What should I buy automotive ADD edition...

Ok so I have lost faith in my rebuilt C5. Two break downs in 2 track days sucks. I know rationally I should fix it but once I get something in my head I can be stubborn. Besides I can break out and make a little money so no harm no foul...

On to the options I am considering. Figure a 10k budget. I would like something that won't depreciate a ton or cost me a bunch in maintenance. If I keep it 18 months I would be surprised.

I have a work car for every day duty, and a xk8 for convertible and going out with the wife duties. My wife has a 4x4 Armada that can pull my boat and car trailer if I need it. She drives the Jag when I have her truck.

I would like something fun, manual and interesting. I would use it for the occasional track day, autocross or Sunday cruise. It will take the place of the Vette which will be sold.

So far I am all over the place when it comes to options.

First thought is a 987 Bosxster S. I used to have one 10 years ago and it was a fun car. Lots of them out there for my budget.

Second option is a SW20 MR2 turbo with a 4th gen 3sgte swap. I used to have a 93 with a ct26 on the stock motor but I hear the 4th gens revolutionize the car.

Rebuilt 5th gen camaro ss. Big and hard to see out of but could be fun.

Others I have kicked around are m3's, 968 Porsches, a late C4 or something old and weird like a 1965 and up corvair.

What does the hive think?

If you've been running a C5 Corvette, a C4 Corvette probably won't satisfy. They're cruder, rougher, have dated electronics, are harder to get in and out of, and you need a tool to take the top off. Plus, a bunch of stuff is NLA. Granted, I love C4s so I'm still in favor of this idea. :)

Can you really find Boxster Ss for 10k or less? 10k or less in trackable-as-is condition? 968s, too, for that matter? Around me, anyway, a decent 968 is going to $15k+ and a 986 Boxster S is more. I had a 968 for a long time and daily-drove and DE'd it. I loved it! They are known to spin a #2 bearing under hard cornering with the stock oiling system, but otherwise they're very stout. I think they're the best looking of the front-engined 4-cyl cars.

M3s, again, around me, anyway, are going to be too much money. A ratty E36 M3 could be 6-8k, double that for a really nice one. E46s with over 100k miles are just falling into the low teens here.

All of these cars will be slower than your C5 at a track day. For the money you're looking to spend, you won't be able to replace the performance you already have. C5s are pretty solid once you get them sorted out.

986 Boxster S https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/ctd/6128810059.html Only 10k for this one. This is a $14,000 car here in Chicago. And that's the only S at this price on CL. And it'll be slower than the Corvette.

Love me some 2nd gen corvair but by today's Standard very under powered,
Was talking to a new friend and he Said He bought a 9" Ford axle from a guy that had it in a new Camaro and when he went to get it the car was STRIPPED to the BONE,was complete when he last looked, so you could get that and make a track car.

  By the time of Day you may have given up on the Man with the Mr2.

I have an ERA 427 Cobra Frame and it had been in A Fire. Clean/Paint and replace Rubber and well with your ability could make some thing Bad As You Want, and a ton of the burned parts(NO BODY) you can tell were everything Goes and what needs replacing with what I have. For less than the Budget you could Have a Cobra Replica. GRM special for the one I want that you have.

5th gen Camaro SS 'big and hard to see out of' but could be a berklying BLAST

What no mr2 love... 1993 9k with 4th gen swap

This 968 is local 133k... asking 12k

This boxster s has 93k and is in Miami for $8500

pimpm3 wrote: What no mr2 love...

I came in to say MR2 and that you should let me store the C5 for you in case you ever want it back.

I vote MR2. Because budget NSX.

I also vote MR2, in the hopes that I will be in a position to buy it from you when the ADD kicks in again!

I vote fix the C5, don't be stubborn for the sake of it.

A Camaro, for instance, is a heavier, slower car.

I'd probably be looking for an NC Miata if you want something slow.

Hands down MR2 reliable as can be,Toyota = available/cheap parts, super strong trans+ engine, ready for big boost. I've heard talk of them dipping into 12 second 1/4 mile with just the motor swap and quality tires. How quick are the c5s exactly?

This Morning on the way to the Creepers car Club Show(57yr.old club) saw an early model Mr2 that was Baddass, Said it made 525hp to the wheels at 21 lbs. boost, BRIGHT Yellow, I asked him to post it so it may come in through the Facebook side,I wouldn't know how that works but I hope he does.

I have a hard time looking at that Vette and thinking it should go.

Looks amazing to me despite the recent drawbacks.

I've seen a bunch of turbo MR2s that are fast at the dragstrip. I've never seen one ever that's fast on a road course.

I think the mr2 would be fun and different. If I get one of those I want a 1993 through 1995. I am willing to ship or fly and drive for the right car.

The right MR2 can put you into an appreciating asset. It is one of the few and one of the nicest Japaneses collectibles in my opinion. Certainly an easy one to street drive. Of course, if you start setting it up for track, you could loose some of that collectible value.

How much of a track monster are you hoping to make?

Not really a track monster just something fun that I can autocross or take to a track day

If going MR2, I'd go hard top like this. https://www.japaneseclassics.com/vehicle/1992-toyota-mr2-gt-s/

Even after redoing all of the seals and messing with it, the T-Tops will leak. It may not be a lot but it is annoying and just a PITA. Other than that, they are easy to make quick in the straight line and if you don't drive like an idiot, easy to drive 8/10ths. Getting that last 2/10ths is the tricky part. Mine handled really well with 93+ springs and konis. Cheap wheel options are very thin on the ground if you want to keep the right offsets. There is plenty of the more expensive stuff you can get though if you want.

Also, Be ready to put the later 93+ brakes on it. The earlier brakes don't like heavy track work. Mild stuff ok but not pounding on it at the track.

I had an MR2 with T-tops that didn't leak- it took a lot of work to get them that way though. Another bonus of the hardtop (without sunroof) is that the headliner looks great, and takes the interior from "pretty nice for an old car" to "holy E36 M3 is this a Lexus?"