What Car Would You Buy if You Won Mega Millions?
The Mega Millions lottery jackpot has hit a record $500 million and it's still growing. With just one more day before Friday's drawing, plenty of people are standing in line to buy a ticket and dream a little about what they'd do if they won all that money.
The odds of winning the lottery are slim — 1 in 176 million, according to lottery officials — but it's fun to think of what you'd buy if money were no object. We asked Cars.com's editorial department what car or cars they'd buy if they won the Mega Millions jackpot.
Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief: Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
| "While I'd have plenty of money left over, I have never found another car that has made me feel giddy when I get behind the wheel, or so awed by the power it produces. But even with that, it's not uncomfortable for someone of my size, and it's feasible as a daily driver, even if it costs around $120,000." |
David Thomas, Managing Editor: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
| "I was lucky enough to test this for a few days and didn't want it to leave my driveway. Of course, with $500 million I'd be able to afford the SLS and a new house to attach to the driveway." |
Lindsay Bjerregaard, Multimedia Editor: Audi R8
| "Since there's a real-life 'Batman' driving around Washington, D.C., in a Lamborghini visiting sick children in hospitals, I think I'd buy an Audi R8, dress up like Tony Stark and drive around to various fast-food drive-throughs ordering 'American cheeseburgers.' " |
Joe Bruzek, Editor: 2012 Nissan GT-R
| "It's fast, really fast, and doesn't take much effort to make faster with a thriving aftermarket that supports an inability to leave my cars unmodified. After buying the $89,950 GT-R, having $499,910,050 leftover leaves a lot of dough to throw under the hood." |
Jennifer Geiger, KickingTires Editor: 2013 Audi S7
| "Sign me up for the 2013 Audi S7. Its blend of striking good looks, pin-you-in-your-seat power and agile handling make it one of the most engaging, fun-to-drive cars out there. Practical? Nope ... but after I win the lottery 'practical' will be deleted from my vocabulary." |
Bill Jackson, Senior Research Editor: Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic sedan and Subaru Impreza hatch
| "I'd buy two cars: A Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic sedan for the times when I want to go on very long drives and want to be very comfortable. The second car would be a Subaru Impreza hatchback. It's practical — it will carry everything I want to carry, and it's fun to drive." |
Dave Lee, Editor: Ferrari 250GT California Spyder and a Mini
| "I'd get the Ferrari 250GT California Spyder used in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (the real thing, not the replica used in the movie) or a DeLorean so that every time I approach it, I can exclaim '1.21 gigawatts?!' For a daily driver, though, I'd go with something much more mundane — a Mini, probably — because I'd need the rest of the money to build my mansion and hire oompa loompas to sing to me." |
Kelsey Mays, Industry Analyst: 1998-2003 BMW E39 M5
| "A low-mileage, mint-condition E39 M5 (1998-2003). Still one of the most-fun cars I've ever driven, and arguably the best-looking BMW in two decades. I'd need a lot of extra cash to keep up with the repair bills, though." |
Eric Rossi, Senior Multimedia Editor: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
| "If I had to pick one, I would choose the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. This beast is powered by a 720-horsepower V-12 engine, making it the most powerful (road legal) Ferrari to date. That car and the Nurburgring for a week would be a good place to start." |
Chad Rubel, Production Editor: 2012 Nissan Leaf
| "Ideally, money shouldn't change your personality. So if you care about the environment when you're poor, you should buy a 2012 Nissan Leaf. And then install solar panels on your house to charge up your car so you don't have to use outside electricity. Then when you buy a second car that isn't practical at all, you'll feel just a little bit better." |
Evan Sears, Photographer: 1984 Olds Delta 88 and early '60s Mercedes-Benz W110 or W111
| "I would first re-buy my 1984 Olds Delta 88 that was totaled in 2007, a mere four years after it was given to me by my grandmother. I would then convert it to a manual trans and make sure I have all the hubcaps that make it look like actual spoke wheels (I had only three of the four on my original ride). Then I would find an early '60s black Mercedes-Benz W110 or W111, maybe the 190D, and treat it like a firstborn." |
Mark Williams, PickupTrucks.com Editor: Nearly everything under the sun
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Tell us in the comments section which cars you'd buy if you won the Mega Millions jackpot.
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I'd probably buy myself a Camaro ZL1 for track days, an Impala LTZ for my daily driver, and a Cadillac CTS-V for my Sunday driver.
an Audi S7 for sure.
Fully restored '67-'71 Chevy Chevelle SS or Pontiac GTO.
I'd go with the Porsche 911.
Lexus LFA
I live in Wisconsin, so I'd need two:
For the winter, an A8L. Giant, comfy, and AWD.
