Fun Manual Sports Car Recommendations?

[NMS3]

Been wanting a Mustang GT for years, but I’m not willing to spend $40k on a base GT LOL. Complete nonsense. I may eat my words and just pull the trigger on one, but I’m open to other recommendations.

I’m looking at something under $30k, even better if under $25k. The Toyota GR86 looks like something I can have fun with. Input on reliability?

[LargePeter]

Don't want a Mustang because of money, so settle for a GT86...?

LMFAO

Buy the fuking Mustang

[NMS3]

Don't want a Mustang because of money, so settle for a GT86...?

LMFAO

Buy the fuking Mustang

A Mustang is not worth +$45k like what most dealerships are doing with the base GTs and Premiums are near $55k. I’m looking at $32k MAX on some of the GR86s. Can get a used one for approximately $25k.

[JayJ350]

Get a Mazda MX5, maybe a used Nissan Z in a few years.

[Cartiac]

Porsche 981

[Murph0408]

if you wanted a mustang GT for "years" i don't see how it makes sense to spend 25-30k on the little toyota

go get a GT with some miles on it. sure you prefer it brand new but in the 30k range you can do well with those.

[HairyWBush]

nothing today is worth it

[NMS3]

if you wanted a mustang GT for "years" i don't see how it makes sense to spend 25-30k on the little toyota

go get a GT with some miles on it. sure you prefer it brand new but in the 30k range you can do well with those.

that’s the thing. I’m not finding used GTs for under $35k unless they have a ton of miles. And, from my experience in owning even a little V6 years ago, it’s that people abuse these cars. Idk, I’ll see. It’s not about being able to afford the car, it’s just based on getting ripped off for a car that’s being highly overvalued.

nothing today is worth it

unfortunately true, so I’m not rushing atm. Was considering something within the next 4 months. The reason I’m intrigued by the GR86 is because I can lease it for a 12 or 24 month term and see how the Mustang market settles in the next few years.

[NMS3]

24* months. Idk where I got the 12 months from lol. But yeah, for a quarter of what I’ll be paying for a Mustang atm, over a 2 year span, I’ve got a car that I can have a little fun with as a daily driver. And at the end of that term, I can decide if I’ll keep it or upgrade to a GT depending on the market.

[HairyWBush]

you can get the supra in a stick but i think you have to get the top of the line add-ons or trim to get it

[KilaByte]

you can get the supra in a stick but i think you have to get the top of the line add-ons or trim to get it

Buddy got one, first year the third pedal is offered. That's going to be out of OP's budget though

[NMS3]

you can get the supra in a stick but i think you have to get the top of the line add-ons or trim to get it

Buddy got one, first year the third pedal is offered. That's going to be out of OP's budget though

yup beat me to it. Otherwise I’d be looking at the Mustang in that price point. I’m gonna test drive the ‘24 GR86 when they start hitting the lots soon (or a 2023). The car is growing on me quick.

[HairyWBush]

the only other cars that are out there are the newer mx5 and the brz if they still make it

[Paul Kreul]

I've had quite a few manuals, Corvette, Audi, Porsche, but easily the funnest manual I've ever had was this car...







1993 MR2
handled like it was on rails, and the interior was like a cockpit all contoured to the driver

[1320it]

I have a GR86 and a Mustang. I like them both. It really depends on your budget and goals for the vehicle though.

[NMS3]

the only other cars that are out there are the newer mx5 and the brz if they still make it

I like the brz too.

I've had quite a few manuals, Corvette, Audi, Porsche, but easily the funnest manual I've ever had was this car...







1993 MR2
handled like it was on rails, and the interior was like a cockpit all contoured to the driver

that is so clean. Looks solid.

I have a GR86 and a Mustang. I like them both. It really depends on your budget and goals for the vehicle though.

daily driving! For the next year or two the GR86 looks perfect for what I’m looking for atm. Idk why but the car seems to be calling for me. I like the sleek look of it, and compact size + design. Do you daily it?

[SirFapsAIot]

**** that MR2 is beautiful - CLEAN

[1320it]

daily driving! For the next year or two the GR86 looks perfect for what I’m looking for atm. Idk why but the car seems to be calling for me. I like the sleek look of it, and compact size + design. Do you daily it?

I'd just get the GR86 bro. I daily a Raptor lol. But I did daily a Mustang for years, including the winter. Go get a GR86, you will love it and you owe it to to yourself to go to a track day in it. It will change your perspective on cars.

[NMS3]

I'd just get the GR86 bro. I daily a Raptor lol. But I did daily a Mustang for years, including the winter. Go get a GR86, you will love it and you owe it to to yourself to go to a track day in it. It will change your perspective on cars.

I’m like 80% sold on it brah. Just waiting on the 2024s to hit the lot so I can test drive one and get pre-approved! I didn’t think the day would come where I fall in love with brz/gr86 but here we are lol

[lebowski951]

You could get a low mileage boss 302 in the mid 30's

[induced_drag]

Depends on what you want it for. Mustangs are for crashing into crowds and demonstrating how poor a driver you are. A 86 is a great little car. On track they can be formidable. Same with a Miata. People will laugh, but many a spec miata will crush a mustang on track.

