WTF should I buy (A consolidated list of bad decisions)

[Evan]

Anyone have any other suggestions that I might be forgetting?  If I don't find something I really like I might just wait a while until I get desperate for a manual.  The GTI with a tune is fun enough to drive that I could live without one for a bit probably.

New-ish V6 Mustang? $15k is pushing it but I saw a few in the neighborhood when I looked at them.

I like the 370Z idea though if you can live without a backseat.

[D_Eclipse9916]

C5 Z06 #endthread
Hits all your points including low maintenance and torquey around town. Trust me, the interior isn't any worse than an E36/Z3/E46 when it's falling apart.

Funyn enough the 350z/370Zs have their own issues and all the bmws will require significant upkeep nowadays. E30/S52 sounds great since a refresh, but as Dave is finding out, it's not the motor swap that ends up eating budget and time; but all the odds and ends for the rest of the car like brake lines/shocks/bushings etc.

Mustangs are awesome but at $15k I would get the newest GT I could find vs cobra/Mach1 since the interiors got exponentially better and the new ones are just plain faster with less work.

[.RJ]

Stretch and buy a nice C5 Z06 or base C6 vette.

[Sijray21]

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/197485661

[Evan]

Based on how overpriced FR-Ss are right now, I cant even imagine how inflated pricing on Vettes are.

bad time to buy a sporty/sports car

[ViPER1313]

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detai...share_text

[RawrImAMonster]

C5 Z06  #endthread
Hits all your points including low maintenance and torquey around town.  Trust me, the interior isn't any worse than an E36/Z3/E46 when it's falling apart.

Funyn enough the 350z/370Zs have their own issues and all the bmws will require significant upkeep nowadays.  E30/S52 sounds great since a refresh, but as Dave is finding out, it's not the motor swap that ends up eating budget and time; but all the odds and ends for the rest of the car like brake lines/shocks/bushings etc.

Mustangs are awesome but at $15k I would get the newest GT I could find vs cobra/Mach1 since the interiors got exponentially better and the new ones are just plain faster with less work.

I really want to like the c5 z06, but I drove one a few years ago and I wasn't a huge fan of the seating position.  How adjustable are those seats?  I felt like my head was above the roofline.  I still need to drive a C6 though.

What major issues do the 370z's have?  I've only really heard of the clutch slave cylinder being a problem.  That and the older ones needing an oil cooler for track use.  I don't consider either of those to be too terrible, at least compared to the M3 where the chassis falls apart if you don't reinforce it.


My thinking with Mustangs is I like the newer 15+ GT's so much that if I'm going to get a newish one, I'll wait to get one of those.  If I get older one that's still decent like the cobras, I can hold onto that for a few years and not really take much of a depreciation hit.

Based on how overpriced FR-Ss are right now,   I cant even imagine how inflated pricing on Vettes are.

bad time to buy a sporty/sports car

Yeah I have noticed everything seems to be on the high side right now even compared to a few years ago.  The other side of the coin is, I should be able to do fairly well on my M3 as well.

[Goodspeed]

I will say that the ride I got in a base C6 with the targa off was rather glorious. Uncorked LS3 with the open top was excellent and the interior was miles ahead of the C5. One of those would be my #1 choice in your shoes. Isn't there a current student that has a blue one?

[RawrImAMonster]

Just curious, do targa tops like in a c6 require you to have a roll bar like a convertible would for HPDE?

Honestly, I would rather stick to the lower end of the budget unless it's something I REALLY like. Base model corvettes are cool and all, but probably not something I'd want to stretch the budget for.

[ScottyB]

What I want:
RWD
Manual
Highly prefer 300hp+


99/01 cobra or 03/04 mach 1 (Mach 1's don't have IRS though so probably not)

if you want the pony car experience forget the SN95 cars completely and go straight for the S197's (05+).  far better chassis, regardless of solid axle or not (the IRS in the cobras was a bandaid, not particularly good geometry), so you can focus on just adding decent bolt ons instead of trying to re-engineer the entire frame of the car to actually handle.  the 3V engines in those are pretty tough, but won't make 400+ horses unless you boost them, but they're still quick cars.  step up to the 5.0 after the refresh and those can fly.  many people track them and they've proven reliable.  great to just drive around too, comfy and spacious.

you can find the early 3 valve cars all day under $10k, with another 5k in suspension/brakes/wheels/exhuast you'd have a fun car with 4 seats. or if you don't want to party with all the mods, grab a Bullitt edition and just drive it around and enjoy it, then sell for what you got it for...those look awesome in green.

