Choosing sporting car under $15,000

[msi1337]

Thanks for the input

 

[Bock]

Evo or Sti & learn to work a wrench

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Obligatory E46 M3 plug.

 

[msi1337]

A new idea has entered the running. Found a dealer with a great price on a 2014 fiesta st, thoughts?

 

[Zivic]

A new idea has entered the running. Found a dealer with a great price on a 2014 fiesta st, thoughts?

looks like a fun car, but wrong wheel drive.

personally I won't buy a fwd for a 'fun' car no matter how good.

I would buy an evo or s2000.

 

[jlee]

looks like a fun car, but wrong wheel drive.

personally I won't buy a fwd for a 'fun' car no matter how good.

I would buy an evo or s2000.

I'd probably take a Fiesta ST over an S2000.

I personally won't buy a n/a 4 cylinder for a 'fun' car. Evo, sure.

 

[evident]

an older Lexus IS300?

 

[nerp]

Fiesta ST is a hoot to drive, from what I've read/heard. Better than the Focus ST because it's a little lighter. Good fun tossable car. You won't win any drag races and be prepared to get dusted by a semi-powerful naturally aspirated V6 full sized sedan, but you will have a lot of fun in the process. Ford cars are well made these days too. I would question the so called "honda reliability" these days, based on my interactions with numerous mechanics, techs and a few owners of newer Hondas. I think they're really running on reputation these days, especially when it comes to transmissions.

 

[jlee]

Fiesta ST is a hoot to drive, from what I've read/heard. Better than the Focus ST because it's a little lighter. Good fun tossable car. You won't win any drag races and be prepared to get dusted by a semi-powerful naturally aspirated V6 full sized sedan, but you will have a lot of fun in the process. Ford cars are well made these days too. I would question the so called "honda reliability" these days, based on my interactions with numerous mechanics, techs and a few owners of newer Hondas. I think they're really running on reputation these days, especially when it comes to transmissions.

http://www.cobbtuning.com/products/ford-fiesta-st-stage-3-power-package-w-v3

 

[Harrod]

What about a c5 Corvette with a manual transmission? I've been serious contemplating something like that for my next play around car. Seems to be obtainable at about what you have allotted.

 

[Fenixgoon]

searched "miata" and only got 1 of 8 matches in this thread.

i am disappointed, ATG.

the miata is the best sports car under 30k, let alone 15k. you can pick up a used NA for $3k and they're dead nuts reliable and easy to work on.

now, whether you're willing to live with 2 seats and a small trunk is a different story

 

[sze5003]

searched "miata" and only got 1 of 8 matches in this thread.

i am disappointed, ATG.

the miata is the best sports car under 30k, let alone 15k. you can pick up a used NA for $3k and they're dead nuts reliable and easy to work on.

now, whether you're willing to live with 2 seats and a small trunk is a different story

Yea I agree I should have mentioned it lol, I have a Mazda myself. Although small, if you ever drive one, it is great. Also cheap to fix, there used to be so many of them around when I was in highschool/college. Don't expect to take it far in the winter unless you have snow tires.

 

[Yuriman]

Fiesta ST is a hoot to drive, from what I've read/heard. Better than the Focus ST because it's a little lighter. Good fun tossable car. You won't win any drag races and be prepared to get dusted by a semi-powerful naturally aspirated V6 full sized sedan, but you will have a lot of fun in the process. Ford cars are well made these days too. I would question the so called "honda reliability" these days, based on my interactions with numerous mechanics, techs and a few owners of newer Hondas. I think they're really running on reputation these days, especially when it comes to transmissions.

Hard to speak for brand new vehicles, but it wouldn't surprise me. S2000 is solid though.

I'd probably take a Fiesta ST over an S2000.

I personally won't buy a n/a 4 cylinder for a 'fun' car. Evo, sure.

S2000 has close to 250HP from a naturally aspirated 4 cylinder. Sure, you have to rev it up to get the power, but I consider that a plus.

searched "miata" and only got 1 of 8 matches in this thread.

i am disappointed, ATG.

the miata is the best sports car under 30k, let alone 15k. you can pick up a used NA for $3k and they're dead nuts reliable and easy to work on.

now, whether you're willing to live with 2 seats and a small trunk is a different story

Miata is a great car too. I was really torn between the two a few years back. Certainly there's a lot more aftermarket stuff going on, but I feel that from the factory an S2000 is all around a better car.

 

[jagec]

I would question the so called "honda reliability" these days, based on my interactions with numerous mechanics, techs and a few owners of newer Hondas. I think they're really running on reputation these days, especially when it comes to transmissions.

Their manuals have always been solid and their autos have often been shaky, but I agree, they aren't building what they used to in the 90s.

