New (to me) car time again, suggestions please

[Cujet]

Suggestions Please!

Thinking outside the box is appreciated. Limit is about $30K, used.

I like sports cars, I enjoy HP. I especially like responsive engines and crisp cornering. I'm generally not a luxury/performance car guy (like CTS-V) but I'd consider it. I do like convertibles.

Having owned a Frantic 385RWHP Mazda Miata "R" track package, nothing short of an Indy car, or maybe an Enzo comes close. Maybe I need to look at more sedate rides...

1) C6 Vettes are OK with me, but I don't love them. Maybe living with one is better??
2) S2000's are wonderful to drive and cheap to own. Plus there is plenty of potential HP there. But I can't help but think "been there-done that".
3) Jaguar XK-8R's are plentiful around here, but no manual transmission, otherwise I like 'em.
4) Boxster-S or Cayman-S are, in good condition, out of my reach. And I'm not enamored with them.

Maybe the 'Vette is the most practical choice. But they don't inspire anything in me.

Really, there is nothing that I find enticing.

 

[2James1]

Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6

 

[renegade_987]

Mustang GT

 

[RamFan]

Pontiac G8
Hyundai Genesis
Subaru BRZ
Nissan 370z

 

[SLCraig]

You could maybe find a used NSX for that price. Lovely car that is.

 

[earlyre]

you said outside the box....
Scion FRS/Subaru BRZ.
small size, Front mounted Subie Boxer Engine, RWD, 5 speed, Skinny LRR tires(same ones as the Prius actually) fun to drive(if EVERY review i've seen can be trusted), easy to "free up" around the bends @ normal speeds. Probably the best modern analogue to the classic British Sports cars of the 60's & 70s, other than the Miata/MX5. speaking of Which, the next gen is being co-developed by Mazda & Alfa-Romeo, to be sold as both the MX5/Miata, & Spider, for the 2015 Model year.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Best bang for your buck would be a brand new Mustang GT. Cloth seats,manual transmission,only $28,000 sticker price.

 

[fdcg27]

30K would buy you a pretty nice NSX or a really nice pre-966 911.
Many of the 911 faithful considered the 966 to be junk.
You could also buy the nicest e36 BMW you could find, in a convertible if you'd prefer, with your choice from the mild 318i to the wild 328i or M3, basically the same car in US trim, and put the remaining 15-20K in the bank.
You could also consider a turbo Subie.
There are lots of choices for 30K that go well beyond the rather pedestrian Corvette. Yeah, it's fast on any track, but it lacks real appeal. The Boxster is a girl's car, for those girls who can afford more than Miata money.
JMHO!

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
You could maybe find a used NSX for that price. Lovely car that is.


+1, so much nicer than the S2000. Of course the prices have gone up on them recently.

 

[SatinSilver]

The guy that recently won the Mega Millions I believe it was said he was going to buy a NSX with his winnings. He said he always wanted one.

 

[dparm]

Audi S5 convertible. Good GT car with plenty of performance.

 

[montero1]

Z4M

 

[porterdog]

Hey Cujet- I remember you from the early Miata.net days. I had a 94 Miata with the full-house Flyin' Miata kit. Great car.

Check into the 89-93 911, otherwise known as the 964. Last of the air-cooled classic bodystyle cars, for various reasons they're still a little unloved (though that seems to be changing).

I got my 1990 Carrera 4 with 112k on the clock for about $15k. In the first year I put about $5k into it, but some of that was upgrade money (suspension, mostly). The earlier Porsches are built like no other car I've ever owned- no one ever said, "You know, we need to get another five cents out of this part." Clean examples can be had from $17-28k, depending on color, options, phase of moon. It's an exemplary vehicle if you are at all a fan of the style and sound; I wish I'd bought one sooner.

ETA: It's one of the few cars you can buy where depreciation has slowed to a crawl, and indeed, depending on your use and habits, may actually reverse. I drive mine, so I don't expect it to appreciate really, but it's nice to know it's not really losing value.

 

[jayg]

Lotus Elise if you fit.

 

[The_Jed]

I'll also cast my vote for a new Mustang GT.
420 hp and 390 lb/ft from the factory is pretty amazing to me! I priced one out at $33k with the track pack. It would be perfectly docile in DD mode, not high-strung like I assume your Miata was.

 

[MCompact]

Cayman S for me.

 

[jigen]

G8 GXP with a manual if you can find one (and if you want 4 doors).

 

[JimPghPA]

1) Anything but a Jaguar.

2) Anything but a Jaguar.

3) Anything but a Jaguar.

Seriously, I have yet to know a used Jaguar owner who did not have a list be it in writing or just mentally, of things that require fixing. It seams like those who own a used Jaguar end up chasing a never ending list of things that require attention. By the time they get all the items on the list taken care of, the vehicle has presented them with a whole new list of items that require attention.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

M3
RX-8/7
135i convertible

 

[JavierG]

90's Acura NSX or Subaru BRZ