12-29-2004, 05:31 PM
You forgot to include price range.
Other than that my rough guesses would be:
E36 M3
Mazda 3
Mini Cooper S
Lexus IS300
Subaru WRX
You still haven't driven most of these cars I assume so really you need to do more work before you pose the question. You've still got at least 6 months before you're buying anyway.
Also, some of your criteria are sort of contradictory. When you say 'low curb weight' that means at least under 3000 lbs to me and the only cars that are performance oriented and under 3000 lbs and RWD or AWD are things like E30 BMW's, the last gen Impreza, and stuff like the Miata, MR2, 240SX, RX-7.
I assume you weren't going for a 2 seat convertible so E30, 240SX, Impreza, or RX-7. You don't want a 3rd gen RX-7 because of the reliability and I don't think you want a 2nd gen so that's out. The only E30 I think you'd really want is the M3 and that is expensive to maintain, so you're left with the 240SX or the Impreza 2.5RS. Neither is a bad choice and they're relatively cheap and have good aftermarket. Neither is particularly fast either unless you want to take on a swap.
Other than that my rough guesses would be:
E36 M3
Mazda 3
Mini Cooper S
Lexus IS300
Subaru WRX
You still haven't driven most of these cars I assume so really you need to do more work before you pose the question. You've still got at least 6 months before you're buying anyway.
Also, some of your criteria are sort of contradictory. When you say 'low curb weight' that means at least under 3000 lbs to me and the only cars that are performance oriented and under 3000 lbs and RWD or AWD are things like E30 BMW's, the last gen Impreza, and stuff like the Miata, MR2, 240SX, RX-7.
I assume you weren't going for a 2 seat convertible so E30, 240SX, Impreza, or RX-7. You don't want a 3rd gen RX-7 because of the reliability and I don't think you want a 2nd gen so that's out. The only E30 I think you'd really want is the M3 and that is expensive to maintain, so you're left with the 240SX or the Impreza 2.5RS. Neither is a bad choice and they're relatively cheap and have good aftermarket. Neither is particularly fast either unless you want to take on a swap.