. No word on the interior, but it is my guess that it will follow the design language established by the Panamera and the new Cayenne.

I do not want to make that mistake again. When I bought my 996, the 997 came out just a few months after that and I have to tell you that I was not happy. Additionally, in some ways, I started to feel that the 911 was feeling a bit tired, especially when compared to the R8. That said, I am partial to the Targa, even thou is it far from the top of the line.

I can't think of a more controversial vehicle that Porsche has built than this one. (The Panamera might take it's place) but this second generation might be the turning point. I hated the original, even thou it saved Porsche, but this new one I like, and I like it alot.

The front alone gives it a more aggressive stance and changes the overall personality. And once you get inside, you won't want to leave. It is luxurious.

The lineup starts with the 300hp Cayenne, followed by the 380hp Cayenne S Hybrid, then the 4000hp Cayenne S, and my favorite, the 500hp Cayenne Turbo.

The Hold Up.
I've had a few SUVs in my life, the last was a Volkswagen Touareg (because I could not bite the bullet with the first gen Cayenne, and I thought it was a better vehicle overall) and I just got out of the SUV mindset and started to really like coupes and certain sedans. I'm just not sure how I would feel getting back into a "truck. Other than that (and the price, especially if you load it up) are the only points to make. Take it on the streets and small it around, you won't believe you're in a truck. This is the SUV to get if you're looking for an SUV.