wackjum

Hello guys. I am wanting to get into a sporty 2 door car in the 25k-30k range. With any major purchase, I have been doing my research for the past two months. I have narrowed my choices down to:

Main choices:

2009-2010 Nissan 370Z coupe automatic touring with navigation and sport package. Pros- I love the styling and performance and I like Nissan reliability. Cons- Brand cachet.*

2006-2008 Cadillac XLR (non V). Pros- The styling is really great. Performance is good enough for my purposes. A somewhat rare car. Cons- Not very familiar with Cadillac's reliability. Technology is a little older (5 speed auto, no factory bluetooth).



Alternative choices:

2006+ Lexus SC430. Pros- Styling is classy. Lexus reliability. Has a "backseat" that can fit a small melon at least. Cons- Boss owns one. Performance is 'meh.

E46 BMW M3 coupe or convertible. Pros- Styling, performance. Cons- Reliability, lack of current generation luxury features. Convertible is not hard top.

2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0. Pros- 420 HP 5.0 V8. World class performance. Cons- Ford reliability? Edge of my budget. Lack of luxury features.


Cars I considered but are not choices:

Honda S2000 - b/c of 4 cylinder engine, soft top, lack of luxury features

Germans (except Porsche) - Reliability. Prevalence.

Mazda RX8 - Styling is good, especially on the post face lift model. But I just don't like it.

Infiniti G35/G37 - Even the coupe just feels too close to what I have now (Acura RL).


So I guess from this list, you can see that my primary emphasis is on styling. This is strictly going to be a fun car only, so I want to get something I can look at everyday and be happy with my purchase. I know styling is very subjective though.

Performance must be adequate for a sporty car, but with the exception of the 370Z, I don't plan on really pushing this car on any kind of track. I have toyed with the idea of going into autocross and the drag strip if I get the 370Z though.

I want reliability. I have worked on cars my whole life and I also work on my friends' cars. I don't want to deal with the constant repairs on my own vehicles. I sometimes drive 200+ miles a day so even though this is just a fun vehicle, it will see a lot of miles.

I want 2 doors. If it has a convertible roof, it has to be a hard top. I am on the phone all the time for my job so I would prefer factory bluetooth. I also have to have factory navigation. A nice interior is crucial. Gone are the days when I would sacrifice outright performance for comfort. Besides, I have a Kawasaki ZX6R for that...

Brand cachet is starred because it really does not matter to me (I have a 1996 Honda Accord sedan that I use as a beater and Acura is not exactly high-end luxury). But among the circles I associate with, there's a certain snobbery. So it is only a small plus and hardly a requirement.

A Porsche Cayman is on the edge of my projected budget but I don't know enough about Porsche reliability to seriously consider it.

If anybody has any input on the cars I listed, or other cars I should be looked at, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate any input.

wackjum

I should add that:

1) I am in no rush to buy this car so I can wait for a "rare" car to show up.

2) I have a beater car (1996 Honda Accord) and a nicer car when I am meeting clients (2005 Acura RL). I also have a motorcycle for outright performance and something different.

If the car I want is outside of my budget of 25-30k, I can always sell/trade-in the RL. But right now my plan is to keep that car.

Sarlacc

2013 Scion FR-S

pearldrummer

Subaru BRZ Limited

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

Of the two main choices, definitely 370Z.

NIGHTEHAWK

So I get that you dont like the corvette? I would say 370Z or 5.0.

wackjum

I didn't like the interior of the Corvette.

I have not looked into the Subaru/Scion car yet. Thanks for the suggestions.

pearldrummer

an NSX would be an interesting choice, although probably not the best DD.

2013 V6 Genesis Coupe, 348hp, 31mpg

Of all of the options so far, I'd prob go 370z, NISMO if you can

nokiaman

Why would the 370 be automatic? Are they cheaper or it's a requirement for your s/o?

Out of your choices, it would be neck to neck between the 370Z or Mustang 5.0 for me. I'd choose the one that drives and feels the best for me and the car with best color/options/condition.

