Does the answer have to be mx-5?

Also looking at base Audi TT 4 cylinders.

I bet you could get a Mazdaspeed Miata if you shop around enough.

Miatas are cheaper when its 32*F and snowing right?

Absolutely!

Although i think about two weeks ago on ebay there was a Mica Black 05 MSM for $8500. Looked well maintained, somewhat high miles (shouldn't matter), and had a couple little dings here and there. Solid car.

IMHO I wouldn't bother with the Crossfire and no way in hell would I mess with a TT. If you want Audi/ VW "reliability", I would rather buy a Golf since the TT is just a Golf in fancy dress.

I like fancy dresses, though.

Fancy dress and AWD? Golf are only FWD,no?

Depends on the TT some where AWD and some where FWD. Either way my experience with modern VWs is that they are about as reliable as old British cars.

ThePhranc wrote: Fancy dress and AWD? Golf are only FWD,no?

Unless you count the R32, correct.

FWD TTs are out there, too.

Re the E36 M3 - it seems to get harder and harder to find nice ones that aren't "sauerkrauted" out. I'm kinda looking for an E36 M3/4/5 and most of the ones I find are horror shows.

There are a surprising number of FWD TTs around, I'd shop with a lot of care for one of these.

93EXCivic wrote: Depends on the TT some where AWD and some where FWD. Either way my experience with modern VWs is that they are about as reliable as old British cars.

Come on, even Russian submarines are more reliable that old British cars.

So how about this: http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/2578273103.html

Little bit of an older listing, but still current.

Its within your price range, reeks of awesomeness and LLFL (Ladies Love Flippy Lights). Oh, and if you need a local "first look", let me know, its within 10 miles of my house.

For $10k, I'll sell you my 944Spec race car and my Chevy Astro to tow it with. I'm guessing you want a street legal sportscar though.

I don't like the TT. It's a Golf in fancy, impractical clothing. Most are FWD. I test drove one and three people could not figure out if we had the climate control on or not.

You could probably get a Subaru WRX.

ThePhranc wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: Depends on the TT some where AWD and some where FWD. Either way my experience with modern VWs is that they are about as reliable as old British cars.

Come on, even Russian submarines are more reliable that old British cars.

OT but I think the reason the old British cars have such a reputation for unreliability is that most of them end up sitting around so much. And sitting instead of running is the enemy of any car. Plus when a British car goes wrong they are easy and usually cheap to fix. When a VW goes wrong it will cost you your kidney and will make you want to run head first into a wall.

kazoospec wrote: So how about this: http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/2578273103.html Little bit of an older listing, but still current. Its within your price range, reeks of awesomeness and LLFL (Ladies Love Flippy Lights). Oh, and if you need a local "first look", let me know, its within 10 miles of my house.

If that was about 400 miles closer I'd scoop it up.

ThePhranc wrote:

kazoospec wrote: So how about this: http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/2578273103.html Little bit of an older listing, but still current. Its within your price range, reeks of awesomeness and LLFL (Ladies Love Flippy Lights). Oh, and if you need a local "first look", let me know, its within 10 miles of my house.

If that was about 400 miles closer I'd scoop it up.

Fly and drive, son.

That should be an easy mid to high 200s whp car.

It's not so much the distance as it is the Maryland inspection and tag issue. In Maryland we don't buy cars most of the time with out them all ready being inspected.

So contact the seller and have him take it to get an inspection. Or does it have to be a Maryland DMV inspection?

Maryland inspection only by certified inspection stations. I've been failed for some really minor things like a few thousands too much wear on brake rotors and having 5 point harness even though the stock belts were still there.

Test drove the Audi AWD TT 1.8 and Crossfire today. Not a fan of the TT interior but it was a fun little car. The Crossfire I actually really liked but its limited production and MB parts price isn't that great.

I do believe the answer is MX-5

I just need to learn the whats what about them like why are 5speeds while others are 6 speeds and what an LS or SE is.

SE = Special edition (when we deal with NBs).