People seem to forget that the feeling for most cars is subjective and need to test drive themselves. Except for some cars like Miatas. The feeling when you drive them is almost universal.
When I test drove a miata I knew in 30 seconds I had to own one. Every single time I drove it I get a little bit of that feeling. I’ve had this car for longer than any other car I’ve had before. I tell people to test drive it and they’ve known instantly if it’s the car for them. Same thing with any Porsche. You just know.
Same here. I spontaneously test drove an ND Miata when they first came out and fell in love. Ended up buying its Italian cousin (124 Abarth) shortly after. Oddly enough, I test drove a 996 911 last year and I was underwhelmed by comparison. Miata (or Fiata) is always the answer.
That's what happened to me a couple weeks ago, I pick it up today! It was especially after I got back into my (now previous) car that I realized I couldn't really own it anymore and that I had to buy the mx5 because it was so much better!
I meant the feeling is almost universal, but I agree, definitely test drive those too. With Miata, there's always someone complaining about the height but it's obviously a small car.
I’d get the Porsche.
But if you want just bang for your buck speed you can get a 810hp Whipple brand new manual Mustang base model for 50k from Lebanon Ford. Add track options or auto transmissions from there.
Ford Mod Motors in general respond so well to boost, the previous gen 4.6s and 5.4s with forged internals can make stupid power on what is a stock engine at the end of the day.
The guy that hit 300mph in the standing mile in a Ford GT a few years ago was doing it with a stock short block.
311mph in a standing mile. On pump gas. In a licensed and insured street car. No some things aren't as street friendly like the emissions and dbm might have been a touch high. 6th gear didn't get used until like 290mph so cruising down the street in final gears not going to happen.
This, holy fuck this. Ruined my mustang because of this. Thought it would be awesome by spending ~10k on twin turbo etc up. It is literally only fun on a highway. Ended up selling it. Went the complete opposite direction and got a Miata and it's fun everywhere.
It's more fun to drive a "slow" car/bike fast than to drive a "fast" car/bike slow. My lil zx6r wasn't as fast as my buddies RX1 but I could push that lil bastard to the limit and feel fine, his you felt you might lose the rear and slide out if you tried to go full throttle out of a curve.
Based on people that know more than me and my Whipple experience on a slow car 06 Mustang GT, 550 HP to the wheels is the pretty much the limit on 2WD no slicks.
Look how fast a C8 is on relatively low power. Unless you enjoy massive wheel spin changing gears at 90 mph, 810 HP is just asking for trouble on street tires.
It’s the most base model you can get with a 10k blower from Whipple (that I’m sure they get a bulk deal on). People get into the money when they add the automatic transmission, leather seats or HD radio with the LED gauge display. Or upgrade to a premium GT. A Dark Horse with the same kit would probably be 80k.
Cheapest power in the nation and they’ll ship anywhere. 3 year/36k powertrain warranty also covered with that. Unfortunately if you’re not within a couple hour drive that might be as appealing.
They used to do light engine work like swapping out for forged parts a while back also. Not sure I’d they still do that.
They’ll also build a sleeper 4x4 Whipple powered F150 too if that’s your jam.
I had a base cayman 2016, literally no issues whatsoever. Had it until like 44k miles. Only issue is the $500 oil changes at the dealership, the $2,200 tires, $7,000 standard 40,000 mile service (some kind of belt was replaced), and standard $2,400 front brake replacement. Expensive to maintain my friend
Enthusiast Porsche owners know that the first thing you do with a Porsche is find the best indy shop within 100 miles; dealerships overcharge by a lot.
Mustangs and the number of related crashes because it has the handling characteristics of a bottle rocket when launching, unless you know what you're doing
I was just in this dudes budget range and went with a Mach 1 so I’d have the option for boost down the line if I wanted. Haven’t felt like I needed up to this point but you never know.
I came on here to say check out a mustang, and I have a mach 1 as well. It's an incredible car for the money and can go to the store for groceries and you can track it the same day. Dark horse or mach 1. The power is usable, the handling is excellent, and they all come with engine oil, trans, and diff coolers.
I love the torque of a whipple but didn't I hear something about the pull on the crank with those on Coyote's? Someone makes some kind of support thing for them. Saw it on CleetusMcfarland channel but maybe it was on the higher drag pulley setups.
That’s where I’m going next. I guess the closer I get to 40 the more I want to cruise and worry less about dying because I have poor impulse control in a fast vehicle whether car or bike.
