"Best Sports Car for $20,000?"

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt) 09/23/2019 at 10:47 • Filed to: C5 Corvette, c5, corvette, Savagegeese

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benjrblant > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/23/2019 at 10:51

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Isn't this the Oppo car of the year?

Future next gen S2000 owner > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/23/2019 at 10:51

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As much as I love the C5 Z06, I’m not sure it is a better sports car for 20K. S2000's, nice examples, are around/below that. I may be biased but I’d marry a S2000 if I could.

Tripper > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/23/2019 at 10:55

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I won’t argue with that. They are incredibly easy to drive daily, and then are also absolute monsters when you step on the gas.

My mother has a standard C5, headers back, a short throw shifter, and some sort of tuning. The only time it sucks is over bumps, weird turns into places. You also have to be super careful on wet roads. My wife always makes fun of the grin I get when I drive it. 

BeaterGT > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/23/2019 at 10:59

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So I've heard! 

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 11:01

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S2K is nice but it's just underpowered compared to the Vette

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/23/2019 at 11:02

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It’s an interesting question. I love the C5 Z06 and it’s incredible value for money, but I can find a lot of examples of 996s for under that number.... and they handle pretty well.

As long as I don’t have to look at “Boxster Face” much, I’m good.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/23/2019 at 11:05

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Holy crap it sounds good. How much would it cost to do a fully custom interior...?

“It feels like I’m sitting in a garbage bag.”

Would love the see the owner’s reaction to this review - ha!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 11:07

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V8, ‘ Muricah. C5 gets my vote

benn454 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/23/2019 at 11:08

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 It's like Mayweather vs. Tyson. Both are quite good at what they do, but Tyson would wipe the floor with Mayweather. 

Future next gen S2000 owner > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 09/23/2019 at 11:12

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Underpowered, yeah but it handles better. It feels tighter, responds better to inputs.

QCGoose > Tripper 09/23/2019 at 13:17

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Your mom is awesome!

Tripper > QCGoose 09/23/2019 at 13:40

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Tis an inherited obsession. I came home from the hospital in my dad’s white 280z. He’s since rolled an 84 corvette, BMW 735, E46M3, C5, and a bunch of boring but nice/cool cars Volvo turbo brick, pinto etc.. .

My mom had triumphs growing up then into Z28's (3 of them through the late 70s early 80's) this is actually her second C5 she had bad knees and sold her first one for an automatic cooper s. Had the knees replaced and got another cooper s and another vette, both with three pedals. Just traded the cooper on a 19' GTI SE 3 pedals.

My brother is into original GTO’s super hard and pretty much nothing else.

My sister has had multiple MR-2s and Fox body stangs one of them being a white 5.0 with a white rag top and white leather interior ! However she currently drives a Rogue, so her jalop card expired a long time ago.

I closed the reaming gaps growing up in the F&F era with an affinity for classic Euro whips.

Future next gen S2000 owner > benn454 09/23/2019 at 14:30

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Maybe. I’ve seen S2000's beat Vette’s all day long on an autocross.

benn454 > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 15:06

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On a parking lot with cones, sure. Literally anywhere else...not so much.

QCGoose > Tripper 09/23/2019 at 15:11

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Revised statement: Your family is awesome! Even with your sister’s current ride, she’s got a nice list of past cars , so I’d say the Jalop card is still valid, it’s just on hold at the moment lol.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 16:02

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The Vette handles incredibly well, has double the power, has a transaxle, and only weighs 300lbs more. All while getting basically the same mileage, because LS.

The S2000 is a heavier, less reliable Miata that just revs higher. No one will change my mind. If I wanted an engine with no torque attached to a great chassis , I’d get an RX8 or FRS and avoid the Honda tax . It’s just bad value. 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 09/23/2019 at 16:06

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Honestly the worst two parts are the steering wheel and the seats, and Corbeau and Recaro both have seats specifically for the C5. The steering wheel is the hard part, but it can be resolved with cocktailing parts from various Chevy products. The rest doesn’t feel as cheap as it looks, other than the radio bezel, which is the only hard plastic that you touch. As long as you get a Z06, there aren’t many things to rattle. It’s better put together than my GTI was. 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/23/2019 at 16:08

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There are better handling cars for $20k, there are faster cars for $20k, there are nicer cars for $20k, but I’m not sure there is a better smiles per gallon car for under $20k. It’s fun in every situation, while being decently comfortable for daily use and long trips, something Miatas and S2000's don’t do. Gets about the same mileage. The only downside is tires, which are pricey. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 09/23/2019 at 16:11

