Expect the unexpected, I always say. But then people start expecting it, and it's not unexpected any more, so it doesn't work.
What I mean is, as a car guy, you have your daily driver and perhaps a few project cars. More importantly, you have plan A.
Plan A is the next car you'll own. New or used, it's probably plotted a few years in advance. Either you're waiting for the concept to become reality, or for your bank account to overtake depreciation. You've picked your options, maybe even bought a shop manual. It's still a few years off, though, so for now you content yourself with your current ride and check Autotrader once a week or so, just to "see what's out there".
BAM. Dropped a sleeve. Sucked in a valve. T-boned by a red light runner. The daily driver is out of commission and you need a new ride on short notice. No time or money for plan A. What do you do, hotshot?
Plan B. Can't buy a car without at least a month's of research first, so all this time, floating in the back of your head, you've held plan B. That perfectly livable sedan with just a bit of character. Not something you'd want to own long term, but it will spell you for a year or two. Or maybe it's time to see if you really can get by with an NA miata as your only car. Plan B is the car you could buy tomorrow with a clear conscience, if need be. Plan B may even be the parts-getter, or a bus pass.
For me, plan A is a tossup between a C5 Z06 and a Boxster S. I've driven both (albeit a non-S sampling), and I've plenty more research to do, and plenty of time to decide. My daily driver has served 176k miles and burns a quart every 1k or so. I expect it's good for another 50k, easy. But expectations and 75 cents will get you a Coke. So this past month I've been looking for a plan B, an option to keep in my back pocket should worst come to worst.
I've got one now. E36 M3. Silver, blue, or black, 5-spd, naturally, with under 80k on the clock. I don't really need the back seat, but I should probably own an M3 at some point in my life, and no time like the present.
That is, no time like the present, should I need to go to plan B.
What's your Plan B? Or plan A, for that matter?
