Another good ole' what car thread

I need some help from the grassroots collective on what car I should get. My interests are all over the place like most people's here. My wife drives an Evo X right now and is probably about to get an E90 M3, so I don't need a 4 door car. I have a truck (as well as a Unimog ) so dont need that either. I want a really focused drivers car that I can autocross and do some track days with, but also drive daily as much as I want.

Here are some of my thoughts. I dont want a convertible, never liked them. Hate sunroofs. Have had lots of turbo cars, but kind of feel like doing a nice naturally aspirated car this time. Suspension design is important to me, however not a deal breaker. I do have a pretty high budget, but dont want too big of a project for this one either. I do like light cars, not big heavy cars, even though I have owned plenty. Dont mind buying a cool engine swap project as long as it's almost done.

What do you think? Is a C5Z the answer as much as I dont want it to be? I have been shopping 996 Turbo's, importing an R32 GTR, would love a 996 GT3 but they havent dropped near as much as the Turbo's yet, some cool BMW swaps, LS Swap FD RX7, tons of others I cant think of. I love a stripped down drivers cars like the Evo 9 RS I had a while back, but want something with more balance. But it does have to have AC, Texas and all.

What do y'all think? Am I missing any big ones?

Cayman /thread

captdownshift wrote: Cayman /thread

Beat me to it.

Cayman S

Evo X, M3, unimog? You will fit in nicely here!

I have decided not to read your criteria so that I may suggest Pontiac G8 with a supercharger. You are welcome.

Man I have looked hard at the Cayman's but the IMS issue is pretty scary. I have always tried to stick to Mezger engines when it comes to Porsche. The DFI engine might be good, but I think that goes out of my price range for a Cayman 981.

If your of small stature the LS swapped RX7 was a hell of a car. My main problem is I just barely fit with helmet and I'm 5'10. Unless your getting the R32 for its heritage its not a drivers car. What about an NSX?

there are quite a few IMS bearing retrofit kits, though they aren't cheap, I'd negotiate it into the purchase price if there is no documentation of it having been previously performed.

Can you wait until the GT 350 hits the road? I'm not a pony car guy, but they will likely handle, I'm not sure how the road feel will be though.

Alfa 4C

armt350 wrote: If your of small stature the LS swapped RX7 was a hell of a car. My main problem is I just barely fit with helmet and I'm 5'10. Unless your getting the R32 for its heritage its not a drivers car. What about an NSX?

Dang I didnt think about that, I'm 6'2". I wouldnt like that. Im surprised to hear that about the R32, what makes you say that? It is front heavy for sure, but its still pretty light.

captdownshift said: there are quite a few IMS bearing retrofit kits, though they aren't cheap, I'd negotiate it into the purchase price if there is no documentation of it having been previously performed. Can you wait until the GT 350 hits the road? I'm not a pony car guy, but they will likely handle, I'm not sure how the road feel will be though.

I am looking really hard at the GT350, just not sure how it will turn out. I still think no matter what it's going to feel too heavy for me. We had a 2012 GT with suspension mods and while it was a great car and handled pretty good, just not as much feel as I would like.

Hungary Bill said: Alfa 4C

Now that would be sweet! How much are they supposed to be?

armt350 wrote: If your of small stature the LS swapped RX7 was a hell of a car. My main problem is I just barely fit with helmet and I'm 5'10. Unless your getting the R32 for its heritage its not a drivers car. What about an NSX?

I honestly forgot about the NSX! I need to go do some research....

In reply to SpeedAddict502:

I HEAR they're supposed to land here around $60k. But I get the feeling dealer markup is going to bump that up about $15k (+/-)

armt350 wrote: If your of small stature the LS swapped RX7 was a hell of a car. My main problem is I just barely fit with helmet and I'm 5'10. Unless your getting the R32 for its heritage its not a drivers car. What about an NSX?

Did your FD have a sunroof?

Drive all the cars you want to know which one you like the best. Then, report back to us how all of them drive. It's the only and proper way to get the best drivers car.

