So I am thinking about selling my '07 Civic Si and Triumph Sprint RS and investing in a RWD sports car. I had a '71 240Z in high school and somehow nothing has ever fully satisfied me since. The Civic is awesome, but not enough fun. The Triumph is fun but too nerve wracking.
I'm looking for something that will serve mostly as a daily driver/backroad funmobile. I might autocross it a little, but I'm really buying it for road use. Probably will spend between $5K and $12K.
I've been thinking about Miata, Porsche 944, and BMW M3 (E36). I know the maintenance costs on the Porsche are high. Probably the BMW too. Would anyone nevertheless argue for one of those two over the Miata in terms of fun to drive?
DLC
DLC
New Reader
4/10/10 9:51 a.m.
Maybe I should add that to the list too, but I don't think I have THAT much patience anymore.
Here, I'll just start listing stuff until I get bored;
S13 240SX.
S14 240SX.
E30.
E36.
Porsche 944/968.
I got bored.
Motorcycle replacement;
Leftover Honda VFR; there are 25th Anniv. and others from 2007 in dealerships here and there selling for as low as $7k brand new. Also the 919 is a similar situation. I don't think either would be called "nerve racking".
I've never had a 944, but I've had a Miata and an E36 M3. I still have the Miata, but the M3 is long gone. You do the math. (My M3 was great to drive, and never left me stranded, but otherwise was somewhere between "needy" and "money pit.")
Other cars that might be interesting to you would be an FD RX7 or even an RX8. You should be able to find either one near the upper end of your price range. You might even be able to get a Mazdaspeed Miata in your price range.
That said, if I were in your shoes, I'd look to spend around $8-9k on a well-kept NB Miata, spend about $1-2k on good tires, shocks, and any maintenance needs, and motor off into the sunset with the top down.