However from your description, I think you should look at a Cayman S. They are rather reliable -a few pca members have over 80-100k+ trouble-free miles- and are fantastic value in my opinion especially for the name. They handle very well and are a lot more fun than you'd expect. You might have to wait a while and stretch your budget a little by 3-5k to find a nice condition low mileage model with factory navigation. Good luck!

On The Run

Cayman S and prosper.

Repair cost is a factor, though you shouldn't be "repairing" it that frequently. The wear/tear items that are more expensive than anything else runs for is the only downside IMO.

Edit: Nokiaman beat me to it But he is right.

Ken1997TL

+1 for the Scion FR-S / Subaru BR-Z

neuronbob

No S2000, huh?

Then, I say Cayman S despite your dislike of the German marques.

If you had to force me to choose one of your two main choices, it'd be the 370Z.

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

this is what i'm wondering as well.. why no MT for the 370z

Moog-Type-S

Genesis Coupe

jspagna1

My choices would be:

#1 Mustang GT 5.0
#2 Nissan 370Z

pttl

As mentioned..you might be able to get into a NEW 2012 Mustang 5.0 for 30 - 33. I'm looking now and debating on the '12 or a '13

03tLsNBP

iTrader: (9)

yeah as someone mentioned earlier, NSX.

wackjum

For the longest of time, I thought I would get an older NSX once my budget allowed. I held onto this "dream" for over 10 years. Now that my income and lifestyle are in a position to support this, the NSX was the first thing I checked out. Unfortunately my priorities have changed and the car is just too old now. It looks superb on the outside, but the interior is essentially late 1980s.


I originally was going to get the 6 speed, and with the Synchro Revmatch feature it was definitely something neat to have. But after research on the Z forums and elsewhere, I found that the 7 spd AT had the same or better performance than the MT. Also from two friends who took amateur performance driving classes, the friend with the S2000 said he had a much harder time because he had to deal with shifting as well as everything else. The other friend with the IS-F could focus more on the driving aspects.

Finally, even if it does see the track, I intend for this vehicle to work into my daily commute on occasion and being able to just leave it in auto is a plus.

If it was a car where there was a discrepancy between the MT and AT performance, I can and would get the MT instead. But specifically in the case of the 370Z, I didn't see any disadvantages.

Yours and a few others who have suggested the Cayman S are making me consider adding it to my research. Is there is a big difference between the S and the regular Cayman? (I know nothing about Porsche right now).

Unless there is some kind of deep new car incentive like 0% financing or huge rebates, I generally don't buy new cars. The depreciation hit just never made sense to me.


Don't like the styling. It is too boy-racerish for me. I think it looks great for what it is, but not the look I am going for. For the same reason, I briefly considered and then rejected Lancer Evo variants.

pttl

The dollar difference is big. Depends on the age of the cayman you want to buy.

Autotrader search....cap of $40K

Best Cayman S deal I could see within 100 miles:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...16901515&Log=0

Understandable. There are deals out there right now that might make you want to change your mind.

nokiaman

Ah I see where you're coming from. It can definitely be a drag in daily driving. But, fwiw, I've done autocross and track driving with a manual car and I wouldn't be worried. It takes a couple of times to get comfortable and over time, you start knowing which gear to hold over certain corners, it is more to remember but more fun imo.

Off the top of my head, the S has 50hp/50tq more, better brakes, a 6 speed instead of a 5 (for the manual version that you'd have to get, since PDK is only on the 09+ models and Tiptronic is average and slower on 06-08s), white gauges, twin pipes instead of a single and power seats if I'm not mistaken..I might be forgetting some. You definitely feel the extra grunt in my opinion although the base 2.7 isn't a slow car by any means.

Dollar difference when they were brand new was around 10k IIRC. No where near as large right now but they are a lot harder to find. Depends if the extra options are worth it to you.

AZuser

What about

- Audi TT
- VW GTI or Golf R
- Fiat 500 Abarth.... when it comes out
- Mini Cooper S

wackjum

Not really what I am looking for, aside from the Audi TT.

