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Dilemma - Do I need a different car?

G Guest
Hi all - Since I got 4805 back on the road, I have been driving it quite a bit. I probably put 30-50 miles a week on it. Here's the problem - I am married and have three young children. I have been taking turns taking the kids for rides, ice cream, etc. And it has gotten me to thinking how nice it would be to have an ice cream getter that seats 5. I mentioned to my wife that I ought to sell both Panteras and buy something that would accomodate us all and she liked the idea too.

So, I'm not saying I'm going to do it. But, if I were, what would be some good choices. I find myself drawn to vintage European cars. I really like the styling of the Longchamp and the Maserati Quattroporte, but I'm not sure either will seat 5. I like the fact that the Longchamp and Deauville have the same Cleveland I am used to. I like the fact that the Longchamp is availabe with a ZF. What other options are there. I would like to stick with Italian, followed by German and finally anything else. Any suggestions. Are there any Alfas I am overlooking?
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markcharltonmarkcharltonOld enough to know better and still young enough not to care. My '71 Pantera
John,

My first choice to satisfy your requirement is a Ferrari 400i. I have a good friend who lent me his for a week in California and I can say that it was a very enjoyable (and in my opinion, beautiful) car. The engine is sublime and the 5 speed manual (most are GM automatics) is like butter. Room for four (or five ) and some luggage space make it a truly functional GT. Add the fact that the V12 has chain (not belts) driven cams and Bosch fuel injection means service issues are MUCH less than your typical vintage Ferrari. Some find the looks dull, but this is the car that Enzo Ferrari drove to work every day, so how dull could it be?

Following the 400i closely is a Longchamp GTS. More common, but still "pretty" is the BMW 3.0 CSi (or even the later 635 CSi). The Alfa Romeo Montreal is a nice car, but not for five.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Mark

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J Joe6pack (Guest)
Good choice. I have always been drawn to the 400i. However, I didn't think it would work for 5. Same with the Longchamp. I didn't think they had the middle seatbelts in the rear. There is no way my wife would let the kids ride without seatbelts. Still, I would love to see a 400i up close. Any experience with the Mondial?
davidbdavidbMember
Two Panteras? Wife and 3 small children?

Teach the wife how to drive one, put the two smallest in your front seat and have her take the other. A car seat fits nicely in a Pantera.

If that doesn't fly, go alone in your Pantera to the ice cream store. Drive it as fast as you can, with no freaked out wife slowing you down. Grab a few pints of ice cream and blast right home.

Then sit on the deck with a stupid grin on your face as you all enjoy the ice cream.
noquarternoquarterMember
Am I in the wrong Forum, recommend a Ferrari? Well, if that's the objective view, then by all means. And the 400 is beautiful Wink

I would (no surprise) advocate the Longchamp if your children are small and the Deauville if you need the extra space in the back. It's a deTomaso (!), it's Cleveland-easy. What more can you want? ZF is difficult though, I believe only 5 of the 400 Longchamps have them.

Now as to selling the Panteras, don't do it, have them all. I understand your point, I drive my Pantera 20 days/year, and my Longchamp up to 300 days/year. But I'll never sell my Pantera, just looking at it makes me happy...
J Joe6pack (Guest)
Hmmm. David and Mikael just gave me an idea. If I could find a good 4-seater the wife could live with, then I could keep one Pantera. Then, she could take two kids and I could take one and we could rendezvous at the ice cream place. Alternatively, when one of us has something to do, the other could take all three kids.

Anybody want to trade a Longchamp for a rusty, but mostly complete Pantera.
ahudsonahudsonMember
I hate to admit this, but Mark Charlton has good taste. The color on the 400i he chose is just fabulous too, and the pick of the litter far as I'm concerned.

When my kids were small, I went through a 993tt and 996tt and that got too tight, even for 4.

The 400i is a roomier car than you'd imagine, very elegant too. There are 5 speeds but rare.

You most likely do NOT want a Mondial.

For other German, though potentially 'dull' in the styling ranks is a MB 500E, motors assembled by Porsche, hotrods and rare enough to maintain a flat resale value. Also in 5 speeds.

An Alfa 164 is a good car, but you might want to up that AAA coverage to 'unlimited' first.

