Best do-everything car for <$50k?

[SVT666]

I'll just get a Raptor. I can go take some jumps at 80 mph while pulling my boat.

[Raza]

I guess motorcycles should only be relegated to the track... Might as well stick to a bicycle for real world duty.

Bicycles are pretty high power. Track.

[12,000 RPM]

I guess motorcycles should only be relegated to the track... Might as well stick to a bicycle for real world duty.

Wat

Can u ride ur bicycle on the highway? Lel.

Well, you're comparing a GT based on a sedan to the sedan on which it's based.  That's like saying "What can a Civic coupe do that a Civic sedan can't?"  What can a real sports car do on the road that a sedan can't?  So much.  If you have to ask you haven't driven an engaging sports car.

The point of a car like the MX-5 is that you can drive it in an engaging manner without breaking the law too badly.  And now you want to relegate the lowest rung of sports car to track day only?  How miserable is your driving where you live? 

I drive 3 miles a day on city streets and I still get more out of my sports car than I do out of regular cars, even sporty regular car's like my brother's S4. 

I repeat: 

The driving where I am is great. Until I moved much of my commute was ~50-60% winding biways I still ride my motorcycle on.

And what are some of these things a sports car can deliver that a sports sedan can't? Are sports sedans not engaging or high performance?

[Byteme]

And what are some of these things a sports car can deliver that a sports sedan can't?

Many sports cars have convertible versions.  Sedans don't.  Also most sports car buyers prefer the look of a typical sports car.

[MrH]

The conclusion I'm coming to:

The BRZs driving experience isn't different enough from the Genesis to justify owning both. If I'm doing the two car deal, one has got to be a convertible. The brz handles better, but is slower, louder, and not all that different. I need an open air car again.

Going to probably put the brz up for sale in the next few weeks. I could probably do an NC Miata + coilovers + supercharger for a few grand less than what the brz is worth.

[Laconian]

Full circle back to an NC, eh? I predict the car after that will be a BRZ.

How well does the NC respond to supercharging?

[MrH]

Full circle back to an NC, eh? I predict the car after that will be a BRZ.

How well does the NC respond to supercharging?

The brz is a much better vehicle as an only car. In hindsight, I probably should have bought a commuter to go with my old Miata instead of getting the brz. Oh well, glad I'm able to experience a lot of cars. I don't regret it really.

I'm open to other convertibles, but it's hard to touch the NC in terms of value. You can get a supercharger for <$6k and make 260 hp at the crank or so.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Many sports cars have convertible versions.  Sedans don't.  Also most sports car buyers prefer the look of a typical sports car.

Bingo! I love the look of a low slung 2 seat sports car with a removable roof or a drop top. Looking at my current car you wouldn't know that tho..... 

[MrH]

I really like this bizarro color combo. Kind of feminine looking, but it's different than the usual black, red, and silver you see everywhere.

If I roll the fenders, throw on the rpf1 wheels I have on the brz, and super charge it, it'd be a pretty unique car.

[280Z Turbo]

The blue is just a couple shades too pale.

[Laconian]

Is it a pearlescent coat? I'd drive that if it changed colors like the VW "Vapor" paint from ~2000.

[MrH]

Is it a pearlescent coat? I'd drive that if it changed colors like the VW "Vapor" paint from ~2000.

Here you can see it in sunlight, with terrible music in the background:

http://youtu.be/u3cMxC0pOHQ

[Laconian]

I like it, but then again, my car is a similar color. It's a tricky color. If it's on a large slab-sided vehicle, it looks feminine. If it's on a more sinuous car, it seems more masculine, like the blade of a sword.

[MrH]

If you lower it and make it loud enough, no color looks feminine

[12,000 RPM]

Yah my champagne brown Accord looked pretty mean slammed with the German flag tails and the Mugen twin loop muffler I tossed after a month

[Cookie Monster]

Wat

Can u ride ur bicycle on the highway? Lel.
The driving where I am is great. Until I moved much of my commute was ~50-60% winding biways I still ride my motorcycle on.

And what are some of these things a sports car can deliver that a sports sedan can't? Are sports sedans not engaging or high performance?

See? Just as ridiculous as your "you need to track your car to justify owning a sports car" thing.

You're the one who is looking for a damn near supersport motorcycle and refuses to even look at bikes above a certain weight limit. Why? I'm sure, according to you, a cruiser with some Ohlins suspension will offer 95% of the thrills on the street that a CBR1000RR will.

[veeman]

I really like this bizarro color combo. Kind of feminine looking, but it's different than the usual black, red, and silver you see everywhere.

The brown interior and top make this color work as a "dude" color IMHO. 

[12,000 RPM]

See? Just as ridiculous as your "you need to track your car to justify owning a sports car" thing.

You're the one who is looking for a damn near supersport motorcycle and refuses to even look at bikes above a certain weight limit. Why? I'm sure, according to you, a cruiser with some Ohlins suspension will offer 95% of the thrills on the street that a CBR1000RR will.