When I first started this search back in late 2011 I was looking at everything. But I have since decided I want more of a cruiser than a tossable small car. The S2k was at the top of my small sporty car list.

I think for this reason I won't be interested in the BRZ/FR-S either. But since I have not looked into them in detail, I will at least give them a shot.

speedemon90

check some dealers around your area see if you can get some seat time. I +1 on these cars as well

AZuser

2 doors. Sporty, but also a cruiser.

Used Mercedes SL500? BMW Z4 or 650?

BigPZ

I surprised my wife, put some money down, and ordered a black FRS for her recently. She's seen it in magazines and at the auto show this year and fell in love. I haven't driven it as there aren't any in showrooms as of yet, but my deposit is fully refundable should we not like it (which I doubt). It may not be powerful enough for you, but 2700lbs, 200HP, 6 speed, and rear wheel drive is great for her and will be fun for me too!!

She doesn't know that it will look more like this not long after we take possession of it in June

Aman

135i?

Majofo

XLR

Very suiting for a

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Gencoupe V6

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Of the ones you posted... I'd probably go XLR. Then again, I tend to lean towards the different/rare/unique type cars...

Otherwise I'm in the same boat as you and right now I'm looking at the NSX (stay away from early 90's and the interior isn't that bad), Elise, and still keeping a Z06 on the list... but think it's slipping. Elise is winning, but NSX is gaining ground... and either can be supercharged and will be reliable.

ThermonMermon

i was in this exact same situation about 18 months ago. looked at the cayman, TT vert, and Z4.

the 08-09 Z4 was my favorite of the bunch (styling, and amazing pricing - mid-$20k for a 20,000 mi. 45k sticker car), but there was a complete lack of modern luxuries, making it a very dry, bare-bones cruiser...and the ride/power wasnt aggressive enough to make up for it.

...which brought me to the TT vert....then i decided that if i was going to go german, i might as well go with a boxster / Cayman, at which point i scared myself straight, and went with a Lexus IS.

all in all, insurance played the biggest factor in the decision making. i think the cayman was roughly $2,500 every 6 months. but then again, that's for miami.

My vote goes to XLR...or the cayman/boxster, if you are willing to overlook the maintenance, and insurance isnt a factor. have you considered the Z4 M Coupe? They could be had for 30k.

myron

iTrader: (4)

m coupe, nsx, something unique gets my vote

Dr. Colorado

Cayman S, you may pony up more $$ but you won't regret it. Handling is sublime, mid-engine is perfectly balanced, exhaust is nice, do a straight bypass Gundo hack for $500 and it will sound like PSE all the time. Clutch is a tad heavy for daily driver, traffic but if you are using it as a weekend warrior you will be fine. New Cayman is right around the corner so if you are patient, you may take advantage of price drop on older models.

West6MT

Did you drive the vette? I stopped caring about the interior of the grand sport I drove last year after about 5 seconds. Just curious, not trolling or anything.

MR1

I would at least drive the XLR. Next on my list would be the Mustang GT. Would also give a hard look at the Lexus.

wackjum

I have not driven the Corvette. Actually I have not driven any of these cars. My list of cars has been gradually paired down to a manageable point where I think I can start driving and doing hands on comparisons. But my friend has a Corvette and I just can't liven up to the interior. I've been in it quite a few times.


This is going to be a busy Saturday. I have set up appointments with 3 dealerships to test out a potential XLR, 370Z, and Mustang GT 5.0.

pttl

What year 5.0 will you be testing?

wackjum

A 2011.

West6MT

ah ok cool

Allen-

I'm going to vote for the XLR. I think it's probably the best compromise between comfort, performance, and reliability.

Plus you get a coupe and vert in one.

The fact not everyone and their mother has one appeals to me too.

gr8ness97

iTrader: (5)

So OP, are you considering German now?

There have been some 370 guys who moved on to a Mustang 5.0 and like it. I personally like the 370 more. If I could do my purchasing again, I would prob get the 7AT instead of the 6MT.