juddz

...Please help me list up any additional options for sports cars in the 15-20K range, with the criterea that it's got to have a manual trans, must be a two seater, and should have rear drive. My temptation to own one is rather severe, and want to know what my options are. Any that I forgot?

1) Used Honda S2000 roadster
2) Chrysler Crossfire coupe, 2004MY base
3) Mazda Miata, 1-3 years old
4) Toyota MR2 Spyder
5) BMW Z3 roadster (...nothing older than 99, if possible)
6) Upcoming Pontiac Solstice
7) C4 Corvette (1992-1996)

...can you think of any others?

Roddimus Prime

1) Used Honda S2000 roadster----not bad

2) Chrysler Crossfire coupe, 2004MY base---no way ever

3) Mazda Miata, 1-3 years old---- try for one a little older and save the $10K for mods

4) Toyota MR2 Spyder--- now you're talking (turbo only)

5) BMW Z3 roadster (...nothing older than 99, if possible)----no way ever

6) Upcoming Pontiac Solstice---- under $20K? won't happen, base is $19,995

7) C4 Corvette (1992-1996)--- no way ever...just too blah

~~~~~~~~~~~my choices (in order)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. '04 RX8 with 10K+ miles (I bought mine for $22K with only 3K miles) sure it's not a 2 seater but we all know what it is.

2. 94-96 Miata with 1.8L. (95 model is best) Turb+suspension = killing all

3. 2nd gen MR2 turbo....nuff said

4. Pontiac fiero GT last year they were made...looked awesome and the 4cyl cars are prime for boost

5. FFR 427 Cobra Kit car-- I've seen them with everything from a 429SCJ to a 2.3L turbo engine, to a 3.2L SHO v6.....with only 225bhp they run 13s.....just think about that.

6. 86-91 RX7. Those turboII's are everywhere, $4500-ish and capable of well over 450whp with minor mods.

juddz

...Good additional suggestions. Regarding the Crossfire, I think it's got legs. Yes, I hate the front end as well. But, here are the pluses: 3.2L Mercedes V6 kicking out 215hp stock, a hardtop (=increased chassis stiffness), a slick 6MT gearchange, all Mercedes SLK underpinnings, a nicer interior than you've ever seen on a US Chrysler, and the thing is built in Karmann, Germany. The only downsides I can think of are: too much chrome, that dumb eggcrate grille, and the marketing damage that Celine Dion did to it still lingers in the air. 215hp is a lot for a tiny sports car... enough to kick just about every Miata into the weeds. Regardless of this sweet V6, thanks Celine, for lopping off its ********* on prime time.
...Good thing it looks best from the backend, because that's all that anyone would see.

Now about that Solstice. Sure, it stickers at $19995. But, can you imagine it will sell for very long without incentives? And, even if it does manage to sell without incentives (GM's wettest dream), check out my town. Believe me when I say that everyone in Detroit can get a special deal on nearly any make of car, inlcuding a lot of the Japanese makes. For Honda or Toyota, we're SOL, however. WIth Nissan, Mitsu, Mazda, Subaru, and the big3, that's not the case. Even before the incentives come off of it, I have not paid more than 2% above invoice on anything in five years. My new 2001 Neon cost me $210 a month to OWN. So, that's one reason I like living here. And, you know, we've got a pretty good basketball team.

zerocover

That crossfire is quite the awsome car. A friend of mine has one and Ive never seen anything take turns like it.

Roddimus Prime

in all honesty I'll race a crossfire any day of the week and twice on sunday...they are SO pig heavy it's horrible. Wait until you drive one and get to try to work 1st gear....there are MANY problems with them. Also, they cost too damned much.

I thought you were looking for a project car?? A german luxery coupe is not the place to start.

juddz

The Crossfire does have more bulk than a Miata, but here is how it stacks up against some other notable fun rides. I threw in a Mazda6 wagon, just for ***** and giggles.

Ford Mustang GT (hardtop, latest version): 3510
Mazda6 wagon: 3440
Lexus IS300: 3380
BMW 325i: 3300
Corvette: 3300
Porsche 911 Carrera S: 3230
Crossfire: 3220
BMW Z4 3.0i: 3135
Scion TC: 3016
Another closed coupe choice is the 350Z, which I like a lot but it's significantly heavier than the Crossfire. It's actually pretty close to the Mustang in weight, if memory serves me correctly. Of course, despite its bulk the 350Z manages to kick ***. Even the new Eclipse weighs in four hundred pounds more than this little Chrysler. Check out the latest road test in Motortrend or Car and Driver. That sucker weighs about 3600 pounds! The new 3.8L V6 (kicking out 260hp) goes a long ways towards making the latest Eclipse fast, but it 3600 and with fwd it will never be nimble.

True, 215 hp is not a lot compared to what is on tap in a lot of the other cars above. But, that's a starting point. The base coupe will hit sixty in the upper six second range, which is pretty darned fast. The Crossfire would make an excellent project car, as its closed coupe body structure is ultra-stiff compared with an open roadster, and the suspension geometry is pretty nice. The challenge of finding parts and support would be part of the fun, as it has been for the Protege. And, yes, it looks expensive. Hell, it is expensive, and it shows in every tight fitting panel, silky **** movement, and the finish of every last interior piece. But, they are being discounted steeply. Would you believe me if I told you that I could get my hands on a leftover Crossfire coupe that has never been titled, for about the same money as a Miata with cloth seats?

Roddimus Prime

$30K crossfire for $20K? Thats agood deal. We probably would've gone that route instead of the rx8 (for the wife) if we could've done the same thing.

Rio Grande

How about a used Mini? Small and compact, should be relativley light. Throw a turbo on it and off you go.

juddz

Here's another.... buy it now for 19K, 12K miles on the clock. This is about the market price (nationally) for 2004 cars.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=80734

Roddimus Prime

oh, I thought you meant NEW crossfire for $20K!

with all of the problems GM is having I'm hoping I can score a loaded up Sky next year at a steal.

Jackelope

There is a guy near where i live that soups up the mini's - has a nice collection of the old ones - has a whole shop pretty much devoted to them.

juddz

...I will be calling a few dealers on new ones, and will report back to you on pricing. I know for fact that I can get a new limited (which stickers for 34K) for less than 28K. The base stickers at 28K, so what do you suppose I could scrape that down to? Remember, that I do get a corporate discount from Chrysler. It's nice to have connections!

juddz

Oh, and the mini is another good suggestion. They make nice project cars!

Jackelope

Here's what i can get -
Purchase or lease select new Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles at the Preferred Price (1% below factory invoice).

SR Associates can purchase a GM automobile for 4% over the price paid by GM workers.

juddz

And, the beautiful part is that incentives come off on top of that. This is typical of a supplier discount.