Automotive Forums

hey. my brother just got a 350z track (with brembo's and everything)... soo, its about time for me to get a car, but whats the best sport coupe under 35k?
here is my list so far (no im not getting a Z)
1. rx-8, whenever there is anything wrong with any car, i go back to it.
2. s2000, a bit small, and convertable, EWWW!
3. g35, just a tad bit too fed up with luxery
4. lotus elise or exige, if i can find one under 35k
5. 1k on a ford mustang, 5k on a Toyota T100, and plow through the mustand like there's no tommarow...

please please please help me choose a car. i would love to hear some stories about them too. (by the way, it has to be newer than 2000 and look nice, i dont want to put 25k into a civic, and Rwd)  

based on your list a rx-8 would be pretty good, unless of course you can find a lotus for under 35k.  

what are you rollin in now?  

Well lets see it has to be newer than 2000(any particular reason?) it ahs to be RWD, and it has to look nice(translates to "has to impress chicks").

1. RX-8: nothing really wrong with the car if your under 6ft. Not mush in the way of torque, but nicely balanced. Looks are subjective, I think they are great from some angles while from other angles look more like something that was designed to evade radar more tha a car.

2. S2000: again with the height thing! I have driven a few, both stock and modified, and I have never really been that impressed. Everything about the car is small and thin and fragile. Just doesn't feel substantial to me.

3. G35: see other post to determine if you want one. They are pretty much hated on this board. I feel they are the ultimate poser-mobile. If you consider yourself a metrosexual you will probably like it.

4. Lotus Elise/Exige: if your looking for a true sports car, look no further. This is the antithesis of the G35. No pretending, no compromises, just performance. You might find one for under 35K, but it will probably be missing something, like the front end, or a couple of pistons that flew out when somebody got first instead of third going into turn 2.

5. Sorry dude you lost me here, your going to buy a Mustang and plow through it with a Toyota truck? Whatever glazes your donut.

more cars to consider: some are older than 2K, vut don't worry the chicks will still look at you.

used M3, what can I say that hasen't already been said. Power, handling, brakes, everything you need. Yes the e46 is a little overweight, and the stock exhaust sounds like bear attacking a bag of tin cans, drive one you won't regret it, especially on the track. If you are willing to go back into the ancient past, yes the 90s you could consider the e36 M3, it is everything the e46 is and more.

used 330Ci, if you can find onw with the performance package ZPP, you will love it, even with horsepower, they are more fun to drive than the M3, and just might be faster on twisty tracks because of the weight. Yes the 3 series is more common than a Camry in Southern California, but is that really a bad thing?

Tons of other cars, Porsche Boxsters and 993s, Audi S4(Not a sports car, but will take most sports cars on the track), probably fifty other cars I haven't thought of yet.....  

rx-8, no power but good track car. personally im not a rotary fan(n/a) i would take an RX7 though..

s2000, no power until 7k rpms, good handling, not impressive unless your a honda guy

the g35 would disappoint if your looking at the previous 2 cars and since your bro has a Z..

my best suggestion for a track car - evo rs.  you can find one for under 30, ive seen some go for like 25 with very little miles.  if you want the wing, hid headlights, power windows, all the weight, get a regular evo, they will own all the other choices on a track (within that price range)

good luck  

automotivedp:
rx-8, no power but good track car. personally im not a rotary fan(n/a) i would take an RX7 though..

s2000, no power until 7k rpms, good handling, not impressive unless your a honda guy

the g35 would disappoint if your looking at the previous 2 cars and since your bro has a Z..

my best suggestion for a track car - evo rs.  you can find one for under 30, ive seen some go for like 25 with very little miles.  if you want the wing, hid headlights, power windows, all the weight, get a regular evo, they will own all the other choices on a track (within that price range)

good luck

i dont know but you might want to keep in mind that the EVO is 2nd on the theives most wanted list, just under the escalade.  I know i would still want one anyways, but its just some food for thought.  

automotivedp:
rx-8, no power but good track car. personally im not a rotary fan(n/a) i would take an RX7 though..

s2000, no power until 7k rpms, good handling, not impressive unless your a honda guy

the g35 would disappoint if your looking at the previous 2 cars and since your bro has a Z..

my best suggestion for a track car - evo rs.  you can find one for under 30, ive seen some go for like 25 with very little miles.  if you want the wing, hid headlights, power windows, all the weight, get a regular evo, they will own all the other choices on a track (within that price range)

good luck

Good call on the Evo, not a sports car, but it is faster than 90% of the "sports cars" out there. I would also add the STI, I know obviously with the EVO.  

