If you were to pick a used "High end" Sports car what would you pick?

[Atropine]

Originally Posted by King Tut

Why would anyone puchase an RX8 at this point? Literally the only good thing about that car is the chassis. The engine makes no power, it fails often, it burns oil, and it gets horrible fuel milage.

I still like the styling and they are kinda functional...but yeah...i have to agree with a lot of what you said.

[MokSpeed]

Enzo

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by MokSpeed

Enzo

Now why would he settle for someone else's sloppy seconds Ferrari when he can have the Ferrari TheFerrari?

[Atropine]

So the 3 cars that I am considering the most just due to personal preference are

FD RX7
NSX
Elise/Exige

Here are the pros/cons for each car

FD RX7
*Its a rotary
*Its a rotary
*I do know a great rotary mechanic (Jeff Clark of Jeff's Automotive)
*Love the styling
*Have had a hard-on for these since I was 12 years old
*Seem to have nice aftermarket
*Unique
*Can get for 13-25k depending on the shape it is in

NSX
*Its a Honda, and supposedly are not hard or expensive to work on
*Unique
*Exclusive
*Will probably appreciate somewhat (though not thinking of this as investment)
*Love styling
*Is MR layout which is my favorite layout
*does cost a good bit more than the RX7
*Is probably the most expensive car out of the bunch

Elise/Exige
*newer
*Toyota engine/drivetrain
*could probably get one for 25-30k if I was patient...this leaves money for other stuff
*Love the look
*British Electronics worry me (Jaguar, Range Rover...)
*MR Layout...and they are fun to drive
*Hard to live with though for long trips (but I have my 4Runner as my DD and Miata can still be used for longer trips if I want)
*These are the closest thing to a racecar I can buy and still take on street

After writing this...I just want all 3 now lol.

Need to work it down a bit more.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Atropine

The FD RX7 is my dream car from my teenage years...

The Lotus Elise/Exige is my Dream car more recently...

Really tough decision...just trying to get advice and see what others think. Sometimes hearing something bounced off of someone else makes it more clear.

Looks like it comes down to wether you want to be under your dream car or in it driving it lol

[rice_classic]

I'm going to incorrectly assume everyone is like me and say:

None of them. Don't do it.

Buy a race car instead. Usually that's like telling someone they should really try smoking crack, but you're already committed to spending tens of thousands of dollars on a frivolous purchase so hell, it might as well be epic!

The type of race car is irrelevant, it really is.. Spec Miata, 944, E30, Honda.. doesn't matter. What WILL matter is racing and no used sports car will even compare.. won't even remotely compare to the hard-on you'll get from actual racing. You will never have as much fun in an NSX, Cayman, RX8 or whatever.. as you will when you're taking the green flag and bump drafting your competition down the straight.

I've owned an S2000 and have spent my share of time in an NSX, Corvette, Lotus, 996, etc etc. Not one of them is as much fun as racing, even racing shitboxes like chumpcar.

For half the price of any of the cars you listed, you could buy an open trailer (that your 4Runner could pull) and a fully prepped, race-ready car and have enough cash left over to run a full season.

You're 34, I'm 34... So you can trust my advice.

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by hypercarfanatic

FT-1 should be released soon-ish. No price point, but rumors focus on the $40K - $60K

Yup, 2017

[strat61caster]

@Atropine muahahahahahaha

Atropine: Hey guys, looking for a cool reliable sports car that I can enjoy for a long time, suggestions?

stratcaster: FD RX-7


Edit: oops I missed a bunch of posts, heed Rice Classics advice, even the most perfect car is nowhere near as fun as pulling a slide job on someone and rubbing fenders even if it's in a $500 Civic.

[vh_supra26]

Originally Posted by Atropine

So the 3 cars that I am considering the most just due to personal preference are

FD RX7
NSX
Elise/Exige

Here are the pros/cons for each car

FD RX7
*Its a rotary
*Its a rotary
*I do know a great rotary mechanic (Jeff Clark of Jeff's Automotive)
*Love the styling
*Have had a hard-on for these since I was 12 years old
*Seem to have nice aftermarket
*Unique
*Can get for 13-25k depending on the shape it is in

Do a 2JZ swap

Or just buy one with it already done. LSx or 2JZ RX-7 go for around $20k or so.

[EAGLE5]

Problem with a race car is that you can only drive it at the track. In three years, when he has a baby, he won't be able to go near a track for ages.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by reni

I can't believe it took a page and a half to get the correct answer.

Please see post #2

Originally Posted by King Tut

Why would anyone puchase an RX8 at this point? Literally the only good thing about that car is the chassis. The engine makes no power, it fails often, it burns oil, and it gets horrible fuel milage.

Because it's all the fun of a Toyobaru at a fraction of the price with backseats that are less spiteful towards anyone over 6' tall, aside from the fuel economy the same complaints have been leveraged at the 86 by some.




All this talk of swapping engines in RX's makes me sad. If you want a V8 get a 'vette/Mustang(Boss 302?), if you want an I6 get a Supra/BMW, you'll save time, money and heartache and leave a car for a true rotary enthusiast to enjoy. If a swap is a must at least do your best to not toss out a perfectly good unit someone else can enjoy, something with a blown motor or some other damage. *Cue crack at how every RX at some point or another has a blown engine.

That being said, the NSX is the safe bet, I think the prices you guys are seeing are outliers, from what I can tell a well cared for example with 100k miles should be a great buy and attainable for under $40k, you only start climbing into that territory with cars <30k miles on them, do you really want a car that was only driven 1,500 miles a year? That's 5 tanks of gas per year, doesn't sound too healthy imo.
http://www.edmunds.com/acura/nsx/199...erm-road-test/

Lotus would be a once in a lifetime buy, how many can say they own a Lotus? I've also heard good things about the community, as much class as any other marquee brings and much less of the pretension and snob.

I like this thread, most guys who have that kind of money to toss around end up buying a BMW or Porsche because that's what most people do, it fits the image and ticks the fun boxes. Out of all the cars mentioned I'd go with the Dorito powered one, but I fantasize about rebuilding a Wankel so I'm stupid.

Again, I just have to echo what RiceClassic said, no car will replace the thrill of wheel to wheel racing, you can hit the track in a go-kart or spec miata for less than 25% of your max budget (obviously not with your grandpa's Miata). I mean, I'm sure your wife will be happy that while she's plowing around barrels you're plowing into some dude named Cole instead of the alternative.

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

I mean, I'm sure your wife will be happy that while she's plowing around barrels you're plowing into some dude named Cole instead of the alternative.

Whoa man. Such Innuendo, Much restraint.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

Whoa man. Such Innuendo, Much restraint.

Everybody needs a tryhard moment or two.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by King Tut

I think the NSX would also be a smart financial decision. They have a great chance of continuing to appreciate as long as you maintain it properly. ....

That's assuming you park it, or put very minimal miles on it. Putting miles on ANY car causes it to depreciate, regardless of its rarity. I suppose some ultra-rare car might appreciate even if you drove it, but at a slower pace than if you did not drive it at all.

An NSX isn't rare enough, in my opinion, to fall into that category. (There are 55 of them listed on Autotrader alone as I type this).