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Right - both easy (if not cheap) to replace, along with the shift knob, and vastly improve the look & feel.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 09/23/2019 at 16:15

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Seats aren’t super cheap, unless you go used. The shifter is another thing that could be changed. But as a daily, everything is fine. Initially it was kind of a shock, but then I got used to it and noticed how rattle free it was, even compared to my 7k mile GTI. It actually has less rattles than my dad’s LS430. Barring BMW and Audi(and other exclusive brands) , it really isn’t  any worse than anything else from the early 2000's. The looks of modern interiors have spoiled us, even cheap cars look upscale interior wise now. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 09/23/2019 at 16:18

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Honestly, I remember getting a test drive in an ‘06 Cayman one time and thinking how crappy the interior was.

So, on a scale of 1-Infiniti, how disappointed are you that the C8 doesn’t offer Racing Yellow as a paint option?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 16:20

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Is that because most Vette owners are middle-aged and settled down? and most s2k owners are still younger and more reckless?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/23/2019 at 16:21

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Best sports car for any money has two wheels.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 09/23/2019 at 16:22

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Nissan. The yellow offered looks awful. That being said, I think it’s been on a decline since the C5, it gets paler with every generation. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 09/23/2019 at 16:27

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How do you move on from this classic livery?!

Maybe it will still be an option on the Z06.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 09/23/2019 at 16:33

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Maybe, but I'm 90% sure those yellows are different. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 09/23/2019 at 16:36

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Yeah, the R’s a little oranger (better).

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 09/23/2019 at 16:39

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I think they’ve stayed Millennium  Yellow, as that is what makes it better. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 09/23/2019 at 16:44

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Ah, gotcha. =)

Future next gen S2000 owner > benn454 09/23/2019 at 16:57

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I’d bet you could put the same driver in each car and time them on a twisty road and the times would be damn similar.

Future next gen S2000 owner > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/23/2019 at 16:57

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Opposite to a certain extent. Vette’s seem to have more mods than the S2000's.

benn454 > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 17:03

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Kind of like how Mayweather would have a shot at beating Tyson if Tyson wasn’t allowed to put his full strength into his punches.

Congratulations. The S2000 might have a chance when the C5Z can only use a fraction of it’s full potential.

What a victory. 

Future next gen S2000 owner > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 09/23/2019 at 17:30

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An S2000 is faster and handles better than all those examples. The chassis is more neutral and better balanced than a Vette. Out of the box the FRS isn’t even in the same class as the S2000 and it is 20 years older.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 17:52

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It is in the same class as the RX8, and the RX8 has so much more character. The 0-60 is also pretty close, and the RX8 drives better. The S2000 is “muh heritage” priced. It would be great for a few grand less, but they have appreciated to used ND price, and that is a better car. 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 18:57

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That can actually hurt performance though. Depending on the mod, quality of said mod, quality of installation, and skill of driver.

LJ909 > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/23/2019 at 22:46

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As the years have gone on its getting harder to find unmolested S2k’s that arent cp prices. 

Future next gen S2000 owner > LJ909 09/24/2019 at 09:53

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I think they are at the bottom of their market. I think nice ones will appreciate over the next 5 years.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 09/30/2019 at 20:29

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Actually, I think the early/non-turbo/C4s headlights have aged better than the Turbo/C4S/later headlights.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 09/30/2019 at 20:51

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I’m in the camp that thinks the 993 was perfect and everything since is a letdown...

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 10/01/2019 at 01:22

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depends on your definition of good, to determine what qualifies as most good, aka best.

Corvette... affordable power, admirable handling.

S2000... Japanese precision, and lightweight balance.

There are others...

but for 20K used?

hard to pass up a 996 or a special 986S or 987 Porsche, and some are less than 20K.

Maybe not as honed as a featherweight S2000. Maybe not as much of a hammer as a Corvette, and maybe a bit odd for having the engine in the back...

But the 911 is a special kind of interesting, and although not exactly rare, seems sophisticated and subtle.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 10/01/2019 at 01:35

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Air-cooled.... I’d go with 964 and backdate, like a Singer.

water-cooled is a different thing for 911, as long as that is understood, the later cars are good in their own context.

Not to mention that air-cooled 911s are no longer 20 grand... maybe not even for a project car.

ihm96 > Future next gen S2000 owner 10/01/2019 at 16:50

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S2000s are overpriced. I could have an M roadster for the same money that looks better, has a nicer interior, handles better, and a less gutless engine. And while I’ve heard many times by commenters when I bring this up that supposedly the S2000 is faster on a track, I’ve only seen one on track battle (by a japanese publication no less) and the S2000 gets thoroughly smacked