Recommend Me: AutoX/weekend car under 10k

Hey fellow GRMers,

I've recently been looking at E36 M3s, and I found an awesome low mile Estoril car, but I realized it's too nice for me to reliably street park. I live in Queens, and given the ridiculous price for insurance (I'm too young for collector's policies and too young for reasonable rates), I'd rather not pay extra for garage parking too. Basically, I'm looking for a fun weekend/autoX car for around 7-9k that I can park on the street without worrying too much. I live in a safe area with decent street parking, but the usual door and bumper ding concerns apply.

Requirements:

• Must be manual
• Between 7-9k (can go up to 10 if necessary, higher miles ok)
• Would prefer a coupe

What I'm considering:

• E36 M3s: they made a lot of them, and I love the way they drive. The search continues. For the past month or so, this has been my #1 option. I have a weird love for them.
• NC Miatas: I am a Mazda nut, so it would be unfair not to consider at least one Miata. The NCs hold a special place in my heart
• 350Zs: I used to own a G35, would prefer a later model Z (06+ IIRC) with the cd009 transmission. They're a lot of fun too. Just need to find one not modified to the grave.
• RX-8s: Maybe find an 05+ with a recent engine replaced? Weighing my Mazda love vs my limited knowledge of rotaries here...
• 986 Boxsters: I go to local PCA AutoX events, and they're always trying to sell me on Boxsters... Hmm

I'm open to all suggestions, and I'm not afraid of higher mileage cars with recent maintenance. Any experiences with the aforementioned cars or your own suggestions would be more than welcome. I walk to work every day, so this is almost entirely a car for fun weekend driving shenanigans. Thank you in advance for your input! 

How competitive do you want to be at autox?   While all of your considerations will be fun and competent on-course, that may focus your search a bit.  Of the ones you mentioned the 350Z did well last year in STU and the NC should be competitive locally in STR.  That said, those are modified-suspension classes and you may not want to drive them in Queens with a competitive setup.

Other possibilities that are class-competitive in Street classes at the national level (locally YMMV):

- late-2000s Mini-Cooper S (D-Street)

- BRZ/FRS (D-Street. Pushing it price-wise, but I've seen them at $10K.  Maybe negotiate?)

- NB Miata (E-Street or STS)

- MR Spyder (E-Street)

If I lived in Queens, I'd not own an E36 M3 unless I had access to a garage I could use to work on the car. I used to own a 99 M3 and I spent quite a bit of time working on it. Fantastic car, but it's a bit high maintenance. 

Boxster has the same problem the M3 has, except you have to take the car apart to access the engine. At that price, it may be hard to find a nice one. 

I think the Answer could be the answer here, unless you need space for uh, other people. Parking will be easier too because it's smaller. And when people back into it, it's just a Mazda! I had an NA in San Francisco for years and it was great for those reasons. In fact, I paid the car off using insurance money from when people hit it! Had some dings, but it was still a great car. Also, the NB is competitive in ES with few mods.

I am really interested in RX-8s lately too, if you could find one with a new engine, that would be cool. I'm like you, a Mazda fan with no knowledge of rotaries. 

I have no opinion of the Z (never really driven one), but it could be a nice option too if you can find one. 

What about a 'speed3? Probably hard to find not clapped out though. 

Are Fiat Abarths cheap enough? 

Small to park with utility for mid week but fun on the weekend. 

10-13 Forte SX. 2700lbs, 160+whp/tq. Great chassis and very fun. Needed an LSD to be perfect but enough wheel openings for 8-8.5" wheels and 235's easy. Cheap, easy to maintain, decent stereo etc. 

Possibly of significance - I found rear visibility on the 350Z to be pretty terrible.  The car isn't really very big so parking shouldn't be that bad, but the rear viewport didn't do it any favors.  That and my buddy's went into limp mode at the track day we attended because the cooling system couldn't keep up.  No real damage, but it ended his day much earlier.  Not really a problem for autox, but worth noting if you wanted to do more with the car.  Obviously fixable with the monies.

In reply to CyberEric :

I actually have a buddy whose father owns a shop on Long Island, but yeah, I'm aware of the maintenance. I've looked into Speed3s- they're a bit tough to find not totally abused, but they're on the radar. And I think the RX-8 could be a great play. The S2 cars are probably still on the high side of price, but maybe a s1 with a new engine could work. Thanks a bunch for the response! 

In reply to Matt B :

Thanks for the heads up- I do remember that it was pretty bad from the last time I drove it. Good to know about cooling issues too, thanks. If I went the Z route, would also have to look at brakes

I don't see any RWD bias so I would throw in an Accord V6 coupe or an Si coupe. Honda reliability, each fun to drive in it's own right, low/easy maintenance and both could be had within your budget. I have no idea how competitive they are in their respective autoX classes, but would imagine they would both be fun to drive.

NA and exocet

can't get a door ding when there is no door to ding.

I love the idea of an exocet parked on the street in Queens! Haha! Great in the summer, bundle up in the winter!

I used to live in Astoria.  I'd go for the 350Z/G35.  As much as I like my Mazdas and the NC, I don't think I'd want a soft top street parked.  Eventually, some ass hole is going to cut your top.

I like the RX8 but the lack of torque would get old driving in Queens due to the constant stop/go.  There are a couple of rotary shops in Queens and Long Island.

I never had anyone cut my top in Oakland or SF in 5 years. I never left anything in the car though. 

Maybe folks are meaner in Queens, but I've never seen anyone cut a top for no reason. If so, you can get an NB and a hard top for around your budget. 

C5 Corvette.  Plastic fantastic...so yea no door dings

Interested in a well sorted FM2 1999 turbo Miata? Started life as a CSP car and grew into a turbo track car. $10k

PRHT NC.  Some nice mods take it from C street to STR, and it’s a decent car to live with on a daily basis.

^ I also vote PRHT NC.

Vigo said:

^ I also vote PRHT NC.

I would pick that