Other vehicles like the VX: Affordable, limited production, crazy owner obsession

[pbkid]

I'd have to agree with that, in terms of the 911 versus similar true sports cars. The 911 is the only one that you can really live with and rely on.

I think I would quite enjoy a Cayman S as a summer DD, but that's just not in the cards at this time, if ever: you see, my personal little financial mantra goes like this... "I hope to have the income to buy a brand-new new $70k car... and the good sense not to."

um, i know once again there aren't many japanese sports car fans...and when i say sports car i dont mean <$35,000....

what about 300zx?? reliable as long as it isnt the twin-turbo one (thats what i have read, and maybe crotchrocket can chime in on reliability on those)

and the honda S2000??? its actually a very quick car, all you need to do is free up the air system and chip it...bam lots of horsepower and almost 50-50 weight distribution (ya it wont keep up with a porsche on the straights but its also <$40,000)

STI- 35k and reliable, handles like a son-of-a-*&^#....and i would love to see a porsche in the mountains of colorado snow vs. STI (and this is as ricey as i consider when talking about japanese sports car)

NSX??- plenty reliable and has the best rating for handling during the years it was produced....not really fast stock, but that can be fixed easily and similar to the S2000

i would say skyline but its not reliable, neither is the supra, or the RX-7

mazdaspeed3??? 30K and plenty reliable....0-60 in about 5.5 (i dont know specific stats but i know its faster than the STI)

oh, and in defense of german-
M3....wow....would love to have one if i could keep it on the road without dropping all of my money on it every year...

[Osteomata]

Another candidate for the "Other vehicles like the VX: Affordable, limited production, crazy owner obsession" category: Saab 9-3 Viggen

About 3000 made, much higher performance capability than the standard 900/9-3s, active mod community etc.

[AUPilot09]

Another candidate for the "Other vehicles like the VX: Affordable, limited production, crazy owner obsession" category: Saab 9-3 Viggen

About 3000 made, much higher performance capability than the standard 900/9-3s, active mod community etc.

Just had to applaud this good call. Viggens can be had for sub $8k prices with some nice mods too. Great little rides.

[VehiGAZ]

what about...

I mostly meant that Porsche in general makes the most livable high-performance sports cars (like Ferraris, Astons, etc). I have no anti-ricer bias at all... my favorite car I've owned is still my '97 Prelude SH.

The Mazdaspeed 3 is a great little screamer, but it's not in the high-performance category. The GTR/Skyline certainly is, though!

NSX and 300 ZX are no longer available. The 370Z will run with a Cayman, though.

S2000 is not that livable as a daily driver in my book.

The Car & Driver editors would take an M3 over a 911, so that's certainly in the running, too.

The STi might beat a 911 C4 on a snowy road, but not on a track.

Anyway, those are all fine choices in their categories.

[Dallas4u]

What about the Studebaker Avanti?

[VehiGAZ]

A fine nomination!

There's one that lives near me. I gag every time I see it. I know it's supposed to be fast, but it can't be faster than it is ugly!

[pbkid]

I mostly meant that Porsche in general makes the most livable high-performance sports cars (like Ferraris, Astons, etc). I have no anti-ricer bias at all... my favorite car I've owned is still my '97 Prelude SH.

touche' for that category

The Mazdaspeed 3 is a great little screamer, but it's not in the high-performance category. The GTR/Skyline certainly is, though!
agreed, mazdaspeed3 is not a sports car, but it impressed the hell outta me! for price and reliability.. skyline- great car for someone who has money, my mechanic has one of the first 5 shipped to the US of the R-35 model

NSX and 300 ZX are no longer available. The 370Z will run with a Cayman, though.
we generally arent talking about cars that are still available

S2000 is not that livable as a daily driver in my book.
why is that? reliable, reasonably priced, handles very well, and can be quick...whats not livable about that?

The Car & Driver editors would take an M3 over a 911, so that's certainly in the running, too.
love the M3, just expensive to maintain...my cousin has one and its truely amazing power wise, for something without forced induction (we whooped up on a CBR600 from 0-60)

The STi might beat a 911 C4 on a snowy road, but not on a track.
true, but i have to and prefer to orient my car decisions on how it does in the snow...i spend about 20 hours a week snowboarding during the winter, 911 just wouldnt cut it...but in regards to sports car, yes....
look at it like this though, buy an STI for 35k and drop 10k into it....now its gonna compete with the 911

Anyway, those are all fine choices in their categories.

agreed, in general though

[VehiGAZ]

Totally agreed in general!

The S2000 is not livable as a daily driver in my book because it is has very little storage space and keeping the engine boiling at over 3k rpm on your way to work in the morning while you're trying to drink your coffeee and listen to NPR gets on your nerrves very quickly. Two people I know well had them - one bought another car as his DD, the other traded the S2k in on a Boxster S.

[pbkid]

Totally agreed in general!

The S2000 is not livable as a daily driver in my book because it is has very little storage space and keeping the engine boiling at over 3k rpm on your way to work in the morning while you're trying to drink your coffeee and listen to NPR gets on your nerrves very quickly. Two people I know well had them - one bought another car as his DD, the other traded the S2k in on a Boxster S.

hmm..didnt know they had problems like such...

i've always heard that they are neat little cars with a few mods can be very capable...and of course you cant lose on honda reliability

[twistedsymphony]

no one has mentioned my current car love... the Nissan 240sx

the 240 isn't in itself rare but there were a few rare versions.

the 91-94 Convertible .. less than 8000 made in the USA


it wasn't released anywhere else in the world.
Japan received only 600 of the Silvia convertible which is based on the same chassis, just with a different motor and front end (the convertible mechanism was different too) many people do silvia conversions to their 240s since the body parts are interchangeable.

^this car belongs to a friend of mine it's a 240sx convertible that has had the front end and motor swapped to look like a Silvia.

Also the 97-98 240sx called the "kouki" (Japanese for late period) only saw less than 7000 released in the USA...

^all OEM aero with aftermarket wheels

I own a 1995 240sx that I plan on converting to a kouki (body parts are interchangeable) I plan on buying a 240sx convertible sometime next year if I can find one

Even though the 1995-1996 body style like mine (called "zenki" for early period) isn't as desirable as the kouki style, it's still pretty uncommon with only 30,000 being releases in the US.

[pbkid]

[QUOTE=twistedsymphony;152071]no one has mentioned my current car love... the Nissan 240sx

Also the 97-98 240sx called the "kouki" (Japanese for late period) only saw less than 7000 released in the USA...

^all OEM aero with aftermarket wheels. [QUOTE]

ah man i knew i was forgetting something

those are very very nice cars! tons of two-ford freaks out there!

i love the kouki versions, along with the silvia S15, those are one of my dream cars...
http://www.driftingstreet.com/images...silvia-s15.jpg

my mechanic has a 240 with a skyline conversion on it...R32 motor i believe...

he has a few cars actually...most of them i am very jealous of
240sx with skyline conversion
97 integra with JDM front end
R35
F350 with around 8-10" of lift and tires to match, to pull his 240 to the drift comps
93 hatch civic...12.5 quarter mile with no forced induction (H22 heavily built motor, lighted up the whole car, ZEX nitrous)

[VehiGAZ]

hmm..didnt know they had problems like such...

i've always heard that they are neat little cars with a few mods can be very capable...and of course you cant lose on honda reliability

They are neat and capable. But to have one as your daily driver can get annoying is all I'm saying...