The Chris Struttmann Report

So my car got rear-ended this weekend. I’m pretty sure they’re going to total it since it’s fallen down the depreciation curve substantially since the last time this has happened. Soooo… I’m going to take this opportunity to do one of my favorite things… internet car shop.

First let’s pick out some things that are important to me:

• Manual Transmission (automatics are too much to repair)
• 170 HP MINIMUM(Christine had 210)
• Rear wheel drive. Though not mandatory, I’d really really like to have a RWD car
• Convertibles are good. Even if you don’t use it that often, it’s amazing when you do.
• Coupe. My last car was 2-door and it worked out GREAT.

Now here are some cars that I like that (for the most part) match the above criterion and their respective likely-ness of actually happening.

• Infiniti G37S Coupe (very slim to none)
• Mid 2000s Infiniti G35 Coupe (low)
• Mid 2000s Nissan 350Z (low)
• Mid/Late 90s Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo (medium)
• Mid/Early 2000s Honda S2000 (medium to medium-high), this is one of the ones that I REALLY want
• Late 90s/Early 2000s Honda Prelude (medium to medium-high), though doesn’t fit the RWD criteria
• Chrysler Crossfire (low). This thing is ODDLY growing on me, normally I hate it, but it HAS to be in Black
• Late 90s BMW Z3 Coupe (low, based on limited availability). The Coupe is EXTREMELY hard to find, but they’re SOOOO sweet looking
• Late 90s/Early 2000s Mercedes SLK Roadster (low). Again, it’d have to be in a good color.
• Mid 2000s MAZDASPEED 3 Hatchback (medium). Has to be the MAZDASPEED edition though, or else it’s garbage.
• I’m sure I’ll be adding to the list as I think of new cars…