[good hands]

Originally Posted by Jazzbass

Bmw M3.

What's the repair bills on an older M3 or a 3 series for that matter ?
I always assumed they were P car like.

[savowood]

E36 M3, no question. Chick magnet, fun car, great performance, safe car...

-Michael

[tomfree]

Ah...a discussion I can actually ad value to...

I had a 2004 RX-8 for a year, and I sold it because I was bored with it...and because I owed a bunch of money on it.

Plus
- Outstanding brakes out of the box
- it's geared quite short to hide the lack of torque. It's quite quick
- revs like there is no tomorrow. Fuel cut is 9300 rpm, and it spins up there with no effort
- VERY neutral handling car. Pushes a little bit in stock configuration, but I autox'd and tracked it. It is a fantastic autoxr in stock config (Has won B-stock at nationals for the last 3 years, I believe). It does NOT "push like a dump truck."
- you can fit a TON of tire underneath it
- very good tire wear when driven enthusiastically
- surprising amount of room inside. I could fit 4 wheels and tires in the back seat for track/autox events, and enough gear in the car to camp at the track for a weekend. Pretty comfy in the rear seats for normal sized people also
- jazzy interior styling, and good stock seats
- looks - I thought it was a beautiful car. This is obviously subjective.

Minus
- godawful gas mileage. 17 in mixed driving, 21 on the highway
- rotary just doesn't make a compelling engine note. Sounds like a pissed off Hoover.
- oil usage. Honestly, it's designed to use oil, but most people don't understand it. You need to top off the oil about every 400-500 miles, and more frequent if it's tracked

I sold mine because I wanted something torquey and something that was a bit more involving. I should have kept it.

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by Trak Ratt

I do... SC/Carrera

You missed the 'daily driver' part of the equation

[turbo23dog]

Echo recs on BMW 3 Series. Find an E36 M3 (late 96-98) for loads of fun; same years 328 almost as good.

[roundel]

I own a 1997 M3. It has been an incredibly reliable car. It has over 160 track days on it and many autocross events. Despite this abuse, it has needed very little outside of tires, brakes, gas and oil. I have owned it since 1998 when I got it with 8000 miles on it. It needed the HVAC module replaced (Ive since learned their is a DIY fix) and the valve lifters replaced. I just replaced the front end ball joints and about a year ago replaced the shocks. The suspension bits were clearly the result of all the track time.

When healthy, these cars are a ton of fun to drive. In its day it was declared the Best Handling Car OVER $30K. It is so fun I am taking it to the Shenandoah this weekend

For the price they command today, they are a steal.

As for the ladies, I need to beat them away with a stick

[Lucky]

Does he want a true sports car or just a sporty car? True sports cars are usually convertible, tiny, and impracticle. He'd probably be better off with a 2 door hatchback sporty car.

I think the 3-series are pretty good choices -- Z3 (2.3, 2.8, or M varients), Z3 Coupe (really cool car), M3, or 328 coupe are all pretty affordable to buy, run, and maintain.

If he can tolerate really small cars: MR2, Celica, Acura RSX and the other Japanese sports coupes top the fun-per-dollar podium. And Asian chics dig 'em. I have a buddy with an RX8... great car, good handling and brakes, but it does get poor MPG and burn a lot of oil.

A more zany choice: Saab Viggen. Gobs of torque steer, but the Turbo engine is fun, fun, fun!

[racer]

Reliable sports car? Under $15K? Miata.
Desirable sports car? E36 M3, 911 SC/Carerra, Boxster

A used regular WRX (227hp) would fit the budget. Evo and STI are still over $20k I think.

Need a little more criteria - does he need to haul stuff (ie to school?) a hatchback would work well. Does he need to actually carry other people? A 4 door would be better, no? Convertible? Hardtop?

How *safe* do you think it should be?

Be sure to check with insurance.. that's always a b*tch

[HoodPin]

FWIW, since it hasn't been mentioned yet, a Ford Focus SVT can be a nice little runner for not too much $$. Fast (but not too fast), good handling, 6 speed, seats 4 and lots of space under the hatch. Easy to get fixed, too. Find one with the "Eurosport" package and you get heated leather Recaro's, HID headlamps, and LSD. Not a bad little car for under $10K, sometimes well under. Plus there's even an SVT Club, with track dates even!

My Marine has ours now, and he loves it.

[good hands]

Originally Posted by racer

Need a little more criteria - does he need to haul stuff (ie to school?) a hatchback would work well. Does he need to actually carry other people? A 4 door would be better, no? Convertible? Hardtop?

How *safe* do you think it should be?

Be sure to check with insurance.. that's always a b*tch

It could be quite impractical He doesn't need to haul anything and infrequently has more than 1 or 2 persons in the car. He is in the coast guard and is about to be stationed near Portland. I think he would like something " sexier loooking " then say a GTI or some boxy Japanese hatchback. Being near the ocean a convertible would be nice but he doesn't seem to be sold on it.