quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
This started out as a "get a V8 muscle car before they stop making them" but I've always been a fan of smaller lighter cars with good handling rather than straight line performance. BRZ/GR86 needs a turbo version, no idea why they don't make one.

Because Toyota wanted to highlight a low horsepower great handling car a bit like a Miata Coupe and never wanted to give it more power. Vortec makes a supercharger kit that ups to 100hp and still works with both manual and auto transmissions. Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire recommends them.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Since you apparently like the WRX but want something a bit more refined, check out the smaller turbo Mazda hatchbacks like the Mazda3, or perhaps the CX-30.

Similar turbo performance and AWD (available not standard), but with a nicer interior, more grown-up styling, better reliability, and a significantly lower price tag to boot.

I'm not sure about the CX-30, but the 3 is available with a manual transmission. (And even the automatic Mazda turbos have paddle shifters for quasi-manual mode.)

The 3 is still made in Japan too.

No SUV's or Crossovers - I don't like the high center of gravity and body roll. Mazda 3 Turbo has no manual option.

2019 Bullitt Mustang under $38k with under 14,000 miles and leather Recaro seats: Link. Just an example, I don’t know anything about the car or seller.

A 2017 and newer GT350 will be at least $15k more and probably worth it on a track.

My 80 year old uncle says this is the last year he’ll track his Porsches. He’s a member of a club and knows people who have the tools and equipment, but even then he says keeping them going isn’t fun anymore. He’s been doing it for 20 years though. He’s had a Boxter for a DD, 914/6, 911, and a Cayman for track cars. The Cayman would be my choice.

A used manual Hemi Challenger is on my list, C8 if I had the money.

someone mentioned GTI and if it was AWD,
look at the R32?

IIRC they are a hotrodded GI with AWD,



not on the list, but possibly worthy of consideration,

MINI, 2 door hardtop only, S or JCW options,

I had 2 S's (10 & 13)
the auto shifts faster than you can with the stick

and both were a blast to drive

I got a Honda S2000 at age 65, still have it. Its 6-speed manual has been described in the car mags as perfect. Of course it doesn't have a lot of torque, but for me 240 hp is much better than a Miata; also I fit in it better, Miata I tried was too small--eye level was the windshield top frame.
Of the ones you've listed, since I'm a long-time Honda/Acura guy, I would pick the Integra. I had an early model Integra. Loved driving it but not commuting in it.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
This started out as a "get a V8 muscle car before they stop making them" but I've always been a fan of smaller lighter cars with good handling rather than straight line performance. BRZ/GR86 needs a turbo version, no idea why they don't make one.

Because Toyota wanted to highlight a low horsepower great handling car a bit like a Miata Coupe and never wanted to give it more power. Vortec makes a supercharger kit that ups to 100hp and still works with both manual and auto transmissions. Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire recommends them.

Yeah, I get the concept, but Mazda needs a turbo Miata too. The old Mazdaspeed Miata was 170+ hp when the base car was around 140 hp. Subaru doesn't have a higher level sports car that a Turbo BRZ would compete with, and Toyota didn't for a long time until the new Supra came out. When the GR Corolla has 300hp from a 1.6L 3-cylinder it's getting hard to keep making excuses for the BRZ/86.

Subaru's 2.4L Turbo only makes 271 hp anyway, so it's only a 43 hp bump. From what I understand, it's hard to meet emission regs with the flat-4's, so they are not making as much power as they could, and still not very good fuel economy.

And the local Porsche dealer only has one new car in stock - 718 Cayman for $80K

They've got plenty Cayennes (and a couple I didn't know existed), Macans, Panameras, and a few Taycans. The SUV cancer is spreading.

No Boxsters and no 911s.

Their used stuff is still pretty expensive too.

Sorry for this hot-take in advance, and it's ONLY my opinion. Get a muscle car, with that V8 rumble. There's nothing like it. My mid-life crisis was buying a '69 Mustang GT and having it turned into a Mach 1 hot rod. 500hp, AOD, fuel injected, all updated interior. Spent some money on it, worth every penny.
Here's the hot-take: Don't get a "chick car", my personal opinion is the Miata and Corvette are chick cars at this point. And by NO means am I judging or calling names.......so sorry in advance if you take it that way!

Back in 2017, after the F-250 I'd been driving for 20 years got totaled by the "friend" I lent it to, my own midlife crisis kicked in and I ended up buying a year old dealer demo car, a 5.7L Challenger. Being a demo it was loaded, and they wanted to get a newer demo car into service so they made me a good deal on it. It was a helluva fun car to drive. I always meant to take it to a track and really run it but never got around to it. I drove it for 4 years before I got over the midlife crisis and went back to my staple pickup truck. But it was a kick to drive. It was an automatic. I used to really enjoy driving a stick, but my left knee is so messed up now that it's just not happening anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
And the local Porsche dealer only has one new car in stock - 718 Cayman for $80K

They've got plenty Cayennes (and a couple I didn't know existed), Macans, Panameras, and a few Taycans. The SUV cancer is spreading.

