Best do-everything car for <$50k?

[Raza]

Wo u are putting words in my mouth. Never said a track is the only place you can enjoy a sports car, but you are prob not enjoying it anywhere near as much as you could.

If he can't get out to a track with regularity the Miata will be pointless.

Now you need regular track time to enjoy the most basic of sports cars? What a load. 

Its true....

Am I?

[GoCougs]

I don't understand this justification thing about taking cars to the track. It's super hard on cars, it's risky (esp. from an insurance standpoint) and there are only a few cars legitimately built for the track (Z/28, 911 GT3, Lotus). Sure I imagine it's fun and all, but one can enjoy a performance car (even a Z/28 or 911 GT3) without ever taking it to a track.

[Lebowski]

Yeah, I could see myself getting into taking 2-3 day driving schools now and again but I really have no interest in tracking (ie beating the shit out of) my own car.

[12,000 RPM]

Am I?

I was talking about his Miata, which has been stripped out and slammed for track use.

[Cookie Monster]

I was talking about his Miata, which has been stripped out and slammed for track use.

That's my car... I don't think Mike was talking about doing that to a Miata (and he doesn't even own one anymore).

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Yeah, I could see myself getting into taking 2-3 day driving schools now and again but I really have no interest in tracking (ie beating the shit out of) my own car.

Especially not a DD.

[MrH]

That's my car... I don't think Mike was talking about doing that to a Miata (and he doesn't even own one anymore).

Well if I got one again: coilovers, big wheels and tires, maybe a supercharger. But all the interior trim and all that

[Cookie Monster]

Well if I got one again: coilovers, big wheels and tires, maybe a supercharger. But all the interior trim and all that

'

Coilovers, big wheels and tires and supercharger doesn't equal a track car. Just an awesome DD.

[Morris Minor]

I once heard Danica Patrick say in an interview that if you want to use a car on a track, you need to be able to afford a second car as a daily driver. The track will break your car... & you need a huge amount of time & enthusiasm for fixing what breaks & shoveling consumables through it. Difficult to get to the parts store in a broken car, & just as difficult to get to work to pay for it all.

[Cookie Monster]

I once heard Danica Patrick say in an interview that if you want to use a car on a track, you need to be able to afford a second car as a daily driver. The track will break your car... & you need a huge amount of time & enthusiasm for fixing what breaks & shoveling consumables through it. Difficult to get to the parts store in a broken car, & just as difficult to get to work to pay for it all.

Or you can just be stupid like my friends and me and just track your DD.

Hell, I drove from Texas back up to the Bay Area for winter break just to do a track day, and then drove back.

My thermostat failed while driving to the Bay Area, which actually worked fine for me since it got stuck open and the engine was running cooler than normal, so I was able to really beat on it on track with the failed t-stat. Ended up replacing it but blew up the radiator in the process a day before I was supposed to leave back to Texas, and spent the next 2 days hunting down a radiator and tearing the car apart to get the new one in before leaving.

Ah, to be young and (still) dumb.

[280Z Turbo]

Don't track it if you can't afford to lose it. Even if you have the driving reflexes of Ayrton Senna, you may have a mechanical failure or hit a spot of oil and fuck up your car.

[MrH]

So single car ideas under $50k:

VW Golf R
Subaru STI
Audi S3

All three of these will likely be worse than the Genesis for commuting and road trips.

I think I just have too much money into my "fun car". If I sell the brz and get a cheaper convertible, I think I'll be set.

[CALL_911]

I'm gonna go with the STI solely because I want something something different from a Golf. Otherwise, the Golf R looks sick.

[Soup DeVille]

Don't track it if you can't afford to lose it. Even if you have the driving reflexes of Ayrton Senna, you may have a mechanical failure or hit a spot of oil and fuck up your car.

Yep, just ask Ayrton Senna.

[12,000 RPM]

Yep, just ask Ayrton Senna.

Too soon mon

[MrH]

I still think the best daily driver that's reasonably priced:  Outback XT with a manual.  It's a shame finding one in good shape is a total unicorn

[68_427]

I still think the best daily driver that's reasonably priced:  Outback XT with a manual.  It's a shame finding one in good shape is a total unicorn

No... That would be my car with a EG33 swap.

[12,000 RPM]

Why does a 335i not qualify

You can get one just barely equipped for under $50K

I would break the budget a little bit, get a stripper 335i, and get the OEM LSD, some coilovers, toss the runflats for some real tires, upgrade the rotors and pads and get an exhaust. Would prob be about $55K when it's all said and done but it would be worth it.

[MexicoCityM3]

Why does a 335i not qualify

You can get one just barely equipped for under $50K

I would break the budget a little bit, get a stripper 335i, and get the OEM LSD, some coilovers, toss the runflats for some real tires, upgrade the rotors and pads and get an exhaust. Would prob be about $55K when it's all said and done but it would be worth it.

No, it wouldn´t. That´s M3 money.

[SVT666]

Why does a 335i not qualify

You can get one just barely equipped for under $50K

Technically you might be able to get one for under 50 large, but good luck with that.

[Lebowski]

When I built/configured a 335i it came out to about $60k well equipped. It made it very easy to justify an M3.

[12,000 RPM]

328i can work if u can live with this sound

Actually doesnt sound awful. Mite look at the wagons for wifey

[SJ_GTI]

I would go with an Audi S4.

Oh yeah, I did already.  Mine was a bit over 50k because I splurged on the bigger wheels/tires, but the standard S4 with 18" wheels starts under 50k MSRP, and you can get it below MSRP.

[YO]

Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

[giant_mtb]

Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

............whoah. sup dude sup.

[MrH]

I have decided against the one car fits all plan.  It was a fun idea to throw around, but I will stay with a two car lineup.  BRZ will hopefully be sold this week.  The Genesis will go next.  I will have a new daily driver, and then I'll wait until the dead of winter and my bonus comes in to buy a cheaper toy of some sort.

[MX793]

What's wrong with the Genesis as a daily driver?

[12,000 RPM]

What's wrong with the Genesis as a daily driver?

This should be good. I remember how enthused dude was to get it

I still think a modded 335i would do the trick. My boss' E90 is more than roomy enough for actual adults in the back, and the new one is supposedly a lot bigger. Well, it's the 340i now. Only option I put on it was smartphone integration ($350). Comes with vinyl and white non metallic paint (the horror!) priced out at $47K. $3K is plenty to mod with. Bilstein B14s are $900. Some new pads, rotors, fluid and SS lines will probably be like $600. Stock 18s come in 225 width which is bitch made for the power and weight of that car but that's up to you... either way $1500 is more than enough to spend on wheels and tires. Only option I'd be on the fence on would be the adaptive LEDs.

[MrH]

I'm not even telling you guys what I'm getting   I'll just get shit for it regardless.  You'll know when pictures show up on here.

[12,000 RPM]

U leasing?