"MotorAffair" (motoraffair)
08/29/2015 at 10:00 • Filed to: None
3
9|
"MotorAffair" (motoraffair)
08/29/2015 at 10:00 • Filed to: None | 3
| 9 |
I am looking to make a change in my garage and find my next driver’s car. I currently own a 1990 Nissan Skyline GTR(recently imported from Canada and strongly tuned with 500 hp), a 2003 Mitsubishi Evo VIII(with basic bolt on mods 350 hp) and a family hauler 2007 BMW 530IX Wagon(wife’s car).
Car Ownership Past (all manuals):
Performance-
2 2003 Evo VIIIs
1989 Nissan Skyline GTR
1995 BMW M3
1990 Mazda Miata
2005 Mazda RX8
2002 BMW 525i Wagon
1995 VW GTI VR6
Two Sports bikes- GSXR600 & Ninja 636
Non Performance-
2005 Subaru Impreza RS
1990 BMW 318i Sedan
1985 VW Vanagon
I am looking to sell the Evo and GTR in favor of a different driver’s car.
I am looking to either get two cars a driver’s car and a 2001-2003 E39 BMW Wagon or get a single do it all driver’s car/second family car.
Price range sub $25k all in, but with a couple of notes. The BMW wagon will cost $3-4k here in Southern California. I search mostly craigslist and forums for cars. Most higher mileage cars don’t scare me as long as the car has been maintained. Looking to get out of All Wheel Drive and Front Wheel Drive is not an option. Corvettes are also off limits per wife’s request.
I am not worried about maintenance cost as I wrench and have friends with tools/lifts for the heavy jobs.
Here are the cars I am looking at + Wagon:
1999 911 C2
Lower miles and lower cost of entry : Sub $15k
2002+ 911 C2
higher mileage 80k+ : Sub $20k
2005+ Lotus Elise (harder to find but !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is a clean title with 80k for $21.7k, lowered price on last page of the thread)
2005+ Boxster non S or high mileage S
(100k+) Non S: Sub $18k S $20k
2006+ Cayman non S or high mileage S
(100k+) Non S: Sub $20k S $20k+
Here is the only single option car I have found:
2008+ E90/92 M3
(prefer DCT on this, driven the manual and I don’t think it matches well with the engine) Here is an example local
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
. Your will find a few in this range on Autotrader/Cars $22-25k
I am open to your opinions on my choices and any other options you may have.
I do not own any of these images(found via google and craigslist)
georgechristensen
> MotorAffair
08/29/2015 at 10:09 |
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As a pure driver’s car? The Lotus would be the pick followed by the Cayman/Boxster S. Although you should try to find one that’s been well maintained at that price point.
Noah - Now with more boost.
> MotorAffair
08/29/2015 at 10:40 |
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Very interesting that the wife said no corvettes. Is she a car gal? Just curious.
bob and john
> MotorAffair
08/29/2015 at 11:08 |
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qild card: you really want something that is the ULTIMATE in involvement?
motorcycles. not mention that you have have 3 in the sace of ONE car :D and cheaper on gas too
Textured Soy Protein
> MotorAffair
08/29/2015 at 11:11 |
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The base Boxster/Cayman don’t have enough grunt for me. The S, sure.
The 996 C2 does have enough grunt but there are the sorta-overblown potential IMS bearing issues which even though you have the resources to work on it yourself, could be a pain. The 996 interior is kinda shitty.
All of these Porsches on your list for the most part have open differentials. They still handle nicely but I would want an LSD. The 996 had an optional LSD available only in ’99, and LSD was standard on the ’04 40th Anniversary Edition (which is expensive). Porsche added an LSD option to the Boxster in ’09. If you’re looking at a ’99 C2 or ’09+ Boxster/Cayman, you can tell if the car has LSD by checking for option code 220 on the build sticker.
I have a 135is DCT—the transmission is really nice. It also could use an LSD. It’s pretty good in the turns with the traction control set to dynamic mode but putting down power it’ll light up one rear tire very easily. The M3 has a proper LSD not just LSD-mimicking dynamic traction control mode so that’s no concern there. My main concern with the M3 is there’s a lot of complicated electronically-controlled stuff like the transmission and LSD to go wrong
FlimFlamMan
> MotorAffair
08/29/2015 at 12:48 |
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That is a bummer that Corvette’s are ruled out. You can land a C6 with your price range. Nonetheless, personally, I would lean towards a Cayman S. Enough grunt for DD and obviously fun in the twisties. I kinda liken the Boxster to a pimped out Miata. I like the 996’s as well, but there is something about that Cayman ass that keeps me gravitating towards it.
Oh... and BTW, that’s a nice stable you have and have had.
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MotorAffair
> Noah - Now with more boost.
08/30/2015 at 21:54 |
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She is a car gal, but had a family member pass because an accident in a Corvette. So they are off limits, believe me I have asked.
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MotorAffair
> FlimFlamMan
08/30/2015 at 21:59 |
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Thank you both the GTR and Evo are a blast to drive just need to change it up. You can only have one wife but many motor affairs. So I want to get behind the wheel of another and then another, and another......
I agree on the shape of the cayman from the rear three quarter angle, so sexy. It must be the hips.
HiredDriver
> MotorAffair
09/05/2015 at 22:54 |
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E46 M3 should be on this list. Have you considered an ITR?
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MotorAffair
> HiredDriver
09/08/2015 at 02:44 |
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The E46 M3 is a consideration, I actually almost put a S54 in my E36 M3 and I love that motor. They do have their issues, rod bearing, vanos hub failures, rear sub frame ripping out, but they are a blast to drive..... ITR is not a consideration. I am not a fan of fwd in a sports car. Cool cars but just not my style.