Another vote for the Boxster. You can get a Base with low mileage for the price range you are looking in.

Just for clarification, this is what I call" heavy duty wrenching"

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-autocross-track-racing/199326-project-pics-we-got-em.html

If you can plow thru that thread......
Some what lighter duty keeps me busy during the winter.
The Mustang spent its first year here up on blocks........I'll spare you the details.

The maintenance costs on the blonde might be kind'a high.

That Volvo is cool as hell.

Nissan 350Z....

What he said. Mine is 13 years old (130k miles) and I'm just now having to do some minor repairs to it. Been a very reliable, fun car. Might be a bit difficult for an older gentleman to get in/out of occasionally, though...

I had plenty of these, and would love to have another 240Z with a 6 speed manual, and a 300 HP Rebello stroker motor.....what a ride !

Iffn I could get my hands on a decent old Z-car for a reasonable price, I'd build a custom turbocharger system for that bad boy so fast the world would spin backwards.

I'm betting 250 reliable HP would be EASY and it would be quiet and still idle smoothly (for about $1k).

That kind of money can get you a 996.

A local engineer did a fantastic LSX swapped 240SX, incredibly well executed car. I believe the LSX is actually lighter than the original straight six.