[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Fun car for $20k (Page 1 of 4)
Posted: 6/25/2017 10:07:55 PM EDT
| Looking at 2010 up Camaro ss or 2011 up Mustang. I want 400+hp and manual transmission. I lean toward the Camaro but find better price on the mustang. coyote vs ls3. Im open to other options. I have 20k saved for this. Not a fan of debt. |
| Coyote is faster mod for mod with simple bolt-ons. The MT-82 is a piece of shit compared to the TR-6060 found in the Camaro though. Mustang has better visibility and is lighter. Camaro has IRS if you are into spirited driving that is turn heavy. It's a pros and cons kind of deal. If it had to be a manual i'd do the Camaro. Any transmission i'd go with an auto Coyote over all of them. I currently drive a fairly light modded 2001 Z28 if that helps any and have driven both a 5th gen Camaro and 5.0 S197 Mustang. |
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20k will get you a lightly used Miata, and that’s going to be more fun than either the Camaro or the Mustang. If “fun” is the primary goal look at smaller, lighter, lower powered cars.  If I was looking for a track car it'd be a late 90's Miata or E46 M3.
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Why did you assume his definition of "fun" was picking up men? Quoted:
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20k will get you a lightly used Miata, and that’s going to be more fun than either the Camaro or the Mustang. If “fun” is the primary goal look at smaller, lighter, lower powered cars. |
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It’s amusing to see people who seem to have homosexuality foremost in their mind get butthurt about a car that’s pretty widely regarded by real enthusiasts to be one of the greatest cars ever made. maybe OP's version of fun isn't getting your ass handed to you by pickups in the 1/4 mile |
| I picked up a Ford Mustang and really enjoy it for a fun car. The Subaru WRX is also a lot of fun as well for a stick shift 4 cylinder compact car. The Mustang can't corner as well, fishtails being rear wheel drive only and is heavier, but looks sexier. The WRX can really move around corners fast, being so lightweight and all wheel drive, but it just looks like a cheap car from the outside, ha |
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It’s amusing to see people who seem to have homosexuality foremost in their mind get butthurt about a car that’s pretty widely regarded by real enthusiasts to be one of the greatest cars ever made. I wouldnt be caught dead in one regardless of it's handling or power adders. I similarly dont like Boxsters. Love me some 90s RX7s though. At least post a picture of your S550 so the OP knows you arent totally gay or biased towards the Miata and he knows you have a car with some grunt as well... |
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C5 Z06. Go with the 405 hp years 02-04.Attached File Pic of my old one. |
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I have looked at the gto. Mechanicaly great option, engine,trans. Price is right. Looks, meh. nobody dicked with you unless they were car people, in which case you might actually want to race them and the interior of those cars was just awesome |
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Some people just dont like the styling. I wouldnt be caught dead in one regardless of it's handling or power adders. I similarly dont like Boxsters. Love me some 90s RX7s though. At least post a picture of your S550 so the OP knows you arent totally gay or biased towards the Miata and he knows you have a car with some grunt as well... Quoted:
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It’s amusing to see people who seem to have homosexuality foremost in their mind get butthurt about a car that’s pretty widely regarded by real enthusiasts to be one of the greatest cars ever made. I wouldnt be caught dead in one regardless of it's handling or power adders. I similarly dont like Boxsters. Love me some 90s RX7s though. At least post a picture of your S550 so the OP knows you arent totally gay or biased towards the Miata and he knows you have a car with some grunt as well... I actually got got rid of my S550, it was a cool car but (and I suppose it fits the theme of this thread) it wasn’t really as much fun as I’d like. Of course it went like hell and it had lots of grip but it was also big and real heavy and you could feel the size and weight all the time. Further, there’s only so much you can do on the street without ending up in jail or on YouTube plowing into a crowd of people. I bought a Focus RS, which to a large extent faces the same problem with how hard you can drive it on the street but it feels a lot more direct and nimble. |
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03/04 cobra. . While the newer Camaro/ mustangs are nice will lose value. Cobras on the other hand have already hit bottom and have been steadily rising |
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It’s amusing to see people who seem to have homosexuality foremost in their mind get butthurt about a car that’s pretty widely regarded by real enthusiasts to be one of the greatest cars ever made. Quoted:
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20k will get you a lightly used Miata, and that’s going to be more fun than either the Camaro or the Mustang. If “fun” is the primary goal look at smaller, lighter, lower powered cars. |
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I do like these. Not sure of the longevity of the supercharger. I think the 4.6 is a good engine but way underpowered without the forced induction. Id take a Terminator over anything other than a C5 Z06 (in your price point). |
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Porsche cayman S
This one is 26k with low miles, so I would imagine you can find a slightly older or higher milage one in your price range. It has a nice 6 speed that can handle the abuse, and is light and nimble enough that you will enjoy throwing it around. And if 300 hp isn't enough, they make turbo kits for them. |
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A six or seven year old car is halfway in the grave. You have $20k saved up, you could get a 2017 Mustang and *almost* pay cash. But I would take a brand new V6 with 300 horsepower over a 6-7 year old V8 with 400 horsepower. If you just have to have a V8, I'd buy a new one and finance the remainder. That would be a ~$250 car payment for 4 years. That's not bad.
