Looking for a daily driver.

After 5 faithful years I sold off my 97 Miata before going back to sea...coming home earlier than planned and looks like it will still be to cold to use the bike as my primary means.

Bottom line, looking for a fun daily driver, preferably performance oriented, wouldn't mind another roadster, and under 20k used. Doesn't have to be practical. Hit me with what you got. (the answer today in this case is not "miata"

C5 coupe or convertible

20K? Let's go with my favorite recipe for the last month or so.

Volvo 240 (you pick sedan, 2 dr or wagon) XCAL3 Ford aluminator 9.5:1 compression

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=12763

and a pair of EFR6758's on pump gas should put out numbers very similar to this...

http://www.turbos.bwauto.com/aftermarket/matchbot/index.html#version=1.3&displacement=5&CID=305.1&altitude=500&baro=14.502&aat=75&turboconfig=2&compressor=67x80&pt1_rpm=2000&pt1_ve=85&pt1_boost=5&pt1_ie=99&pt1_filres=0.08&pt1_ipd=0.2&pt1_mbp=0.5&pt1_ce=60&pt1_te=75&pt1_egt=1550&pt1_ter=1.21&pt1_pw=5.99&pt1_bsfc=0.43&pt1_afr=11.5&pt1_wts=300&pt1_wd=83&pt1_wd2=74&pt1_wrsin=69033&pt2_rpm=3000&pt2_ve=95&pt2_boost=12&pt2_ie=95&pt2_filres=0.1&pt2_ipd=0.2&pt2_mbp=1&pt2_ce=68&pt2_te=73&pt2_egt=1600&pt2_ter=1.51&pt2_pw=16.94&pt2_bsfc=0.45&pt2_afr=11.5&pt2_wts=320&pt2_wd=83&pt2_wd2=74&pt2_wrsin=73635&pt3_rpm=4000&pt3_ve=100&pt3_boost=14&pt3_ie=95&pt3_filres=0.12&pt3_ipd=0.3&pt3_mbp=1.3&pt3_ce=72&pt3_te=72&pt3_egt=1650&pt3_ter=1.69&pt3_pw=30.72&pt3_bsfc=0.48&pt3_afr=11.5&pt3_wts=340&pt3_wd=83&pt3_wd2=74&pt3_wrsin=78238&pt4_rpm=5000&pt4_ve=100&pt4_boost=14&pt4_ie=92&pt4_filres=0.15&pt4_ipd=0.4&pt4_mbp=1.5&pt4_ce=74&pt4_te=71&pt4_egt=1650&pt4_ter=1.8&pt4_pw=37.95&pt4_bsfc=0.5&pt4_afr=11.5&pt4_wts=368&pt4_wd=83&pt4_wd2=74&pt4_wrsin=84681&pt5_rpm=6000&pt5_ve=105&pt5_boost=14&pt5_ie=90&pt5_filres=0.18&pt5_ipd=0.5&pt5_mbp=1.8&pt5_ce=64&pt5_te=70&pt5_egt=1650&pt5_ter=2.06&pt5_pw=39.3&pt5_bsfc=0.52&pt5_afr=11.5&pt5_wts=400&pt5_wd=83&pt5_wd2=74&pt5_wrsin=92044&pt6_rpm=7000&pt6_ve=105&pt6_boost=10&pt6_ie=90&pt6_filres=0.2&pt6_ipd=0.6&pt6_mbp=2&pt6_ce=60&pt6_te=70&pt6_egt=1650&pt6_ter=1.92&pt6_pw=44.47&pt6_bsfc=0.55&pt6_afr=11.5&pt6_wts=400&pt6_wd=83&pt6_wd2=74&pt6_wrsin=92&

add suspension of your choice (the 240 has tons of travel, you could even go with a rally suspension for some fun that's as different of an experience as you can get from a miata in a front engine RWD platform as possible) differential and gear set options are plentiful and 275's can be stuffed under the fenders, though 800hp will laugh at them.

option B CTS-V + boost

S2000?

E39 M5
2011 Mustang GT
E46 M3
GTO
370Z

I'll add CTS-V to that list above . . .

Do you want to buy something or build something? If you're looking to buy an off the shelf awesomemobile, I'd personally be looking toward 911s, C5 Z06s, and specially-equipped Miatas from a little shop in Colorado. If you could splurge a bit more... Elise.

For $12k you can buy this from me:

'06 Grand Touring, sport package, 6spd, only 44k miles.

Technically this fits, because it's an MX-5

I will say a late model C4 coupe 6-speed.

