Hi Mike,

now let me try for my longer take on things...
I am totally with Charles on not to buy a new one but get a 2-4 years old car.
As I have been the statistician behind the german version of the "Blue Book"
till the end of the last century I have some bias but also lots of data ;-)

With the used car those with heavy engine and nice options tend to be relatively cheaper.
I myself drive a 300HP car, but got it for less than 35% of list price, which is still less
than half of haggled new price, exterior nothing flashy but useful,
nice leather interior I really wanted and most gimmicks - which are mostly not used by me
from automatic distance checker over navigation to seat warmer,
but are good to have for 80% of female population around here.
And Rock can be heard even above 200Km/H...

Yes it guzzles in the city - but in the city I am 70% on 2 wheels -
either with a small motor bike (just a CB500, 57HP is enough to snuff for most Porsches) or bicycle.
Mostly for convinience - with some fun factor and the option not to be tooooo late by driving faster
and not to stay behind other cars if a red light happens to be on.
On short trips the motorbike is slower if I include dressing and helmet time,
as red lights are sometimes ignored by those not sporting a license plate ;-)

This is geared somewhat to the specifics of me living in Frankfurt, Germany:
less parking space and we still have the autobahn instead of guns ;-)
And yes, between 100 and 150HP the benefit decreases and above 150HP it is mostly indulgence.

So look for 11-15K used car, perhaps 100-165HP Audi A4 as you don't have Autobahn to enjoy the S4 or RS4,
2-2.5K for used motor bike and another .5K for a bicycle if that is usable in your living/working scenario.

Might give you more options to have fun.

And I agree totally that it is better to be a rampaging stallion than to have one on your car
and a ludicrous belly getting out of the Ferrari or up the Harley.
Having 2 options on 2 wheels curbs the tendency to gain weight for me -
I will not buy wider riding gear, so if the belly grows a bit I am forced to the bicycle even for longer trips.

IAC hope you have fun with your indulgence ;-)

thomas

>I think I am entitled to one relatively inextravagant indulgence.
>
>I love motorcycles, even had a BMW R90S in my youth, but that urge has passed. I don't want to be one of those fat guys ....
>>>Allie told me last night she thinks I'm nuts. Opinions?