For the summer, a Ferrari California. It's got a rear seat for the baby seat, so it would be a great family hauler. :)
An audi S7 or a Porsche 911
The first thing I would buy is a Black, murdered out Jeep Wrangler Apache.. I have always wanted one. Then I would buy all of my family their dream cars as well.
72 chevelle ss 454
bugatti
62 galaxie 500 427 cobra jet
69 fleetwood brougham d'elegance 500 ci v8
My main ones.........
One of everything!
McLaren MP4 - 12C and a Tesla model X. Two very different, but awesome cars.
Honda Civic.
I would get a BMW 6 Series Coupe. It's the best looking BMW currently, and it combines performance and luxury. If I had a family, I would get a Porsche Cayenne Turbo black on black with those cool looking yellow calibers.
Porsche 911 targa, and use part of the rest to buy people new cars who need it (fuel cost, safety).
horse
First, I would track down and buy one of the 1903 curved-dash Olds that I watched my father rebuild the wooden bodies. With the leftover money: an MG TC, you know the ones with the 17" wire wheels; then an AC Cobra, one of the first ones, 0-60-0 in 6.5 sec.; then a Mini Cooper, with one of the Cooper Climax engines. What else is there?
69 dodge daytona completely restored. classic muscle car motoring
I would build an FM Westfield - http://www.flyinmiata.com/westfield/
Obviously that means fun tools + a good garage as well.
If I could add a second car, again, cost no issue, I'd be pretty tempted to get a Volt, and a pile of solar panels and batteries for the house.
Third car choice? A Toyota Tacoma 4x4, 2004 or earlier. 4-cyl and manual are just fine. Much as the Volt + Westfield would be fun to drag to trailheads, the Tacoma is obviously much more practical for dirt tracks.
Fourth? Why not. A Porsche Panamera 4s - I want the AWD and the adjustable air suspension. Clearance and traction when you need it, luxobarge interior.
Kelsey Mays - E39 FTW!
I'm a simple girl, I'd just like to have my 1993 Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible back. (Silver with navy rag top and lavy leather interior.) She was a DREAM!
I'd buy an old Dodge Dart because then I could afford the repairs by the Car Talk guys!
1980 AMC Pacer in mint condition...
Air Force 1.
Both 'parties' are heading for irrelevance, as fewer and fewer people identify with them.
I'd take the winnings, and get the electoral college votes, and fix the problems that are built into the 'system'
Or I'd just get the Veyron SS
Mays has it right. E39 M5. But I'd also have to get a wrangler and a tesla roadster. Diesel X5 for my better half.
I would find my Grand Dad's old 63 IH and pay however much it would take to restore it to original condition but update it with an electronic ignition.
Everyday Driver: 2012 VW GTI
Special Occasions: 1982 DMC-12 DeLorean
Primary oldy but goodie: 1952 VW Transporter 21 window rag top
and then a fleet of small and mini cars, new and old!
How about an Aston Martin DBS so you can drive around looking like James Bond
First, I'd buy a new house with room to build a custom 2 story (1 above ground, and a parking lot below ground) garage.
The start of the collection would be an Alfo Romeo 8C, then an SSC Tuatara, and a CTS-V coupe for daily driving. After that I'd need to fight with the wife for a while before getting really crazy!
Toyota Camry
I've actually been asked this question, but with only $1M and spent all of it on cars. Here is my list:
* $200K on a large garage
Exotics: $220K spent on an Audi R8, a Lotus Exige, and a fairly new 1st gen Acura NSX (would love to see the 2nd gen that's coming)
* Luxury: $130K spent on a used Lexus LS460 and a new Lexus IS-F
Sports: $60K spent on a used 1st gen E30 BMW M3 and a 2002 BMW Z3 M coupe
Truck: $40K on a late model Toyota Tundra to haul all the automotive parts, equipment, etc I would want
Classic cars: $90K on a classic VW Beetle, a classic Muscle car (not sure which), and a classic Mini Cooper
All of that for ~750K, plus $ left over for maintenance costs and the like. I'd spend the rest on my future houses, one on east coast, and one on west coast.
PS. I'd probably also get a version of cars I liked as a kid: 1st gen Integra Type R, Nissan Skyline GT-R, last gen Toyota Supra, last gen Nissan 300ZX, Lexus SC400, 2nd gen Toyota MR2, Lamborghini Countach (every 80's kid dream car),
So few Japanese cars in here. Makes one think that those manufacturers tend to not make cars people actually want, but that they think they SHOULD buy.
I would buy two of the new NSX -- one yellow, one red
I would buy a Corvette ZR1, a 1967 Shelby gt500, and a huge blacked out diesel truck.
2013 Chevy Corvette ZR1 and a 2012 Camaro ZL1