What other fun cars should I be considering?

Something in the $15-18k range, fun to drive, sporty and that won't have the maintenance requirements of the current GT Mustang (PRICEY 255/40/19s, expensive oil changes, and with the 3.73s instead of the 3.31s the car gets really terrible mileage)

It was between an NC Miata and an S2000, once I drove the S2000 it wins hands down for me vs the NC.

It doesn't have to be a convertible or 4 cyl, just something that be better on gas (usually get about 17-18mpg combined on a tank, you can touch 20 if you don't ever have any fun with it), no $150 DIY oil changes and $1500+ sets of tires.

What are you're other suggestions? Please refrain some suggesting another V8 muscle car, I'm not interested.

I would have said the GTO, but you won't consider another V8 muscle car... so.....

TR6. Hey you didn't specify modern and it has a completely different set of maintenance requirements then the Mustang...

I am guessing you mean a more modern vehicle and the only other thing I can really think of is the Genesis.

I know we've had this conversation before...but how on EARTH are you spending that much maintaining a Mustang??!! $150 oil change? I'm spending way less than half that running Mobil 1. $1500 in tires? I have yet to spend more than $750 on a set, installed, balanced, out the door, for 255/50-18s. I know, 18 vs 19, but come on! And I'm buying Khumo Ecstas, not Pilots or anything, but still, for a DD...

Gas...well, I get 19-20 with lots of heavy throttle and sideways driving, but i do have the earlier 3.55 rear end. Can't really speak to that.

I've compared maintenance costs with my friend who drives an 04 Mazdaspeed Miata, and my costs are lower. Granted, that's not a standard otter.

If you want to get rid of the pony, that's all fine, but if you did want to keep it you could sure as crap lower your costs.

OTOH, if that's the justification to the SO, tell me and I'll delete my comment...

He's got the Track Pack. Takes unicorn piss for fluids and lots of it.

Pretty much there's no way an S2000 won't decrease the monthly hurt to his wallet by more than 50%.

I'm interested how the maintenance costs on a Mustang could possibly be less than an MSM, as the owner of an MSM, to be honest.

RSX, Civic Si, Z3, 350Z, CTS, G35, Focus ZX3/5.

^Owned a 350Z. Underwhelming car. I ditched it in under 3 months.

ultraclyde wrote: I know we've had this conversation before...but how on EARTH are you spending that much maintaining a Mustang??!! $150 oil change? I'm spending way less than half that running Mobil 1. $1500 in tires?

Just checked the OE tires are now $321 each vs $400+ the last time I looked. Throw in tax/mounting/balancing still pricey.

e46 m3?

I...Well....okay, I'll admit I know next to nothing about the differences in the track pack... fair enough. What kind of oil does the damn thing use?

Last time we compared, he was paying more for brake pads and rotors by a significant amount (although I don't know what brand he was buying, but they were stock style replacements), oil changes were about the same, tires were much more b/c he was buying Goodyear F1s (but even with lower brands, his size was as much or more), and his mileage was only slightly better.

I guess I'll just be thankful I have the budget mustang and wish Z31 best of luck....

Ford Motorcraft 5w-50 ~$130ish for oil and filter......9 quarts.

The 14" rotors and BOSS 302 pads are PRICEY. Granted I haven't done any of the maintenance yet, car only has 6000 miles, but it will be coming and I don't like the looks of it.

mad_machine wrote: e46 m3?

It's funny, that's actually what I was looking at when I got the Mustang. I wanted a mint 05-06, which meant a $25-28k car, I decided for a few thousand more I'd get a new car that is as fast as the current gen M3.

Although I'm kind of afraid of the maintenance on the S54. But man is that a glorious engine.

Gen Coupe 3.8 V6 track pack? That would pretty much tick off every box on your requirements if you can find one priced right.

EDIT: Link fail.

Interesting, I'll have to see if I can find one to drive.

Turbo sky/solstice?

Spoolpigeon wrote: Turbo sky/solstice?

That's an interesting idea. Although I'm always wary of FI cars and if people are taking care of them properly.

Dude... buy my MSM?

S52 M Coupe with the lowest mileage you can find.

Corvette. Oil changes, DIY style, should cost about $75. Gas mileage on the highway should be in the high 20's. Really the only high consumable would be tires, but there is a guy in my club who ran his RE-11's for 50,000 miles and 2 seasons of autocross. Not too bad, anecdotal though the evidence is.

I wrote that before I read this:

z31maniac wrote: What are you're other suggestions? Please refrain some suggesting another V8 muscle car, I'm not interested.

So now I'll just say that having autocrossed a wide variety of vehicles, my vote goes to the S2000.

I don't think there's a car in the world that would do 50k miles on a set of re11s.

Swank, I actually thought about an MSM. But I remember driving a stock one ~5 years ago and I hated it. I don't like the idea of buying a car that immediately needs intake/exhaust/tune to drive like it should have from the factory.

Beer Baron, that's another interesting one.

mtn, Corvette, RE-11s, 50k miles? Me thinks the guy was confused.

Thanks for all the suggestions, feel free to post more.

Swank Force One wrote: I don't think there's a car in the world that would do 50k miles on a set of re11s.

I bet I could get 50k out of a set. Sure the miles would be on the truck and trailer TOWING the car, but the tires would have physically covered 50k dist.

z31maniac wrote: Swank, I actually thought about an MSM. But I remember driving a stock one ~5 years ago and I hated it. I don't like the idea of buying a car that immediately needs intake/exhaust/tune to drive like it should have from the factory. Beer Baron, that's another interesting one. mtn, Corvette, RE-11s, 50k miles? Me thinks the guy was confused. Thanks for all the suggestions, feel free to post more.

Mine has all those things and is well within your price range.

My only suggestion aside from the S2000 is E46 M3 and S52 M Coupe.

you could get the coupe (for one year only) with the S54.. that was a beast

clutchsmoke wrote: My only suggestion aside from the S2000 is E46 M3 and S52 M Coupe.

I love the E46 M3 idea.......I just wonder if a used E46 M3 is actually going to save me anything on running costs? If I found one with the sport package, we are right back into $$$$ 19" tires.

Swank Force One wrote: Dude... buy my MSM?

No...

Buy my S2000?