The Plan (tm)

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
08/14/2016 at 10:32 • Filed to: None

Life stuff is happening which makes owning three cars impossible, and two cars problematic. For this reason in 12 months I would like to get one car that ticks all the boxes for me while still retaining some semblance of practicality, on a $15k-ish budget. I’ve narrowed it down to three cars to aim for, the requirements being: two doors, RWD, manual, blue. Inb4 someone posts a Previa in the comments.

1. C5 Corvette

I know this is the correct answer. There should be no more discussion after this. The C5 is fast, practical, the interior is well-appointed and comfortable, examples with 70k miles are around $15k on Craigslist, it handles well, fairly reliable and the few common issues they have are easily remedied, and aftermarket upgrades are so expensive I won’t be tempted to constantly fuck with it.

2. 2007 Saturn Sky Redline

Second-best option. Less practical than the C5 by a long shot, but its parts-bin nature means repairs are cheap, and it’s a fairly fantastic-looking car with a design that still looks modern, and you don’t see very many of them around leading to a uniqueness the C5 lacks. Similar price point and similar miles to the C5.

3. Porsche Boxster

lol this is an awful idea I just really like badge snobbery. “Excuse me, I have to step out for a moment and warm up the Porsche-uh .”

DISCUSSION (40)

JR1 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 10:39

Vette is the way to go. But the Porsche is oh so enticing

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JR1
08/14/2016 at 10:42

I had a Hot Wheels boxster in that color as a kid and loved it. My piano teacher’s son-in-law had a boxster identical to the Hot Wheels and I thought he had to be the richest guy in the world, so now I have this weird need to be ‘that guy’. I’d make an insufferable Porsche owner but I’d rather be that than associated with old retired dudes who do 5mph under the speed limit in their ‘Vettes.

Of course, I’ll probably get a Vette. It’s just the right answer.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 10:46

You should buy a 2004 Chrysler Crossfire Limited. Specifically mine. It ticks all your boxes except for blue. Asking $8250 but oppo discount in play. Also only has 37500 miles.

*Shameless plug over*

How about a BMW Z3/Z4 Coupe? If you buy a non-//M Z3 they can be pretty durable and do it yourself repairs are inexpensive.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
08/14/2016 at 10:53

I feel like there’s a very good reason I never see Z coupes or Crossfires at autocrosses. From what I’ve heard the BMWs are just ostentateous more expensive Miatas, and the Crossfire is all of the worst parts of a mid-2000s Chrysler product with the worst parts of Mercedes mechanical bits. They do look kinda cool, I’ll give it that, but the interior utterly kills it for me.

shop-teacher > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 10:58

If it’s going to be your only car, the Vette is the only way to go. You can actually put things in it.

nermal > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 10:59

You should get something like this. Much more practical. And dangerous.

It’s dangerously practical.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

LongbowMkII > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:01

Pontiac GTO? Those values seem to vary wildly though.

MR-S should come in way under budget. You’d have your pick at 15k

S2000, but Suzuka blue is in high demand/rare iirc probably bouncing it out of budget.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > nermal
08/14/2016 at 11:01

That’s about fifteen kinds of fucking awesome but five grand over budget and probably drinks gas like I chug Monster.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > shop-teacher
08/14/2016 at 11:02

This is true, but my mom’s ability to have a Sky as her only car has me thinking I could pull it off.

nermal > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:05

There are two on Fuelly listed at roughly 10 mpg each.

daender > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:14

C5 for-sure. There’s an Oppo named LappingLuke who’s DD/autox-car is a C5Z and he been able to make it work for the most part minus a few maintaince/upgrade issues. That said, changing the four spark plugs closest to the firewall is a PITA. Also, don’t boost it, you just end up creating a lot more problems and pains that isn’t even close to being offset by the fun when it’s running (for a short time).

S65 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:15

Corvette

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:19

Haha you have a point about the Z. But I’ve won DStreet twice at my local AutoX with the Crossfire.

You grow to like the layout on the Crossfire’s interior, and the items that get touched most have a great feel. The seats are soft and supportive, the steering wheel is chunky but easily maneuvered. And the shifter is amazing. One-piece billet aluminum form the factory.

