YACT: Best sports cars new/used for $20k?

[LongCoolMother]

ive been wondering about this for a long time. i personally think $20k is the point when you really reach the entry level of real sports cars. although i could be off. for new you've got stuff like:

mustang (base), RSX (medium), celica (medium), Eclipse, camaro (i think), mini cooper (base), GTI (medium)

for used you might be able to score:

trans am (hopefully), supra (pre '95), rx7

what do you guys think are the best sports cars for around 20k? new or used. Some of the "family" cars seem pretty nice too. they can double up as sports cars. like the new accord coupe v6s. 240 hp?!?! and a used grand prix would be sweet.

 

[tweakmm]

$16k E36 M3
Save the rest for repairs.

 

[Asharus]

How about the Nissan Z from 1990 - 1996. Sweet car.

 

[TechnoKid]

Either the Mazdaspeed Protege (about $21,500), or the Dodge Neon SRT-4. They are both very solid performers, both power and handling suspension, for cars in their class and price. They may be FWD, but they still perform very well on this platform.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Either the Mazdaspeed Protege (about $21,500), or the Dodge Neon SRT-4. They are both very solid performers, both power and handling suspension, for cars in their class and price. They may be FWD, but they still perform very well on this platform.

Hmmmm.... M3 or a Neon.
Golly gee, this is a tough one.

 

[boyRacer]

Get a motorcycle... $5k... you'll be faster than any of the cars listed here... plus you have $15k to spend on a funeral.

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: tweakmm
$16k E36 M3
Save the rest for repairs.

an m3 can be had for 20k? link?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: tweakmm
$16k E36 M3
Save the rest for repairs.

an m3 can be had for 20k? link?

E36

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: tweakmm
$16k E36 M3
Save the rest for repairs.

an m3 can be had for 20k? link?

E36

yea, i was aware. my friend has a brother with an e36. i didnt imagine they could go so low though. im looking at these '98s that are just a tad over 20k. interesting.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Either the Mazdaspeed Protege (about $21,500), or the Dodge Neon SRT-4. They are both very solid performers, both power and handling suspension, for cars in their class and price. They may be FWD, but they still perform very well on this platform.

Hmmmm.... M3 or a Neon.
Golly gee, this is a tough one.

I listed two new cars. Without taking that into consideration, I'd choose the E36 M3, however, I would still feel better driving a newer and safer car (plus a warranty to boot), like that of the two I mentioned. Just because it's a neon doesn't mean it cannot perform admirably. Same goes for the Mazdaspeed protege. Overall, the E36 M3 probably performs better than the SRT-4 or the mazdaspeed for obvious reasons, but you can't deny that the srt-4 or the mazdaspeed won't put up a good fight. I would of course, have to fully test all three cars back to back on a roadcourse or test track to further make comment. I am just going by what I reccolect in tests done by car mags like Car&Driver. I will say that a capable car is literally nothing if the driver doesn't have enough knowledge and skill to fully utilize the cars potential.

 

[Actaeon]

5th Generation(97-04) Corvette. You can find some 97-99's around that range.

 

[Actaeon]

After re-reading your post, you can definatly get a Trans Am for under $20k, even in the LS1 form.

Then again, the corvette is still a superior choice, and IMO, probally the best of the cars mentioned.

 

[GasX]

Mint 1991 Mustang LX 5.0 with $13000 in mods

 

[LongCoolMother]

will insurance run sky high for young people (high school, 16-17) even if they are old cars? obviously if you were 16 and got a m3 or a vette youd be looking at astronomical insurance. what about used? or are students doomed with high insurance that is inevitable?

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: tweakmm
$16k E36 M3
Save the rest for repairs.

an m3 can be had for 20k? link?

E36

yea, i was aware. my friend has a brother with an e36. i didnt imagine they could go so low though. im looking at these '98s that are just a tad over 20k. interesting.

You live in Cali so they might be more expensive, but around here you can get an E36 M3 for around 15k(more or less obviously depending on the miles)

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
will insurance run sky high for young people (high school, 16-17) even if they are old cars? obviously if you were 16 and got a m3 or a vette youd be looking at astronomical insurance. what about used? or are students doomed with high insurance that is inevitable?

Students always get reamed on insurance. Always. Insurance on my Acura is crazy.

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
will insurance run sky high for young people (high school, 16-17) even if they are old cars? obviously if you were 16 and got a m3 or a vette youd be looking at astronomical insurance. what about used? or are students doomed with high insurance that is inevitable?

Students always get reamed on insurance. Always. Insurance on my Acura is crazy.

arrrggh that sux. when will insurance lighten up? i might as well drive a beater until college maybe. is it possible to insure a car for an older family member and then have me drive it? i think i heard this is possible, so as long as that person doesnt have a car insured already.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
will insurance run sky high for young people (high school, 16-17) even if they are old cars? obviously if you were 16 and got a m3 or a vette youd be looking at astronomical insurance. what about used? or are students doomed with high insurance that is inevitable?

