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go with your dream car and get the Tran-Am WS6 the LS1 is bullet proof in stock form and the T-56 is beefy it handles and stops very good and they are pretty affordable
also a 99-04 mustang GT is worth a look they are a great bargin right now because everyone wants the retro look 05-09 versions so these are overlooked and their prices reflect that also if you want shelby GT-500 performance for less than 20K the 03-04 mustang cobra is a steal of a deal.
I agree with the 350Z... I see loads of them for sale from 03-04 for pretty reasonable. I had one, and, I regret every day getting rid of it... but I needed something more practical.
If I had the cash to get a second car, this is what I would get.
So, is the 350Z that much better, mechanically speaking, than the 300Z? That was my concern. The 300 seems to be getting crappy reviews for it's longevity, mechanically speaking.
I've also looked at the 3000GT, Eclipse's predecessor. My father had the VR-4 and I loved that car. Scared the crap out of me as an 18 year old driver, but man was it nice. The mechanic told me to avoid the VR-4 at all costs as they have horrid oil leaks and Mits has never found a way to correct the problem. Said he's seen a ton with blown motors.
when it comes to sports cars that will not be your daily driver I say get the one you really want you said you really liked and have always wanted a Trans-Am WS6 so I would wait till a nice one comes along and go for it.
Not entirely sure what you're after in terms of performance vs sportiness considering that we're going from Miata to souped up Cobra GTs, but I think the performance end of things has been covered quite well so far...but for something more like your old Eclipse(what year was it and was it a GS-T, GSX or GT by any chance?), run a search on autotrader for Celicas and Tiburons. The Celica is more or less the same thing as the Eclipse but it's being built by Toyota during their prime years and is as reliable as they come, and you can get a great deal on a used 2007-2008 Tiburon with low miles since they've been discontinued and more or less replaced by the Genesis Coupe. Neither are going to be fire breathers, but they're both about the same as a 2000-2005 Eclipse...you actually could probably find a 2006+ Eclipse with low miles in that price range if you're huge on the Eclipse. The 90s Eclipse is still miles better than the current one, but it's still a nice car that's a good bit of fun.
Given your budget, I think you would be hard pressed to find a T/A WS6 or Camaro SS for $10k that isn't falling apart. Those cars have held their value very well and people are generally asking mid-teens for even a Z/28 or regular T/A in good shape. I have personally seen SS's and WS6's selling for over $20k.
You never said what kind of Eclipse you had as that car could have either been a rice rocket or a snap n' pop depending on the model. If I had to base it off the current Miata, I think you should stick with some of the two seat roadsters mentioned here: S2000, Z3 or Z4 or 350Z. The Mustang is also a great choice. You can easily get one in your price range and they are very cheap to maintain. One other option might be the Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky. Both beautiful cars that should be within your price range or close to it.
As for the older Japanese cars like the 300ZX and 3000GT, you need to understand what those cars were. The 300ZX was the fastest Nissan you could buy in the U.S. for a long time. The twin turbo versions are very cool performance cars, but they do require some maintenance and repair and are a PITA to work on. The newer 350Z and the older 300Z share nothing in common. The 3000GT was Mitsubishi's halo car and the VR-4 was essentially a Japanese supercar. The VR-4 contains a ton of technological bits and is also a twin turbo. The 3000GT shares nothing in common with any other Muitsubishi except the Galant VR-4, which was arguably the "cooler" car. You don't want to get into either of those cars if you are going to shy away from maintenance cost. You can go with the N/A base model versions of either one and they are pretty reliable, but they also lack a lot that makes the top models such cool cars.
So, is the 350Z that much better, mechanically speaking, than the 300Z? That was my concern. The 300 seems to be getting crappy reviews for it's longevity, mechanically speaking.
Yes. It's much better, as it was better designed and put together.
Not as expensive to work on, either.
Also very easy to modify, as much or as little as you want.
I cannot imagine driving a car with as many scoops as a TransAm. If you buy one, please be sure to get some 6x9 coaxial speakers and let them sit on the rear parcel tray. Put some Lynyrd Skynyrd on the stereo and you're all set.
Why would you have spend $12K in 18 months to repair an Eclipse?
The 300zx (the second version) is a terrific but troublesome car. Semi-exotic in its day with twin turbos and 4 wheel steering.
I think you should look for:
Mustang GT
Nissan 350z
Honda S2000
Another Miata
Mazda RX8
the problem with hot cars that are affordable and used is they dont attract women.
when the tears flow from your eyes & your hands shake---when you make out the check at the dealer, it is exciting to women.
The S2000 is a fantastic option. The handling is superb, and the shifter is one of the best ever.
Not very comfortable though.
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, but I think the performance end of things has been covered quite well so far...but for something more like your old Eclipse(what year was it and was it a GS-T, GSX or GT by any chance?), run a search on autotrader for Celicas and Tiburons. The Celica is more or less the same thing as the Eclipse but it's being built by Toyota during their prime years and is as reliable as they come, and you can get a great deal on a used 2007-2008 Tiburon with low miles since they've been discontinued and more or less replaced by the Genesis Coupe. Neither are going to be fire breathers, but they're both about the same as a 2000-2005 Eclipse...you actually could probably find a 2006+ Eclipse with low miles in that price range if you're huge on the Eclipse. The 90s Eclipse is still miles better than the current one, but it's still a nice car that's a good bit of fun.
