Moving back home after 8 years overseas... What's a good car?

I've been in Australia for the last 8 years and am moving home in August!!!  I haven't followed any motorsports or car stuff over here.  (1. You MUST drive the speed limit at ALL TIMES here.  They put speed cameras everywhere and their points system is rediculous.  Not to mention gas/petrol is the equivalent of  $6.44 a gallon.  2.  The Australian idea of a sports car is a 4 door Ford Falcon-Taurus.)

Before moving to Aus I've always driven sports cars.  The last one was a 2003 350Z, Miatas, 240Zs and Triumphs.  

What I'm looking for is a small, maneuverable, manual transmissioned, rear wheel drive car from 2014 on.  Does anything but the MX-5 and the 370Z exist now?  For a daily driver/grocery getter I'd prefer something 2013, 2014 or newer.

Any suggestions?

Frs/Brz twins?

Welcome back!  What part of australia?

In reply to Hungary Bill :

Brisy for 7 and Adelaide for the last year.  I grew up in So Cal and Adelaide reminds me of SLO or Paso.  Perfect weather, good wine and nothing to the south but penguins!  Don't like Brisbane's wx too much, too humid; about like Miami or Orlando.  OZ is a great place to visit but it ain't 'Merica!!

It's kind of a shame that "manual transmission" kills so many options for new cars...  Although if you're willing to jump up in price, I hear the Jaguar F-type has a proper stick for it's 6-cyl option

I hear ya on Brisbane's weather, some good driving roads out that way there in the hills.  Not much else.   I rented a 6-cyl Holden and had a hoot running out there with the motorcycles.  Honestly, I think I was just excited because the manual shift option on the transmission was a proper "pull to shift up, push to shift down" setup.

Good times.

(also:  If you're willing to go a bit older, I'm having a pretty darn good time in my E46 330ci.  But there's some work that needs to be done first)

if you are including the 370z, you might as well include the new mustang and camaro as well.

In the small, budget friendly RWD class you have:

The MX-5 and it's turbocharged and Fiat branded sibling the 124

The BRZ/FR-S/86 models

Then if you step up a bit in size and power figures you have:

370z (basically the same since 08ish)

Hyundai Genesis Coupe (look at a 370z and squint and you'll get the idea, although it comes with a turbo 4 or NA v6)

Mustang (either the NA v6, or the turbo 4)

Camaro (either the turbo 4, or the NA v6)

Cadillac ATS coupe/sedan (Camaro in a tux and a depreciation king)

BMW 2 series ( may not be competitive on performance per $, but similar size and nicer appointments make it a contender)

Are you in any position to bring home an Aussie market car?  There are a number of cars over there that you may be able to find for a reasonable price that would sell for a premium here in the States.  Just needs to be at least 25 years old.

My first thought was that maybe it would be cool to bring back with you something uniquely Australian.  Of course, I realize how difficult and prohibitive that could actually be...but then a revelation.  

What if you could arrive in the US and then once arrived buy something uniquely Australian?  

Thoughts go to The Chevy SS which is an American badged Holden VF Commodore.  Recently discontinued, The SS was never a large seller in the US but it was offered with a manual transmission.  Sure, your request was for small, light, nimble and The SS is non of these but back here gas is $3-ish.  It could be that once re-entering the US, it is the first time you could afford to drive "Australian" and given the lesser amount of  photo radar you could actually drive "Australian" in 'Merican ways  

You would do well to look at a 2.0t Camaro.

boxster, cayman?  i've not seen mention of budget.

In reply to MrChaos :

Never been a fan of American stuff (I'm a godless commie, I know.)  I will test drive both when I get back though.  I think I've been hoping the the golden age of the '90-to early 2000's had continued.  Back then the BMW Z3/Z4 AudiTT Miata the 350Z and GM's attempts at sports cars were on.  Looking at what's available 2014 and on seems like Corollas in disguise and automatic-yuck.   

I have thought about the Cayman and Boxster but I want to keep the price in the $20's. 

As for bringing something back from here; it is just really not worth it.  If the intent is to make the car streetable you'd have to go through Federal customs stuff and the the State and Local DMV...  I did that coming over here.  I've got a '75 Datsun 280z SVRA Group 8 that I'm in the process of selling but I'll end up loosing money.   

I'll end up with either a Miata (although I don't like the look of the NC) or the 370z (which looks a little too Fast and Furious for a guy in his 50's!)  Or I might go nuts an grab a Lotus.  And I hope to get a sh*t load of speeding tickets 'cause you can in 'Merica!!!!

Bring back one of those Commodore HSV station wagons!

Bring a ute with you or don't come home. 

Where are you moving to in the states? May impact the answer here.

davral64 said:

In reply to MrChaos :

Never been a fan of American stuff (I'm a godless commie, I know.)  I will test drive both when I get back though.  I think I've been hoping the the golden age of the '90-to early 2000's had continued.  Back then the BMW Z3/Z4 AudiTT Miata the 350Z and GM's attempts at sports cars were on.  Looking at what's available 2014 and on seems like Corollas in disguise and automatic-yuck.   

I have thought about the Cayman and Boxster but I want to keep the price in the $20's. 

As for bringing something back from here; it is just really not worth it.  If the intent is to make the car streetable you'd have to go through Federal customs stuff and the the State and Local DMV...  I did that coming over here.  I've got a '75 Datsun 280z SVRA Group 8 that I'm in the process of selling but I'll end up loosing money.   

I'll end up with either a Miata (although I don't like the look of the NC) or the 370z (which looks a little too Fast and Furious for a guy in his 50's!)  Or I might go nuts an grab a Lotus.  And I hope to get a sh*t load of speeding tickets 'cause you can in 'Merica!!!!

You can easily get into an ND for $20k. C6s, and 987s too but they're a few years older than it sounds like you're looking for.

The Ute's are gone now!!!  I had a White 2013 Holden (GM) Ute for 4 years!  I had to have one 'cause they look just like the old El Chaminos. Ford closed manufacturing 2 years ago(?) and Holden/GM left last year.  Toyota and Mitsubishi left years ago.  As of now NO cars are manufactured in Australia. 

Australia is a funny market.  The wages demanded here are just too high to be competitive especially given the nearby emerging economies.  Also, there are only 23 million people on a landmass that is the size of the continental US.  Australia is literally the end of the world in many ways too.  Due to the size of the population there just isn't enough constant shipping here to give economies of scale for commodities.  They also seem to prefer European to Asian cars now that the 'domestics' are gone.   Which I suppose is due to the majority of the population being of UK heritage.  My Canadian friends say the Ozzies are more like Americans than English and the Americans here contend that they are more like the English...  

At any rate they are as car crazy as we are that's for sure!