Ideal Summer Cars

[nismo4life]

What would be your Ideal summer car for under $20k, new or used?

I'd have to go with a late 2nd Gen 3000GT VR4, S2000, RX-7 TT, or 300ZX TT. How about you guys?

 

[Tornado]

Hmmm. 20k is a huge amount of money to play with (for example, it guarauntees you the single best 3000GT Cab in the country)...I'll have to think about this.

 

[nismo4life]

Hmmm. 20k is a huge amount of money to play with (for example, it guarauntees you the single best 3000GT Cab in the country)...I'll have to think about this.

3000GT Cab? As in Cabriolet? As in VR4 Spyder?

 

[Tornado]

Yes, the 3000GT Coupe/Convertible of 1996 and thereabouts.

 

[TopHat]

*cough* Bmw 3 seires *cough*

 

[ExigeEvan]

If you exchange that to UK£ it's about £14k (on the generous side). I think that'll just about get you a new CC.
So take your pic from....

Though my choice...

Ball shrinkingly pathetic.

 

[turboash78]

1999ish SVT Mustang ragtop

 

[Perfect Balance]

Get a Miata, with that much money you can do wonders to that car, and still have a wonderfully handling little convertible to have fun in.

 

[amp88]

If you exchange that to UK£ it's about £14k (on the generous side). I think that'll just about get you a new CC.
So take your pic from....

Heh, that's funny. I always thought you were male...

I'd take the S2000, thanks very much.

 

[harrytuttle]

1999ish SVT Mustang ragtop

I second that. It's stereotypically American, but so right on any US beach. In Europe, any old Alfa convertible as long as it's rust-free, but be prepared to ditch it at the end of the summer. All that salty sea air....

 

[IMADreamer]

Get a Miata, with that much money you can do wonders to that car, and still have a wonderfully handling little convertible to have fun in.

Yep, Miata is your best choice.

 

[Jay]

Oh sorry you said car

 

[skip0110]

Oh sorry you said car

$20k cap! Although the Atom is awesome, I'd agree!


For me, it would be a nice late-model Camaro convertible. With the $20K cap, that would leave room for some nice extras.

 

[exigeracer]

I say Miater as well. Definitely a capable car, especially with 20 grand to blow on suspension.

 

[Sniffs]

Ka and Micra have ragtops, too? cool.

so at least SOMEBODY is getting the Dihatsu Copen (whatever it's named in your market(s) ) outside of japan.

convertables? nope, sorry. insurance premiums. rather have the big yaght my stepfather got rid of for only 2 grand...a 67 Caddy coupe de Ville...only for the occasional cruise, though. damn thing probably gets 5 miles per gallon or eats a half a tank in 100 km

 

[El Jarretto]

I'd buy a replica 550 Spyder.

Of course if I had trouble getting one I'd get a nice Super Beetle.

although I would prefer a '71 or '72, instead of the '74 pictured above. But with 20k you can build one hell of a Beetle, something that would definately be faster than your average car.

 

[Matt R]

I would buy a used 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Toyota Supra Turbo.

I'm sure you can find one for under $20k someplace.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

My top pic is split. 3rd Gen MR2 is the most likely, but, if a nice one could be found for the money, a used Boxter would be even better.

Miata, S2K, Used Elise (for you UK-ers), etc.

Actually, though, I know exactly what I'd do. Spend 12-15k on an MR2, and the rest on a decent little bike, I've been dying to learn to ride for ages.

 

[Tornado]

Okay, I've decided:

[/thread]
Edit: In hindsight, I've made another decision:

Now, you could probably buy both for $20,000. So:
[/thread again]

 

[Slicks]

Hmm...
1959 Cadillac

(Who knows, you might find one for under 20k).

Otherwise, I'd have to go for a C4 Corvette convertible, a 4th-gen Camaro convertible, or a Miata.

 

[Tornado]

Hmm...
1959 Cadillac
(Who knows, you might find one for under 20k).

I very highly doubt it, especially since they cost nearly 20k when new. Even junkers usually go in the 60k range.

 

[Jay]

I very highly doubt it, especially since they cost nearly 20k when new. Even junkers usually go in the 60k range.

Around 6-13k depending on paticular model new (from memory)




*EDIT* checking my spotters guide

1959 Caddy start at $4892 upto $13,075

But yeah I don't think anyone could find one now for 20k.

 

[Tornado]

Okay, I was confusing the Eldorado Brougham with the normal Eldorado.

 

[Jay]

Okay, I was confusing the Eldorado Brougham with the normal Eldorado.

Yeah, top of the range Brougham was 13k (I edited my above post if you didn't see)

 

[Boz Mon]

For me, it would be a toss up between the S2000 or a Porsche 914 (I want both of these cars soooo bad)

 

[YSSMAN]

...Miata, Miata, Miata, Miata, Miata, Miata!!!

They are cheap to buy, cheap to fix, cheap to insure. Cheap fun? You bet! Thats the most important part about a "summer" car, it has to be fun, and the Miata is at the center of it all.

...But if I was to have $20K in my pocket right now and I had to buy one today, I'd be going for a 2001 or 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS with the T-Tops and the Tremec T-56 option as well. Given that it performs nearly the same as the Ford Mustang GT500 convertable even while being down 175 BHP, its a screaming deal, as they are quite easy to live with, getting nearly 30 MPG quite easily.

 

[Tornado]

...But if I was to have $20K in my pocket right now and I had to buy one today, I'd be going for a 2001 or 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS with the T-Tops and the Tremec T-56 option as well. Given that it performs nearly the same as the Ford Mustang GT500 convertable even while being down 175 BHP, its a screaming deal, as they are quite easy to live with, getting nearly 30 MPG quite easily.

Why get an ugly one? Grap an early 90's one, or even a '03-'04 Mustang Cobra. They are all faster than the GT500.

 

[Jay]

We don't really have 'Summer' cars here as its pretty good weather all year, but rather a 'weekend' car.

I don't really like convertables at all except for a few examples (S2000, Miata etc), so seasons don't really change my choice of car.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Heh, that's funny. I always thought you were male...

I'd take the S2000, thanks very much.

No I just have very large feet that need a very big shoe. A 800cc turbo shoe that is

 

[nismo4life]

Yes, the 3000GT Coupe/Convertible of 1996 and thereabouts.

You are a tad bit mistaken on your comment. It might get you a VR4 spyder, BUT it won't be the best. One sold on ebay about 6 months ago with roughly 6,400 original miles for 36 or 37,000 dollars. Those cars are highly sought after and very very rare.