If not Miata, then what?

A couple of years ago, I bought a nice high mileage 2000 NB Miata for $2500.  I did some mild upgrades: braided brake hoses, adjustable proportioning valve, Bilstein coilovers, Toyota COPs, and a larger aluminum radiator.  Other upgrades were forthcoming...until a Toyota Avalon ran a redlight in mid-October of this year.  The Miata is no more.  It is an ex-Miata.  One small consolation is that the insurance adjuster valued the car at nearly twice what I paid - a benefit of the current car market.  More painful than losing the Miata was a fractured right femur (I now have a titanium rod, kind of like Wolverine). 

We bought wife-approved VW Tiguan that I'll drive for a while - until it is handed down to one of our daughters.  By that time, memory of the accident may have faded enough for another fun car.  I don't think it can be a Miata, as the size and open top made my wife feel vulnerable - the accident reinforces that feeling.  Anway, after the stress she's been through, I love Jill to much to inflict constant worry on her with another Miata.

Enough background.  I'd like suggestions for a fun car:

• prefer rear wheel drive
• inexpensive and easily obtained parts
• upgrade potential
• under $10k
• airbags

Small rant: We have a  R53 Mini Cooper S, which my middle daughter drives.  Although the car has been pretty reliable, I'm not impressed with part prices and having to buy a special tool for every repair.  Some designs are just plain stupid, like the clutch slave cylinder that is unnecessarily frustrating to bleed.  The Mini could have been a great car - if the Japanese had designed it.

In 2-3 years I bet you'll FRS/BRZ twins in that price range.  I feel like they're  the closest thing to a Miata with a hard top.

I second the 86.

I'm digging on the BMW 128i but not easy to find a good one under $10k.  There is a 135i but what I read says the 128i is less complex and more desirable.  

Ouch. Looks like that little car actually took good care of you.

For something a little different and bigger, there are a variety of domestic RWD V8-powered cars that fit your bill. You have no idea what parts availability is until you drive a GM :)

I owned a Miata for over 10 years, and now into year 9 of the FRS experience. Both great cars. 

I moved from a Miata to a Mustang Convertible as my daily driver. I still own both of them but feel more secure on the freeways in the Mustang.

In reply to John Welsh :

Absolutely, twin or single turbo depending on year vs NA. 

To OP, you could probably find a salvage/rebuilt title Frisbee (BRZ/FR-S) for that price right now. 

I would add a 350/370z to the list

This sounds like a job for a Mustang.  Slightly older ones are not stupid expensive, you can probably find parts laying on the side of the road, airbags and endless upgrade potential.  

MR2? 

Being a big Miata fan, I was surprised to find that I enjoyed my S197 Mustang more than I do my 128i... My wife did too.

Might be able to sneak in a turbo Kappa (Soslstice/Sky) under 10k, definitely an NA one. Maybe S197 Mustang?

S197 Mustang or GT86

Thanks for the great suggestions!  Keep 'em coming.

What about an RX-8? They are crazy cheap last I looked. You could drive it until the engine blows and then ditch it or swap something. 

Maybe a Pontiac GTO or G8, Infiniti G35, or a cheap Boxster? Although the Boxster might be too similar to a Miata for safety concerns.

I would be test driving 86s, 128s, and S197s.

The Toyobaru will be a good option when it falls into that price range, it's basically a heavier but much more practical Miata. They are only a hair slower than an ND stock vs. stock and have huge upgrade potential, but the up-front cost is relatively high and they need some oiling system mods to keep the engine alive in anything beyond autocross use. May also want to look into a BMW E36, kind of a similar car with a much lower up-front cost, although they're not as reliable (mostly because there's more stuff to break and they're older by now) and maintenance will cost more in individual parts and the volume needed.

Boxsters seem pretty reasonable price wise...