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I’m covering rad daily drivers I’d pick in increments of $10k from $10k - $100k.

Rules:

Gotta be fun
Gotta be AWD
Gotta not depreciate off a cliff (or has already “Pre-Preeshed”) <- I just made that up…. pretty good.
Gotta probably not leave me stranded

First or Second Gen Porsche Cayenne

The car that changed the SUV landscape and saved Porsche from financial ruin.

The V8s have great power but you do have to consider potential issues such as the plastic coolant pipes cracking (well known issue), and bore scoring (which would really suck).

But here is the sleeper play from my Porsche enthusiast friend (who has owned at least a couple Cayennes): The 3.0 V6.

His Porsche mechanic said they are the best cars Porsche ever made from a reliability standpoint.

The 3.0 V6 is from the Volkswagen VR6.

Plenty of go: The second gen makes 300hp and 295lbft torque.

For pure fun and capability - the V8s are the way to go, but if you want a reliable Cayenne at this price point → V6.

Fun fact: Porsche had a model called the GTS that could be optioned with a six speed manual

06-07 Land Cruiser

The IYKYK Land Cruiser.

For only these final 2 years of this generation (100 series), among other upgrades, these trucks had an upgraded motor that made an extra 40hp over the prior years. LED tail lights, and an option for the hydraulic suspension (not air, thank goodness) that the LX470s of the era were rocking.

My favorite generation Land Cruiser. It’s all class.

These two years go for a premium, but big picture, it’s the best option. The move with buying cars is to find a cult classic and then a highly sought after spec within it.

These cars are more enjoyable anyway
They feel more special (they are)
Bonus: Not only can you basically drive these for free given their value retention, they often follow a u-shaped curve and if you buy right, you’ll end up making money should you ever decide to sell—i.e. my old E46 M3 (I miss you so much baby come back to me)

08+ (likely 08-12) Toyota Land Cruiser 200 series

The way the 200 series works is the foundation is the same throughout, you just get more amenities with each facelift. But make no mistake—same truck underneath.

SAME ENGINE.

From 08-2021, it’s the same beastly “million mile” 5.7L V8, and lemme tell you, she is torquey. This thing is surprisingly quick. It brings this 6000lb truck from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds.

Prices start jumping after the first facelift (13-15), which is the one I have, and included updated lights, a little fancier center console, the introduction of cooled seats, front/side/rear cameras, & radar cruise control.

They jump a bit more on the 2016, which is the big facelift and upgrades from a 6-speed transmission to an 8-speed, as well as including upgraded interior with Lexus leather, updated center console, better button layout, but unfortunately these could not be optioned without the HUGE TVs on driver and passenger seats.

Things go to the moon after 2018, which dials in all the niceties you could want like auto-folding side mirrors auto-lifting tailgate, etc., but most of all for me, the option of not having those massive TVs.

All this said, any 200 series Land Cruiser is full 200 series Land Cruiser. They are incredibly capable, luxurious, and powerful.

I made a video 2 years ago where I claimed it to be the greatest SUV ever made.

I stand by it.

Watch the video here

2020 Porsche Macan Turbo

I’m not a crossover guy, I think I’d get over it pretty quick when I’m running a 12 second flat quarter mile (and that’s before I slap a Cobb tune on it and start ripping 11s)

Truth be told, I’ve had a thing for the Macan ever since they came out. I’ve always found them to be super attractive. Exterior is aggressive, interior is like a classy cockpit.

2019 Macans had a refresh that upped the power as well as updated the interior. The 2022+ made a critical mistake of replacing all the wonderful buttons with piano black + haptic touch buttons. CRIME.

Back to the 2020ish:

The Turbo is the top of the line.

434 horsepower
405 lb-ft of torque
AWD

Can you imagine how fun this would be on a snow day?

997 911 Carrera 4

Ah yes, we’re finally in childbearing hips 911 price range.

We did it.

“4” = AWD

AWD in 911s = that ass.

The C4S would be ideal (more power) but those command quite a bit more dough.

That said—C4 is no slouch.