The Jaguar XJ-R is another mean car, blacked out grills, lowered, 18" rims, supercharged V8s, tons of room and special. Plus, pretty dependable and not costly up front either. See one in black before you say no.

Let us know,
deloreansanddetomasosdeloreansanddetomasosMember
Don't sell the Panteras, did you actually buy them for the kids? for ice cream? I would dare say no. If you have a son he'll want to kill you for selling them when it's his turn to drive. Hell I'm sure a daughter would be pissed too! Additionally, something I missed out on in life was working on a car with my dad. My dad isn't a car guy and I never really got to do too much with my dad while I was growing up. A Pantera is an incredible car that your kids will dream about soon enough. Just my 2 cents. The deck is stacked in your favor.
J Joe6pack (Guest)
Thanks Mark - But, I already have two of those Smiler.

After much research, I am thinking that an M5 might fit the bill - driver's car, manual tranny, good following, limited numbers, good resale, seats 5, fast as hell. Any thoughts?

I haven't had a chance to look at the MB E Class hot rods yet, but that's next.

D&D - I'll be in Queens over Labor Day for the US Open and our 15th wedding anniversary (see why she needs to stay, she's put up with my crap for all these years). You think I can hit you up for some local recommendations as time draws nearer?
deniscdeniscCaretaker of 8MA1244 '70 Euro Mangusta DRIVE THEM, THEY WERE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ONE, BUY A POSTER!
Joe, How about a Cosworth V6 block, with a Yamaha injection, redline at 12,000 rpm, 5 speeds, dual exhaust, dropped suspension, seats 5 in a sleeper body... all from the factory.

See some of the SHO clubs, they have many aftermarket parts, cars are very affordable.

I am biased I prefer the early cars.

Denis
garth66garth66"When speed is the only thing that counts"
quote:
I am thinking that an M5 might fit the bill - driver's car, manual tranny, good following, limited numbers, good resale, seats 5, fast as hell. Any thoughts?

You might even consider a late model M3; a lot sportier and more fun to drive than a 5 series. When I was looking for my BMW I was considering a 5-series until I drove one. I was expecting it to be similar to the 3-series, just a tad larger. It was a completely different car and felt like my grandfather's Cadillac when compared to the 3-series.

So, sell only ONE of the Panteras (the least favorite of the two) and buy 1-3 year old M3 or M5. Modern comfort and convenience for the whole family, still fun to drive, AND you still get to enjoy your Pantera!
George PGeorge PAdmin.
Some day the kids will be grown and gone, then what? You'll be wishin' you had the Pantera. So I agree with everyone else who wrote "keep the Pantera".

So here's an alternative suggestion.

For now, keep the good Pantera in the garage, polished & ready to run. Since you're keeping the Pantera the "family fun car" doesn't need to be Italian, or German, you'll still have the Pantera for your exotic car "fix". Locate & purchase a hot rod station wagon from the sixties or early seventies, there are lots to choose from. For example, a family member had a Pontiac Catalina station wagon with a 389 (or was it a 421, I forget) & 4 speed way back when they were new. Or ... how about a 1971 Ford Torino station wagon equipped with a 351C 4V & C6 for grins with the wife & kids?
pantera1887pantera1887Member
quote:
Originally posted by David B:
M5 sounds nice. But why not stay in the family and get a killer Mustang. Power, looks - even comes in a convertible model for those nice summer nights. Many Pantera owners seem to like the combo. The back seat is perfect for kids.


I can vouch for the Mustang GTs. Cheap, fast, excellent quality and back seats for the kids. Unfortunately they messed up on the 2010.

Mike
M Munga (Guest)
Hi to all I am new to this site and to car forums, Motor bikes are the commodity in which I have passion for particularly Italian, I have also found (like your self) that I am limited to just one family member in which i can share my joy with,this may not be a bad thing, does your whole family share your passion? sorry I am digressing from what I should be saying is this "don't sell the Pantera keep it and buy a vehicle to do your family jaunt to the ice cream shop", you don't get anywhere if you start selling things to get other things and besides your passion led you to a Pantera and now you want to sell? I have several motorbikes 5 in fact and feel that when I make a purchase I make shore that it is not for a short term but also consider them as investment they all have there place in my life .
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