do you mean Z06 not ZR1, because ZR1's can be had for under 20K, they are 14 years old you knowMoJ said:
Sportscars...best bang for the buck? (1 Viewer)
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I have a 2003 Mini Cooper that flies like a cheetah with a hot poker up its ass. It handles like it's glued to the ground and the acceleration would make you think you've been launched from a slingshot. Plus, it gets around 32+mpg on the highway and high twenties around town.
Many may not call this a "sportscar" but with room for 4 comfortably and all around fun factor... I'd definitely recommend you give it a look.
Many may not call this a "sportscar" but with room for 4 comfortably and all around fun factor... I'd definitely recommend you give it a look.
Did Acura kill the NSX? It isn't on their website any longer.
NSX are definitely very good sport cars, but parts are scarce and expensive.
Even tough there is not a single right or wrong answer to the question, one of the "best bang for the buck" sport cars nowadays is the 944 Porshe Turbo, you can get one of those for a song.
Even tough there is not a single right or wrong answer to the question, one of the "best bang for the buck" sport cars nowadays is the 944 Porshe Turbo, you can get one of those for a song.
TR-6 ..............
- MPG no issue, it won't run long enough to use a tank full.
- Safe, see above
- Cool, you will spend so much time shagging you will not care it never runs.
- Resale, some other middle aged guy will always want to buy it from you.
- Matiance, can of car wax. Yes see #1 above.
- MPG no issue, it won't run long enough to use a tank full.
- Safe, see above
- Cool, you will spend so much time shagging you will not care it never runs.
- Resale, some other middle aged guy will always want to buy it from you.
- Matiance, can of car wax. Yes see #1 above.
Uhh, how much you wanna' spend? I got a used Mazda for $3000 that'll turn a 1/4 mile in the low 13s. It'll out handle the Lotus, the Zs, the Celicas, and Hondas people've listed. If you're not familiar w/ Mazda sportscars, look into them too. The RX7 as noted or what I picked up, a 1990 Miata.
$5000 and under- BMW E30 325is (1987-91). Fun, tossable, decent power. You might also look at a Porsche 944, but they can be expensive to keep up.
$10,000- They are just hitting the price point, but a 1999 BMW 323i (e46) or 1995-1998 BMW e36 M3 (if you can find one that hasn't been abused).
$20,000-25,000- Porsche, Porsche or Porsche. A 1997-98 Boxter, Clean 964 Carrera 2, clean 1984-88 911 Carrera.
$30,000- you can stretch into a Porsche 993 and almost a 996.
Yes, I have a Porsche problem.
$10,000- They are just hitting the price point, but a 1999 BMW 323i (e46) or 1995-1998 BMW e36 M3 (if you can find one that hasn't been abused).
$20,000-25,000- Porsche, Porsche or Porsche. A 1997-98 Boxter, Clean 964 Carrera 2, clean 1984-88 911 Carrera.
$30,000- you can stretch into a Porsche 993 and almost a 996.
Yes, I have a Porsche problem.
Diesel power. A full sized truck will run around corners like a train on rails, you can pack the family, camping gear, and dog in, and still out drag most sports cars out there. The Chevy below is faster than a stock Corvette C6, and you can tow a huge boat or trailer with your Cruiser on it when you aren't out smoking ricers. You can buy a used ride and build it up super hot for $10-20k total.
The white Chevy 2500HD Crewcab 4X4 below belongs to Nick D'Amico. It posted up a 11.95 ET at 2710 ft of altitude on All Terrain tires! That's a corrected speed of 11.6 at sea level. That's freaking fast. The truck is completely street legal and averages 17.5 mpg during normal driving. It puts out 721 hp and 1369 ft-lb. of torque.
The black Ford F-350 Longbed Dually Crewcab 4X4 posted up a 13.7 quarter mile. He averages 13.4 mpg during normal driving. It puts out 521 hp and 1095 ft.-lbs. of torque.
These are the hot rods of the future. With reliability and longevity, diesels are the way to go. Sure, they are not exactly agile, but they can hold their own. It's just like driving a logging truck on a coastal highway.
You can read about the Diesel Power Challenge in the Sept. 2006 Diesel Power Magazine. No affiliation, blah blah.....
...
The white Chevy 2500HD Crewcab 4X4 below belongs to Nick D'Amico. It posted up a 11.95 ET at 2710 ft of altitude on All Terrain tires! That's a corrected speed of 11.6 at sea level. That's freaking fast. The truck is completely street legal and averages 17.5 mpg during normal driving. It puts out 721 hp and 1369 ft-lb. of torque.
The black Ford F-350 Longbed Dually Crewcab 4X4 posted up a 13.7 quarter mile. He averages 13.4 mpg during normal driving. It puts out 521 hp and 1095 ft.-lbs. of torque.
These are the hot rods of the future. With reliability and longevity, diesels are the way to go. Sure, they are not exactly agile, but they can hold their own. It's just like driving a logging truck on a coastal highway.
You can read about the Diesel Power Challenge in the Sept. 2006 Diesel Power Magazine. No affiliation, blah blah.....
