Sports car for ~$25k...?

Crank walk eh? lulz I keeeeed!

I like the looks of the new ones but it doesn't really get my motor running sort of speak. That's what I mean when I say, "....cool but I've never wanted to own one".

 

I test drove the older Z4M coupe with the e46 M3 engine. It was a fun little car and really felt raw(good thing).

 

That's why I'm thinking about the Mcoupe. Same S54 engine (I think) and better balance

 

yep this one was the Z4 not the Z3. I can describe the cayman being more elegant and the Z more muscular. both great, but different styles.

Z4 heavier steering, better grunt from the engine. better on the power coming out of the turns.

cayman lighter steering, heavier brakes. better trail braking into turns.

 

'07 C6

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=309227156&dealer_id=75054&car_year=2007&systime=&doors=&model=CORV&search_lang=en&start_year=2007&body_style=COUPE&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=used&distance=25&min_price=&rdm=1325090821449&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=96641&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=ATLANTA_SE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=2&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=30333&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=30000&make=CHEV&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=13&standard=false

 

the C6 is excellent for a non DD. they are so cheap used now(i think they said they made too many of them a few years ago), you cannot beat them. 05-07 are the same, 08+ get the LS3/T6060.

throw a good catback on it, thats all it needs to put a smile on your face.

 

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=311927092&dealer_id=65171789&car_year=2007&systime=&doors=&model=S2000&search_lang=en&start_year=2001&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&scarid=311823722&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=300&min_price=&rdm=1325090856905&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&make3=&showZipError=y&make2=BMW&certified=&engine=&dma=DALLAS-FT_WORTH_DS&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=75039&sort_type=priceDESC&model2=BMWMCOUPE&max_price=25000&make=HONDA&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=9&standard=false 8 miles from me...

 

I have one problem with the s2000's. I can't fit in them. otherwise fun little car.

 

All 5'10 and 150lbs of me should be fit just fine. I've sat in one before and I believe the dash comes up over the knees which reminds me of riding in a kayak. I think I'll drop by this place and go for a drive. I need to drive more stuff. Been in the Taco too long to remember what sporty feels like

 

2005 Lotus Elise. Only 1950lbs with 200 horses.

 

yeah, 6'5 255 lbs doesn't fit so well in an s2000

 

Funny I did that today also! A guy in Safety Harbor, from the Tampa Miata Club, helped me today installing the Bilsteins 5100 on my truck today.


Anyway, he has an NA Miata and a Z4. His wife drives an NC Miata.

After we were done with the Taco, he just offered me to drive the Z4. DAAAANNG that thing is SWEEEEEET! It reminded me of my old 968, but with more grunt down low. He's selling his with 61K miles (Florida Car, previously owned by BMW CCA member) for $19K. Ya know for less than $20K I'd say that car is a SERIOUS contender!


Did I say it was SWEEEEEEET?

 

Just drove an S2000. Gearbox is fantastic and the engine makes it a ton of fun. ZERO visibility on the driver's side when looking to see if you can change lanes left. I didn't realize the roof was power folding. That was a nice touch. I generally ride around in the Taco with my left arm on the window sill and a hand on the steering wheel. The window sill in the S2000 was just above shoulder height....not ideal.

Over all it was a pretty nice machine. Definitely on the list.

 

Well, it's ideal in a crash lol.

 

For real. I'd like if there was a proper height arm rest though. That wouldn't be hard to accomplish. The pedals are closer than they look too. The dash comes waaaay out but the pedals are actually closer than you think. Sort of caught me by surprise.

 

Save it and put it into a 2nd retirement account...you do have a primary retirement account? 25k for a " sports" car is not much, unless you think a 5 liter stang and or Camero are sports cars? BMW, paaaleeease. I'd just save it, my daily driver is a 2010 z06 Corvette, but that's another story.

 

Yeah, I'm 25 and more than 12% of my income goes straight to my 401k automatically. I should be doing ok.

And I think 25k for a REAL sports car is quite sufficient. The Corvette isn't really my idea of a sports car though since it weighs in at 3300lbs.

 

LOL fortunately for me, no Crankwalk! I think I have one of the later production Talons, and haven't had any issues. (I check it on occasion just to be sure!)

 

haha, I was in your boat earlier this year. I sold my tacoma and wanted to get something fun. My list was almost identical with a budget of $30k or under.

-e46 m3: only wanted white or lsb newer 6spd coupe. couldn't find one I liked for a price I was happy with.
-e39 m5: a friend who had owned one warned me about the weak clutch. some consume oil like mad as well. parts can cost a crapload.
-e60 m5: could barely afford one. maintenance is expensive.
-S2k: practical, but just didn't do it for me
-MKIV Supra: always wanted one, but couldn't justify spending that much on an old car and not a fan of all the ricer attention they draw.
-nsx: couldn't find one in my price range...unless it was auto (wtf)
-c5 z06: almost got one...the interior really put me off though.
-GTO: fit the bill, but my roommate drives one that looks exactly how I would build mine.
-elise: really wanted one after sitting in one. ultimitely decided against it because of the 4 piece fiberglass body (expensive to repair) and the britishness of its construction (read up on the oil cooler lines blowing off their connectors)
-exige: too tough to find in my budget. i liked it enough to forgive the issues that it and the elise shared.
-350z: too slow and too common
-370z: too expensive
-is-f: too expensive
-g35: buddy drives one. nice, but too common
-308gts: i'm not awesome enough to drive this every day
-early 996 911: RMS problems, random engine failures. one of the worst 911s built, that's why they're cheap.
-e55 amg: didn't think it would be fun enough
-sl500: my uncle really pushed me on this one. i didn't want to drive the same car as a retired doctor
-03/04 viper: came within $500 dollars of negotiating a price on one. not sure if i missed out on something great or dodged (heh) a bullet

In the end I bought a 1990 mustang notch (see sig). It's a blast to drive...raw power, makes a glorious sound, but not reliable. I've been fixing little things since buying it, but it's dirt cheap to do anything. I needed something for a DD, so I bought an 06 Cadillac CTS-V, which has been more reliable, but it has a few quirks.

A new 5.0 would be a good option...heard great things. A sagaris would be amazing...too bad our import laws are so restrictive.

 

porsche cayman can be had for under 30k. Reliable too.