I'm not into driving, but what's the best/fun toy car that can be had for $15-18K?

[Zeze]

I'm entertaining the idea of spoiling myself...

An old M3? All my life I drove Mazda & Hyundai. I care little about cars, for what you have to pay.

What's your recommendation on the best car the budget can buy for a fun zippy/powerful drive?

 

[ISAslot]

Miata

 

[Blackjack200]

the answer is always a miata

 

[Zeze]

Miata

the answer is always a miata

Would you like to hype up more? Must be manual or auto? I like manual but am lazy... (drove 100k of '03 Mazda 6i manual, zippy) unless manual's all worth it.

 

[highland145]

Manual. The '90 Prelude I had was a blast. Drove it like I stole it.

Then I went to a Tacoma....agile is not a descriptor.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Would you like to hype up more? Must be manual or auto? I like manual but am lazy... (drove 100k of '03 Mazda 6i manual, zippy) unless manual's all worth it.

Must be manual. Miata can be had for $5k, spend the rest on making it a track beast.

15-18k can get you a lot of cars but if aren't willing to work on it yourself, it'll be $$$.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I clicked here to say miata...I'm late to the game. RWD convertible....the older ones had a 1.8L 4-banger that was ample power if you drive stick. My dad bought a 1995 that was red. I had an opportunity to drive it around Bristol Motor Speedway about 20 years ago....that was a blast. I opened it up on a 30+ degree banked turn.

 

[Zeze]

Isn't performance driving kind of useless unless everyone is taking it to tracks every weekend.

I think I'd just get a speeding ticket sooner or later.

 

[highland145]

Isn't performance driving kind of useless unless everyone is taking it to tracks every weekend.

I think I'd just get a speeding ticket sooner or later.

What's your recommendation on the best car the budget can buy for a fun zippy/powerful drive?

Sounds like you need a golf cart.

 

[IronWing]

Get an 80s Buick Grand National. Looks like a crappy grandpa car. Comfy like a nice grandma car. Drives like a bat out of hell.

 

[nakedfrog]

the answer is always a miata

You slipped, it's:
Miata Is Always The Answer

 

[Blackjack200]

Isn't performance driving kind of useless unless everyone is taking it to tracks every weekend.

I think I'd just get a speeding ticket sooner or later.

What's fun to you? I like shifting gears, so my only car is a stick shift. If I didn't like it, it would be an automatic. The Miata is popular because it's lightweight and relatively low power, so you can rev the engine and shift aggressively and get that "performance driving" feeling without really going that fast, and for a lot of people that's fun. If you want something to push you back in the seat when you accelerate at a stoplight, I would go for a used Mustang or Camaro, that's what they're good at.

 

[nakedfrog]

Yep, my Miata is a 1.6, not much power, but I feel like I can actually make use of what it does have.
More fun than my Firebird was.

 

[KeithP]

Miata or a Corvette would be my choice.

-KeithP

 

[BudAshes]

Why would you spoil yourself with something you don't care about? Spend it on something like a jet ski, a new pool/hottub, a vacation, strippers/blow etc. Whatever floats your boat. Buying a 20k sports car is just going to be a headache if it's not a Miata, and a Miata is pretty lame for a midlife crisis car.

 

[evident]

subaru brz?

 

[Zeze]

Why would you spoil yourself with something you don't care about? Spend it on something like a jet ski, a new pool/hottub, a vacation, strippers/blow etc. Whatever floats your boat. Buying a 20k sports car is just going to be a headache if it's not a Miata, and a Miata is pretty lame for a midlife crisis car.

I see what you're saying. Starting a new hobby is good too. My current hobbies like photography, etc, I don't feel I need to spent $$ there.

I mean I already know how to drive.

 

[z1ggy]

The best zippy vehicle is always a motorcycle.

You can get ded pretty quick though and I wouldn't advise doing it anywhere near cars, trees or stuff that won't move when you hit it.

 

[Kaido]

I'm entertaining the idea of spoiling myself...

An old M3? All my life I drove Mazda & Hyundai. I care little about cars, for what you have to pay.

What's your recommendation on the best car the budget can buy for a fun zippy/powerful drive?

1. Will it be a third car? Do you need to drive it in winter, and does it snow where you live?

2. Do you want stick-shift or automatic?

3. Do you want a convertible? T-top? Sunroof?

4. Do you want something fun to drive, cool to look at, or both?

5. Do you plan on modifying it down the road with upgrades?

6. Do you plan on doing the maintenance & upgrade work yourself, or paying someone to do it?

 

[Kaido]

The best zippy vehicle is always a motorcycle.

You can get ded pretty quick though and I wouldn't advise doing it anywhere near cars, trees or stuff that won't move when you hit it.

I really want a Ural...modern(ish) sidecar motorcycle with a vintage design. The 2019 design refresh includes fully-interchangeable wheels (all three wheels & spare now use the same hub). $17k with everything. I'd love to take a month off work & just travel the country with it!

 

[Paratus]

Used Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86 / Scion FRS

https://imgur.com/a/E70nv

 

[zinfamous]

used miata.

I'm probably the only person that knows the right answer.

oh or an S2000.

 

[ctbaars]

Ebike

 

[jlee]

Miata or a Corvette would be my choice.

-KeithP

^

Yup.

 

[dasherHampton]

One of my friend has a BRZ and loves it.

But he's tiny. Are you tiny?