[.RJ]

Base model corvettes are cool and all, but probably not something I'd want to stretch the budget for.

430hp/430 ft-lbs doesnt excite you? 

[Goodspeed]

Just curious, do targa tops like in a c6 require you to have a roll bar like a convertible would for HPDE?

Different clubs could have different rules on this, but I highly doubt the majority are in the opinion that you must have a roll bar for HPDE.  I know of plenty of targa top Supras that have done HPDEs with NASA/Chin/Trackdaze/PCA etc. etc. that don't have roll bars.

Honestly, I would rather stick to the lower end of the budget unless it's something I REALLY like.  Base model corvettes are cool and all, but probably not something I'd want to stretch the budget for.

Don't forget mods though.  You'd probably blow the rest of your budget & then some getting a Mustang/Z car near the level of a box stock C6 if that's important to you

[Sijray21]

Just curious, do targa tops like in a c6 require you to have a roll bar like a convertible would for HPDE?

Different clubs could have different rules on this, but I highly doubt the majority are in the opinion that you must have a roll bar for HPDE.  I know of plenty of targa top Supras that have done HPDEs with NASA/Chin/Trackdaze/PCA etc. etc. that don't have roll bars.

I believe targas still have a b-pillar, right? So that should be fine for hpde. Nasa has a rule for convertibles, but doesn't mention targas.

https://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/rollover.html

[RawrImAMonster]

Anymore I don't care about the power that much once it's over 300 or so. You get used to the power pretty quickly anywhere in the 300-400 range. Maybe its different once you get higher than that? I doubt it, it's just the way the brain works. I just think the 300-400 hp range is about perfect for a street car.

As far as mustangs go, I don't really like any of them from 05 until 2013. And if I'm getting a 2013, I may as well wait and get a 2015. Going to have to be old or new for these.

Also keep in mind, this is strictly my good weather second car so 4 seats is not needed at all. I've got a GTI for extra seats if needed.

[ScottyB]

As far as mustangs go, I don't really like any of them from 05 until 2013.  And if I'm getting a 2013, I may as well wait and get a 2015.  Going to have to be old or new for these.

totally understand.  i get the appeal of the old SN95 cobras and Mach1.   i think they're more of an experience/thrill ride type of drive than anything precision though.  lots of noise and muscling a burly engine around but its a far cry from your E46.  of course you can improve the bad areas, but that's quite a bit of money and time.

also, with power, would you be cool with something like a supercharged miata?  its not 3-400hp, but in a car that light, i'm sure it feels pretty fast.  do you have to stick hard to that power goal or is it just more about the feeling?

opening up your list to lower powered, but lighter cars would give you some nice options.

[Goodspeed]

also, with power, would you be cool with something like a supercharged miata?  its not 3-400hp, but in a car that light, i'm sure it feels pretty fast.  do you have to stick hard to that power goal or is it just more about the feeling?

opening up your list to lower powered, but lighter cars would give you some nice options.

Really good question - your budget would get you a super awesome SC'ed/turbo'd Miata.

Pending answer, you should get a super cherry MSM:



(Looking at your past cars in your signature, it doesn't look like you've fuxed with anything small & sub 3,000lbs.  It's a totally different experience, horsepower or not, that really gets under your skin.  You should try it with one of these)

Or, still, a C6 'Vette 



(Look at that f'in thing - that's got torque-rich second/weekend car written all over it man, c'mon now....)

[rherold9]

Was about to say supercharged NC Miata

[RawrImAMonster]

I'm just not a miata guy. Even with some crazy LS swap I don't think I'd want one. To me there isn't anything appealing about them until the newest generation.

C6 corvette is another one of those cars that I'd rather just wait until I can get a nicer version to get one kind of things for me. I like them, but I'd rather wait a few years and get a grand sport or z06. They look so much better.

I'd really rather stick to the lower end of my budget just to free up some house money. Going to go test drive a 370z again this weekend and see how I like that. It's been about 5 years since I've driven one. It's more or less the same performance as a E46 M3 but without the annoying characteristics that make the M3 a chore to drive around town. Plus you can find them under 15k all day.

[.RJ]

yore going to hate the 370 if you have gotten used to your M, which you like more than your 135...

[RawrImAMonster]

We'll see. The 370z is right outside of Harrisonburg so I don't have to drive far to see it. If I don't like it, I can cross one off the list.

In retrospect I probably like the 135i and M3 on about equal levels for different reasons. I suspect the 1M is about the perfect car for me, but BMW sucks and they barely made any.