Sports Car

There are cheap cars for almost every make and model. There are very expensive vettes too. You get what you pay for in that regard. This one happens to fit within the OP's price criteria and it's no slouch in acceleration or corner carving ability. Styling? Well, to each their own but this vette beats most of the ones mentioned in this price range hands down IMO.

>maybe in a few years (when I hit 60) I'll understand
Most people are the opposite- they can't handle the horsepower and speed as they age. When they do get older, they pick out cars that look fast but aren't. When you're sixty, a schoolyard swing will be exciting enough... :)

Every vette I see around here is driven by a geezer (especially the guys that go to the shows with the nice ones). Based on the OPs posts, I really don't think that's what she's looking for (they have nothing in common with classic british sports cars except for the fact they have two seats). Personally, I don't have much use for any "sports car" (as opposed to a roadster) with the engine in front. IMO, the vette is more of a GT (like a 928) than a sports car. The new ones are just trying to be low budget "super-cars." IMHO, they pretty much define the term "ugly american" (I picture a 60 year old overweight guy with gold chains, a cigar, and a cowboy hat stuffed into a vette trying to impress the girl at the McDonalds drive up window).

I do understand that they are a good way to go fast on the cheap, but I could never get past the funny looks (or the "viagra" image). Also, I hate the visibility from the drivers seat and I really don't like sitting that far back in the car. If you like them, you should buy them; but they are definitely not for everyone. Also, I don't buy any american cars.

Who drives a 1968 240D? I picture a 60-year old guy with impossibly tangled full-face beard and hair (what's left of it) in a 40-year old tie-dyed shirt and wearing Birkenstocks.

I don't know (there's no such thing as a 1968 240D), but my wife drives a '83 240D. I wouldn't mind having a '68 220D, a very cool little car, that looks like this:

BTW, I'm not quite 60 yet (almost 50 though), my full beard is trimmed pretty short (only tangled when I ride my motorcycle), and I still have plenty of (gray) hair in a pretty impressive pony tail (if I do say so myself), and my wife threw out all my tie dye years ago (although I do have a decent tee shirt collection). If you want to make fun of me, you need to better than that (check with my kids if you need some help). At least I don't drive plastic cars.

I guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder! That's a cool car??? BWHAHAHAHAH. Thanks for the gut laugh!

"I guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder! That's a cool car??? BWHAHAHAHAH. Thanks for the gut laugh!"

Kids?

I don't know what you mean by that. I just found it extremely amusing that you would say that a Corvette is an old man's car and then post this as an example of your idea of a cool car. I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of people who think this car is cool will have blue hair and in great danger of breaking a hip.

The one and only candidate for a cheap, reliable sports car is the Mazda Miata. It most resembles the 1960s Lotus Elan which was the best small British sports car of its time.

Expensive German cars may be cheap to buy when they are several years old, but they will need repairs more often than the Miata and those repairs will cost much more.

Old cars are expensive to buy if they have been properly restored or time consuming money pits if not. (Mercedes has a shop in California that will restore a 1960s SL convertible for $70k and that's a fair price.)

Since you will be buying used, be sure to have the car inspected first by a good mechanic familiar with Miatas. If you don't know of one, check Car Talk's Mechanix Files or ask local car clubs for recommendations. The Sports Car Club of America (www.scca.org) has chapters all over the country.

The Toyota MR2 is another good choice, but it is not a convertible.

"The Toyota MR2 is another good choice, but it is not a convertible."

The newer MR2s are drop tops; built between 2000 and 2005. A 2004 or earlier should be available for under $15,000. BTW, the Lotus Elise and Exige use the same engine! Of course, Lotus does not use it as-delivered from Toyota.

"BTW, the Lotus Elise and Exige use the same engine! Of course, Lotus does not use it as-delivered from Toyota."

Sad, they should have just retired the Lotus name.

"Sad, they should have just retired the Lotus name."

Everyone should drive a 50 year old car that goes from 0 to 60 in 60 seconds, dontcha think?

If my memory serves me right, Lotus always used some one else's motors. The much loved Espirit had a rover V8 and a Renault Transmission. The new one proudly carries on the tradition with the Toyota motor and a hand made body. And best of all the new Exige doesnt even have an airbag. Not that it would have mattered.
If you really like a mid engine car MR2 is your best bet. The least riced out model is the MR2 Mark 2 turbo. 1990 - 1997(?)

You are correct, but in the past it wasn't an asian engine. IMO, that was the end of the real lotus. As I said, sad.

Yes I agree, specially when it means bye bye V8 & hello I4. Made a decent car into a souped up overpriced version of the MR2. Maybe the anology is not too good, but you get my drift.

Lotus has for some years now been owned by the Malaysian National Car Company, who bought it to get engineering into their locally developed line of cars, such as the Waja, a cute, but fragile compact.

This company is now in trouble becuse of the South East Asian Free Trade agreement is making them uncompetitive.

I was I Malaysia when the Elise was launched, and the concept of reliability was absent throughout the company.

Although they have 2 nice manufacturing plants, they concentrate only on assembly quality, not intrinsic quality and durability, much like traditional British manufacturers.

So, don't espect a reliable Lotus anytime soon.

I gotta say though...when it comes to the Lotus and its looks, performance, and fun-to-drive factor....who cares about reliability? There's few cars I'll say that about, but the Lotus Elise and Exige are exceptions. Plus, with a Toyota engine, very few gadgets/luxury items, how bad can they really be?

Colin Chapman designed the original Lotus with a souped up British Ford engine. He applied all his racing experience to get the weight as low as possible to get great performance out of a small engine, and light car.

Unfortunately, durability was never on his agenda. I worked with an engineer who had an Elan; a very nice car, but needing constant attention. This guy did not mind; he also ralled his car.

You're right. I keep forgetting about the 3rd generation MR2 because I never liked its looks. Since it is a Toyota, I would expect it to be even more reliable than a Miata. smujeep should read some old road tests on the two of them. The public library should have back issues of Road & Track and Car & Driver.

Good luck finding an MR2 that hasn't been riced out.

convertable mazda miata mazdaspeed. you'd fly in that thing! 

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