Car Talk 6: Best of times and Worst of Times

[Melon2.0]

Appreciate the heads up all the same.
They seems fairly robust in most other departments.

I have a 2003 5.3 I would drive to Maine tomorrow.

God, those are such solid machines.

[Huckleberry]

They are hot cars. The only major gripe C/D had about it was the shifter, if I recall........balky, long throws.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a4 ... mira-test/

I've seen multiple outlets or people say the same. IIRC Lotus is aware and trying to make it better

As someone who has firsthand experience with a factory 2005 GTO shifter, I'm sure the Emira's is better than what has been equated to "churning butter with a rope."

[Johnny_P]

Borrowed my mom’s Honda Insight for a trip with the kid. It’s basically a civic hybrid. Maybe a bit too small and typical Honda poor assembly quality. But 62 mpg is pretty dece and it’s not awful to drive. Handles ok. Hybrid is clunky in operation.

Maybe an accord hybrid would be good as a dad car. I do like sitting more upright though, our CRV is way more comfortable than this thing.

[max225]

So I’m making a list of sports cars that would be within each price bracket that are decent …

1. GR86 (30-40k)
2. Miata (30-40k)
3. Type R Shitvic (40-50k)
4. GT premium (50k)
5. M2 (60-70k)
6. C8 (70-80k)
7. M3 (75-85k)
8. F pace (78-84k)
9. Emira (90-110k)
10. Cayman GTS 4.0 (100-120k)
11. Carrera T (130-140k)

I ran the ownership numbers too … cheapest is GR86 (duh) at $793 a month Carrera T is $2230 a month. They are all fairly low depreciation but the cost of entry etc all really add up.

What am I missing ? New only. I omitted the cockster gayman. I also capped options at those that make sense not leather dashes and carbon fiber mirror caps for $5k

[Johnny_P]

So I’m making a list of sports cars that would be within each price bracket that are decent …

1. GR86 (30-40k)
2. Type R Shitvic (40-50k)
3. M2 (60-70k)
4. C8 (70-80k)
5. M3 (75-85k)
6. Carrera T (130-140k)

I ran the ownership numbers too … cheapest is GR86 (duh) at $793 a month Carrera T is $2230 a month. They are all fairly low depreciation but the cost of entry etc all really add up.

What am I missing ? New only. I omitted the cockster gayman.

Why omit the cayman? It’s pretty awesome to drive.
Supra?
Miata

If you’re willing to go used things can get a lot more interesting. Like if it’s a 3rd car or something.

[CaleDeRoo]

Manual Z4

[max225]

So I’m making a list of sports cars that would be within each price bracket that are decent …

1. GR86 (30-40k)
2. Type R Shitvic (40-50k)
3. M2 (60-70k)
4. C8 (70-80k)
5. M3 (75-85k)
6. Carrera T (130-140k)

I ran the ownership numbers too … cheapest is GR86 (duh) at $793 a month Carrera T is $2230 a month. They are all fairly low depreciation but the cost of entry etc all really add up.

What am I missing ? New only. I omitted the cockster gayman.

Why omit the cayman? It’s pretty awesome to drive.
Supra?
Miata

If you’re willing to go used things can get a lot more interesting. Like if it’s a 3rd car or something.

Imo m2 is a better Supra, without the fucked Toyota allocation process and markup.

Miata is a solid omission on my part good add.

[Melon2.0]

So I’m making a list of sports cars that would be within each price bracket that are decent …

1. GR86 (30-40k)
2. Miata (30-40k)
3. Type R Shitvic (40-50k)
4. M2 (60-70k)
5. C8 (70-80k)
6. M3 (75-85k)
7. Emira (90-110k)
8. Carrera T (130-140k)

I ran the ownership numbers too … cheapest is GR86 (duh) at $793 a month Carrera T is $2230 a month. They are all fairly low depreciation but the cost of entry etc all really add up.

What am I missing ? New only. I omitted the cockster gayman. I also capped options at those that make sense not leather dashes and carbon fiber mirror caps for $5k

1LE.

Seriously, solid list.
Why not the Integra Type S over the Civic?

[Huckleberry]

What about the Mustang Dark Horse and CT4-V Blackwing?

[max225]

What about the Mustang Dark Horse and CT4-V Blackwing?

Is the CT4-V better the m3 in any measurable way ?

Don’t really think of the mustang as a “sports car” maybe more on the muscle car side. Same with the challenger

[max225]

So I’m making a list of sports cars that would be within each price bracket that are decent …

1. GR86 (30-40k)
2. Miata (30-40k)
3. Type R Shitvic (40-50k)
4. M2 (60-70k)
5. C8 (70-80k)
6. M3 (75-85k)
7. Emira (90-110k)
8. Carrera T (130-140k)

I ran the ownership numbers too … cheapest is GR86 (duh) at $793 a month Carrera T is $2230 a month. They are all fairly low depreciation but the cost of entry etc all really add up.

