[Donatello.]

EDIT 6/7: I think I am just going to find a nice NA or NB Miata (95 M Edition is preferred) and then sell my 30th after that. I'll figure out what I want at that point. I'm in no rush. I'd like to buy something that I'll enjoy for a while. So the convertible only requirement now goes away

The 30th is my 6th Miata so I obviously enjoy these cars. I have owned 3 NAs (including a boosted 97M), modded MSM & 300+ WHP NC. I'm definitely a convertible person.

Thinking it might be time to move on. Would love an Elise or Exige, but that market is still lol priced vs what it was and should be. My dream car is a 66 Chevelle w/LS engine etc so maybe sell it for that... (Not a completed one obviously as that is lol money)

What else should I consider that is not lol priced? Not interested in FRS or anything FWD.

[Alfisti]

What rules am I working under? Does it need to be a cab?

I think a Z4M ticks all your boxes. For a more Gt experience i'd take a hard look at the Vantage V8 from a generation ago.

[mcsquared]

Aside from not knowing all the criteria, except convertible, it’s kinda hard to say.

Miata RF
Z4 ‘vert.
M4 ‘vert.
Mustang ‘vert.
Vette ‘vert.
Your dream car, as you mentioned above…

The list for new ‘verts in this day and age isn’t large, but your criteria was also vague.

So what’s it you’re looking for?

[BlkGS]

A Z4M or Z4 M40i are the right choices, but here's a few bad choices too.

An S2000. It's like a Miata if they made one good and they were overpriced.

Fiat 124 Abarth. It's a Miata that looks better and is probably less reliable.

Boxster S of whatever year. You can tell everyone you own a POR SHUH and yell at them if they don't pronounce it right. They're super capable and super boring to drive, and most have at least one catastrophic engine failure mode, so that's neat.

Viper RT10. It's like if a Miata did steroids and meth and wanted to kill you with an axe to the face.

Build your Chevelle. It's only a dream car if you never get it. But unless you're willing to spend like $300k for one that's done, you're gonna have to build it yourself.

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

A Z4M or Z4 M40i are the right choices, but here's a few bad choices too.


Boxster S of whatever year. You can tell everyone you own a POR SHUH and yell at them if they don't pronounce it right. They're super capable and super boring to drive, and most have at least one catastrophic engine failure mode, so that's neat.

Good point. The VANOS and rod bearings of the S54 in the Z4M are as aound as it gets.

[stbm5]

keep the miata and race it. good times!

[pikkagtr]

E85 Z4M roadster is the answer

[LH44]

S2000.

[ShocknAwe]

What is LOL priced to you, I need a cutoff

[Alfisti]

Probably too rich for your blood but an Alfa 4C would be quite the machine and likely drive it for free if you don't bin it. Thing dead set looks like it wants to fellate you.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Probably too rich for your blood but an Alfa 4C would be quite the machine and likely drive it for free if you don't bin it. Thing dead set looks like it wants to fellate you.

Yeah things that come to mind in no particular order...

Keep your Miata
Cayman Spyder
Boxster
Jag F type
Alfa 4C
Fiat abarth
Honda S2000 with a supercharger
Gen1 Honda NSX
Air cooled 911 Targa
E85 Z4 vs z3
Merc GT roadster
C6/7 Corvette convertible
I don't really like mustangs but I guess pony cars go here too if they have to

Crazier things:
Something special (BMW/Alpina Z8, 911 speedster)
Something custom (Miata with a LS swap)
Kit cars (Shelby/65 cobra kit build)
Expensive stuff (mazza MC20 vs Ferrari California etc)

[XutvJet]

987.2 Cayman or Boxster Base model 6MT with 265hp. Basically the performance of a 1st gen NSX for 1/3 the price. The 987.2 base cars are easy to work on and very reliable. Closed deck block, robust and track ready oil and cooling systems, forged rotating assembly, beefy 6MT, seriously robust chassis everything.

My 2011 Cayman with the pre-cats removed is just as quick as my buddies NB turboed Flyin Miatas with full suspensions from a roll to 110mph. From a stop, I can easily out launch them as these cars just launch like an AWD car. On B roads, I slowly leave them, turn after turn. There's just no getting around mid-engine chassis dynamics and a flexible, high-winding NA motor.

I really don't know where BlkGS comes from when he says Cayman/Boxsters are boring to drive. I find it to be the exact opposite. Every time I take mine out, it's always an experience and I drive it multiple times a week. One of my local Cayman friends has a 2007 Cayman Base and he used to race Miatas and GTIs professionally in Australia. He loves Miatas but even he says the 987 is better dynamically and at the limit.

[BlkGS]

People like different things in cars. I found the Cayman boring because it handled everything at road speeds with easy. It never stepped out, it didn't do any kinda ass shakes on hard acceleration, it just don't what you told it to. I like a.little.drama, unlike a car that slides a little when pushed. I like a car that will light up the rear tires at will.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

People like different things in cars. I found the Cayman boring because it handled everything at road speeds with easy. It never stepped out, it didn't do any kinda ass shakes on hard acceleration, it just don't what you told it to. I like a.little.drama, unlike a car that slides a little when pushed. I like a car that will light up the rear tires at will.