captdownshift wrote: 20K? Let's go with my favorite recipe for the last month or so. Volvo 240 (you pick sedan, 2 dr or wagon) XCAL3 Ford aluminator 9.5:1 compression http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=12763 and a pair of EFR6758's on pump gas should put out numbers very similar to this... http://www.turbos.bwauto.com/aftermarket/matchbot/index.html#version=1.3&displacement=5&CID=305.1&altitude=500&baro=14.502&aat=75&turboconfig=2&compressor=67x80&pt1_rpm=2000&pt1_ve=85&pt1_boost=5&pt1_ie=99&pt1_filres=0.08&pt1_ipd=0.2&pt1_mbp=0.5&pt1_ce=60&pt1_te=75&pt1_egt=1550&pt1_ter=1.21&pt1_pw=5.99&pt1_bsfc=0.43&pt1_afr=11.5&pt1_wts=300&pt1_wd=83&pt1_wd2=74&pt1_wrsin=69033&pt2_rpm=3000&pt2_ve=95&pt2_boost=12&pt2_ie=95&pt2_filres=0.1&pt2_ipd=0.2&pt2_mbp=1&pt2_ce=68&pt2_te=73&pt2_egt=1600&pt2_ter=1.51&pt2_pw=16.94&pt2_bsfc=0.45&pt2_afr=11.5&pt2_wts=320&pt2_wd=83&pt2_wd2=74&pt2_wrsin=73635&pt3_rpm=4000&pt3_ve=100&pt3_boost=14&pt3_ie=95&pt3_filres=0.12&pt3_ipd=0.3&pt3_mbp=1.3&pt3_ce=72&pt3_te=72&pt3_egt=1650&pt3_ter=1.69&pt3_pw=30.72&pt3_bsfc=0.48&pt3_afr=11.5&pt3_wts=340&pt3_wd=83&pt3_wd2=74&pt3_wrsin=78238&pt4_rpm=5000&pt4_ve=100&pt4_boost=14&pt4_ie=92&pt4_filres=0.15&pt4_ipd=0.4&pt4_mbp=1.5&pt4_ce=74&pt4_te=71&pt4_egt=1650&pt4_ter=1.8&pt4_pw=37.95&pt4_bsfc=0.5&pt4_afr=11.5&pt4_wts=368&pt4_wd=83&pt4_wd2=74&pt4_wrsin=84681&pt5_rpm=6000&pt5_ve=105&pt5_boost=14&pt5_ie=90&pt5_filres=0.18&pt5_ipd=0.5&pt5_mbp=1.8&pt5_ce=64&pt5_te=70&pt5_egt=1650&pt5_ter=2.06&pt5_pw=39.3&pt5_bsfc=0.52&pt5_afr=11.5&pt5_wts=400&pt5_wd=83&pt5_wd2=74&pt5_wrsin=92044&pt6_rpm=7000&pt6_ve=105&pt6_boost=10&pt6_ie=90&pt6_filres=0.2&pt6_ipd=0.6&pt6_mbp=2&pt6_ce=60&pt6_te=70&pt6_egt=1650&pt6_ter=1.92&pt6_pw=44.47&pt6_bsfc=0.55&pt6_afr=11.5&pt6_wts=400&pt6_wd=83&pt6_wd2=74&pt6_wrsin=92& add suspension of your choice (the 240 has tons of travel, you could even go with a rally suspension for some fun that's as different of an experience as you can get from a miata in a front engine RWD platform as possible) differential and gear set options are plentiful and 275's can be stuffed under the fenders, though 800hp will laugh at them. option B CTS-V + boost

"I like you, but you're crazy man."

Have you considered heated clothing for your bike?

Alternatively, if you still like roadsters, you could probably pick up an S54 Z3 M Roadster (one of the last two years it was made) with very few miles and in super nice shape. Six throttle bodies, 315 HP, ~100 HP/Liter, roughly 10 pounds per HP... I think it's the best-looking BMW ever made. If buying one didn't mean I would own 3 roadsters (out of 3 cars total) I would consider picking one up on my return too.

aussiesmg wrote: E39 M5 2011 Mustang GT E46 M3 GTO 370Z

I've seriously been looking for an e46 M3, and if I can find one for a good deal within a week of being home I think that's going to be the way to go.

My back up now is a 350z I think, always loved Z cars, wouldn't mind owning one for a couple months. Anyone know anything to watch out for on the 350? I'm told the 2003 models are a little more iffy.

Really really really want to find an e92 M3...but I can't justify that price tag to myself for something that is only going to be driven for 2 or 3 months a year....

And if I had the time, I'd build up a Factory Five GTM

Shameless plug for my car http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/open-classifieds/fsft-2013-kia-forte-sx/72128/page1/

90's BMW M3, 90's Porsche 911, WRX

longhorndude wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: 370Z

My back up now is a 350z I think, always loved Z cars, wouldn't mind owning one for a couple months. Anyone know anything to watch out for on the 350? I'm told the 2003 models are a little more iffy.

Honestly for a daily driver I would look for the G35 over the 350Z.

Are 370Zs under $20k?

If the Z car is at the top of your list, I'd recommend checking out the G35 coupe. Same car, just with different lipstick. IMHO, it's much better looking and I think it came with a few extra goodies. We owned a G35 sedan, same platform and drivetrain. Great car. Goes through brakes quickly, but otherwise very solid.

Do you plan on tracking or auto crossing it? How important is speed to you? I really love my 05 CTS-V because it is a true jack of all trades (and master of none). I would also throw a 5.0 in there. If you want the best performance... C5z06. If you don't want that much power, look into used GTIs, Genesis coupes, 3 Series BMWs, Z Cars, Mazdaspeed 3s, etc. There is so much you can buy right now.

I've looked at teh G35, but I'm having a hard time finding them in a standard... and my "daily driver" requirements are probably different than most. My daily driver for 5 years was the miata, and the only time I was really driving it anymore was on rainy days or if someone else needed to go where ever I was going or if I wanted to drink coffee along the way... As far as speed goes, I really don't need anything crazy, just looking for something that's fun on the twisties here and there. There isn't much that will out perform the bike soooo, not going to waste the money on trying. Might see some autocross. Really, I don't like having back seats, I like RWD or AWD, enjoy roadsters, but if the car is made in a coupe my proper enthusiast intuition tells me to buy the coupe...

Datsun Sports 2000

m coupe

z31maniac wrote: For $12k you can buy this from me: '06 Grand Touring, sport package, 6spd, only 44k miles. Technically this fits, because it's an MX-5

That seems awfully low for those miles and the condition it appears to be in. Is the other side missing or something, blown motor?

In reply to captdownshift:

Those are on my bucket list. They are on many peoples list so they are currently not within my ability to buy.