flipspeed

i love these fun threads! here's the criteria...

• rwd
• manual
• less than $15k
• less than 50k mileage

cars i had in mind...

• lexus IS
• toyota mr2 2nd gen
• porsche boxster
• bmw e36 m3

92 SC400

I think you'd have look really hard to find those cars with under 50k. My friend's friend did just buy an S2000 with just over 50K for like $14,900 so you may consider one of those.

flipspeed

i hate the instrument cluster on that thing.

wolverine

iTrader: (9)

good luck finding an mr2 under 50k miles...

LexFather

Good choices so far. If you go with the Boxster, get the newest one you can find. They have a lot more updates.
With under 50k miles at 15k, not too many choices here (and RWD).

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Miata.

You might even be able to get a basic newest gen (NC) 2006 with near 50K mi. now for that price.

I just love my MX-5! And modding is WAY cheaper than those other cars you listed (except maybe the MR2 I don't know).

mmarshall

There are also a lot of used Miatas around for less than 15K. The Miata seems to meet the criteria you listed. Its power level is not as high as the cars you listed, but the Miata is small and light enough that it will still get out of its own way. There are Turbo Mazdaspeed Miatas, but they are probably out of your price range.

whoster

yeah...like mine...but mine's not manual!#@$

MoLexus

Its tough to find anything under 50k with the list you have and under $15k. I would honestly look into the E36 M3. I drove my friends (he has a dealership) 1998 E36 M3 silver on grey leather four door with 100k miles and 5 speed. I have never driven a car as fun and agile as that. The car only has 240hp in-line 6 3.0 motor and believe me you feel every single horse in there. He still has it for sale.

flipspeed

i kinda like your idea.
if i were to get one it would have to be in red.


how's a staggered setup on this car? polished aluminum lip

BiGLeX 400

Out of the cars I would take the M3. It's just so hard to beat on so many levels.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

15k for an M3? Gonna be old or very high miles!

DASHOCKER

iTrader: (2)

I like the look of the new Miata. How is the fit inside for those over 6ft ?

92 SC400

I really doubt that you'll find a E36 M3 with under 50k let alone that AND under $15k. I've been looking at those for some time not debating whether to get one or wait a little longer as the value of the E46 is dropping daily. For around $15k, you can possibly find one with like 75k, but even with that milage it's not easy to find.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

I'm 6'3" with one so I can chime in here.

The old Miata's (NA and NB) just didn't work for me size-wise but the new one is quite a bit bigger, although I still get a chuckle out of its tiny turning circle and how much space I leave in parking spots!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the car since I got it 12/31/06 - it's absolutely comfortable and drivable stock.

Some tall people have a longer torso and shorter legs, and others the other way. I'm the long legged guy so I did find that for longer drives the dead pedal was a bit too high, and the gas pedal a bit close if I was going to use constant gas say on the highway. The latter is no biggie because I have cruise control. The dead pedal was a bit annoying so after reading about others boldly just removing or modifying the dead pedal, I went for it. It was EASY and it's much more comfortable now. I believe it's the height it is stock so that the foot can move quickly from dead pedal to clutch. I also read about a trivial gas pedal mod that made the gas pedal move further away (no issues affecting throttle at all) and I did this mod, and again, a nice improvement in comfort.

With or without the mods, it's a great car.