Best starter/first sports car?

^^This^^^

Or a Porsche Boxster.

Dale

 

If you are looking for just any sports car, 1998 Mitsubishi 3000GT.
If you want a sporty little convertible, 1990 Mazda RX-7 Convertible.

 

The 1st gen cars 97-99 are now over 10 years old. Thus, selling for $12k is not surprising.

Even the newer ones were $55K cars when new. So the fact they are selling for $22k six years later is also not surprising.

As far as maintenance costs, you are aware this is a Ferrari board right? By comparison, Porsches are cheep, cheep, cheep.

Dale

But don't skip over the Miatas. You can buy a two to three year old car for under $20k and then bolt on a mild turbo. This would be a major rock 'n' roll machine.

 

Depreciation. They will only get lower too in my opinion. I personally think that in a decade they will be priced like current day 944's, and you'll be able to pick up a good one for 5 grand (sure hope so).

As for reliability, as far as I know the Boxster is a very solid car, though I'm sure there are issues to watch out for in certain model years. Either way, your wallet is bulletproof so you'll be fine.

Happy hunting.

 

Miata hands down.

 

Nope. Miata by a landslide. Easy call on this one. Something weird but low maintenance is a challenge but I'd stiil push you towards an MX-5.

 

Not a sports car really....too heavy and big.

 

Depends on what generation Miata you get. For the most part however.. yes, you probably will.

If your budget allows it I'd suggest checking out the Honda S2000. It's twice the car as the Miata in my opinion. I was in one today, the interior is one of my favourite on any sports car, and is layed out almost like the 458's. Gearbox is also one of the best I'v ever used, and a delight to use with the engine reving to 9,000 RPM.

 

I'm gonna vote......BMW e36 M3(95-99), they're absolute bargains right now.........I had 2(2dr and 4dr), tracked both, beat the dog poop out of them, and neither ever let me down.......they're very fun cars and not very expensive to maintain.....



a Miata would be my choice if I was looking for a starter track car....

 

I'm 6'2" and I have raced the 2nd gen SM and the MX-5 car. If you bolt the seat to the floor and/or take out some padding, no drama. But if the car has a full roll cage, be sure and wear a helmet.

 

If you want to work on it yourself, old and simpler is better. I would go for a vintage Porsche 911T or, if cash is really tight, a Porsche 912 (not the 1976 model but the early ones). Bulletproof, more stylish than a new one, distinctive, endless parts supply, comfy for tall guys and fun to drive. If you do get a 911T, and you're ambitious, you can get quite a lot of power out of it. And, I don't think it's possible to lose money on these cars anymore unless you drive them off a cliff.

(The 911S is "the one to have" for investment, but those are pushing six figures now for the really nice ones, and certainly over $50K for anything that runs and has solid floors...)

Anything after the '80s is going to have a fair amount of electronics, and the newer stuff shouldn't even have a bonnet that opens. Otherwise, I would agree with Dr. Who that a 986-gen Boxster is something of a bargain -- but, they can be needy, and engine access requires a lift. They are very nice to drive, though, and feel more "serious" than a Miata.

Nice cheap sedans, but not sports cars.

 

You can't beat the hp/value of a Crossfire SRT6
16k buys you a good 330hp 2 seater coupe

 

not sure how you define "bargain" (or what your budget is), but early n/a Lotus Elises (2005-2006) are in the low 20's now.

 

in that case, I'd go with the Miata.

Alfa Spider-depending on how handy you are, perhaps. not much of a performance car, though, but damn it's stylish. you'll look great waiting for AAA to pick you up

 

this would work
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subaru wrx

 

Try one on. If you fit, it doesn't get much better.

You know what we've missed? A C5 or C6 Corvette. They are not the most elegant things, but, man-oh-man, you wanna put some lead in your pencil. Romp down on that loud pedal and the world becomes a very different place.

Dale

 

true dat. C5's are cheap, too (like in the teens).

and I have several friends that are 6'2" or taller who have fit into my Elise with no major issues. it's a bigger car than you'd think.

 

I know. I've driven one. I couldnt' heel and toe, but you can't have everything.