My wife and I want a cool "weekend car" for next year
08-04-10, 02:09 PM
#50
Well looking at everything so far on this thread I WILL look into either (in no particular order):
'97+ Acura NSX-T
'04/'05 Porsche Cayman S
'05/'06 Porsche Boxster S
'04/'05 Mercedes SL500 (I had no idea they were that affordable!) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-SL...item1c148b30e1
'97+ Acura NSX-T
'04/'05 Porsche Cayman S
'05/'06 Porsche Boxster S
'04/'05 Mercedes SL500 (I had no idea they were that affordable!) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-SL...item1c148b30e1
If you are looking for a weekend "Sports Car" than this list is about perfect except the Mercedes IMHO. The SL500 is a nice car, but will not feel like a light weight weekend fun sports car. It will feel like a heavy pig compared to the others on the list.
Drive all those cars on your list and you'll find it will be hard to compare the driving feel and dynamics to most other cars on the road. Its hard to explain the feel you have when you drive a mid engine. It truly feels like you are driving a race car or a kart of some sort. The balance is unlike almost anything on the road today.
08-04-10, 10:39 PM
#52
Lexus Champion
dude! look at the "buy it now" prices... approx 30k range...
08-05-10, 12:21 PM
#55
Lexus Fanatic
All of the modern Porsche rear-engined and mid-engined Porsches are semi-exotics. The driving experience is more rewarding than a vast majority of more common sporty cars and the repair costs higher too. A CPO/factory-warrantied car makes a lot of sense for many buyers.
08-05-10, 12:34 PM
#56
Forum Administrator
iTrader: (2)
I'd suggest looking at a used 911. Can get some decent 993 versions as well as early 996 models for that price. I'm biased against the Boxter and the Cockster (Cayman) because I don't care for the way they look, but if you like 'em they would be a decent option as well.
You keep talking about a performance-specific car, but consider if this is going to be a summertime-only car, maximize the fun. Get a drop top with collectability, decent performance and great handling... give up on ground-blistering straight line as your key criteria.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
NSX will be nice (wife had one, modified) but finding one that has not been abused / high miles at that price in 1997+ will be very difficult to do.
Both NSX and Porsche will likely hold their value pretty well at this point in their lifecycle. Maybe a well-appointed low-mile BMW M3 E46 convertible you can drop some mods on.
(ps there is no such thing as a high stall TC in a stickshift)
You keep talking about a performance-specific car, but consider if this is going to be a summertime-only car, maximize the fun. Get a drop top with collectability, decent performance and great handling... give up on ground-blistering straight line as your key criteria.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
NSX will be nice (wife had one, modified) but finding one that has not been abused / high miles at that price in 1997+ will be very difficult to do.
Both NSX and Porsche will likely hold their value pretty well at this point in their lifecycle. Maybe a well-appointed low-mile BMW M3 E46 convertible you can drop some mods on.
(ps there is no such thing as a high stall TC in a stickshift)
Last edited by DaveGS4; 08-05-10 at 12:53 PM.
08-05-10, 04:02 PM
#57
I could still one had steer the NSX in a parking sport with no problem. The newer NSX with electric power steering assist would cut off at around 20-30 MPH or something anyway. The non power steering is what gave the NSX such great steering feel and feedback. It's not like having a power steering car and removing the power assist. The rack is designed to have no power steering so its not that dead stiff feel.
08-05-10, 06:38 PM
#58
Lexus Test Driver
I agree with everyone else, search for the NSX, and as mentioned it is hard to find the right one or look into a used Porsche Cayman or Porsche 911 all are great choices!
08-06-10, 05:13 AM
#59
Pole Position
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Z06 - Probably your best bang for the buck, performance wise. Early years can be had within your budget, and you'll blow the doors off of most things on the road. But Vettes in general are a dime-a-dozen, so even though it's a Z06, most people won't notice.
Just some other ideas for you...
08-06-10, 07:28 AM
#60
I'd suggest looking at a used 911. Can get some decent 993 versions as well as early 996 models for that price. I'm biased against the Boxter and the Cockster (Cayman) because I don't care for the way they look, but if you like 'em they would be a decent option as well.
You keep talking about a performance-specific car, but consider if this is going to be a summertime-only car, maximize the fun. Get a drop top with collectability, decent performance and great handling... give up on ground-blistering straight line as your key criteria.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
NSX will be nice (wife had one, modified) but finding one that has not been abused / high miles at that price in 1997+ will be very difficult to do.
Both NSX and Porsche will likely hold their value pretty well at this point in their lifecycle. Maybe a well-appointed low-mile BMW M3 E46 convertible you can drop some mods on.
(ps there is no such thing as a high stall TC in a stickshift)
You keep talking about a performance-specific car, but consider if this is going to be a summertime-only car, maximize the fun. Get a drop top with collectability, decent performance and great handling... give up on ground-blistering straight line as your key criteria.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
NSX will be nice (wife had one, modified) but finding one that has not been abused / high miles at that price in 1997+ will be very difficult to do.
Both NSX and Porsche will likely hold their value pretty well at this point in their lifecycle. Maybe a well-appointed low-mile BMW M3 E46 convertible you can drop some mods on.
(ps there is no such thing as a high stall TC in a stickshift)
Good idea Dave...perhaps I should not put too much emphasis on performance and get something more fun (but can still handle itself
). BTW, I don't know much about manual transmission cars but i belive they make the NSX in automatic...if so, I wonder if there are high stall TC options available for that car? In any event I am most likely going to look for the manual version though...How did you like your NSX btw? Pros? Cons? Thanks.
Here's one that looks pretty cool doing a quick search...
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
Last edited by Rock-a-Lex; 08-06-10 at 07:32 AM.