I totally agree with the list! I'll add in some more of my opinions.

1. I have heard a lot of bad things about the Rotary engine, I would avoid it if I were you.
2. S2000 is personally my favorite Japanese sports car, but the torque is peaky.
3. G35 is really the ultimate poser machine. It seems like it has everything: performance, luxury, and the looks. It does! Just all half-assed that's all.
4. I don't think you will find an used Lotus Elise for that price. Even if you did, It is a harsh car to drive daily.

Used BMWs would be my top pick actually. Used M3 under 35k would be hard to find unless if you don't mind spending 35K on a car with 50k+ miles already. I think used 330i, 330Ci, and even the Z4 will get you more driving pleasure than the cars you suggested.  

I was having the same decision last year and I went with the 2006 BMW 330i which costs me 43k after tax. The 325i would run about 37K after tax.  

G35. Lux never hurts.

I'll add another choice. How about the new Mazdaspeed6? More usable than the RX-8 and plenty of power at 274@5500 horsepower and 280 lb-ft @ 3000 of torque. AWD keeps it planted. Not as lux as the G35 but you'll save on the money, too.  

the 8, s2000, g35. dont waste money on german or american their crap.  

BANANA BOY YOU RIGHT!!
ok, just to tell you, I HATE GERMAN CARS!!!!!!!
this is why
1. they are expensive
2. they get smoked
3. they cost a lot to maintain
4. they are overhyped
5. they make you look like a rich *** they are a car you just buy, not a car you can bearly afford.

this is why i dont get an american car, even though i love american cars
1. its american reliability
2. insurance
3. all of them come with V8's

last this, screw STI and EVO
1. everyone in this area has one (southern cali)
2. AWD, i wana drift here and there (on a parking lot of course)
3. dont tell me you can drift with awd, i know you can, but i dont wana pay for 4 tires, rather 2.
4. understeer

if i could have any car under 100k, noble M400, thats cause it oversteer with overpower.... funfunfun

i have heard rotary stories, but they are cheap as hell

and i dont wana get an old car cause its old tech. and also i want new of any car under 10k miles. no i cant do a engine transplant, my mom is putting the down payment as a graduation gift and im making the payments.  

I dont actually know how much used vettes are going for and i dont know if you'd even consider it but they are fun to drive, thats for sure  

"last this, screw STI and EVO
1. everyone in this area has one (southern cali)
2. AWD, i wana drift here and there (on a parking lot of course)
3. dont tell me you can drift with awd, i know you can, but i dont wana pay for 4 tires, rather 2.
4. understeer"

1) there are ton around because they are the best performers (at a price the masses can afford).  you cant discredit something just becuase everyone likes it.  true most people are on the bandwagon but this is because they are both amazing cars we can finally afford.  

2)drifting is not merely making the tires squeal or power sliding.  you need suspension tuning and a good limited slip differential.  american cars with their crappy suspension and open diffs cannot drift (by the real definition of drifting)

STIs have an adjustable center diff (DCCD) in which you can convert something like 90% of power to the rear and get sideways if you wish

3) if your truely drifting, you will go through all four tires since real drifting involves sliding the whole car, not just the rear end

4) stock awd cars do have understeer.  solution - rear sway bar, problem solved.  subarus with a rear sway bar have 0 understeer  

american muscle is dated.  your telling me a car with terrible suspension, solid rear axle, and huge engine making a third of the power it should be making is better than a 2-2.5 liter motor capable of 500+hp?? there are evos out there pushing well over 600hp, all on that little japanese motor.  its called modern technology.  not the muscle car mentality of putting a giant motor in a light car that still cant turn.  this worked 30-40 years ago and american cars are still holding on to that.

dont get me wrong they were amazing for their time, they were innovations and changed things.  but they did not keep up with new technology.  

i hate evos and sti's, im not getting one. simple as that, no more talk about them please, they make me sick. i just hate them so much, and dont say why. cause i dont care, i just hate them.