I totally know what you're talking about and I think you're too used to high torque performance vehicles My stock M2 DCT and prior Stage 2 M235 6MT are exactly those kinds of cars. You have to keep them on a leash as they are rowdy and want to step out, roast the tires in the lower gears, power slide, etc. I can get the Cayman to step out, but it's nothing like those cars. My M2 reminds me of my buddies LX 5.0 notchback with 3.73s back in college decades ago. You are correct, the Cayman is very buttoned down. It's taken me a long to time to trust it and push much harder because my right foot has been trained for so long to manage turbo BMW power vs traction.

[Alfisti]

Personally I like gassing it out of corners with 305's out back and an engine pressing down on them, grip for days, can really get on it. Took some getting used to though.

[Donatello.]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Yeah things that come to mind in no particular order...

Keep your Miata
Cayman Spyder
Boxster
Jag F type
Alfa 4C
Fiat abarth
Honda S2000 with a supercharger
Gen1 Honda NSX
Air cooled 911 Targa
E85 Z4 vs z3
Merc GT roadster
C6/7 Corvette convertible
I don't really like mustangs but I guess pony cars go here too if they have to

Crazier things:
Something special (BMW/Alpina Z8, 911 speedster)
Something custom (Miata with a LS swap)
Kit cars (Shelby/65 cobra kit build)
Expensive stuff (mazza MC20 vs Ferrari California etc)

A turbo 911 would be nice, but not the price. Already had a few vettes & I'd likely sell that soon after. Nothing else there gets me excited whether it's the car itself or what they cost.

Looked at V8 swapped Miatas and they are overpriced IMO.

I think I am just going to find a nice NA or NB Miata (95 M Edition is preferred) and then sell my 30th after that. I'll figure out what I want at that point. I'm in no rush. I'd like to buy something that I'll enjoy for a while

[Bald Guy]

Check out a new Miata. I'm not a Mazda fan, although I owned two RX-8s and one MX-5 several years back.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

A turbo 911 would be nice, but not the price. Already had a few vettes & I'd likely sell that soon after. Nothing else there gets me excited whether it's the car itself or what they cost.

Looked at V8 swapped Miatas and they are overpriced IMO.

I think I am just going to find a nice NA or NB Miata (95 M Edition is preferred) and then sell my 30th after that. I'll figure out what I want at that point. I'm in no rush. I'd like to buy something that I'll enjoy for a while

I hear all that, totally agree air cooled 911 pricing is nuts. It's only going to get worse though so if you have a good shop nearby you could buy an auto cab/Targa at a good price point and have them swap it to manual. Note that targas are weird and certain colors call a premium or are really hard to find, SO f you don't care there, you can pick up a nice specimen. Cabs on the other hand are a big price discount. A tiptronic cab is a way to get one "cheap"

Or definitely look at 90s things. Cars from the 90s feel so damn good, and it's only partly nostalgia

If you're open to swaps I'd imagine a K20/24 swapped Miata would be something special too. But swaps as you mentioned are lots of $$$ unless doing it yourself.

AHM

[Donatello.]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

I hear all that, totally agree air cooled 911 pricing is nuts. It's only going to get worse though so if you have a good shop nearby you could buy an auto cab/Targa at a good price point and have them swap it to manual. Note that targas are weird and certain colors call a premium or are really hard to find, SO f you don't care there, you can pick up a nice specimen. Cabs on the other hand are a big price discount. A tiptronic cab is a way to get one "cheap"

Or definitely look at 90s things. Cars from the 90s feel so damn good, and it's only partly nostalgia

If you're open to swaps I'd imagine a K20/24 swapped Miata would be something special too. But swaps as you mentioned are lots of $$$ unless doing it yourself.

AHM

Perhaps I am missing something, but I looked up a 1998 Turbo 911 and they are six figure cars. So if all of the cars you speak of are that kind of pricing, it's a hard no & much more than I am willing to spend on something here

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

Perhaps I am missing something, but I looked up a 1998 Turbo 911 and they are six figure cars. So if all of the cars you speak of are that kind of pricing, it's a hard no & much more than I am willing to spend on something here

I'm talking about the 3.6L naturally aspirated narrow body 964/993 generations.

Turbos are insane and a different market. Coupes also command a premium but you're lucky that you like cabs.

I don't recommend anything older than 964 (late '89).

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

I'm talking about the 3.6L naturally aspirated narrow body 964/993 generations.

Turbos are insane and a different market. Coupes also command a premium but you're lucky that you like cabs.

I don't recommend anything older than 964 (late '89).

No widow maker?

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by bosstones

No widow maker?

As in the GT2? Which generation? Always thought it was a weird nickname for a car. Only reason theres no modern widowmaker is modern cars are over engineered and generally too safe (read: "un-fun").