Ultimate daily driver?

Present 6 Series, although you don`t want a BMW and it`s totally new:

http://www.netcarshow.com/bmw/2012-6-series_coupe/1024x768/wallpaper_2b.htm
http://www.netcarshow.com/bmw/2012-6-series_coupe/1024x768/wallpaper_52.htm

I guess it`s more comfortable than a M3 and I like the its elegant styling very much.

The V8 probably won`t improve your comfort over a M3, but your other choices are fine in my opinion.

 

Jag XFR or XKR. I considered each of the cars you list and more. I had the same criteria, as my DD had been an M5. The XFR is about as fast with 510 bhp and is way more comfortable. I hardly ever see any XFRs or even regular XFs. XKs are more common but I like the 4 doors and the styling of the XFR better.

 

The XFR is truly a great car for a reasonable price.

 

I like all three of the cars you listed, I would go for the Aston Martin, I really love the Maserati, but the Aston Martin is elegant and should be comfortable.

My ultimate daily driver, either a Porsche Cayenne GTS or a Maserati Quattroporte GTS, love the exhaust noise of the QP.

 

Wait for the Mk III Audi RS6.

I'm an original owner of a Mk I, and, yes, it's that good. It's not without issues, however, and the Mk III surely have some. It certainly won't be inexpensive to acquire, insure or operate, but it will virtually guarantee you won't run across many others, will be amazingly capable (AWD), and will be a mid-sized sedan that can do it all. It looks pretty good, although the spy shots probably aren't doing it any justice.

Food for thought...

CW

 

I have used an M3, three M5s(e34, e39 & e60), 740iL, S10, Blazer, 911, Vette, Viper and Mazdaspeed3 as my daily drivers over the last 20 years or so, and my current Audi S5 Cabriolet is the best so far. It is plenty fast, looks great and has the luxury to absorb the frustration of heavy traffic in my daily commute in Atlanta area traffic. In fact, with its Quartz Gray and red top and interior color combo, I get more complements on it than any car I have ever owned, including my 6 Ferraris.

 

As far as I'm concerned the 911 is a perfect DD.

Maserati Quattroporte GTS would be awesome too! Although I've never driven one, as Ash said, the exhaust note is phenomenal!

Out of your list I'd go for the Aston.

 

Close friend of mine has a Vantage as a daily. Put 68k miles on it in 3 years around Los Angeles. Says its pretty bulletproof.

 

I would agree on the Audi S5. There are a ton of Audis all over California, but the A5/S5 is relatively rare. I think dealers only get 1 or 2 a month allocated of the S5, and the A5 isn't much commoner, probably because the two-door configuration isn't all that practical.

 

If you want to avoid the image problem, I don't think a Bentley or Aston is going to be much better than Ferrari. The Maserati is at least subtle. But, all of these cars are going to cost a moderate fortune in repairs, which is why people buy Mercs, Lexuses, BMWs, etc. instead.

The Porsche 997 is still relatively distinctive, and with the 991 launch prices on CPO ones should be more attractive. They are daily driveable unless you get one with stupidly huge rims.

The Audi A5/S5, which parkerfe mentions, is a nice option. Audi doesn't have the snob factor that comes with a Ferrari or Bentley, but the coupes are just about the best looking cars on the road right now and much rarer than the A4 and A6.

As a third option, if you really do want to be an individualist, look into a 1970-ish Merc 280SL or Porsche 911 and just get it retrofitted with Bluetooth, iPod-ready audio, etc. Early 911 engines can be rebuilt to RS spec (>200 bhp) and will give many modern performance cars a good run for the money. Not only will repairs be reasonable, because there's basically nothing to break, but you might actually make money by the time you sell it. The Mercs are so nice to drive, but probably slower than you'd want. Might not be what you had in mind, but personally I've gotten terrified by the complexity, obsolescence and depreciation of modern cars.

 

I wouldn't bother with an Aston Martin for a daily driver. The Maserati GranTurismo S automatic is probably the best daily driver out there. I quite like the SLs too but they have gotten pretty unattractive. I have not driven the new Bentley GT but the old one was not a "driver's car" in any sense of the word.

 

No love for the SLS? I would think it would be very reliable and you wouldn't ever try your key in another's car if you forgot where you parked. They remain pretty unusual.

 

It may sound silly but I don't think you can beat a B8 S4 for everyday. Absolutely love mine and honestly have more fun in it then my dad QP GTS (even though that car sounds so much better)

 

From your list I would suggest the Granturismo

 

IMHO the 997 is the perfect DD for someone who might have a small child and still enjoys the commute. As others posted, if you don't go crazy with the some of the performance options, the ride is fine.

 

They remain unusual due to the price tag. An SLS wouldn't fit the OPs budget. Not that it would fit mine either

 

Audi R8's have dropped below 100k now..

 

It seems that a primary desire for the OP is the exclusivity. I would have probably recommended a Porsche for a DD, but given the exclusivity factor, I would put that far down the list.

I'd definitely go for the AM given your criteria. Even the V8 Vantage will provide quite a bit of exclusivity, IMO more so than the Bentley or Maserati.

Is the S5 really rare in CA? I see them all the time where I live. I think it's a solid car and looks super good, but I wouldn't say it is at all rare.

 

+1 (errr, 2?)

I keep looking at other cars (including various Maseratis and Ferraris) and just can't come up with a solution that eclipses the 997 for all-around, daily-driving high performance.

I could care less about "exclusivity"; I drive cars for me, not to impress a bunch of wankers. but if that's your thing buy an Aston.

 

We don't get the RS line in US. It's too bad it would be the best DD you could buy. Well except for the Avant version.

Aston blends better than most and has appeal because they have nice lines but they are slugs to drive. So on your list it's easily the top choice. Bentley Screams look at me, even more so than a Ferrari. The Maserati is the best car of the three but I think it goes against your wanting to blend into the woodwork statement and not attract too much attention.


One of my DD's is an Audi S4. It's an amazingly comfortable car with a lot of pep. I would always say Audi for a DD if you don't want to drive around in a 911.

 

I live in San Diego and have an A5 as a daily driver right now, so I'm tuned in to A5/S5s on the road. I have seen fewer than 10 S5s on the road here. They seem less common than 997s, but they're not rare in the sense that a Granturismo would be.

BMWs and Mercs are dirt common around here.

 

My mistake, read it again and saw the $100k limit.

Vanquish 2+2 perhaps then?