What new-ish, fun momemtum-ish car?

Been racking my brain and CL/Autotrader for a couple of days now. after more chats with my wife we're leaning towards something newer that I can more or less drive into the ground over a decade rather than over ten days.

My parameters are:

• Sporty, but to the extent that I can still DD it. Needs to work all year round, although it will be supplemented by a Jeep for really bad snowstorms. Usable on snow with proper snow tires is a must, I can't have another winter garage queen.
• Reasonable insurance for a DD.
• Less than $25k; we'd have to borrow money for that but given that we've got fairly limited financial commitments and a good income I don't see $25k-$30k as a problem.
• I'd like something I can track and Auto-X a few times a year, preferably without breaking the bank so consumables shouldn't be too expensive
• Four seats nice, but not required
• Reasonable (ie, not Ferrari-like) maintenance costs with a potential for at least some DIY. Something that does require my salary to be direct deposited with the dealership doesn't need to apply. Expected mileage is around 15k/year.
• I tend to prefer momentum cars over the "one look at the loud pedal has you two counties over" type
• Reasonable backup both on Th3 Interw3bz, yo and with dealers/specialists
• Would be nice if it was built this century, otherwise we're back to old 911s or an Acura NSX
• Without trying to insult anybody around here, something a little more "grown up" (especially in the eyes of the law) and less susceptible to fart cans, non-maintenance etc would be nice
• Something that's reasonably DIY-friendly would be nice, even though I probably have most of the work done by someone else.
• I don't want new, thinking at least 2-3 years old so I'm not being hit by the main part of the depreciation. Low depreciation offsets higher cost of entry for me somewhat.

So far I've dug up:

• Miata. Hey, this is GRM.
• Boxster. Not a big fan of the looks, though. Prefer the Cayman but they*re a lot more expensive still.
• S2k. Looks like it's the most expensive of the lot (almost) but it's a Honda, so it should last.

For the three above, I'd most likely need a hardtop to be legal for SCCA HPDE as I don't think I'd pass the broomstick test in any of them without one. And hardtops help in winter anyway.

Unfortunately it looks like hardtops for both the Boxster and the S2k aren't that easy to come by (at least not cheaply) and as we know Miata hardtops are a grand a pop.

• RX8. I like rotaries, it's got four seats, there's a bunch for sale for not too much money and they drink like the proverbial fish. Errr.
• 996 911s. Maintenance costs scare me, although they're supposed to be somewhat lower than on an earlier car. Plus, I can get an AWD if I'm so inclined.

Subarus are kinda sorta out, I still have bad memories of my JDM Legacy GT twin turbo that don't need refreshing anytime soon. An Evo 8 or 9 looks good on paper but so far everything Evo-like I've owned (an earlier Evo in the UK and the Talon here) has been a massive headache.

The drive to work is via various mountain roads to something that doesn't drive on autopilot is fine (can't do that around here anyway), and something that doesn't make you fall asleep around 40mph-50mph would be even better.

What else should I be looking at that would keep me entertained for at least five years?

I know you said no Subarus, but you need a Legacy GT. Bonus, they look great.

Actually, I don't think they look that great (there's a ton of them out here) and I'm sticking with my "no Subaru" rule with the exception of possibly a 90s Outback as a winter beater if my CJ7 resists my attempts at fixing it up futher.

C5 Corvettes can be had for around the 20K mark. They're at least worth giving a look

An AWD 911 is going to blow right past 25K, but I hang out at a porsche/audi shop every Friday night (when not in Afghanistan) and the owner there has told me a bunch of times the (996) 911 is way cheaper to keep up than an S4 and other complicated German cars. Sticking with the 2wd model is a must. And the slow deprecation is a big plus. As long as the motor holds together you are good.

BTW The Legacy GT is a great car

Mini?

In line with the Boxter and S2000 but hardtop included.
Unique too.

MR2 Spyder?

I know this might be a bit, different, but what about the 2011 V6 Mustang?

It seems to hit all of your wants...except for the 2-3 years old part. You can still pick up a used one for under 25k though however....but...otherwise, it is definitely sporty, it doesn't launch you into next week if you hit the loud pedal, should work at any time of year, etc, etc, etc. And it has 4 seats.

Also, 350Z? Seems to be 15-20k in the NV area on craigslist. Option?

I've been thinking a G35 (four seat 350Z) might make a good next car myself, and it seems to match your needs fairly well.

GTO

/thread.

Best car GM ever made, the easiest factory LS1 car to work on, IRS, Ozzie build quality, gorgeous interior, completely invisible to 99% of people, and the "right" amount of power to weight. Get the 05/06 for the larger brakes and snazzier looks, or the 04 for the old school throttle cable and understated good-looks. With either one you can easily update/backdate the looks or convert to a Holden.

Oh, and with 285 miles there still only $27K!

the Mr2 might be decent in light snow too with proper tyres. With the engine and trans over the drive wheels, it is going to get nice traction.

I am also going throw out the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. It's good looking, cheapish, handles and goes well, and being a Hyundai, it will go forever on basic maintance

M Coupe is a good idea, might even be possible to find one down in the Bay Area...

I think the C5 slides right past my "must work in light snow" and into the ditch. There's tons of 'vettes around here, but they all get put away for winter. There's a reason for that.

I think the GTO is more of a "lots of momentum" car - I'm used to driving fairly low powered cars on the track and I'd like to keep it that way to help with learning track/race craft.

I've driven an MR2 Spyder, I kinda liked that but for reason I can't find a hardtop for one out here. Anybody got an idea of the going rate for the top?

Weird. When you said "momentum car" I was thinking Fit, Mazda 2. Now we're talking 911's, vettes, and GTO's?

Edit: what you said.

damn I was gonna say legacy gt as well.
v8 s4?
996!!
and, to throw one probably unrealistic choice in there, VIPER!

VIPER

See also: "snowy death."

Well, the 911 is in there because, well, I like 911s . And the longer I look at 996s the more of a bargain they seem to be until the engine explodes...

Apart from the 911, you'll notice that most of the cars on my list aren't that powerful.

Viper is pretty much out for the same reason a C5 (or C4, there's a ZR1 at the use car lot in town well within my budget that I'm trying to ignore), plus the insane insurance costs.

If I have to drive it for 5+ years, then FWD is completely out thanks to my well-publicized dislike of FWD. Hence no Honda Fit or Mazda2/3/5 etc.

Just to make matters more confusing, the local Conquest I looked at briefly just before I made the ill-fated decision to buy the DSM is still for sale. It's still expensive, it's still at a dealer but with a bit of a stretch I can pay cash for that. Only this time I would want a pro who doesn't have a horse in the race look it over; as I said I can't afford another disaster.

Momentum car. My 2011Fiesta fits that description.

Fails the FWD check, though...

If the GTO is too much power for you, the RX8 is the only other option in RWD with a factory tin roof.

I still say you need to drive a GTO. 350HP to 3700ish pounds is not that big of a power to weight. We're talking S2K territory here.

No thoughts on the 2011 V6 Stang?

4 seats, reliable, in your price range, massive community/growing community.

Sure, has probably a bit more "momentum" than what you are looking for, but then again....pretty much all 4 seat, rear drivers will be I think.

I'd wait for Hachiroku 2.0

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/08/the-truth-about-the-ft-86-straight-from-the-mouth-of-the-chief-engineer/

What about a used BMW 3 or 1 car? I have seen a few in that price range.

I've been extremely happy with my RX-8. The rear seats aren't that bad (unless your passengers are pretty fat,) but the trunk kind of sucks for bigger things. I can't fit my mountain bike in the car without taking both wheels off. The rear seats should also fold down.