KYDan
Platinum Member
Yes, my love affair with sporty cars started with my first one. I bought an old, ragged out Austin Healy 106 (precursor to the 3000) in 1967. I loved that car even though it was sort of "doggy" in its class. I totalled it in 1968 after all my restoration work and sold it for parts. I wasn't able to afford another sporty car until 1974 when I bought a new Dodge Charger. With all the pollution controls it was sort of doggy for what it was too. Life circumstances put additional sporty cars on hold for an extended period of time. 1987 changed that with a Mazda RX 7. Sold it and bought a first edition 1993 Firebird Formula in July of that year. What a fun car, the first one in Kentucky according to the dealer. LS1 series engine with a 6 speed manual transmission. Then in 1996 bought a Cadillac El Dorado, nice car, but the electrical system was a POC! Sold it and got a MB SLK 230 Kompressor, that may have been the most fun car I have ever owned. Not a pin you to the seat performer, but oh, what handling. With a 5 speed manual transmission it was a hoot! Then in 2002 traded it for the SLK 320, a really pretty car, but a dog performer. Traded it in 2005 for the SLK 350, nice car good performance, great looks and fun to drive. Dropped a valve in it in 2008 and traded it in for something with a rear seat with the arrival of grandchildren. Moved up to the CLK series and bought a 550 with the AMG package. This is my favorite car of all times. Solid performer with 382 HP and great handling. With the 6 speed automatic and manual paddle shifting it is great. 0-60 in 5 seconds and limited top end at 164 mph. It's a 2009 and they don't make it anymore. I wanted to get the 63 AMG version after I drove a used one on the lot, but it's no longer available
We test drove the new E series coupe which is longer than the CLK, but not as wide. It does not have the handling in curves and the ride seems stiffer. I may try BMW to see what they have in a 2 door couple, but most of theirs have the post and I like the hardtop. I wish I could have afforded something like these when I was a kid, but then I probably would have crashed it and possibly not have survived. I quit road biking in 1977 after I was T-boned by a car that ran a stop sign. Couldn't dirt bike after that either due to knee damage. The tail of the Dragon is a great road for a good handling car. It seems perfect for the Cooper mini GT. I may have to try one of them.
We test drove the new E series coupe which is longer than the CLK, but not as wide. It does not have the handling in curves and the ride seems stiffer. I may try BMW to see what they have in a 2 door couple, but most of theirs have the post and I like the hardtop. I wish I could have afforded something like these when I was a kid, but then I probably would have crashed it and possibly not have survived. I quit road biking in 1977 after I was T-boned by a car that ran a stop sign. Couldn't dirt bike after that either due to knee damage. The tail of the Dragon is a great road for a good handling car. It seems perfect for the Cooper mini GT. I may have to try one of them.