No Boxsters and no 911s.

Their used stuff is still pretty expensive too.

Porsches aren’t bought like other cars. Use that link I provided, check the entire country, and buy what you want.

It’s a different world. Their used stuff is pretty expensive because it doesn’t depreciate much

I bought a CPO 2013 911 in 2020, put 40k miles on it and after 4 years traded it in for $5,000 less than I paid for it. Try that with many other vehicles…

At the end of the day, whatever you end up with - no matter the performance spec - it’s going to be smiles per mile being the most important measure.

No point in owning a vehicle that doesn’t give you a grin, or if you park it you never turn around and look at it as you walk away

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nhtagmember,

I watched in desperation for years, on the GR Yaris development. It’s what we were supposed to get in the States but Toyota shit canned the regular Yaris, so we got the GR Corolla instead. I’d been saving for it since 2019 as that’s when test mules were being spotted. So I bought a Circuit Edition, in Heavy Metal, in October 2023, for my 50th in November of same year. Car has been fantastic but I’m partial to AWD, turbo, front and rear diffs, and 6MT. I previously owned a Focus RS, STi (Hatch, 2008), and Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX AWD Turbo.

I would say the GRC or the GR86, completely dependent if you want AWD or RWD. I had looked at the Supra extensively and drove it several times prior to making my decision. Ingress/Egress is worse than my previously owned AP2 S2000. It’s a missile (especially with a tune) but visibility is poor and I prefer year round AWD performance. I would grab your preferred 6MT as they are going away. The Supra is not expected to be around much longer. Toyota is flirting with making every model they sell a hybrid, and that usually means automatics only. Ford announced this current Mustang GT is the last non-hybrid they will sell and even Porsche is turning the Cayman into a Hybrid. So these are the last days of disco.

Have you any plans for modifying your ride to be? Consider what you are starting with as well as what it can be.

You'll be amazed what a good suspension tune, bigger brakes, long tube headers, and exhaust cut outs can bring to an otherwise average ride.

Maybe invest in a few goodies for the Civic?

You can pick up a low mileage base Cayman or Boxster for decent money, finding the manuals will take some time but well worth it. One of the best gearboxes out there.

No need to pay extra for the S or GTS, the base has more power than you'll ever need. If you want the wail of the non-turbo flat six, just get one of the 981 model iterations.

Just sold a '15 GTS, it was rock solid. And a blast.

Way past midlife for me but I had been on a similar quest for years. Really wanted a Porsche 911 with a manual transmission but couldn't find any and when I did locate one it was always already sold. Started looking at the Cayman and drove a leftover 2016 with the flat 6 and probably should have bought it. Hemmed and hawed and when I was ready to buy it was gone.

Was also looking at Mustangs and really like the Bullit model. Test drove several Mustangs and a few used 911s and Caymans. Big hang up was finding a manual and I preferred a brand new car.

In 2021 I finally put down a deposit on a 911S. Continued to look at Mustangs, Caymans and 911s all over the country. After 2 years waiting for the 911S I gave up and got my deposit back and decided that I was a Ford Mustang guy after all. Ordered a 2024 GT Convertible with the manual transmission. Wasn't even sure if I would actually buy it when it came in.

Came in right before Christmas last year and when I test drove it and heard that narly American V8 rumble I was hooked. It's a blast and even though I don't even come close to tapping the potential of that big V8 I just love the sound of the engine when I'm tooling around with the top down.

So I would recommend the Mustang.


2024 Mustang GT Convertible with manual transmission, Rapid Red and grey leather interior.

My toy car is a 2018 Camaro ZL1.

Having said that, based on the vehicles you are looking at I think you're missing out by not adding the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N with a 6MT.

I think the funnest car in the $60-70k range would be an M2 Competition.

After having "dad" cars for quite a while, my wife told me to get something fun and I did. My daily driver was out of warranty and having some minor issues, so I decided to go shopping. I looked around at the Mustangs, Vettes, Chargers, etc., but I was fortunate to find a new '23 Dodge Challenger in my favorite color, "Destroyer Grey", at a great price. I had bought my son one a few months prior in black and at first, didn't really didn't think about it in my quest for a fun car but it grew on me and I always liked the retro/modern look of them.

Prices are all over the place now and are better and you might as well get something that makes you happy. I had some sports cars before having kids and swore I would get one after the kids grew up.