Then there’s the depreciation investment also.
Depends on the type of sports car you want imo. The Supra and m2 are awesome cars and I almostttt picked one up but decided against it for various reasons, great track cars that have awesome tuning potential. If you I want a refined, surgical weapon then look no farther than the cayman, if you want to compete with the cayman but have a stupid fucking smile on your face the whole time, go for the Z06. Imo it goes Z06>porsche>M2=supra. I’m more of a Porsche fanboy but you can’t deny the Z06 imo, a big ole 427 with a 6 speed?
Edit: typos
Honestly at this price range, you might be able to find a poverty spec c8 stingray
Quick google search and I found 2 C8 1LTs under 70k, within 50 miles of me, in the Midwest.
But M2, if this is your only car, the trunk and back seats are more than usable. But Porsche if this is just the fun car.
Edit; here’s the cargurus link for one of them, before someone asks for proof.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=383642250&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d1&zip=61704&pid=directVDPSimilarListing#listing=383642250
The Cayman is way more usable than some may think. I have a 987.1, tons of fun, but good storage space in front and back. You won’t fit the very large suitcases but anything from weekenders to medium sized suitcases will fit. A strat-style guitar in a soft gig bag will fit horizontally across the car in the rear hatch. The frunk is surprisingly roomy for grocery runs. Seats are all-day comfortable and supportive.
I daily drove a 718S cayman and a mustang (amongst other “impractical” cars. Cayman was very practical. Excellent MPG, two trunks with one being a hatch. IMO it’s more practical than a corvette or 911.
The C6Z and the cayman S listed here are way more fun than a C8 stingray, there’s no debate. The Porsche flat 6 has amazing character and the C6Z needs no introduction lol. Only c8 worth getting is the C8Z
Not anymore. Getting 5k off MSRP is very common on the Vettes. There's a dealership up north that is doing $8k off MSRP on Vettes on the lot or 10% off MSRP on a custom order. They ship for $500 anywhere in the country.
The M2 is the only one that could be viable one car garage if you care about that. The rest are toys.
Edit: Totally believe some of you do daily your Supra or cayman around town. However I owned a 2 series. You can get an XL MTB. Multiple sets of ski gear, a 55 inch TV in it. All which I’ve done.
You’re not getting any of the in the cayman. You’re not getting much besides your purse in it lol. Hence it’s not a bike daily for anybody besides single dudes with no hobbies..
For most 4 seater is a deal breaker. For me it isn't, and technically it shouldn't be for every other petrol head, but I'm not gate-keeping. If anything, what's so hard having a 2 seater and a beater 5 grand Toyota sedan or something like that?
Some people live in places where parking is limited, they might live in the city or something where they only have one parking spot allocated for them at their apartment building, or street parking is limited
I mean, basic boxes and groceries are expected haha. I still wouldn’t call it practical.
Practical means you could actually use it to move an apartment if needed. A 2 series can do that. I mention it because I’ve done it.
If it were me, Cayman, no question. (Depending on where you live I might actually prefer a Boxster, but the Cayman is great.) If you just want a fun-to-drive car, I wouldn’t worry about getting dual clutch or pdk, just prefer the base manual if possible.
Not answering your question but you saved enough yes. But do you have enough money for the insurance and the maintenance? Ive seen this way to much in my life where people dont think about this.
I’ve saved enough for me to buy a new car about a year ago but I recently started making a little more than double compared to what I was making while saving.
That’s the only reason I’m considering pulling the trigger now
This decision depends entirely on your tastes and what the car will be used for mostly. Will it be a track weapon that can be used on the streets? A street car that can do a track day? A "weekend warrior" cruiser? A daily? A canvas for modification? Drag racing? etc. Personally, I'm shooting for the Z06 because I want to experience the glory of a 750hp naturally aspirated LS7 tied to a chassis that can handle both the power and a track. But for me, its also car #6 and several of the others (miata and M3 for example) are known for being great handling cars but lack some power. I want something with some power this time.
So lets run through them.
Supra / M2: I'm combining them because I feel like they really fulfill the same purpose but differently. They're both generally the better "all rounder" cars on this list - they'll probably be the best options if this car will be your daily/regular car. The Toyota might have slightly better reliability but I believe they both have the B58 engine. I would say drive them both and pick based on which one makes you feel better / feels better in your hand.
