best value sports car under 100k?

bigbadbuff · Jul 20, 2007

If reliability and maintenance costs are included, you can throw pretty much all of these out.

I agree the Cayman S is tough to beat.

SGladwell · Jul 20, 2007

Originally Posted by imageWIS

Um, the Ariel Atom will take the Elise and beat it like a *****.

Performance wise, sure. But is the Atom street legal on US roads?

Also, for some people the ability to drive in the rain and maybe carry dry-cleaning home is important.

The Elise is a plenty practical car. Now if only they'd have designed it so that people over 5'9" or 5'10" could fit behind the wheel!

GQgeek · Jul 20, 2007

Originally Posted by SGladwell

Performance wise, sure. But is the Atom street legal on US roads?

Also, for some people the ability to drive in the rain and maybe carry dry-cleaning home is important.

The Elise is a plenty practical car. Now if only they'd have designed it so that people over 5'9" or 5'10" could fit behind the wheel!

Dry-cleaning is important!

The Ariel Atom is legal in the states. Jay Leno has a video of him driving it on his garage website. It's pretty damned cool, but is completely impractical.

Here's the atom on Top Gear (I love those guys):

DNW · Jul 20, 2007

If I had a 100k right now, I'll buy a pre-owned Exige and save the rest of the money for an E92 M3.

If I can only get one car, it'd be a 911 Carrera S (RWD, please).

For used cars, +1 on a 993 Turbo (Turbo S if you can find it).

zjpj83 · Jul 20, 2007

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

If I had a 100k right now, I'll buy a pre-owned Exige and save the rest of the money for an E92 M3.

If I can only get one car, it'd be a 911 Carrera S (RWD, please).

For used cars, +1 on a 993 Turbo (Turbo S if you can find it).

Turbo S is over 100K - well over, if low miles .

DNW · Jul 20, 2007

Originally Posted by zjpj83

Turbo S is over 100K - well over, if low miles .

There's always an old man somewhere with a pristine copy stored in his air conditioned garage, and now that he's dead, his wife is willing to sell it for pennies on the dollar.

That's how the story goes anyway. So yeah, a Turbo S costs a pretty penny.

A Y · Jul 20, 2007

Originally Posted by SGladwell

Performance wise, sure. But is the Atom street legal on US roads?

Yes, and you can buy it from these guys:

http://www.arielatom.com/

And drive it all the way home, like this guy did:

http://www.atomacrossamerica.org/

For my money, it would be the 1st gen Mazda Miata (if you fit) or a bone-stock BMW E30 M3 if you do most of your own service, and you can get over the fact that it's not a traditional sports car. Both are cheap, easily maintained, and liveable daily drivers.

Spend the rest of the money on driving schools to learn how to drive the car properly, and see some of what it's capable of.

BTW, I fit fine in an Elise, but not a Miata.

--Andre

GQgeek · Jul 21, 2007

Originally Posted by Andre Yew

Yes, and you can buy it from these guys:

http://www.arielatom.com/

And drive it all the way home, like this guy did:

http://www.atomacrossamerica.org/

For my money, it would be the 1st gen Mazda Miata (if you fit) or a bone-stock BMW E30 M3 if you do most of your own service, and you can get over the fact that it's not a traditional sports car. Both are cheap, easily maintained, and liveable daily drivers.

Spend the rest of the money on driving schools to learn how to drive the car properly, and see some of what it's capable of.

BTW, I fit fine in an Elise, but not a Miata.

--Andre

Ya but no real man would drive a miata.

I'd go with a lotus any day over it.

Tokyo Slim · Jul 21, 2007

Suzuki Hyabusa

zjpj83 · Jul 21, 2007

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

There's always an old man somewhere with a pristine copy stored in his air conditioned garage, and now that he's dead, his wife is willing to sell it for pennies on the dollar.

That's how the story goes anyway. So yeah, a Turbo S costs a pretty penny.

someday...someday....

http://www.rpmsportscars.com/door28.htm

GQgeek · Jul 21, 2007

Originally Posted by zjpj83

someday...someday....

http://www.rpmsportscars.com/door28.htm

A tad over 100k

I'd never spend that much on a car unless i was really raking it in though. I'd rather just the a regular 993 for 60-70k or whatever. I was looking at comparison charts and you lose a second in 0-60 and some top speed, but for 100k off the price, my poor ass could live with it.

DNW · Jul 21, 2007

Originally Posted by zjpj83

someday...someday....

http://www.rpmsportscars.com/door28.htm

Someday...indeed....

tom288 · Jul 21, 2007

I like the new M5, although it's not a true sports car. I know you said no fugly vettes, but there isnt a better value, not to mention it will absolutely **** almost any other car on the road.

SGladwell · Jul 21, 2007

Originally Posted by Andre Yew

BTW, I fit fine in an Elise, but not a Miata.

It's actually not the fitting that's my problem with the Elise. It's the entry and exit. Neither is a problem in the Miata, though if I were any taller or longer of leg it likely would be.

maomao1980 · Jul 23, 2007

New cars (US market only):

997 C2S
Z06

Nothing else needs to be on your mind if it's sports car you are looking for

Used (US markets only):

996 turbo (you can get a good one in the 60's)
996 GT3
97 NSX Zanardi edition (only because all other post 97 NSXs are T-tops)
SL55 (not as sporty, but a great car)

I wouldn't touch any out-of-warranty Ferraris with a ten foot pole if you have a limited budget. The same some what applies to Porsches as well, do not touch them if you know a good mechanic and understands the maintenance needed for them. I also wouldn't buy any used American cars as they do not age well.

best value sports car under 100k?

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