The platform does feel dated when just cruising around, but feels very nimble at high(illegal) speeds. And upgrades are AMG parts bin away!

daender > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:24

I think most coupes go trackday-bro instead of auto-x. That said, our SCCA region used to have a pretty badass Z3 coupe in C-Stock. Maintance is hit or miss from what I heard from the owner; it’s a 3-series with a cooler body.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
08/14/2016 at 11:28

Stop making me want a 2000s chrysler product. I need to see if Carmax has one and go drive it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > LongbowMkII
08/14/2016 at 11:31

I hate GTOs, honestly. Not a fan of the styling at all and most people seem to ridiculously overrate them.

MR-S is pretty okay, but I’m not sure how they handle and maintenence could be an issue. Basically a Japanese Boxster.

S2k was considered but they’re usually too expensive for what you get, and the interior is a bit budget baller for me.

My bird IS the word > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:33

hate to say it, but definetly c5 vette of those options. Most smiles per gallon by far.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:37

If you can find one at carmax, test an SRT6. It’s auto only, but it’s got the best AMG stuff in there for less than $15k. Cheapest way to a sub-5 0-60 I think.

bhtooefr > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:40

The biggest problem with the Skystice is that they don’t have a trunk when the top is down, and I don’t think they have any under-top storage area. They may be better performing than, say, a Miata, but they ain’t practical IMO.

Of the three choices you list, C5.

I see the Z3 coupe has already been mentioned (the biggest problem would be finding one)...

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 11:49

MR-S handles similarly to the Miata when stock, but with a very light/sharp front end (mid-engined lightweight, yo) and a bit less tail-happy. Balance at the limit is easily shifted by changing the tire stagger, if you prefer snap oversteer over controllable slides. You’ll probably want to add underbody bracing if you track/autoX it.

As far as maintenance goes, it’s a Corolla in drag, so should be reliable and cheap. Get an 03+, and you avoid the biggest point of failure (precats), while getting some extra factory bracing at the same time.

With your budget, you could probably throw a 2ZZ in it to get a budget Lotus, but then again, if it’s your DD, that might not be worth the hassle.

Also, they’re more practical than the Opel GT/Saturn Sky, but that still doesn’t mean they’re practical in any sense.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
08/14/2016 at 11:56

Sadly carmax has none :(

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 12:08

Damn. They pop up every once in a while there. Of course, now they’ll only have ‘06-08 models.

Vicente Esteve > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 12:35

The C5 is the answer.

The Boxster itch will not go though.

LongbowMkII > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
08/14/2016 at 12:46

Corolla: engine/passenger/trunk

Mrs: trunk/passenger/engine.

Some maniac should build a six wheeled Mrs/Corolla hybrid.

Trunk passenger engine passenger trunk.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > LongbowMkII
08/14/2016 at 12:51

*MR-S: trunk/passenger/trunk/engine.

That would indeed be a great Frankencar.

JasonStern911 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 12:53

Boxsters are great. The trunk plus frunk combo is suprisingly effective. You can find well maintained mid-mileage examples in the $7k range if you’re patient. Just make sure to have an independent Porsche mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection and budget an additional ~$3k upfront to do some preventative maintenance like:

* replace the water pump

* replace the IMS bearing with an aftermarket one (consider this a requirement on the 2.7 and S models)

* replace the RMS

* replace the air/oil separator

* replace the plugs and check the coilpacks

* if needed, replace the clutch

And you should have a trouble free car mechanically for 50k+ miles. Now if you don’t do all of this at once when you first buy the car, maintenance costs will slowly kill you, as everything above except for the plugs and coilpacks and maybe the water pump require dropping the motor. Save on labor fees by dropping the motor once. And if the IMS bearing goes because you didn’t address that, then you’re out a motor that costs as much as the car is worth. Also run synthetic oil with a high ZDDP content.

And I know above sounds scary, but they’re great cars with a few quirks that people have already sorted out. But that scare factor is great, as that’s what made the 986s and 996s attainable price-wise.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 14:11

Corvettes and Boxsters are boring. What about a Maserati? Here’s a manual Spyder listed for $16,500. Seller would probably let it go for $15k. Trick would be finding a blue one with manual at a similar price.

Kinja'd!!!

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

This blue coupe is gorgeous and was a similar price, but auto...

Kinja'd!!!

Rock Bottom > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 19:33

How is this even a question??!? A cam swap is cheap and easy in a C5 and gives you this glorious song of ‘Murica:

Your boy, BJR > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 22:42

You're a dipshit.

JR1 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/14/2016 at 22:51

If it is an itch you just have to scratch do it for a year or two and then switch to the Vette. Or wait it out one day Boxster prices will be sub 10k for a good one I bet