Suggestions for sporty ride less than 27K

R

Robert O

New member
Here's my situation....



Gonna be selling my '97 Prelude. Was thinking about getting the new 6 speed Accord, but after actually seeing one... I don't like it. I don't drive my good cars in the winter due to the horrid local winter climate where the roads are turned into salt pits, so it's strictly summer.



Was thinking about new, but no new cars really do it for me. The RSX - ugly. Accord? Don't like it. So I thought to myself, why not used, and started looking at a used S2000 (great car BTW), AND THEN I started looking at 1999 Corvettes which you can also get for $35000-$40000 Canadian or about 27K yankee money. Total cost of ownership is also a factor (which is what scares me about the 'Vette), insurance not so much as I'm 25 with a clean record and the Prelude actually has a very high insurance premium (a 97 Prelude will cost me exactly the same as a 2001 S2000 if you can believe that).



What other cars should I be looking at, used or new, in the 25-30k bullpark?
 
I just don't like the styling of the WRX... I went and looked at them and it just didn't do it for me. I'm sure it's a great car to drive, but I like my exteriors to look sporty.... :)
 
Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4. No doubt. You might even find a convertible for that, there's one around here in St. Louis for sale for 23k. 320hp. twin turbos. all wheel STEERING (turns like it's on a rail). 4 wheel drive. I cried when I had to turn the guy down and buy something more practicle for the winter periods.



I only need to quote my best friend who has driven every sports car made after he took a test drive with me when i was looking at it "I've driven a lot of sports cars - I've never driven anything that can handle like this."
 
konowl,



What criteria are most important to you, overall package, style, 0-60, handling? Decide what is important because since you are considering used (very good choice IMO) there are many really great cars that can be had within your budget. Vehicles such as M3, Z3, Audi S4, MB SLK, Porsche Boxster, and the Porsche 911 just to name a few (can you tell I like the European cars?) all can be purchased within your budget.
 
I like the Honda S2000 for:

Greaty styling, great handling and respectable 0-60



I like the Vette for:

Great styling, good handling and very good 0-60



Styling, for me, is important and I love a good handling car. The 0-60 times, while not as important, are most definately a factor.



I wanted new because I've never had a "new" car, but screw it, I don't want to take the depreciation hit.



Over reliability is also important, which will affect total cost of ownership, which is what kind of scares me when it comes to Corvettes. However, nearest Chevy dealer to me is 10 km. Honda about 40 km, and Porsche/BMW upwards of 80.
 
You should be able to pickup a '00 BMW 328Ci or maybe even a '01 330Ci. Living 80km+ from a BMW dealer is nothing, that's a normal commute to work. I bought my car new in 02/00 and I now have 48k miles on the odo. In the 3 1/2 years I've owned it it's been to the dealership once to have some valve lifters replaced under warranty 3 years ago. Other than that my car has been very economical to own. I get about 24mpg in town 29mpg on the highway. This is the only car I've ever owned in 30+ years of driving that I still love today as much as I did when I bought it. Put some real snow tires on it and drive it in the winter; you'll be amazed how well you can get around.
 
M3

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6131&item=2424024783



C45 AMG

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6334&item=2424296005



S4

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43902&item=2423695663



S60 T5

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6458&item=2424338421



Boxter

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6015&item=2424247176



MR 2

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15289&item=2424386171



SC400

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6300&item=2424419521



CL Type S



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=5332&item=2424385810



Hmph... I was bored. Maybe this will give you some ideas.
 
Acura CL Type S with a manual would be my choice. Decent interior space, nice sized trunk, mid 14 1/4 potential stock...add a cold air intake, headers and exhaust and 14 flat at about 100 is in reach.
 
I'll second B-Lexusfan's suggestion of the Mazda 6s. The 0-60 aren't great with the auto, but decent with the stick. Handles great and it's one of the nicer looking sedans out there today IMO. I aways get compliments on mine. :xyxthumbs
 

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Too much money. Besides, not overly fond of the styling. It looks like a fluffy pissed off Poodle when it drives by.
 
Check out the Boxster. You can get a great deal on a used one these days, easily within your price range ('97-'99). Similar, but different to the S2000 (which is a great car, too).
 
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