Letter from a reader

Mine would have a turbo-inline 6 aprox 400hp. AWD, 3 or 5 doors, either a manual or DSG...and probably four rings But I have very fond memories of a first gen. Z-car. Indestructable (except for rust) comes to mind

After my divorce, I lived with just one car for about 10-12 years (yeah, the A2 Golf 8v). I survived it, but it's not an experience I want to repeat.

White_and_Nerdy wrote: I agree with Keith. Does Larry still run his ITA CRX that was featured in C&D? Either way, I was at a track day with him, and he was just another car guy, hanging out and helping out. I followed him on track later in the day - him in a borrowed Miata and me in a modified Saturn SL2 - and he totally smoked me.

He was running Spec Miata last I heard after some time in an MX5 Cup car. He also has a 1990 Miata with a supercharger (the magazine's old test car, I think) and a very cool old wagon to bomb around in. After driving my Locost, you could see the wheels start to turn. Anyhow, one of us.

ae86andkp61 wrote: If you want more reliability and the decision is a more practical one, I would vote Miata, but if I were in your shoes, I would take the Miata as one of two cars, and have something like an MG or an early Z car for a different experience and a car that isn't a dime a dozen.

The irony there is that if you rewind 20 years or so, the MGB and the early Z occupied the exact same place in the automotive firmament that the original Miata does now, right down to production number and ubiquity.

I think the author is right on the money about test driving. I'd tell him to go to auto-x and find friends. I bet if you find the right people, and ask nicely enough, you'll find someone willing to let you borrow their car for a couple laps around an auto-x circuit. I am inclined to share my Miata with people.

That said. If I was forced to pick 1 car to do it all, that you can actually find on a budget... I'd have to say E36 M3. Only thing it would really have trouble with is Rally-X.

Good choices to be sure, I suggest three more: early Mustang-easy and inexpensive to fix, classic style, easy to mod, retain value, most everyone likes them, a proper size. older 911-stellar build quality, not too expensive(depending on model, of course),reliable, iconic style, retain value,"steering wheel alive in your hands" probably tough to find a very cheap one-but deals are still there if you don't care about matching number nonsense-C2(or C3 for lower budget) Corvette. Most of the aforementioned reasons apply to the 'Vette,as well.

Keith wrote: The irony there is that if you rewind 20 years or so, the MGB and the early Z occupied the exact same place in the automotive firmament that the original Miata does now, right down to production number and ubiquity.

The irony isn't lost on me in the least. The Miata squarely falls into the modern classic category...and is separated from the classic category by what?...a decade or two? :D

People call me a party pooper all the time, but if you are only going to have one car, the one with the roof has an instant 20, 50, 100 bonus points over a convertible, which still leaves the Z in the lead. Less noise, more comfort, better weather resistance, stiffer, lighter, better safety, eligible for more motorsports events, etc, etc.

I can't argue the looks of the Z. Every time I go out to the garage, I stop and stare at that Z car. Compared to an MGB or Triumph from the era it handles and drives like a dream, but compared to a Miata or E30 a Z feels a little old fashioned, because it is.

Again, from a Florida perspective, real a/c comes into play if you can have only one car.

Another one of my favorites that doesn't get much play on the board is the first gen CIvic Si and CR-X.

As for Boxster roll bars, I think Hard Dog has one now.

what about Soobie 2.5 rs? theyre getting to be stone cheap and still reliable/relevant/supported by the aftermarket, and you can get 4 doors to boot, but its the only option if you want an impreza coupe. They can go fast straight, turn well enough, can play in the gravel and mud and still take you to work on monday. If I had to own one car, I think something in that family would be my pick, if only for its versatility. Its awd is an added bonus if you live somewhere graced by the miracle of ice falling from the sky every other 6 months, like me. Its not my favorite car int he world, but its my "if I only had one..." car

I really love the 2.5rs but to say it is fast in a straight line is not quite accurate. 0-60 in about 8 seconds, 1/4 mile in 16. Not god awful slow but surely not fast.

My fiance has the 2.2 Impreza with a 5 speed. Fun car and very entertaining but not fast at all. I would say somewhere in the range of 17-18 second 1/4 mile.