Top affordable great handling sports cars?

[twobone]

I'm looking for an under $20K summer sportscar. My criteria are:

-Classic - turn your head styling - preferably british or german
-Strong handling


So far my thoughts are:

-944 or 968
-Tuned Miata
-TR6 (had an MGB before)
-Older Lotus
-Older Rx7

What am I missing?

[HardDrive]

Boxster.

[stomachmonkey]

I'm partial to the RX7.

Fun to drive and comparatively cheap and simple to make go fast.

I think the last gen RX7 is one of the sexiest cars of the last 20 years.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

944 turbo. You can get a very nice, tastefully modded one for $20k

Or an AMG slk32. Damn fun.

[recycled sixtie]

I checked kijiji this morning and there was a Subaru BRZ for $24k Can.
Boxster or Boxster S(you might be hard pressed to find an S at a reasonable price in Canada). Import from the US?
With the Boxster you can get decent modern conveniences such as air conditioning and heated seats.
Cheers, Guy.

[Don Ro]

Renault R5 Turbo II !!!!!
.

[Don Ro]

[LakeCleElum]

All of the above except the TR6 and Lotus (Have owned MG, AH 100-6 and XKE). U be turning wrenches, not heads.

Don't rule out a 20K 911, they still exist.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

All of the above except the TR6 and Lotus (Have owned MG, AH 100-6 and XKE). U be turning wrenches, not heads.

Don't rule out a 20K 911, they still exist.

What about AH 100-4?
Was that a junker like many other Brit cars?

[scottmandue]

You could pick up a nice Miata for $5-7K then have $10K to mod it anyway you like.

Having said that the comfort/ride level of a modded Miata is a bit rough. They are great fun, British car look and feel with Japanese engineering/reliability.

However as much fun as the tinymobile (my Miata) is to drive I fear my days of crawling in/out of a small sports car are coming to an end. I see more of a comfy grand touring coupe in my future
***cough*** 996 ***cough***

[RedBaron]

Get a 944 S2 / 968 / Turbo.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

What about AH 100-4?
Was that a junker like many other Brit cars?

Don - Mine was a 1959 100-6......Where do I start. PO had the engine rebuilt just before I bought it. Rings never seated. Valve cover breather hose was aimed behind the firewall. Blew oil all over my girl fiends new white shoes. I had to tear it apart and redo. PO had put clutch disk in backwards. I was 200 miles from home when it locked up against the flywheel bolts.

Typical Lucas issues. Top and side curtains not for the Seattle rain. Loved the electric overdrive.....These sell for about $60K now......

[sc_rufctr]

Nothing beats an older rear drive Alfa Romeo for proper handling and fun.
The engine note is also just about perfect.

Also, classic Fiat or Lancia may be an option.

[Nickshu]

Subaru BRZ. Turn key and drive. Change oil, tires and brakes. That's about it... unless you are looking for something to work on all the time. Could maybe pickup a used 2013 for under $20k.

-Sent from my Galaxy s5 using Tapatalk

[Shaun @ Tru6]

240z

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Don - Mine was a 1959 100-6......Where do I start. PO had the engine rebuilt just before I bought it. Rings never seated. Valve cover breather hose was aimed behind the firewall. Blew oil all over my girl fiends new white shoes. I had to tear it apart and redo. PO had put clutch disk in backwards. I was 200 miles from home when it locked up against the flywheel bolts.

Typical Lucas issues. Top and side curtains not for the Seattle rain. Loved the electric overdrive.....These sell for about $60K now......

Bummer!
A military buddy had the 4 cylinder...mint, it was - back in 1964.
He cherished that car...took me for a ride and let me drive it...and I loved it - for what it was.
.
Those big sixes...wasn't it somewhat common to drop-in a 283 Chevy?
Lose 100 + lbs. and gain power?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Boxster.

Could end it right here. Great ratio of price to fun. I would put the Miata second, which I find to be less fun but cheaper and more reliable. Others to consider:

TT
996
350Z
370Z
MR2/MRS
Z4
G35/37
RX8
S2000
M3
Mustang Cobra
Solstice/Sky

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

All of the above except the TR6 and Lotus (Have owned MG, AH 100-6 and XKE). U be turning wrenches, not heads.

Bull Excrement. You can get a very solid Lotus M100 for well under 20k and the damn things are known for their ridiculous reliability and being the best handling FWD vehicle ever produced.....I love mine, handles like a Coked out olympic sprinter, gets 35mpg and is easy/cheap to maintain.....and people always want to know wtf it is.

[ted]

C5 ZO6 in the price/performance range but won't turn heads...
wrong car if you want to be noticed.

[911SauCy]

Despite it being a full sized car, my Dinan e39 540/6, gets a lot of attention, pulls like a beast, and handles great.

...paid $8k