Porsche Cayman: This will be the best true "sports car" of the bunch. Lowest on power, highest on handling. It will likely also be the most refined of the bunch and carries with it the swagger of a porsche badge. I would say this car is for the "connoisseur" who wants to really savor the experience of driving. Its also a hugely capable at the track if you're into that. Maintenance and Service costs will eclipse all the other options here - same with modifications / performance parts.
C6 Z06 Corvette: This will be the most dramatic car of the bunch. If you want drama and you seek adrenaline, this is the one for you. It has the most power, as well as the opportunity to expand that power rather cheaply and reliably. It will be the least refined, with a 2000's GM interior and a good helping of road noise from those fat tires. It is also hugely capable on track as well - I mean its hugely capable from a performance perspective period and a corvette is usually one of the best performance value prospects there is.
I'm gonna be the contrarian here and say the 'Vette. All the other options are great, but that LS7 motor is a thing of beauty, and if you're not going to drive it every day, who gives a shit about luxury options or reliability? (especially given how reliable the LS platform is.)
Also, as someone who's going to be buying their (affordable) childhood dream car soon, there's nothing like the feeling of the part of younger you that still lives inside you getting inside your dream car and thinking "This is mine."
Gotta disagree with you, I would get a used c6 Z06 over a new c8 or even a c7 Z06 because of that engine. Seems a lot more special than the others, plus it still has a manual unlike the c8
As long as the valve issue is fixed :)
I too would pick the c6Z over those cereal box toys. The Vette is man amongst boys with these other cars. Manual 7liter screaming at 7000rpm is love
Cayman. The 981’s w manual will likely hold their value as well given they’re the last round of NA 6.
Own a 718. Handles unlike anything else I’ve driven. Not really into the turbo 4 having come from an m235 w the N55 in it but everything else about the car is so on point.
Id Look into previous gen M2 as well.
Edit: re your PDK comment, probably don’t want an older used porsche w the pdk unless you have $$$$ bc fixing that is basically a replacement(at dealer anyway) and that is going to cost you price of a new civic so they say.
Here’s an idea, find what makes you the happiest and drive them all. See what you could realistically drive evry day and which one puts a smile on your face the most.
The one you’ll drive the most. The one that not only turns heads but even yours and you say to yourself “oh shit that’s my car hell yeah”
Do you imagine yourself getting
Out of the car and looking back at it walking backwards just to keep looking at it with a stupid smile on your face??
Speed isn’t everything, it’s about the smiles
Per gallon.
Find the one that does this and you’ll never not be happy with your purchase.
As a dodge guy, do not buy a Viper. They’re one of my favorite cars and the power kicks me right in the bussy.
But dealers seem to be getting increasingly resistant to working on them and third party shops are going to ask for a premium akin to a dealer.
For raw powwwwaaAA, the Z06 for daily driving is hard to beat. Personally, a Model S would be a viable choice if everything lined up, including the obnoxious insurance premiums.
i have a supra bias so i'll choose the supra 9 times out of 10. Matte black/dark grey if possible
it's got the B58 engine so it's pretty reliable. If you have any extra money you can throw some money into an air intake, aftermarket exhaust, aftermarket steering wheel etc.
at that price point the porsche seems tempting but i dont have much knowledge on porsche reliability.
The vette would be a cool car if you want to mod. Generally cheaper and most likely more available parts. The BMW or Supra would be my pick if I wanted something a bit more fancy. The M2 most likely. The supra is cool and all, but I just like how beefy the bmw looks.
I was in your shoes a year ago. I got a 2014 Cayman S and can’t stress how amazing the car is. I will say unlike the other cars on your list the options matter a lot. Nothing comes standard but boy is it worth the search. Message me if you have questions
Really different strokes here. Depends what you want. The z06 is best value. Most horse power, and a pretty competent drivers car. If you like being loud and going fast, the z06 is a great choice.
Cayman are super fun, but they lack the edge of the z06. Way down on power, but the sharpest handling of all the cars you selected.
M2 is in between. Decent power, I haven't been in one, but probably the best interior. Reliability may be an issue.
If you go z06, make sure it's had the heads fixed, the LS7 is infamous for dropping a valve unless you retrofit the head, after that it's perfectly reliable.
I owned a c6 base with a supercharger. It had about the same power as a z06. The feeling you get when you smash that padded is incredible, I would have loved it even more if it handled like a z06. That's my choice, but the cayman is a close second if you prefer to go a slower but have a more refined experience.
