Looking at "sports" cars

most require a roll bar for a convertible.
BMW being the oddball at purely NO!

most of the exocet stuff is starting to be allowed.
My formula car is a STRICT NO WAY IN HELL GET THAT OUT OF HERE
though I have found one group that will let me bring it.

 

An Acura NSX can be had for that price.

 

Cars are unavoidable here because its snowy 6 months of the year, and because sometimes I have to wear a tie to work. I have an STi. Bought it new, super bang for the buck. It's got a top, a heater, a rear defroster, a stereo, a trunk, easy to get in and out, AWD, chugs to work just fine. You wouldn't look out of place taking your kids to school in it. Its civilized. And turn off the traction control, and turn up the boost, and it has 305 hp and AWD, real fun stuff. What's not to like?

 

First one I pulled up. Lots of options with small-block Chevy motors.

 

It's not an Evo

 

Turbo or Super BRZ. Thank me later

 

Find a used 2006 or newer Z06. Hands down the best performing car in that price range.

 

Werd!

I miss my Evo X.

 

Good to know . Afaik, the 1st gen water cooled were said to be bulletproof, but I didn't wanna open that can of worms back then!

 

Get a used viper.

They pop up on ebay in the low 30's, sometimes even high 20's.

They are a track car. Not something you want to spend 4 hrs in on a sunday.

 

http://us.caterhamcars.com

 

just perusing the ebay and you can find what look like decent E92 M3s in the mid 30s, and E46s are in the 25-35 range. Didn't realize the last model (e92) went down that much in price.

 

I don't think 5 series are exactly trackday weapons, but BMW's do make great cars for driving slow during the week and fast on the weekend. Here's an interesting article suggesting considering the 535i over the M5:
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/10-reasons-the-e60-535i-is-better-than-the-m5-1608323644

One thing is for sure, I wouldn't own either the M5 or 996 without an extended warranty. If you want some funny stories about Carmax warranty claims, see Doug Demuro's stuff on Jalopnik.

 

I'll throw something out there for us. Get a LIGHT car. I'm fucking sick of 4000lb, 500hp monsters with foot wide tires destroying every track we ride/race on. When your car is so heavy and has so much grip that it wrinkles the damn pavement under braking, it's too much.

 

This. I built a client car with a Honda Blackbird motor that was a hoot. Sequential shift, Akropovic pipe. Lots of fun

 

A 135i wouldn't suck.

 

I know someone mentioned the Polaris but What about a T-Rex? Rode in one down in Florida and it had "bike like" acceleration, handled pretty damn good, on the street anyway and was supper simple to work on. Technically it is still a bike too

 

EVO X was a blast, on and off track. HKS exhaust (cat delete) uprated sway bars, adjusted camber, CAI & IC. So nimble, and loved mashing it in 3rd gear.
Clutch master cyl failed twice, in 25K miles.

2016 STi concept looks awesome.

I'm "dreaming" of putting a Livernois Ecoboost 2.0L in the MG Midget.

 

Light cars are also more fun and cheaper to run (tires, gas, brakes, etc)

 

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4865586851.html