My wife has a 2014 Mustang and I have a 2017 Mustang. I have to tell you, the newest generation of Mustang is a HUGE improvement over the previous one. The independent rear suspension alone is worth it, but the interior is MILES better. |
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I'm going to go in a slightly different direction and say Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ. $15k could get you a used one with a little money for mods. Only thing is they're low to the ground so getting in an out is a bit of a pain but I figured out that if the seat is raised high enough it's not a biggie.
BRZ FR-S |
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It’s amusing to see people who seem to have homosexuality foremost in their mind get butthurt about a car that’s pretty widely regarded by real enthusiasts to be one of the greatest cars ever made. But then they participate in a real track day with Zs, 135i's, Vettes, GTRs, F430s, and lotuses--and then complain about their clutch slipping or missing gears being the reasons they get lapped and told to get off the track. |
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It’s amusing to see people who seem to have homosexuality foremost in their mind get butthurt about a car that’s pretty widely regarded by real enthusiasts to be one of the greatest cars ever made. As to op question I would go V8 or the wrx route. Depending on how you drive. |
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Look at something that will appreciate, like a vintage Mustang, Camaro, or muscle car of your choice. Will turn way more heads, get more thumbs up, and start way more conversations than any newer car in that price range. |
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Depends on what fun means. My kind of fun is going really fast in a short section of straight road. If I was looking for a track car it'd be a late 90's Miata or E46 M3.Quoted:
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20k will get you a lightly used Miata, and that’s going to be more fun than either the Camaro or the Mustang. If “fun” is the primary goal look at smaller, lighter, lower powered cars. If I was looking for a track car it'd be a late 90's Miata or E46 M3. |
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By poor people in Texas. But then they participate in a real track day with Zs, 135i's, Vettes, GTRs, F430s, and lotuses--and then complain about their clutch slipping or missing gears being the reasons they get lapped and told to get off the track.  )
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99-06 camero and bolt a turbo kit on it, turn up the boost to 15 psi.
Just get a good turbo from say precision with the new CEA blades and the air cooled ceramoc bearing center section, something like a 68/70 or 72 will do very nice on a manual street car. The car plus the turbo and kit will still be well under your 20k mark so you can mod suspension and pit some good wheels and sticky tires on it. That turbo on 15psi shpuld put you close it not over 600wheel Hp. And be more fun to deive than you can imagine. |
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I have looked at the gto. Mechanicaly great option, engine,trans. Price is right. Looks, meh. Those vehicles left are in their second and third hand owners (12 years since the last ones) and maybe getting long in the tooth if they have beem beat on and/or have not been taken care of. |
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2013 5.0 owner here. For the money, you'll be hard pressed to find a fun, reliable & fast car. I have 22K miles, runs 12.80's, I don't even have a tune. I'm actually selling mine though. I have a 69 restoration I need to focus on and a boat to fuel. lol |
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Miata is always the answer. Those that don't know that have never driven a Miata to the edge of it's capabilities. And if you want to go full retard, they make bolt in LS and Honda K engine swaps. If I wasn't so hung up on 20B rotary swapping mine, it would be getting an LS7. |
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Meh. Fast cars don't really do much for me.
But if you really wanted a fast 4 wheeled toy for not much money, a used Miata seems like the way to go. Friend of mine had one years ago. It was kinda fun to tool around in on twisty roads. From what I've seen anecdotally at least, they don't seem very expensive. |
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I'd go with a Fiesta ST, Focus ST, or Miata for something newer. If I had to choose between a newer mustang or Camaro I'd get the mustang. A little older I'd look at a 04-06 GTO which was mentioned earlier. Yes. Between everything above I think you shouldn’t have to resort to the GTO. |