 

[HitAnyKey]

I second or third the Miata suggestion. But keep the Honda Fit. That is a great reliable DD car.

 

[T2urtle]

What do they want the Fiesta st for?

I was able to get a focus st in st1 trim for 20,500 off the dealership but I passed on it because I wanted the recaro seats that came in the st3 but I didn't want anything else that came with st3.

I love the s2000. If I lived in a place where I can have the top down for longer then 2 months I would easily buy one. Well s2k or miata.

 

[puyo]

Mazda MX-5....... best sports roadster ever ..

 

[thomsbrain]

I've had my S2000 for five or six years now and the only cars I would consider switching to are a Caterham 7 or an Ariel Atom. There's some phenomenal aftermarket parts available for the S2000. Want full spherical bushings? You can get them. The same shocks as a Ferrari LaFerrari or an F1 car? You can get them. CARB-legal supercharger? Sure. Or just leave it stock and still have a hugely satisfying car on road or track. And as long as you don't money-shift or clutch-dump them, they are essentially bullet-proof mechanically.

 

[brainhulk]

I've had my S2000 for five or six years now and the only cars I would consider switching to are a Caterham 7 or an Ariel Atom. .

Let me introduce to you the BAC Mono

 

[thomsbrain]

Let me introduce to you the BAC Mono

If I'm getting a modern track toy, I want a Honda DOHC and a passenger seat, and that has neither. Still a super cool car, though.

 

[MiataNC]

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

 

[QueBert]

I've put about $700 into my Sky Redline, the handling went from okay to pretty damn impressive and now and I hit mid 4 0-60's. I can't think of a sub $15k sports car that's close to as fun to drive. For $15k you could get a used one for about $11k and put $4k into it and have a 4.2 0-60 420hp 400 pound feet of torque monster that handles on par with an s2000 or FR-S and will blow both out of the water.

 

[thomsbrain]

Their manuals have always been solid and their autos have often been shaky, but I agree, they aren't building what they used to in the 90s.

The autos are perfectly fine if you change the fluid at regular intervals. My '03 V6 has 200,000 miles on its transmission and climbs a 2000-ft mountain pass in 2nd and 3rd gear twice a day and has done 1000 miles of towing at high elevations in the summer. Granted, the first one died at 60,000, but it never had a fluid change. They simply generate too much heat to not swap fluid on a regular basis.

As for the rest of the car, it has been an order of magnitude tougher than my already-reliable 91 Accord. The engine doesn't use a drop of oil after 260,000 miles. Leather seats don't have a single tear, A/C blows cold, all original axles and CV joints, original brake calipers, original wheel bearings and suspension arms, original cooling system, no rust, no visible paint degradation. And I really savagely beat on this poor car. 30 miles of aggressive canyon carving on max performance summer tires every single day, hauls firewood, off road in Death Valley, 130 MPH on the Bonneville Salt Flats, snow and ice in the Sierras, dogs and kids all over the back seat, Hella 500 lights bolted to the front bumper, tow hitch on the back. It just takes it all.

But most importantly, it still hits VTAK YO.

Sometimes I think I would have had more fun doing all that in a BMW. But then I remind myself I would have been on my 4th BMW by now, and completely broke, and I wouldn't have an S2000 to take to the track. So all in all, the 2 Hondas route has worked out very nicely.

 

[slugg]

I've put about $700 into my Sky Redline, the handling went from okay to pretty damn impressive and now and I hit mid 4 0-60's. I can't think of a sub $15k sports car that's close to as fun to drive. For $15k you could get a used one for about $11k and put $4k into it and have a 4.2 0-60 420hp 400 pound feet of torque monster that handles on par with an s2000 or FR-S and will blow both out of the water.

Details on these mods, please. Also, I'm assuming this holds true for the Solstice, too?

 

[QueBert]

Details on these mods, please. Also, I'm assuming this holds true for the Solstice, too?

Trifecta Tune, upgraded larger turbo, and a body brace to help with the handling quality. All are available for the Solstice. I'm going to upgrade the BOV and I'll be set for awhile. My boost goes up to 25 now, it use to max out at 18. And it reaches 18 way quicker than it use ti. I got the turbo off a wreck so it was cheap, they go for $1,300 new. Pretty much a bargain for how much improvement they make. If you have a manual (I have automatic) it's even a quicker because with the tune you get no lift shifting where you can keep your foot on the accelerator while you're shifting.

I could still upgrade my CAI, exhaust and switch to e85. I've seen posts from owners of sub 4 GXP & Redlines which is just crazy for such inexpensive cars.


DDMWORKS.com for all the mods you'll need