(relatively)Cheap Mid-Engine Cars

"PS9" (PS9) 01/02/2015 at 18:27 • Filed to: None

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If you want one for less than six figures, this, the Boxster, the 4C and the Lotuses are it. Sub-$50k Mid engine sports cars don't exist anymore, and that makes me sad. The MR2 needs to make a comeback.

dogisbadob > PS9 01/02/2015 at 18:31

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You can get a Previa on CL for like $2000 :p

PS9 > dogisbadob 01/02/2015 at 18:34

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CRider > PS9 01/02/2015 at 18:39

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The $50k sports car is still here, as long as your definition of mid engine means the engine is set behind the front axle and not behind the driver.

PS9 > CRider 01/02/2015 at 18:44

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Behind the driver.

CRider > PS9 01/02/2015 at 18:49

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Rearward weight bias, faster than the 911, Cayman lol, and way cheaper than it would be if it were car forward instead of cab rearward.

Kailand09 > PS9 01/02/2015 at 18:55

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you're forgetting front mid engine cars completely. Which is odd that nobody qualifies them as mid engine for no reason at all, as they are some of the fastest cars in the world.

There are a few other rear mid engine cars you're missing sub 100k.

Though yeah that would be cool.

aquila121 > PS9 01/02/2015 at 19:11

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We can hope that this doesn't end up like Honda's usual mid-engined vaporware.

The rumors abound on this link.

BrianNutter > PS9 01/02/2015 at 19:19

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Seriously I've owned a mr2 and 88 fiero gt. Low speed 40/60 gas-on understeer sucks. 50/50 is a lot better. I'm going toward 47/53 in my 53/47 c5 to be more like a c7

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > PS9 01/02/2015 at 19:21

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Saab 900. Before you call bullshit:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3g0Oa…

The intercooler is mounted on the roof, by the way.

Manuél Ferrari > PS9 01/02/2015 at 19:52

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This is the one true path. Engine between the driver and the rear axle and 6 speed Manuél. There is no better way to layout a car, period. Such a shame that there are barely any cars left period that have this setup, let alone cars priced under $50K.

4C doesn't have our lord and savior Manuél

Lotus isn't that usable outside track days.

The Cayman and R8 are the only RMR cars I can think of that are available with a stick. And the R8's manual option will be gone SOON.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > PS9 01/02/2015 at 19:52

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For rear mid engine cars, there's the 914, x19 and mr2 $7-15k

PS9 > CRider 01/02/2015 at 20:58

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Not the point. We all know the C7 is great, but if thats irrelevant if FMR isn't what you want.

PS9 > Kailand09 01/02/2015 at 21:00

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I am 'forgetting' them because there isn't a shortage of them below $50k. I also cannot be 'missing' sub $100k RMR cars if my list only include those that cost $50k and below (and it does).

PS9 > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/02/2015 at 21:01

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That isn't a new car, and Saab is a dead brand.

PS9 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 01/02/2015 at 21:04

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None of those can be purchased new.

Axial > Manuél Ferrari 01/02/2015 at 22:37

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Heinous lies, engine belongs in front of the driver!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > PS9 01/02/2015 at 23:33

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I didn't see that as a requirement.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > PS9 01/03/2015 at 02:07

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Welcome to my world.

MR2 was a more worthy candidate of a true revival than AE86.

GT 86/FR-S should have been that. A junior, half-priced, 4-cylinder Cayman/Boxster alternative, with two trunks. Subaru could have provided the longitudinal 2WD 6MT or 5EAT transaxles, as well as the engines... optionally a turbocharged FA20DIT, as they should.

W30 MR2 Spyder failed. It wasn't a bad car. It was fun, and it handled very well... but it failed by not being gorgeous, as a sports car has no practical need to be less than attractive, and having NO trunk. A car that can't get a few groceries never gets taken out of the garage... and has a hard time justifying a car payment and thus a sale. SW20 and AW11 MR2s had at least some semblance of minor trunk space, as does Miata.

Lotus no longer over-arches that possibility, and if the FT86 project really was about purity of handling, it should have been a mid-engined car, and skipped a bunch of re-development of Subaru front suspension geometry, and re-development of a RWD-0nly aft drivetrain rear diff, and rear suspension... and optimized the Subaru cable-shift 6-speed manual, and electronic 5-speed automatic for lateral-output 2WD.

If Factory Five can do it with the 818 project as a kit car... it can't be outside the realm of one of the biggest automakers on the planet... and make it look far better than Factory Five made the 818 body shell look. Heck, they could make it look like the Neo-Stratos, since Ferrari won't possibly let FIAT/Lancia use it.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > PS9 01/03/2015 at 04:16

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You didn't say anything about these having to be new cars, and Saab isn't completely dead yet. You also seem to be dismissing Saab with the fact that they are no longer manufacturing cars on their on dollar, but it's important to not that Saab's fate is no indicator for the quality of their product. Mismanagement and the "GM sub-brand effect" are to blame for the marque's current situation.

PS9 > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars 01/03/2015 at 05:54

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"You didn't say anything about these having to be new cars"

Its there in the context of the paragraph. Only new cars at the $50k and below bracket are mentioned. I'm dissmissing that particular Saab because 1) not a new car 2) Not really made by saab. It didn't roll out of the factory that way; that is something someone made in their garage.

PS9 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 01/03/2015 at 05:57

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Its there in the context of the paragraph. Only new cars in the $50k bracket are listed.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > PS9 01/03/2015 at 05:59

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Yeah, I know. It's the coolest though. I probably could have assumed from the listed cars, but you know what they say about asses, you and me. Also, that 900 is so cool.

Tapas > PS9 01/03/2015 at 13:40

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I guess you can get a used 2013 Boxster or Cayman 981.

The base models are getting very close to that range...

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > PS9 01/05/2015 at 14:27

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My MR2's already making a comeback. I don't understand why more people don't buy them.

PS9 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/05/2015 at 14:29

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Real talk: The BRZ should have been RMR and made 250HP. Now THAT would have easily been worth $30k or more.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > PS9 01/05/2015 at 14:34

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Yeah, I agree. I own one, and was noticing the other day how much better it would look with the cockpit pushed forward a foot or so and the engine where what Subaru thinks could pass for a back seat is. Technically, I think it's FMR since most of the block is behind the front axle. If the BRZ were mid-engined, I'd probably have a Miata for my track rat too, which would be easier to track due to greater support and Spec Miata.