Used Corvette is the way to go!

 

cl600 can go for 30k now? Rock-a-Lex, if you like the power but not the size, maybe you can look at sl600 if the price is right

but still to me, nsx

 

Yep, a friend of mine bought a 2003 for 23K. Don't remember the mileage, I think it was around 40k.

 

Cayman is definitely a very fun car. Can't speak to reliability as I only know one owner (he has no problems).

 

If you are looking for a weekend "Sports Car" than this list is about perfect except the Mercedes IMHO. The SL500 is a nice car, but will not feel like a light weight weekend fun sports car. It will feel like a heavy pig compared to the others on the list.

Drive all those cars on your list and you'll find it will be hard to compare the driving feel and dynamics to most other cars on the road. Its hard to explain the feel you have when you drive a mid engine. It truly feels like you are driving a race car or a kart of some sort. The balance is unlike almost anything on the road today.

 

It would loooove to get the old cl55amg.
It's no sports car but it's amazing with the ABC suspension

of course, expensive as usual when it breaks down.

 

dude! look at the "buy it now" prices... approx 30k range...

 

Yeah, but you're missing the "fix it now" price of 15k.

 

I'd go with Mercedes SLK, SL, or CL of course don't forget warranty. NSX is nice too but get 94+(I think) as older ones don't come with power steering. Porsche is good choice too.

 

All of the modern Porsche rear-engined and mid-engined Porsches are semi-exotics. The driving experience is more rewarding than a vast majority of more common sporty cars and the repair costs higher too. A CPO/factory-warrantied car makes a lot of sense for many buyers.

 

I'd suggest looking at a used 911. Can get some decent 993 versions as well as early 996 models for that price. I'm biased against the Boxter and the Cockster (Cayman) because I don't care for the way they look, but if you like 'em they would be a decent option as well.

You keep talking about a performance-specific car, but consider if this is going to be a summertime-only car, maximize the fun. Get a drop top with collectability, decent performance and great handling... give up on ground-blistering straight line as your key criteria.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

NSX will be nice (wife had one, modified) but finding one that has not been abused / high miles at that price in 1997+ will be very difficult to do.

Both NSX and Porsche will likely hold their value pretty well at this point in their lifecycle. Maybe a well-appointed low-mile BMW M3 E46 convertible you can drop some mods on.

(ps there is no such thing as a high stall TC in a stickshift)

 

The no power steering is a non issue to most. Unless you are a 50lb girl I could still one had steer the NSX in a parking sport with no problem. The newer NSX with electric power steering assist would cut off at around 20-30 MPH or something anyway. The non power steering is what gave the NSX such great steering feel and feedback. It's not like having a power steering car and removing the power assist. The rack is designed to have no power steering so its not that dead stiff feel.

 

I agree with everyone else, search for the NSX, and as mentioned it is hard to find the right one or look into a used Porsche Cayman or Porsche 911 all are great choices!

 

+3

 

Good idea Dave...perhaps I should not put too much emphasis on performance and get something more fun (but can still handle itself ). BTW, I don't know much about manual transmission cars but i belive they make the NSX in automatic...if so, I wonder if there are high stall TC options available for that car? In any event I am most likely going to look for the manual version though...

How did you like your NSX btw? Pros? Cons? Thanks.

Here's one that looks pretty cool doing a quick search...

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national