Opinions Needed!

[Ryan T]

Alright guys, so it looks like the Supra really is sold. Were closing on all the details on tuesday or wednesday and I will have the car until after the car show. The show will be like the Supra's 'last stand' as MM Supra. So that leaves me in the market for a new car. My only requirements are not fwd and manual transmission. I'm only looking to spend around 14,000-14,500. The less the better. I've thought about a sr20 240sx or something like that but I really like the more modern anemities and styling. I'm completely open to suggestions but here's what I've been considering. I'd love to hear your options and opinions because I'll be looking to buy in the next two weeks.

Subaru WRX:
+AWD
+Boost
+Practicality
+/- 4-doors, has its pro's and con's.
+Cheap to make fast
-Boy-racer styling
-Weak transmission
-Not really a 'sports car' as much as a good performing sedan.

Honda S2000:
+Drop top for the nice weather
+Honda reliability
+Good power and performance in auto-x
+Rev's to the sky
-Lack of low end power
-Somewhat small cockpit
-Insurance is probably higher
-Can't modify without deep pockets

BMW E36 M3:
+Great handling
+Good power
+/- Reliability/maintenance?
-Looks like every other 3-series on the road
-Lower mileage specimns are somewhat harder to find in my price range.

LS1 F-body Trans Am/Camaro:
+Most power of them all
+Amazing sounding V8
+Lots of room
-Boat anchor
-I've already owned 2 F-bodies and part of me wants something different.

So those are what I've had in mind, but I'm open to any opinions you guys have on these cars or your thoughts on other cars. This car will be a daily driver with quasi-frequent autocross use. All the above mentioned cars get about the same gas mileage (except the LS1 gets a little bit lower in town, but not much), so that's not a huge deal. Gimmie your input as I'll be buying fairly soon.

[JohnC]

This may surprise you, but I voted WRX...

[ScottyB]

i think the WRX tranny is underrated. as long as you don't drop the clutch repeatedly at 6k rpm i think you'll be just fine -- anyone disagree?

E36 M3's are getting nice and cheap these days. the horsepower they put out is not alot by contemporary standards but remember you can upgrade it to euro specs and put down 250+ whp. i personally think they look very unique, i can pick one out instantly compared to other bmw's.

S2K would be a thriller. it seems like that car just wants to keep on giving it to you the harder you wail on it. i'd be all over one if i liked 'verts.

f-body....meh. try something new. you auto-x primarily, right? the f body is pretty heavy for that.

[D_Eclipse9916]

bah, you know my vote, f-body.

[Feersty]

I voted WRX as well. What do you need said car to do for you? From what understand if there is inclement weather, you have options to drive something else. In terms of S2000s in your price range, there probably aren't going to be many options. Maybe a MY00 with close to 100,000 miles.

[.RJ]

What happened to the C5 idea?

[Goodspeed]

I'd say WRX or F-Body. The WRX is probably the "smartest" choice, as it is probably the best all-around car for the money, it'll fit any and all requirements you could have for a car. But the F-Body is probably the most "you", so I would say one of those two. When modded, both look and sound great. The E36 M3 is nice, but honestly they are a dime a dozen around here, E36's that is, I probably see 20 of them every day. So WRX or maybe F-Body IMO.

[bassmangrammy]

I'd be willing to cut the 540i 6-speed loose at a very good deal.

It's got sedan functionality, great audio system, 4.4L Vanos V-8, 6 manual gears to choose from, and brand new wheels.

[REED]

if you are considering an E36 and an S2000 why not an M roadster, probably pretty hard to find one in that price range, but it is a good combonation of those two cars. I am still considering one for next year

[BLAIR]

[quote="ScottyB"]

E36 M3's are getting nice and cheap these days. the horsepower they put out is not alot by contemporary standards but remember you can upgrade it to euro specs and put down 250+ whp. i personally think they look very unique, i can pick one out instantly compared to other bmw's.

quote]

true that. then dont look any more like every other 3 series on the road at all (unless you look at cars like an uneducated female)

[Ryan T]

All the Corvettes that are decent are out of my price range. I'll need at least 18k to get a semi-decent vette. A 2000 or 2001 S2000 with 50-60k miles can be had for 14k or maybe a lil more. And I still contest that the e36 m3 looks too much like every other 3-series on the road, the styling is just too bland.

[ScottyB]

Ryan i think you're a F-body guy to the bone. the more i think about it, it just seems natural for a good 'ol boy hailing from SoVa 8)

if you get one, i wanna hear it

[BLAIR]

come get a ride in my roomates 95 m3.. youll be sold

[D_Eclipse9916]

Euro guys always say that, I took a ride in my friends m3, then even drove it and I still was....meh. Its definitely nice, but not for everybody. In fact I really dislike the way euro engines feel/rev, but thats my opinion. Have you driven one yet Ryan? I would still advocate to go drive one, who knows you might fall in love with it. I drove c320s, g35s, s2000s, evos, wrxs, 350zs, bmws, trans-ams, mustangs..and cars of all kinds, and guess what? I fell in immediate love with a cheaper, not nearly as respected car, but I loved it myself. It just felt "right". And I just always get this feeling from you that your just a domestic v8 guy, which even the supra is very close to in feeling. When I drove a supra and drove trans-ams the supra obviously handled much better but they have that bigger heavier feeling, even in the way the engine produces power and feels.

I still think you should maybe suck it up and get a corvette or trans-am.

[ScottyB]

I would still advocate to go drive one, who knows you might fall in love with it. I drove c320s, g35s, s2000s, evos, wrxs, 350zs, bmws, trans-ams, mustangs..and cars of all kinds, and guess what? I fell in immediate love with a cheaper, not nearly as respected car, but I loved it myself.

:thumbup: you gotta drive 'em to really know. stats only tell half the story. you don't know what you might find

[Ryan T]

I've driven most every car on your list there dj cept for the m3 and a c320 and the s2000 felt like the most fun, although it was just a few quick flogs up and down the road so I'm curious how it would do during daily driver duty (mike and bj chime in here). I've talked to mike about it briefly but I'm looking for more info. Right now I'm leaning more toward the S2000 and away from the f-body. f-body is fast but its just too heavy to make into a really fun auto-x car, besides I really want to try something new since I've already owned 2 f-bods.

[Mike]

s2k. i've driven most of the cars on that list (and considered many of them) and ended up with the s2k. sure, it isn't practical, sure it doesn't have torque, but it IS the most fun to drive... by far. i kind of prefer it not having power down low. a) i love revving the shit out of it, and b) it keeps me sane on my commute

get an s2k while you can, and buy one of those other cars when you can't

also, insurance isn't bad at all. the idiots tend to stay away because they're expensive to modify (a guess) as compared to a wrx or something along those lines. i pay 1800/yr for the s2k, civic, and motorcycle.

[WRXtranceformed]

I dunno, I just can't picture you in a St00k Ryan. I agree that I see you as more of an American muscle type guy. I voted for LS F-body.

I know of a guy selling a stalled, nitrous'd Camaro that runs 7s or something ridiculously fast in the 8th for your price range. Hit me up if you want more info.

[xvxax]

I'll take you for a ride in my car if you want, maybe it'll help. I'll try to make it to next Tuesdays get together thing.

[Ryan T]

I am an american V8 guy at heart for sure, but the next american V8 I own will be a vette, I just won't be able to get one for another year or so. I've been offered a high 10 second WS-6 for $15,500 (has a LS1 bored to a 6L with LS6 head and big honkin cam) but I turned him down. Wouldn't make much of a daily driver.