What are some good reliable used sports cars? (sedan, coupe, AWD)

[jxndean]

I joined the National Guard and Im getting $10,000 after I get back from BMT/AIT. My dad said that he would match whatever amount the Army gave me. So needless to say I have $20,000 to spend on a car. Of course I want something used but I really want a nice sports car of some type. I've looked at the Nissan 350Z and it seems like a good bang for your buck. Is this a good buy? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

[M3 Mitch]

Buy an older Miata for say $5K, and bank the rest of it. Not what you wanted to hear but it's the right answer. Seriously. The Miata is probably the best bang-for-the-buck sports car out there, and a well-kept older one won't depreciate much. I mean, if you pay $5K for it, the most you can possibly lose is - $5K, right?

Dumping the whole wad into a rapidly depreciating late model is, to put it politely, dumb.

[nevergoingback]

Honda S2000 comes to mind. Acura RSX. Honda Civic Si (99-00 models, leaves you room for turbo/SC $$).

[caution]

It depends if you want a "sports car" or a sporty coupe/sedan/modern muscle.

For sports cars that are used, right now there's only one with a reasonable price range that comes to mind, and that's the S2000 from Honda (disclaimer, I have one). There's no real need to buy a new one since the model only really changed 3 times in the US for the nine year run. 00-04 AP1, 05 AP2 without VSA, 06-09 with VSA. Some people mod them with FI, but I don't see the need myself. The car wasn't designed to go from a dig and run the 1/4 or compare e-peen 0-60 times. 20K would put you in just about any cherry used S2000, and if you went back to the earlier models, you'd have cash left over for a high-performance driving school (a good idea.)

The new Miatas are great sports cars too (as well as the old ones, if you want to mod, but there are some recent changes that make the new one even more attractive for the money.)

Other traditional sports cars are often priced at a premium, like the Boxster S or the Lotus Elise. I suppose there might be some Z3s and Z4s out there for a steal in this market, but with anything like those, the cost of ownership can be really high. Edit: I don't know prices for older Vettes, but out of the box, they rock.

The 350Z is both heavy and slow in my opinion, but if you like it, buy it. I've driven the "touring" model and was not impressed. The design is also garish to me. But cars and how they handle are subjective. There are some real steals out there on people unloading 350Zs. But ask yourself how many you see in one day?

There are so many other decent choices for quick cars both coupe and sedan in front, rear and all-wheel drive. The WRX is great and easy to drive fast, AWD. It also has a little room for stuff. A new Civic Si would be the FD choice. Then you have the "modern muscle" RWD coupes from Nissan, Infiniti, Ford, Etc. Etc. Etc. They're all decent cars and some are very fast. I just don't like the size, weight and cornering (again, subjective here).

I'm retired military and normally would tell a young troop to invest half the cash bonus and use the other half to put down on a car. So if you can do that, then finance a car at a low rate (maybe with a cosign) you should do so. Interest rates can't really get lower, and that money in the bank long term could really pay off 20 years from now.

[scottv]

Miata
S2000
350z

All great bang for the buck and dependable, I think you would do well with any of them just depends on what you're looking for. Or maybe a C5 Vette.

[Jesse69]

A used 2001 to 2002 BMW 330Ci or 330i in manual. 0 - 60 in 5.6 second with 27 mpg hwy on Premium.

[strawberry2]

I totally wish I had that amount of money, I would be investing that.. Try a Eclipse, 350z, S2000, or my neighbor just purchased a 2001 corvette with 23,000 miles for $16,000. Be sure to check on the insurance for purchasing any sports car.

[AONE]

The mitsubisis are not the car to have as they approach 90,000 miles... they tend to crack heads hence the reason you see the white smoke coming from them... I'd say invest in a good stock or a home, something you can build value with vs watching it depreciate. go rent a sports car for a week and enjoy it and turn it back in and know you won't ahve the high maintenance... The tires on mine cost $250 ea...(320 SLK)

[strawberry2]

Oh.. I almost forgot Honda Del Sol..

[MPBsr]

BTW, Thanks for serving.