Students always get reamed on insurance. Always. Insurance on my Acura is crazy.

arrrggh that sux. when will insurance lighten up? i might as well drive a beater until college maybe. is it possible to insure a car for an older family member and then have me drive it? i think i heard this is possible, so as long as that person doesnt have a car insured already.

I think that rates drop when one reaches 25. You can have the car insured with an older family member as the primary driver and you can be a secondary driver and that is supposed to lower your rate.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Either the Mazdaspeed Protege (about $21,500), or the Dodge Neon SRT-4. They are both very solid performers, both power and handling suspension, for cars in their class and price. They may be FWD, but they still perform very well on this platform.

Hmmmm.... M3 or a Neon.
Golly gee, this is a tough one.

what year M3? the SRT-4 can be made HELLA fast.. i'd consider it a tough call.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

SRT-4 (if its around 20k).

No contest.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: CraigRT

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Either the Mazdaspeed Protege (about $21,500), or the Dodge Neon SRT-4. They are both very solid performers, both power and handling suspension, for cars in their class and price. They may be FWD, but they still perform very well on this platform.

Hmmmm.... M3 or a Neon.
Golly gee, this is a tough one.

what year M3? the SRT-4 can be made HELLA fast.. i'd consider it a tough call.

The E36s are the models made between 1992-1999, and I don't think that there was any major deviation between the years. But the E36 is not the model with the 333 hp motor that the E46 M3s have.

I dunno about the SRT-4, I think that the stock HP is about as much power as I'd want coming from my front wheels.

 

[StageLeft]

Used is anyone's guess. If you want new the SRT4 is the only thing you're looking at if speed is of the utmost priority. $20k for 5.3 second 0-60 can't be beaten. If new, there is simply no debate. Not even worth entertaining.

--

will insurance run sky high for young people (high school, 16-17) even if they are old cars? obviously if you were 16 and got a m3 or a vette youd be looking at astronomical insurance. what about used? or are students doomed with high insurance that is inevitable?

Oh, you're in high school with dreams of a sports car? Put them to sleep right now. Insurance should let up at 21 and significantly at 25. There may be another tier somewhere in there too. Somebody of your age with an SRT4, M3, etc. will be often paying more in insurance than car payments. You can be pay several thousand every year without breaking a sweat. It's because so many people your age have absolutely no business behind the wheel of a sports car. I don't say that to be mean. I had no business behind the wheel of a fast car at your age either, and neither did my friends, so it's perfectly understandable why we got reamed (rightfully so) on insurance.

 

[Siddhartha]

I got a RSX type-S for $22,100.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
will insurance run sky high for young people (high school, 16-17) even if they are old cars? obviously if you were 16 and got a m3 or a vette youd be looking at astronomical insurance. what about used? or are students doomed with high insurance that is inevitable?

Students always get reamed on insurance. Always. Insurance on my Acura is crazy.

arrrggh that sux. when will insurance lighten up? i might as well drive a beater until college maybe. is it possible to insure a car for an older family member and then have me drive it? i think i heard this is possible, so as long as that person doesnt have a car insured already.

Definately does. I was looking to insure a 99 Subaru OBS (nowhere near a sports car) and was quoted $3600 a year for full coverage. Registered under my parents name, with them as primary drivers as their second car and myself as the occasional secondary driver, the insurance only went up $300 a year. Huge difference.

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Used is anyone's guess. If you want new the SRT4 is the only thing you're looking at if speed is of the utmost priority. $20k for 5.3 second 0-60 can't be beaten. If new, there is simply no debate. Not even worth entertaining.

--

will insurance run sky high for young people (high school, 16-17) even if they are old cars? obviously if you were 16 and got a m3 or a vette youd be looking at astronomical insurance. what about used? or are students doomed with high insurance that is inevitable?

Oh, you're in high school with dreams of a sports car? Put them to sleep right now. Insurance should let up at 21 and significantly at 25. There may be another tier somewhere in there too. Somebody of your age with an SRT4, M3, etc. will be often paying more in insurance than car payments. You can be pay several thousand every year without breaking a sweat. It's because so many people your age have absolutely no business behind the wheel of a sports car. I don't say that to be mean. I had no business behind the wheel of a fast car at your age either, and neither did my friends, so it's perfectly understandable why we got reamed (rightfully so) on insurance.

that makes sense. perhaps an m3 or such would be overkill. but an RSX is fine right? its not an all out sports car. ive seen kids around school driving integras and a couple of RSXs, and a few celicas. those should be safe enough and not cost a an absurd amount to insure. i really do like those family cars too though, skoorb. accord, camry, altima. around $20k will get you plenty of power, without fetching the crazy insurance.

anyway, what car would you reccomend for a high schooler? besides just driving an old family car ('95 camry/galant/'02 accord). i might actually just do that. just seeing what my options are. mazda 3 looks sweet...