I just turned 49 this past week, and I keep wondering what car I want as "the car."
I'm thinking if buying "the car" next year around this time.
The requirements: only needs to seat me, maybe the wife or kiddo but never both. I will drive it and rarely pet others behind the wheel. It needs to be fast, corner well, turnkey reliable, and it should sound incredible. I should be able to autoX it, take it to an HPDE, run the One Lap and just drive on road trips.
Oh cost, dream 40k, max 60k. Goal 50k or less.
The heart choice: I've always wanted a Cobra and have long thought of a Coyote powered one with IRS after owning a Coyote Mustang. It is the coolest one, but they aren't really rare anymore and there are lots of reasons they are not driven much. The tops suck the interior kinda sucks and its bonejarring. I don't think I could roadtrip one.... sure some do, but most don't. Lots of low mile ones for sale.
The cheapskate option: LS swap my 94 Miata that I plan to sell. It'll be fast. It'll cost less. It can be OEM reliable using new GM components or well rebuilt ones. It'll be an NA Miata AC and comfort wise. It can be enjoyed often and goes hard well.
The brain option: Do the LS ND thing. Used 16s are getting inexpensive and buying one next year will be easy. Heck maybe buy it this winter and enjoy it stock a year or two while accumulating parts. It's a unicorn. Keith says its supercar like and way better than an NA or NB LS car. I believe him.
The easy button: used C7 Z51, C8 Z51, or 996 turbo. I have a 996 C2. Other thoughts a 997 X51 car, a 996 GT3 stretching the budget, or a 981 GTS Boxster or Cayman again stretching the budget.
What would you do? Are there other choices I'm missing?
Oh and the wife already knows I'm doing something silly for my 50th. She's forewarned.
The old guy in me also just wants to find a Chevy SS with manual trans and supercharge it for maximum tire roasting lulz.
If only I had more space......