I like your C5 Z06 idea, but I will suggest a few other cars.

1.Supercharged NC Miata w/hardtop (the answer)

2.FRS/BRZ

3.2nd gen Viper

We're car enthusiasts so it's not necessarily that our interests are all over the place, but put more positively, a C5 Z06 and it's direct competitor (Viper, 911?) aren't the only good sports cars for auto-x and track days.

E36 + ls and call vorschlag

Hungary Bill wrote: Alfa 4C

I just did a lot of research on those. I love everything about it except the looks. I'm likely alone in this but it is truly hideous from every angle. The good thing is you can't look at it while driving it but I'm still not sure I could pay that much money for one based on the looks alone.

Hungary Bill wrote: In reply to SpeedAddict502: I HEAR they're supposed to land here around $60k. But I get the feeling dealer markup is going to bump that up about $15k (+/-)

Man that is a lot of money for that, I don't know if I would go for it at that price

Mr_Clutch42 said: Drive all the cars you want to know which one you like the best. Then, report back to us how all of them drive. It's the only and proper way to get the best drivers car. I like your C5 Z06 idea, but I will suggest a few other cars. 1.Supercharged NC Miata w/hardtop (the answer) 2.FRS/BRZ 3.2nd gen Viper We're car enthusiasts so it's not necessarily that our interests are all over the place, but put more positively, a C5 Z06 and it's direct competitor (Viper, 911?) aren't the only good sports cars for auto-x and track days.

I have been trying to drive as many of them as possible. Would you consider a 2nd Gen Viper a drivers car? Does it have good feel? I guess I picture it as a brute. Honestly I dont like my own C5Z idea as I dont really like to have a fairly common car, I do like to be different haha.

icaneat50eggs said: E36 + ls and call vorschlag

Funny thing you say that as I am good friends with the owner. Is an E36 really that good?

Nick_Comstock said: Hungary Bill wrote: Alfa 4C I just did a lot of research on those. I love everything about it except the looks. I'm likely alone in this but it is truly hideous from every angle. The good thing is you can't look at it while driving it but I'm still not sure I could pay that much money for one based on the looks alone.

I dont mind the looks, but wow a 68k starting price? Thats out of my budget right now.

Nick_Comstock wrote:

Hungary Bill wrote: Alfa 4C

I just did a lot of research on those. I love everything about it except the looks. I'm likely alone in this but it is truly hideous from every angle. The good thing is you can't look at it while driving it but I'm still not sure I could pay that much money for one based on the looks alone.

Man, I'm the complete opposite. I love the look of it from every angle, but can't stand the fact it doesn't have a manual gear box (and I'm not a big fan of the strut rear end, but I can live with it).

At $60k, I could probably stretch my budget and get my wife on board with the purchase. Any more than that and I wouldn't think twice about moving on to greener fields. I'd much prefer it came closer to $40k (I'd also much prefer the "no a/c etc" option the Europeans are getting)

In reply to SpeedAddict502:

The R32 had an inherent design flaw with its suspension. On the track it manifests as a noticable bumpsteer and dynamic alignment changes. The attessa system in it is not refined at all and can do some really odd stuff due to latency and sample rate of the system.

In reply to JamesMcD:

Nope it was an R1, it was a fantastic car. Just very very small.

I would go with one of these: Lotus Exige.

In reply to armt350:

Interesting. Can that geometry problem be fixed? If I did ever get one, I would be installing a fixed ratio but adjustable ATTESA controller as well as delete the HICAS. I would think that would help.

Not without fabbing up complete new mount locations, arms, and steering rack relocation. A buddy of mine is running a ETS-pro to control the ATTESSA system which he prefered over his previous grid dancer setup. He raves about it but I personally haven't used a controller. All of my GT-R's have run electric HICAS deletes and I fully recommend that.

In reply to SpeedAddict502:

Lotus Exige

Factory Five GTM

corvette is the answer imo