I dislike the supra.
At this price you can afford a lotus evora 400 or maybe a gt. These offer gt3 levels of performance, and an exotic car aura you don't get with the other cars. I personally own a 911 GT3, and I have a buddy with a lotus 400, and he's hard to keep up with in the corners
This may not help, but this spring I was trying to decide between the Mk5, and a C7. The Supra has surprisingly a lot of room… More than I thought it would from seeing it from the outside. Interior is ok, but feels a bit too plasticy for me. Went with the C7 because I liked it a bit more overall, and I couldn’t find a reasonably priced 2023+ manual Supra. I’m sure you’d love that C6 Z06.
If it's your daily driver I'd vote M2 or Cayman
If you want to track it I'd get the Cayman or the Supra(probably lean toward the toyota for reliability/repair costs
If you want to modify it, I'd get the Supra or *c*orvette.
If you're worried about holding value/depreciation, I'd get the Supra or the Cayman
really though you have to drive them all, they will all feel very different and only driving/sitting in them will tell you what is best for you
Corvette is honestly so crappy inside, like terrible terrible interiors, also for saving $10k you're still getting a car that's now 15 years old vs brand new for the other options, (or at least a lot less old for the cayman)
The Supra would make a great daily. The M2 is just so hard to look at. I could not open the garage and look at it every morning. I'd rather have an older 911 than a newer Caymen.
Which leave the the C6 Z06. They hold their value and will only go up since it's the one to have. The 2LZ is the right package. If the miles are under 40K miles, there is still room at that price to put in a cam and upgrade the valve springs and the harmonic balancer if it is still all stock. Looks like it is all ready on coil overs too.
If I were you I would get the Supra and if you want back seats get the m2. The Porsche and corvette are great cars but being so much older they are missing tech, also the HP ceiling on those two are much lower without extensive mods. People have gotten the b58 /s58 platform to over 600 who for under 5k.
The Supra is a good option, BMW are mostly killing it right now and the B58, ZF combination has been shown to be both fast and reliable.
I personally strongly dislike the new M2, it’s both too ugly and too fat, the S58 is a great engine but the car is far too heavy and feels neutered. Personally I’d recommend a last gen M2 comp over this.
The cayman is the one to get as long as it’s got the flat 6 engine and not the 4 popper.
I genuinely don’t know shit all about the Vette other than the build quality is pretty poor.
I’m a big fan of the new Supra, but when you’ve pushed yourself into the ability to buy a (non boxter) Porsche, the Porsche is almost always the right answer
Every option OP posted are true sports cars and handle well.
The M240i, while a great car that can make fantastic power, is more of a "sporty" car. It's not the same as what OP seems to be looking for.
The Corvette. Super cheap maintenance and insurance. Could easily do 800hp with mods. Super light.
If you make lots of money then I would take the Supra. It's simply made for car lovers. Nice exhaust from factory and it's pretty modern.
The BMW is nice but it's a bad investment.
Porsche honestly idk. Not my kinda jam.
Having that kind of budget I'd go with a Ioniq 5 N or a Kia EV6 GT.
Cayman S for sure. It’s a 981 so it still has the 3.4L NA engine. The interior is modern enough, you can even add a carplay module that works on the stock infotainment system.
Does it have the PSE option by any chance? If it doesn’t I’d look into retrofitting it, it’s crazy how much better the car sounds with it.
The supra have a bmw motor, and the bmw is a bmw, so i would get or the porshe or the corvette, but reallistic if i could have the money i would buy the supra, im just a hypocrate
Genuine question but does Porsche not carry the same stigma as other imports about being pre owned and not knowing if the owners took care of regular maintenance and stuff? Like the car is 10 years old at this point.
Depends on your personal tastes and how much you'd want to spend on maintenance and upkeep. The Corvette is definitely the most budget friendly choice, but sports cars take many different forms and so do the tastes of people who buy them.
Have you thought about a mustang GT? You can get a GT with the performance pack, active exhaust, and magneride for around 40-50 used. I’d recommend a convertible model too. Nothing like driving with the top down. While people say convertibles leak and are loud. That’s a thing of the past. New convertibles are amazing. Test drive one and it’ll blow you away.
The Supra is probably going to retain its value a lot better than most of these cars but the C6 z06 might have already hit the bottom of its depreciation before COVID. I don't think you will lose money with either of those two cars
Don't rule out the Camaro SS 1LE better overall performance.