What am I missing ? New only. I omitted the cockster gayman. I also capped options at those that make sense not leather dashes and carbon fiber mirror caps for $5k

1LE.

Seriously, solid list.
Why not the Integra Type S over the Civic?

I think the 1le is disco’ed there was a time last year when you could get one with recaros for like 37k which was insane.

I don’t like the integra styling over the civic and it’s around 7k more for nothing imo

[wap]

Jag F Type
R8
TT
Maserati MC20
Why not Cayman/Boxter??

[max225]

Jag F Type
R8
TT
Maserati MC20
Why not Cayman/Boxter??

Jag is a fair addition. R8 is discontinued. TT is not a sports car per se … might as well add a golf. But you just reminded me RS3 is perhaps one to add also.
Cayman/Boxster sigh… it’s a valid point

[CaleDeRoo]

Good call on the Jag. Even the base is a V8 now IIRC.

[wap]

Good call on the Jag. Even the base is a V8 now IIRC.

All V8 for it's swan song year.

[wap]

Maserati ?

[Huckleberry]

What about the Mustang Dark Horse and CT4-V Blackwing?

Is the CT4-V better the m3 in any measurable way ?

Don’t really think of the mustang as a “sports car” maybe more on the muscle car side. Same with the challenger

The Blackwing looks a hell of a lot better than the M3, and the twin turbo V6 is a pretty neat engine.

The Dark Horse replaced the Mach 1 as Ford's track-focused Mustang.

[max225]

Is the CT4-V better the m3 in any measurable way ?

Don’t really think of the mustang as a “sports car” maybe more on the muscle car side. Same with the challenger

The Blackwing looks a hell of a lot better than the M3, and the twin turbo V6 is a pretty neat engine.

The Dark Horse replaced the Mach 1 as Ford's track-focused Mustang.

TT from GM which is completely unproven or the gold standard I6… eh. Looks are subjective Cadillac is by no means bad looking but I prefer the bmws. But I’m biased as it’s my fav brand



Vs dark horse like it’s standing still

[max225]

Maserati ?

Is it 300k? I was kind of looking at somewhat attainable cars otherwise I would have added a GT3 Porsche and a Lamborghini Huracan etc

[max225]

There is technically a giulia quadroFUGlio that hasn’t been updated since launch and the 4c but the 4c has been discontinued and the brand may die here also

[wap]

Maserati ?

Is it 300k? I was kind of looking at somewhat attainable cars otherwise I would have added a GT3 Porsche and a Lamborghini Huracan etc

Coupe starts at $239k but yea, I get it. No Ferraris for the same reason.

[CaleDeRoo]

I like the Jag as a sleeper pick. It trends more GT though but that could be a good thing.

[wap]

I like the Jag as a sleeper pick. It trends more GT though but that could be a good thing.

True, but it's got to be a sentimental pick if nothing else, being the last ever V8 Jag. But I think it belongs on its merits, too. Fast, powerful, beautiful, pedigree second to none.

[wap]

So I’m making a list of sports cars that would be within each price bracket that are decent …

1. GR86 (30-40k)
2. Miata (30-40k)
3. Type R Shitvic (40-50k)
4. M2 (60-70k)
5. C8 (70-80k)
6. M3 (75-85k)
7. Emira (90-110k)
8. Cayman GTS 4.0 (100-120k)
9. Carrera T (130-140k)

I ran the ownership numbers too … cheapest is GR86 (duh) at $793 a month Carrera T is $2230 a month. They are all fairly low depreciation but the cost of entry etc all really add up.

What am I missing ? New only. I omitted the cockster gayman. I also capped options at those that make sense not leather dashes and carbon fiber mirror caps for $5k

Add the Jag.

[max225]

So I’m making a list of sports cars that would be within each price bracket that are decent …

1. GR86 (30-40k)
2. Miata (30-40k)
3. Type R Shitvic (40-50k)
4. M2 (60-70k)
5. C8 (70-80k)
6. M3 (75-85k)
7. Emira (90-110k)
8. Cayman GTS 4.0 (100-120k)
9. Carrera T (130-140k)

I ran the ownership numbers too … cheapest is GR86 (duh) at $793 a month Carrera T is $2230 a month. They are all fairly low depreciation but the cost of entry etc all really add up.

What am I missing ? New only. I omitted the cockster gayman. I also capped options at those that make sense not leather dashes and carbon fiber mirror caps for $5k

Add the Jag.

I just did. It’s really hard editing a list from a phone.


I was taking the kid for a walk… and there was a blue hype R in the show room at the local Honda dealer who wanted to charge me 42k otd for a 27k civic si back in 2022. The woman wanted me to go take a seat in it etc .. but I was with the CF and didn’t want to deal with sales holes and all that… is this a sign ! ?