...
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Intake/exhaust, headers, alum flywheel, 2nd gen clutch, sway bars, adjustable coilovers w/1.5" drop on 17" alloys w/ new FuzionZRi tires. The wierd thing is there're a few guys out there who've made what're called "Monster Miatas". Turns out an LS1 V8 fits in like it was made to be there. 
Who'da thunk it?
Who'da thunk it?
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
I would have to say 1986 Fiero!!!
I think it was Top Gear or maybe Car And Driver who proved that the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI was the fastest car for under 30k. It beat every muscle and sports car in its catagory.
Having owned one, I love the Porsche 944 series. Neutral, balanced handling, great road feel, great breaking etc. The normally aspirated ones are a little under powered (though the 968 is nice at 240 hp), but the turbos can be chipped easily to produce 250 hp. With all the after market parts and performance mods (bigger turbos, bigger injectors, etc.), the sky's the limit. Get over 25 mpg in combined driving even when modded out; I would get 30+ mpg on long freeway trips in my n/a if I kept my foot light.
2+2 coupe, rear seats good for kids or Vietnamese girlfriends. The backs fold down and you can actually fit a lot of stuff in the rear.
Not as reliable as a cruiser to say the least, tight engine compartment sometimes hard to work on.
Porsche 944 had in great condition for easily less that $5k 150hp n/a 2.5 liter 4 cyl.
Porsche 944 turbo (951) 212 hp, bigger brakes, sway bars etc. , better body style. 1986 model year $5k easily. 1987 got airbags and anti-locks, LSD an option more $$$
Porsche 944 turbo S the flagship, bigger turbo, brakes, etc. 248 hp stock $10k? LSD etc.
Porsche 944 S2 3.0 liter n/a 208 hp, same brakes etc. as the turbos
Porsche 968 3.0 liter variable valve timed n/a 4 cyl. making 240 hp stock, 6 spd. tranny (with a pinion gear issue). new body style (a la the 928) $8-$15k?
B
2+2 coupe, rear seats good for kids or Vietnamese girlfriends. The backs fold down and you can actually fit a lot of stuff in the rear.
Not as reliable as a cruiser to say the least, tight engine compartment sometimes hard to work on.
Porsche 944 had in great condition for easily less that $5k 150hp n/a 2.5 liter 4 cyl.
Porsche 944 turbo (951) 212 hp, bigger brakes, sway bars etc. , better body style. 1986 model year $5k easily. 1987 got airbags and anti-locks, LSD an option more $$$
Porsche 944 turbo S the flagship, bigger turbo, brakes, etc. 248 hp stock $10k? LSD etc.
Porsche 944 S2 3.0 liter n/a 208 hp, same brakes etc. as the turbos
Porsche 968 3.0 liter variable valve timed n/a 4 cyl. making 240 hp stock, 6 spd. tranny (with a pinion gear issue). new body style (a la the 928) $8-$15k?
B
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Relix said:
I have a friend who worked for a company in Ann Arbor that dyno tested engines to destruction.
The RX-7 Rotary and the 300ZX V-6 were the best he ever tested. Every LT5 they tried to test didn't make it through the break in procedure. You can have your Lotus designed engine. Even Lotus doesn't use Lotus engines any more.
RX-7 and Mazda Miata would be my choice for fun bombing around sports cars, except I really don't fit into either one.
cary said:
I still got a 535 (E34) for under $2000.
DBAX said:Intake/exhaust, headers, alum flywheel, 2nd gen clutch, sway bars, adjustable coilovers w/1.5" drop on 17" alloys w/ new FuzionZRi tires. The wierd thing is there're a few guys out there who've made what're called "Monster Miatas". Turns out an LS1 V8 fits in like it was made to be there.
1.5" drop on 17's fitted to a NA Miata?!!! It must look like your running 22''s! A fan of Miata.net? Great site. I almost bought a 90 Miata. I was REALL close and probably shouldve done it. Probably wouldve if it wasnt for me being 6'8''..
NA miatas are totally under estimated. Cheap as hell, quick, and awsome gearbox.. superb handling.
80's Sports cars you say? I may be wrong, but I dont think there was such a thing.
90's?
NSX
E36 BMW 3 Series
BMW M Coupe
NA Mazda Miata
Various other Jap cars
I'm getting weepy
Miata.net's a great site w/ a lot of tech. That's great because after a weekend of experimenting on revving up just enough to bump the rev limiter at 7400 R's, my ability to shift gears has come to an end.. I'm working on keeping it at the sweetspot, 6500 RPM. I'm hoping it's the clutch slave cylinder, I've been putting off rebuuilding it for two weeks now. If that's not it, I'll get into the master, hopefully it's not a major clutch issue.
I was just wheeling in and around Flagstaff last weekend and drove down 89A through Oak Creek Canyon here in AZ. (89A is a semi-famous road, Google for pics/descripts) I can't wait to get it out of the garage again and head up the mountain to enjoy the twistys. The weather was much better than Phoenix'.
89A descending into Oak Creek Canyon-
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