321 HP
6-Speed Manual
13 flat quarter mile ← a fun usable power on the street

There was a mid-cycle refresh of the 997 which upped the power to 345hp and even gave the option of the beloved 7-speed PDK transmission. Probably out of our price range here though.

That’s ok. You get a 911 you can confidently drive year-round.

If I ever got another wild hare to trade my Land Cruiser for another sports car, it’d likely be an AWD 911.

Mid-Cycle Refresh

BMW F90 M5

Four doors.

600hp.

10 second daily driver.

Insane.

Truth be told, I’m not smitten with the looks of this car. It’s missing the je ne sais quoi of the E39 (my all-time favorite sedan). But with depreciation already knocking off 40% of its MSRP, it’s just such a value proposition.

It really is a do-it-all monster.

Can you imagine taking this on cross-country??? A missile on the highway and a canyon carver. Probably faster than booking a flight too, when you don’t take into account the jail time from getting caught going supersonic speeds.

Definitely have a lawyer on speed dial if you own this.

996 Turbo

Big believer in as soon as you are in the price range of a 911 Turbo, you just drop every other idea and get a 911 Turbo.

Have a family of 6 and 3 dogs and live in the country? Ok??? And? Figure it out.

I love the 996 Turbo. It’s a gorgeous car. Perfect size. Perfect shape. Those intakes on the sides give me butterflies.

You have to overlook the interior, for for the package you get with this thing, no prob.

Quick specs:

AWD
Twin-Turbo 6-Cyl
415 HP

The big thing people talk about with these: Reliability.

The 996 was known for some potentially catastrophic issues, but the Turbo was built different. It ran the legendary Mezger engine, which, among other things, took care of the IMS bearing issue that plagued some other 911s.

“Bullet-proof” gets thrown around a lot regarding the 996 Turbo. There is a story online of one of these having over 700k on the clock. It’s only on its second clutch. The owner did do an engine tear-down and rebuilt at 383k, but “By all accounts, there wasn’t anything majorly wrong, but the 3.6-liter flat-six had begun to develop a few minor oil leaks, and both turbos were down on boost.” Sounds like it was really just preemptive.

400k on the clock before a rebuild on a TOP-TIER sports car!

I love these so much.

Lexus LC500

I said AWD was a rule.

Rule #1 - Fuck the rules.

I’d shape my life around owning this car.

And I’d definitely uber for a couple winter weeks out of the year to have this one.

These are special.

It’s basically a concept car that accidentally got put into production before accounting could get their hands on it.

5.0-liter NA V8
471 Horsepower
10 Speed Automatic

Listen to how amazing this car sounds

It’s produced in Toyota's Motomachi facility, which is where the cool stuff gets built such as the Century, Crown, and even the LFA.

I read that only ~20 LC500s are produced each day. Tiny numbers.

You’re getting a top-tier grand-touring machine that is powerful, sounds incredible, is a design masterpiece inside and out, will hold its value (I bet these will skyrocket one day), and will be reliable.

These are a marvel in the automotive industry.

200 Series Land Cruiser Heritage Edition

I think this is basically the heaviest hitting SUV out there.

Absolute IYKYK.

If I saw a lineup of G Wagons, Range Rovers, Urus, etc. and one of these, I’d want to know what THAT person is up to. Because choosing that car is a very specific move.

Congrats to everyone who bought these new, put 80k on the clock, and will likely MAKE money if they chose to sell (though they never would).

The Heritage Edition is primarily a cosmetic upgrade: Lights, grill, chrome delete, wheels. They crushed it.

Ironically, despite the big premium on these, they actually delete some standard features of the 200 series, like the 3rd row, running boards, and the my beloved cool box. Yes, all 200 series LCs except these came standard with a fridge in the center console! They should have kept it—it’s a great feature.

With how good these look and how well these will hold their value, I’d get over the missing fridge.

I’m sure some people will buy and hold these at near zero mileage and then sell them decades later for a fortune. But that’s a crime. These babies were meant to put in work.

Most baller SUV.