[jacketree]

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the list. While I wait for my $50,000 from Garvin (In my excitement I forgot about the taxes. This is a gift, right?) I can give my basic parameters:

1.  Must be a manual transmission. At least five speed.  I may consider paddle shift if No. 3 holds true.

2.  I am not wed to VW at all. My first VW was my dad's 1969 Karmann Ghia.  The poor man's Porsche. Great car. Met its demise when one Famer A. Grey from east bf Minnesota destroyed it on the road into downtown Denver.  My second VW was a 1985 Scirroco. Piece of crap.  I could write a nice travelogue concerning all the places that spawn of Satan broke down and abandoned me.  Must have gone through 8 fuel pumps.  My third and current VW is a hand me down from my sister-in-law, possibly in retribution for dumping the Scirroco (for free!) on her daughter.  Hardly a fair trade as the 2.0L Golf, according to my mechanic who favors Japanese iron, was apparently made on a Tuesday and inescapably has been extremely reliable. Knock on the old engine block.

3. Mrs. Jacketree has to be furious when I pull it into the driveway unannounced.

4. No Audis. Just expensive Volkswagens.

5. Not sure I'm a 'vette guy. May be a great reason to get one.

6. I could buy a Porsche mini van if they made such a thing and it would work for No. 3, so that really might work. My future son-in-law wants me to get a Porsche or Mini.  (Then ease up on the number coming to the wedding!)

7. I've been looking at Mini, Mazda and Subaru; although driving an Impreza doesn't exactly scream mid-life crisis. Nor does buying a Ford Fiesta, which is probably what will happen.

8. Any Hondas or Toyotas worth considering?

9. When I was a kid, all I wanted to drive was a Fiat Spyder. Maybe I should just go with that.  (Fix It Again Tony?)

10.  I love the Caterham Seven and Ariel Atom.  Street legal! Man, it would be worth it just to borrow one and pretend I had gone over the edge. Totally satisfies No. 3.  Of course part of my midlife crisis would then be finding an apartment and someone else to share it with.

[jacketree]

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the list. While I wait for my $50,000 from Garvin (In my excitement I forgot about the taxes. This is a gift, right?) I can give my basic parameters:

1.  Must be a manual transmission. At least five speed.  I may consider paddle shift if No. 3 holds true.

2.  I am not wed to VW at all. My first VW was my dad's 1969 Karmann Ghia.  The poor man's Porsche. Great car. Met its demise when one Famer A. Grey from east bf Minnesota destroyed it on the road into downtown Denver.  My second VW was a 1985 Scirroco. Piece of crap.  I could write a nice travelogue concerning all the places that spawn of Satan broke down and abandoned me.  Must have gone through 8 fuel pumps.  My third and current VW is a hand me down from my sister-in-law, possibly in retribution for dumping the Scirroco (for free!) on her daughter.  Hardly a fair trade as the 2.0L Golf, according to my mechanic who favors Japanese iron, was apparently made on a Tuesday and inescapably has been extremely reliable. Knock on the old engine block.

3. Mrs. Jacketree has to be furious when I pull it into the driveway unannounced.

4. No Audis. Just expensive Volkswagens.

5. Not sure I'm a 'vette guy. May be a great reason to get one.

6. I could buy a Porsche mini van if they made such a thing and it would work for No. 3, so that really might work. My future son-in-law wants me to get a Porsche or Mini.  (Then ease up on the number coming to the wedding!)

7. I've been looking at Mini, Mazda and Subaru; although driving an Impreza doesn't exactly scream mid-life crisis. Nor does buying a Ford Fiesta, which is probably what will happen.

8. Any Hondas or Toyotas worth considering?

9. When I was a kid, all I wanted to drive was a Fiat Spyder. Maybe I should just go with that.  (Fix It Again Tony?)

10.  I love the Caterham Seven and Ariel Atom.  Street legal! Man, it would be worth it just to borrow one and pretend I had gone over the edge. Totally satisfies No. 3.  Of course part of my midlife crisis would then be finding an apartment and someone else to share it with.