Thinking about getting a sports car. Ideas?

Pick up a BMW Z3-Used
They started production on that model in the late 90's-Should be able to get one for a good price
Very reliable car and real fun to drive-They did not offer roll bars until the 97/98 model

My wife owned two Z3's and then moved into Z4's(two of them!)

She is now driving a BMW 335i-2009

Remember Navy Chief, you are now in Florida and can drive year round with the top down!

Wife loved to drive over the Skyway Bridge here in Tampa with the top down ( the cars, not hers!!)


Rick
 
CP1207 said:
If you can fit in it, look at a Miata. 20+ years of models available, reliable, fun as heck to drive (although could use a few more HP).
Have to treat it like you are riding a cycle, no one sees you.
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I concur with this suggestion. Had one and drove it for about 10 years. Insurance premiums did not go up very much either. Mine really held its resale value also. Got rid of mine to buy a truck so I could haul "Belle" around in. She was a English Pointer. Great hunting dog. I still miss her. I quit quail hunting when she died so I feel your pain Navy Chief.

Romeo-Delta
 
Have to agree with Willy's idea of a "sports car", hehe.

An old friend of mine had a Fiat X-19. I learned more about working on cars from that thing than any other car in my life. That's good for me, but a sad commentary on the Fiat X-19, in general... Old girl friend had a bright red Mazda Miata. It's teeny tiny, like she was. She liked it. I have no more data to add on those. If somebody forced me to buy a sports car tomorrow, I'd get one of those new Dodge Chargers. Is that a sports car? :icon_lol:
 
Hi Chief

I sincerely hope that the roads in your area are better than here where I am in Michigan. Surely they cannot be worse.

So, if I may, I nominate the GM F bodies, the Camaro Z-28 and Trans Am. I owned a 74 Z-28, a 78 Trans Am, and an 84 Z-28. Big doors making entry and egress easy, plenty of tranny/engine combos, lots of parts available, able to be worked on by almost any competent mechanic, generous 2+2 seating, decent storage room, t-tops or convertibles, great ride and handling. You can drive them cross-country without getting beat up. The ride in the T/A was especially comfortable.

No matter what anyone says, my '78 T/A, with Pontiac 400, Hurst 4-speed, t-tops, Martinique Blue with the Screamin' Chicken on the hood, was a great chick magnet.

I did live in Sarasota for a number of years, and the combination of power and handling came in handy more often than one may realize.

Lots of F bodies available in the southern part of Florida, too.

No matter what you choose, Chief, have fun shopping.

All the Best
Jay Costello
 
Jwcfly said:
No matter what anyone says, my '78 T/A, with Pontiac 400, Hurst 4-speed, t-tops, Martinique Blue with the Screamin' Chicken on the hood, was a great chick magnet.
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:barf::barf::barf:




+1 on the S2000. I've always thought of it as a grown up miata.
 
To be a true sportscar it's got to be rwd,2 seats and with a decent amount of poke. The Miata/MX5 is a good choice,but I'd go for a Porsche Boxster or even a 996 or possibly a 997 911 myself. These cars are becoming very affordable now.
 
To be a true sportscar it's got to be rwd,2 seats and with a decent amount of poke.
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I've got a nice shiny red '92 Prelude if you'd like - meets all those qualifications except 3. Rear seats exist for insurance purposes only, so could "stretch" it to meet one. Only leaks oil when running, could cut the roof off if you want a roadster, could slap a turbocharger on it if you want some power. Does a power-on slide if you're in reverse. :mixedsmi:
 
Brunton Stalker

Updated Lotus Super 7 / Caterham chassis with a supercharged GM 3800 V-6 - 1510 pounds 320 HP 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds

My brother built a beautiful example and might now be willing to sell - he is a craftsman and it is better built than any production car

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdking

shows the current state of the car all the way back to the bare chassis and a thousand small parts
 
What you need is something special, Pete, something classic, something that'll make your heart overflow with love whenever you'll open up your garage door, cause this car is alive ! It has a heart and a soul ! Believe me, i know, once i was the proud owner of a 1952 MG TD...


My heart skips a beat only by looking at this picture...

50MGTD1.jpg



Lots for sale in the US too, ranging from aprox $6/7000 to $30/35000.

Hey, you only live once, right !? :wiggle:
 
+1 another here for the MX-5 (Miata)...great handling and should be reliable. Would have one myself if didnt have family to haul around. The S2000 would be my second choice...better performance (when revved to hell) but doesnt handle as well as the MX-5. If you can afford it the Porsche Boxster is the best roofless sports car bar none but (in NZ anyway) servicing it can be very expensive unless you buy a new one.
 
TacomaSailor said:
Updated Lotus Super 7 / Caterham chassis with a supercharged GM 3800 V-6 - 1510 pounds 320 HP 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds

My brother built a beautiful example and might now be willing to sell - he is a craftsman and it is better built than any production car

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdking

shows the current state of the car all the way back to the bare chassis and a thousand small parts
Click to expand...


Something tells me the price tag would be quite steep..... But looks nice!

Pete
 
Javis said:
What you need is something special, Pete, something classic, something that'll make your heart overflow with love whenever you'll open up your garage door, cause this car is alive ! It has a heart and a soul ! Believe me, i know, once i was the proud owner of a 1952 MG TD...


My heart skips a beat only by looking at this picture...

50MGTD1.jpg



Lots for sale in the US too, ranging from aprox $6/7000 to $30/35000.

Hey, you only live once, right !? :wiggle:
Click to expand...

Am MG TD has always been my "dream" car. Always. But even if I did find one to buy (within my financial capability), I would constantly worry about maintaining it. It's not something I can run down to the corner auto parts store for replacement parts. But thanks for the picture. If I could afford one, and keep it running,.......THAT is the car I would want! Pete
 
Chief, all the post war MG series were easy to maintain, real 'Shade Tree Mechanic' cars.
I owned a TC, TF1250 and a TF1500, cut my motoring teeth an a Morgan JAP three wheeler and moved on with a TC.
Word to the wise, DO NOT go near any Caterham 'Clone' that is over engined, my brother runs one with Toyota Corolla 20V and I built a Lightweight powered by a Honda Firebrand, the 'Caterblade' would run almost everything into the ground up to 110MPH, admittedly, it was a track car but street legal.
As for a BMW, my wife runs an M3+ and due to family circumstances, we ended up with an X5 SUV [I HATE any SUV!].
Unless you are prepared to pay for 'Dealer Service' you should avoid them.
Josie's M3 is a great car but she is an MD and can well afford to drive what she likes.

I'd still go with a Miata or a Honda S2000, closest you can get to a modern MG T series, or maybe the last series Toyota MR2, a cracker little car and a quite uncompromising 'Sports Car'.
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:ernae:
 
I like grunau baby's little Fiat!

I can't fit in it.....but I like it.

Same for the Miata....always loved 'em. Can't get the hood secured when I'm sitting in it (over 6'2") though. Like that MG also....I've always had a soft spot for roadsters but have never fit in any of them except the Mercedes.
 
The Merc SLK would be a nice option too; not a real sportscar but it looks good and has the foldable hard top roof.
 
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