My pic though it is a Lotus Elise. A nicer one is probably above your price point, but it will be the most fun you have ever driving ANY car. I have owned 5 and the one that I still have is a track only car. But you will realize how little you know about driving when drive a car that is not doing things for you.

Only thing I would suggest is getting an Elise with a BOE400 supercharger. Brings the hp up close to 340 wheel. (close to 400 crank). That is in a car that weighs less than 2000lbs. (half the weight of the mustang).

[EDcellent]

Mustangs plummet in resale value like German cars in Vegas, maybe buy a used one in a city near you?

[freeburn]

I test drove a new gen brz a while back and was really interested

It was absolutely loads of fun. Not on the highway but any type of turn or windy road was great.

But I also don't have a fast car. To me a brz is a fun ass car. I daily a Subaru impreza hatchback, and I have a manual wrangler on 35s I share with my gf, both are slow as balls.

So to me a brz is alot of fun. If you come from a BMW m series.... Maybe not so much.

I never ended up pulling the trigger because there was rumors of new better special editions coming out and I am not really in a rush so I thought I'd wait a few more years and see where the 86/brz community went with the car.

[induced_drag]

Soooo..... I rethought this. Hands down, best manual transmission shifting experience of ANY car. A S2000. Perfect for your budget range and a truly timeless and iconic car.

My son has one and it is one of the most fun cars to drive and it can actually be a practical car. Good trunk and you can travel quite comfortably in it. Another true drivers car! And it will never go down in value...

[headturner1]

Soooo..... I rethought this. Hands down, best manual transmission shifting experience of ANY car. A S2000. Perfect for your budget range and a truly timeless and iconic car.

My son has one and it is one of the most fun cars to drive and it can actually be a practical car. Good trunk and you can travel quite comfortably in it. Another true drivers car! And it will never go down in value...

[img]https://i.imgur.com/xu7o8mg.jpg[/
]

One caveat, you can’t be a manmore and drive this thing. My buddy bought a new one back in 2001 and I couldn’t drive it and barely fit in the passenger seat.

[induced_drag]

One caveat, you can’t be a manmore and drive this thing. My buddy bought a new one back in 2001 and I couldn’t drive it and barely fit in the passenger seat.

Yea, being tall would suck if you enjoy sports cars. I know all the interwebs is hung up on being tall. But 5'9 crew here and never for a second wanted to be taller. When you get much over 6' there is not much you are going to enjoy in a sports car (that are worth driving). And certainly you are not getting a helmet on and going to fit in one.

On the higher end of cars, it really limits you to 911's as far as head room goes. Certainly not going to enjoy owning a Lamborghini if you are taller!

[skier!]

My first car was an 83 Mazda RX7 manual, was a blast to drive

[Robmnrd]

Scrolled through the thread very quickly - OP how do you feel about used/older cars? Or do you specifically want something new?

[NMS3]

Scrolled through the thread very quickly - OP how do you feel about used/older cars? Or do you specifically want something new?

Im open to them but the re-sale values of them are absolute bonkers right now. I bought a used V6 mustang years ago (when I knew nothing about cars). I know a used GT is risky for obvious reasons. And I’m highly considering leasing a GR-86. I’m like 90% heavy on that car right now, and I’m just waiting on the 2024 models to hit the sales floors; I haven’t seen any used or new 2023s being sold near me. Unless I find a used GT for a solid deal until the 2024 GRs are out, I’m likely getting that car.

Also, repped to the contributions/recommendations. On spread for some of ya

[bsmit107]

Go used....for $30k you can get damn near any car you want, just depends on how many years old you want to go.

I had been wanting the same thing for years and years and kept telling myself, now's not the time, just wait, blah blah blah. Ideally I wanted a 2014 Boss 302 (as a toy) but I knew what I wanted to do with the car and how I wanted to treat it and just could not justify dropping 30k-40k on something I was going to drive like I stole it several time a week/track it/autocross it/etc.....so I came up with a realistic "disposable car" budget and that was about 12-14k.......well, one day about 8 months ago a great deal presented itself and I pulled the trigger. I ended up getting a 1999 GT with a Gen 2 Coyote and about 18k in other suspension/transmission/brakes/rear end/rims & tires/other mods...all documented (was actually a magazine build) and I on 1 hand am glad I waited because this is the exact car that I've always wanted and on the other hand and mad I waited till I was 37 to pull the trigger on something fun like this. It just happens to have worked out that way.

Don't get "analysis paralysis", don't overthink it, figure out what you want and just do it! If you've always wanted a V8, don't settle for less, you'll just be disappointed. I tried to scratch my itch (before buying the mustang) and bought a 2003 WRX STI for like 5k and 2 weeks in, I knew I goofed.