[Bumpinjeep]

Jag E-Type if you're rich.
Early Miata if you're like the rest of us.



Hell, I even got them the same color for you. You're welcome.

[baege]

1999-2000 M coupe
Classic looks with analog feel
I actually prefer the S52 over the S54, more buttery smooth than the S54 which has a raspy harshness to it
only going to go up in value

[freakystyly]

Originally Posted by baege

1999-2000 M coupe
Classic looks with analog feel
I actually prefer the S52 over the S54, more buttery smooth than the S54 which has a raspy harshness to it
only going to go up in value

They're already up, it's insane from when they were less than half the price 5-10 years ago. https://www.mcoupebuyersguide.com/listings

Maybe it's just the low mileage examples skewing the average, but man I regret not picking one up when they were somewhat cheap.

[baege]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

They're already up, it's insane from when they were less than half the price 5-10 years ago. https://www.mcoupebuyersguide.com/listings

Maybe it's just the low mileage examples skewing the average, but man I regret not picking one up when they were somewhat cheap.

Oh I feel ya!

Back in the day I chose a brand new 350Z over a used 1999 M coupe with only 6000 km, estoril blue
they were similarly priced but would have had to go with an aftermarket warranty with the Mcoupe which kinda swayed me...also was able to test drive the 350Z but they wouldnt let me take the m coupe out...I bet if I had driven it I would have bought it.
the regret remains to this day
ended up with an e86 coupe about 6 years later, but still wished I had experienced that M coupe

I feel like one day I will have one at likely double the price I could have got it for in 2003!

[inverse121]

Originally Posted by 414bhp

The NC Miata is my fallback plan for if I go broke! But I can't see having it if I can afford exotic metal, like the 997 Porsches.

Likely the definition of what a classic car for weekend driving means is personal to each of us. Driving 997 on the street isn’t driving a slow car fast from my experience.

Please keep this thread updated I’m looking forward to whatever you get.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

They're already up, it's insane from when they were less than half the price 5-10 years ago. https://www.mcoupebuyersguide.com/listings

Maybe it's just the low mileage examples skewing the average, but man I regret not picking one up when they were somewhat cheap.

It'd be hard to pass up that 2000 Black MCoupe for $34K.

[BlkGS]

You're gonna have to give us some sort of a budget or you're gonna get all kinds of wacko answers from Miata to Miura.

Assuming your budget is sub $50k, and it's gonna be a manual for fun, you can throw the idea of a 993 out. Probably any air cooled Porsche that's decent. It sounds you want something more along the lines of a roof off l, handling focused car, not a muscle car. It sounds like you're chasing an experience more so than a time period.

Given all that, I'd consider an E92 M3 convertible. The Z3/Z4 M make great options as well. You could get into a 996 or a really crappy 997, but they're not going to scratch the itch in the same way. You could get into a plethora or Corvettes that I think are going to deliver more performance than you actually want. A 350Z would be a good choice, but hard to find clean ones. S2000 of you're a little manlet that can fit in one too (if you're at least 6 foot tall, forget about it). You could probably get into an early Viper and maybe come out alive?

Outside of that, you kinda gotta start narrowing down what you actually want.

[pbonsalb]

E9x M3 are great useable drivers! Had an E90 M3 for 10 years. The E93 convertibles are heavier and more flexy so they are slower and don’t handle quite as sharply. The 8400 rpm limit is fun and the thrills are from 5500-8400, but torque is perfectly adequate for lazy driving. Mine was a 6MT, so it was much more work to drive than the excellent DCT 7 speed that is probably better suited to the engine.

But it seems like the OP wants an antique, not a 15 year old car. Antiques can be fun for weekend drives and they can spend the weekdays in the shop being sorted out. It’s not that bad once they are sorted out, but when everything is 25 to 50 years old, it won’t be long before there is something else to fix. Great for DIYers, or those the deep pockets, though some with access to a reasonable independent shop with a backyard full of old parts cars will have tolerable upkeep costs.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

E9x M3 are great useable drivers! Had an E90 M3 for 10 years. The E93 convertibles are heavier and more flexy so they are slower and don’t handle quite as sharply. The 8400 rpm limit is fun and the thrills are from 5500-8400, but torque is perfectly adequate for lazy driving. Mine was a 6MT, so it was much more work to drive than the excellent DCT 7 speed that is probably better suited to the engine.

But it seems like the OP wants an antique, not a 15 year old car. Antiques can be fun for weekend drives and they can spend the weekdays in the shop being sorted out. It’s not that bad once they are sorted out, but when everything is 25 to 50 years old, it won’t be long before there is something else to fix. Great for DIYers, or those the deep pockets, though some with access to a reasonable independent shop with a backyard full of old parts cars will have tolerable upkeep costs.

That's why I suggested the Z3. Easy and inexpensive to maintain. Great driving experience. My Z3 sees just over 1,000 miles/year. Fires right up and drives great every time. And it's so analog. It's in the sweet spot of modern reliable DME but dri es analog.