Budget Supercar Comparo

We’ve all seen the “other” car mags with their glossy covers and multi-million dollar supercar shootouts. That just isn’t my reality. Never gonna be. Here is a Budget Supercar Comparo for the rest of us. GRM style. Below are 15 supercars that you can buy right now for $20,000 to $30,000 - or about the price of a new Miata. The Miata is a perennial GRM favorite. Where would you put your money for a “fun” car? A new Miata or one of the budget supercars? The criteria selection is this: Two doors, 2 or 2+2 seating, coupe or convertible, less than 20 years old (exception for Ferrari because…well…it’s Ferrari), recognized “supercar” status – meaning no Mustangs, common type cars, etc. What is your choice?

Yes, all of these were found online for under $30K.

I think that the Z06 wins this one in terms of performance, cost, and day to day living.

Others that make it a seriously hard choice are the Porsche's, Lotus, and NSX.

My vote goes to the Lotus. The noise from the twin turbo v8 is just glorious.

My gut says Esprit or 308. Corvette & NSX probably make the most sense as far as upkeep. Elise might just take the cake if you wanna race though.

I have never been really excited about the NSX, Viper, or Mondial. Outside of those, all of them are welcome in my driveway. If forced to choose I would lust for the Maserati Cambiocorsa. The wail of that Ferrari V8 is amazing. (Check it out on YouTube), F1 gearbox, etc. If the right brain took over I would probably buy the Cayman S.

Probably twenty years ago some other car mag with R, T and & in the name, did a cover story on cool cars for $15,000. I still think it was one of the best car magazine articles of all time.

Editorial suggestion? :-)

David

The Aston. Why the Aston? My name is James :)

Also, when was the last time you saw an older Aston Martin? All the cars on the list I have seen in the last 3 months apart from the Maserati.

The Espirit on the other hand just begs for some unseen mods...

In true GRM-style, total-cost-of-ownership comes into play for me.

C5 Z06 wins going away for low entry cost and relative ease of maintenance and reliability. If you have a 30k budget, you can get a Z06 and still have $10k left over for tires and track time, which a GRMer will need. Or garage upgrades, or more tools, etc. etc.

FWIW, I've seen Ferrari 355's dangerously close to that 30k mark in the past 6 months, I'd take one of those over anything on this list if practicality weren't a factor.

The answer here is clearly the Miata.

OK....someone had to say it. There are no stinkers in that bunch. Anyone of them could be a winner.

None of them move me. Ok, the Jag does a little

Sorry, but standard 996 is a boring option. 996 Turbo, however, can be had at the upper end of that scale, and THAT is a hell of a car.

Best supercar for the money right now, hands down.

J308 wrote: FWIW, I've seen Ferrari 355's dangerously close to that 30k mark in the past 6 months, I'd take one of those over anything on this list if practicality weren't a factor.

maaaaan, that got me looking at them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-355-Berlinetta-1999-FERRARI-F355-355-BERLINETTA-TB-F-1-F1-TRANSMISSION-NERO-BLACK-TAN-/330681456976?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4cfe269950#ht_22945wt_1165

Lotus Esprit V8 please. Thanks...

Ferrari 355 please.

If i can't have one of those, i'll go "boring" and get the nicest stock MKiv Supra TT i can find.

Screw the 650i, give me an 850i any day.

Yep, 355. Manual. Black on tan (as above) would be perfect.

Otherwise, probably an Elise. Although, (and I don't wanna start a fight about it), in my mind the Elise is a "sports car", and the Ferrari a "super car".

Just to nitpick - the thread is about cars that go for the price of a new Miata. You're not going to find a running F355 for under $30K. In fact, any example under about $45K is pretty suspect.

On the flip side, it's worth considering that the NSX, Esprit and Ferraris are likely to appreciate over time, or at least hold their value while you own them.

Why did I click on this thread!?!? Now the wheels are turning in my head

Since I'm already shopping for one, the Esprit. Probably an S4 though. Hopefully an S4S.

I chose E46 M3, but my buy in was well under the floor you set. Even once I'm done track prepping it (Kirk roll bar, 2 Racetech seats with mounts, 6-point harnesses, track wheels and tires, track brake pads) I'll still be under $20k.

My gut reaction was to narrow it down to the Z06, NSX and Elise.

The HUGE problem with the Ferarris, Lotus, Aston, Maserati, etc----- So lets say you buy one on a budget, and then you scatter something vital like a gearbox, engine block, etc? I'd say you'd have a really sexy looking lawn ornament from that point onward.

Hopefully, the de Tomaso Pantera didn't make the cut because it is now worth more than 30K? Oh, happy day!

Aeromoto wrote: The HUGE problem with the Ferarris, Lotus, Aston, Maserati, etc----- So lets say you buy one on a budget, and then you scatter something vital like a gearbox, engine block, etc? I'd say you'd have a really sexy looking lawn ornament from that point onward.

And I'd say you now have the opportunity for an E-rod LS3 swap for the cost of rebuilding or replacing said "exotic" part.

Elise SC/Exige

C5 Z06

Esprit V8

NSX

Viper

In that order :)