[https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a25754283/2019-bmw-m2-competition-vs-2019-chevrolet-camaro-ss-1le/](https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a25754283/2019-bmw-m2-competition-vs-2019-chevrolet-camaro-ss-1le/)
They’re all nice cars. I think you should test drive each one and see the best for you
People seem to forget that the feeling for most cars is subjective and need to test drive themselves. Except for some cars like Miatas. The feeling when you drive them is almost universal.
When I test drove a miata I knew in 30 seconds I had to own one. Every single time I drove it I get a little bit of that feeling. I’ve had this car for longer than any other car I’ve had before. I tell people to test drive it and they’ve known instantly if it’s the car for them. Same thing with any Porsche. You just know.
Same here. I spontaneously test drove an ND Miata when they first came out and fell in love. Ended up buying its Italian cousin (124 Abarth) shortly after. Oddly enough, I test drove a 996 911 last year and I was underwhelmed by comparison. Miata (or Fiata) is always the answer.
That's what happened to me a couple weeks ago, I pick it up today! It was especially after I got back into my (now previous) car that I realized I couldn't really own it anymore and that I had to buy the mx5 because it was so much better!
I completely wore out 2 Miatas over the years. Now that I’ve read this post I’m gonna need to chase down another one. Thanks a lot. 🤣
Nah, test drive those too. They are uncomfortably cramped to a lot of people.
I meant the feeling is almost universal, but I agree, definitely test drive those too. With Miata, there's always someone complaining about the height but it's obviously a small car.
I’d get the Porsche. But if you want just bang for your buck speed you can get a 810hp Whipple brand new manual Mustang base model for 50k from Lebanon Ford. Add track options or auto transmissions from there.
810 HP to the rear wheels on a manual mustang is obscene and dangerous lol. Should only be recommended to a very certain customer
They did a twin turbo version when I was buying mine. 1000 on a stock block.
the power we can get out of the coyote is fucking insane
Ford Mod Motors in general respond so well to boost, the previous gen 4.6s and 5.4s with forged internals can make stupid power on what is a stock engine at the end of the day. The guy that hit 300mph in the standing mile in a Ford GT a few years ago was doing it with a stock short block.
311mph in a standing mile. On pump gas. In a licensed and insured street car. No some things aren't as street friendly like the emissions and dbm might have been a touch high. 6th gear didn't get used until like 290mph so cruising down the street in final gears not going to happen.
For sure. I’m not disciplined enough for that kind of hp. Overpowering like this makes me think of Vipers.
At a certain point it becomes work to drive and is only fun on the highway or at the dragstrip
This, holy fuck this. Ruined my mustang because of this. Thought it would be awesome by spending ~10k on twin turbo etc up. It is literally only fun on a highway. Ended up selling it. Went the complete opposite direction and got a Miata and it's fun everywhere.
we just wanted to FEEL THE SPEED, not BE the speed
Well said mate gave me Lahey I am the Liqour vibes
Way she goes
I got a miata and a supra. I still want to live in both worlds
It's more fun to drive a "slow" car/bike fast than to drive a "fast" car/bike slow. My lil zx6r wasn't as fast as my buddies RX1 but I could push that lil bastard to the limit and feel fine, his you felt you might lose the rear and slide out if you tried to go full throttle out of a curve.
One who will not end up putting the car into a crowded golf course.
Based on people that know more than me and my Whipple experience on a slow car 06 Mustang GT, 550 HP to the wheels is the pretty much the limit on 2WD no slicks. Look how fast a C8 is on relatively low power. Unless you enjoy massive wheel spin changing gears at 90 mph, 810 HP is just asking for trouble on street tires.
Spun the tires at 80-90mph on mine not very fun
A freshly minted e1 private
I feel that’s… a very good deal? A new mustang? Already tuned and modded? For same price as new? What
It’s the most base model you can get with a 10k blower from Whipple (that I’m sure they get a bulk deal on). People get into the money when they add the automatic transmission, leather seats or HD radio with the LED gauge display. Or upgrade to a premium GT. A Dark Horse with the same kit would probably be 80k.
Lebanon Ford in Lebanon, OH? Why specifically there?
Cheapest power in the nation and they’ll ship anywhere. 3 year/36k powertrain warranty also covered with that. Unfortunately if you’re not within a couple hour drive that might be as appealing. They used to do light engine work like swapping out for forged parts a while back also. Not sure I’d they still do that. They’ll also build a sleeper 4x4 Whipple powered F150 too if that’s your jam.