Lol

My bike decision is still in line. I would never look at a CBR1000RR for the same reason I wouldn't look at a die hard sports car. It's impractical and a PITA to live with. Something like a Ninja 1000 does deliver 95% of the thrills of a full on sportbike, while being a million times easier to live with. I dont see wat cruisers have to do with anything, cruisers are like pre-war cars in that analogy, they arent at all relevant.

I think sports cars make sense for certain people. When I was your age I could have lived with a sports car. But for anyone who likes performance, but cares about comfort or practicality in any capacity, there are a million better options out there.

[Cookie Monster]

Lol

My bike decision is still in line. I would never look at a CBR1000RR for the same reason I wouldn't look at a die hard sports car. It's impractical and a PITA to live with. Something like a Ninja 1000 does deliver 95% of the thrills of a full on sportbike, while being a million times easier to live with. I dont see wat cruisers have to do with anything, cruisers are like pre-war cars in that analogy, they arent at all relevant.

I think sports cars make sense for certain people. When I was your age I could have lived with a sports car. But for anyone who likes performance, but cares about comfort or practicality in any capacity, there are a million better options out there.

No doubt there are better options out there, FOR YOU.

For me, Raza, Rich, and many others, the best option out there is still a sports car, for various reasons. To make a blanket statement saying that we should all be driving sedans because they are better options, and that sports cars should only be used on track is ridiculous.

[Northlands]

I'm torn with a three way tie between a V60R Wagon, 3 Series touring w/ xdrive or the 5 Series Gran Turismo.

[Soup DeVille]

Sporty's position makes sense; but back when I actually had a daily choice between the S2000 and the Civic; i would as often as not find an excuse to drive the S2000.

The question wasnt usually one of "which is more comfortable," but usually "is there any reason why I shouldn't drive the sports car?"

[GoCougs]

I'm with Sporty, to which I add that I can't ever in a billion years imagine myself choosing to be behind the wheel of a Miata, S2000, Z3/Z4, SLK cab, etc.

[Soup DeVille]

You're one weird cat.

[12,000 RPM]

No doubt there are better options out there, FOR YOU.

For me, Raza, Rich, and many others, the best option out there is still a sports car, for various reasons. To make a blanket statement saying that we should all be driving sedans because they are better options, and that sports cars should only be used on track is ridiculous.

OK, not trying to be a dick but Im seriously wondering wat your Miata is better at on the daily grind than an MS3 for example. And I never said sports cars should only be used on the track.... just that it seems like a waste to have one and never go. You have done track days, Rich has been to like 90 tracks in his Miata etc. I think Raza may have done a track day. That's Doing It Right™. Never taking your sports car to a track is like never taking your Wrangler off road. Just seems kind of pointless to me. Just my opinion tho u dont have to value it.

You're one weird cat.

This is a prereq for being a regular poster here.

[Rich]

Honestly I'm thinking about picking up an S-197 for track days when I get back to the states.  The Miata is more fun for backroads/roadtripping/autoXing, but I want more power and a fixed roof for track driving.  I just take the Miata to the track since it's all I got

[12,000 RPM]

S197.... wont u have to basically re-engineer its whole chassis and suspension though?

[Byteme]

OK, not trying to be a dick but Im seriously wondering wat your Miata is better at on the daily grind than an MS3 for example. And I never said sports cars should only be used on the track.... just that it seems like a waste to have one and never go. You have done track days, Rich has been to like 90 tracks in his Miata etc. I think Raza may have done a track day. That's Doing It Right™. Never taking your sports car to a track is like never taking your Wrangler off road. Just seems kind of pointless to me. Just my opinion tho u dont have to value it.

I'm not sure you will understand this but I'll tr.

At onetime we had a Mazda6, Mazda3, Miata and an E-Type Jaguar.   My first choice for commuting (28 miles one way) was the Miata, and my first choice for going to the store or across town for whatever was the Jaguar.  If I was taking 2 or more people with me we used the 3or 6.

Doing it right is using a vehicle in the manner one who owns it feels like using it; not conforming to how someone else feels they should use it.

[Rich]

S197.... wont u have to basically re-engineer its whole chassis and suspension though?

It's just for track day kicks.  I'm not looking for lap times.  Just a big ole V8 to sound good on the straights and enough power to learn to modulate the throttle on exit.  The most I'd do is make the front camber adjustable somehow to get some even tire wear and strip a little of the interior (because it sucks anyway)

edit:  I'd make big time changes to the brakes and cooling system, though.

[SVT666]

S197.... wont u have to basically re-engineer its whole chassis and suspension though?

Brakes, springs, and dampers.  That's all it needs.

[12,000 RPM]

Im prob thinking of the fox bodies that needed the new front K members

Those sound like cheap fun projects until u start pricing new front geometries, the Cobra IRS and all the chassis bracing. I guess they are still cheaper and lighter than a Terminator or w/e but not by very much.