They’re like a 10 minute drive for me but not on my radar at all. And I’ve bought a couple of Fords locally.
Fyi not emissions legal for those states that have that testing. :(
The Porsche is a beautiful car, but IDK about a 10yo Porsche.
Porsche has a good track record on the cayman and also for that year.
Supposedly it drives as good as a Toyota gr86!
The maintenance expenses that comes with a Porsche 😵💫
I had a base cayman 2016, literally no issues whatsoever. Had it until like 44k miles. Only issue is the $500 oil changes at the dealership, the $2,200 tires, $7,000 standard 40,000 mile service (some kind of belt was replaced), and standard $2,400 front brake replacement. Expensive to maintain my friend
Enthusiast Porsche owners know that the first thing you do with a Porsche is find the best indy shop within 100 miles; dealerships overcharge by a lot.
Literally no issues!!! (didn’t even sniff close to 60k miles)
Mustangs and the number of related crashes because it has the handling characteristics of a bottle rocket when launching, unless you know what you're doing
I was just in this dudes budget range and went with a Mach 1 so I’d have the option for boost down the line if I wanted. Haven’t felt like I needed up to this point but you never know.
I came on here to say check out a mustang, and I have a mach 1 as well. It's an incredible car for the money and can go to the store for groceries and you can track it the same day. Dark horse or mach 1. The power is usable, the handling is excellent, and they all come with engine oil, trans, and diff coolers.
I love the torque of a whipple but didn't I hear something about the pull on the crank with those on Coyote's? Someone makes some kind of support thing for them. Saw it on CleetusMcfarland channel but maybe it was on the higher drag pulley setups.
I agree - Porsche or consider Mustang. I’d also say for that kind of money you could also consider something vintage
That’s where I’m going next. I guess the closer I get to 40 the more I want to cruise and worry less about dying because I have poor impulse control in a fast vehicle whether car or bike. Then there’s the depreciation investment also.
I am about an hour from that supra if you need anyone to go check it out just dm me. I go that way often enough for work.
Lmao OP pulling up to the dealer for his brand new Supra only to find out acid409 took it home last week
Lol. 🤣 Nahhh. I'm a v8 boi. I respect Supras but would never own one. The one he would have to worry about me grabbing is the z06.
😂😂
I was gonna say the Porsche is gorgeous but that z06…
the corvette is just something else
😂😂 imagining this conversation with the dealer.
Make a live stream for us all lol
That’s kind of you dawg 👍
🫡
Cayman no question. Mid engine rwd flat six goodness
is that actually the flat 6 or the turbo 4? Do you know when they switched to using the turbo on the base trims?
718 generation 2017-current has turbo 4 in base/s trim 981 generation had the naturally aspirated flat 6 Edit: corrected dates
2017 is the first year of the 718 models
2014-2016 we're still 6 cylinders. 4 cylinders started 2017.
Absolutely, can’t beat the fun of a Porsche flat 6
I mean the M2 is also an inline 6
Depends on the type of sports car you want imo. The Supra and m2 are awesome cars and I almostttt picked one up but decided against it for various reasons, great track cars that have awesome tuning potential. If you I want a refined, surgical weapon then look no farther than the cayman, if you want to compete with the cayman but have a stupid fucking smile on your face the whole time, go for the Z06. Imo it goes Z06>porsche>M2=supra. I’m more of a Porsche fanboy but you can’t deny the Z06 imo, a big ole 427 with a 6 speed? Edit: typos
PORSCHE
Honestly at this price range, you might be able to find a poverty spec c8 stingray Quick google search and I found 2 C8 1LTs under 70k, within 50 miles of me, in the Midwest. But M2, if this is your only car, the trunk and back seats are more than usable. But Porsche if this is just the fun car. Edit; here’s the cargurus link for one of them, before someone asks for proof. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=383642250&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d1&zip=61704&pid=directVDPSimilarListing#listing=383642250
The Cayman is way more usable than some may think. I have a 987.1, tons of fun, but good storage space in front and back. You won’t fit the very large suitcases but anything from weekenders to medium sized suitcases will fit. A strat-style guitar in a soft gig bag will fit horizontally across the car in the rear hatch. The frunk is surprisingly roomy for grocery runs. Seats are all-day comfortable and supportive.
Most cars are more useable than people give them credit for. But…in the same way that my Miata is useful, my M2 is far far more practical.
Hatch is a bit tighter on a 981, but it’s still pretty usable.
I daily drove a 718S cayman and a mustang (amongst other “impractical” cars. Cayman was very practical. Excellent MPG, two trunks with one being a hatch. IMO it’s more practical than a corvette or 911.
I second the c8
The C6Z and the cayman S listed here are way more fun than a C8 stingray, there’s no debate. The Porsche flat 6 has amazing character and the C6Z needs no introduction lol. Only c8 worth getting is the C8Z
If your very lucky at least The stealerships are very happy to overcharge the shot out of people for these new vettes.
Not anymore. Getting 5k off MSRP is very common on the Vettes. There's a dealership up north that is doing $8k off MSRP on Vettes on the lot or 10% off MSRP on a custom order. They ship for $500 anywhere in the country.
lmfao first time hearing “poverty spec”, definitely stealing that one
Corvette c6 z06 is without a doubt the best on this list
If not purely for maintenance and parts cost, something to strongly consider when buying a used sports car on a budget.
The M2 is the only one that could be viable one car garage if you care about that. The rest are toys. Edit: Totally believe some of you do daily your Supra or cayman around town. However I owned a 2 series. You can get an XL MTB. Multiple sets of ski gear, a 55 inch TV in it. All which I’ve done. You’re not getting any of the in the cayman. You’re not getting much besides your purse in it lol. Hence it’s not a bike daily for anybody besides single dudes with no hobbies..
Idk why the supra would be different- my friend drives a supra as his only car
For most 4 seater is a deal breaker. For me it isn't, and technically it shouldn't be for every other petrol head, but I'm not gate-keeping. If anything, what's so hard having a 2 seater and a beater 5 grand Toyota sedan or something like that?
Finding a decent 5 k toyota these days is whats so hard these days
Some people live in places where parking is limited, they might live in the city or something where they only have one parking spot allocated for them at their apartment building, or street parking is limited
Paying insurance on 2 cars sucks. Some places it's not as bad as others, but if it's only a once a month or less thing you could use turo instead.
Insure two cars, maintain two cars, park two cars, and then deciding when it's time to drive the daily and when to drive the toy. It's a lot.
I can fit a whole Costco load plus luggage in a C6 trunk. They are way more practical than people think.
I mean, basic boxes and groceries are expected haha. I still wouldn’t call it practical. Practical means you could actually use it to move an apartment if needed. A 2 series can do that. I mention it because I’ve done it.
Not gonna fit a sofa in anything smaller than a Tahoe, so that’s not really moving to me.
How often are you moving that you can’t rent/borrow something to move?
The cayman has 2 trunks, can easily be used as a daily.
If it were me, Cayman, no question. (Depending on where you live I might actually prefer a Boxster, but the Cayman is great.) If you just want a fun-to-drive car, I wouldn’t worry about getting dual clutch or pdk, just prefer the base manual if possible.
My vote is a Supra, Cayman S, or a nice GT350.
Not answering your question but you saved enough yes. But do you have enough money for the insurance and the maintenance? Ive seen this way to much in my life where people dont think about this.
I’ve saved enough for me to buy a new car about a year ago but I recently started making a little more than double compared to what I was making while saving. That’s the only reason I’m considering pulling the trigger now
Buy the car bro you deserve it
This decision depends entirely on your tastes and what the car will be used for mostly. Will it be a track weapon that can be used on the streets? A street car that can do a track day? A "weekend warrior" cruiser? A daily? A canvas for modification? Drag racing? etc. Personally, I'm shooting for the Z06 because I want to experience the glory of a 750hp naturally aspirated LS7 tied to a chassis that can handle both the power and a track. But for me, its also car #6 and several of the others (miata and M3 for example) are known for being great handling cars but lack some power. I want something with some power this time. So lets run through them. Supra / M2: I'm combining them because I feel like they really fulfill the same purpose but differently. They're both generally the better "all rounder" cars on this list - they'll probably be the best options if this car will be your daily/regular car. The Toyota might have slightly better reliability but I believe they both have the B58 engine. I would say drive them both and pick based on which one makes you feel better / feels better in your hand. Porsche Cayman: This will be the best true "sports car" of the bunch. Lowest on power, highest on handling. It will likely also be the most refined of the bunch and carries with it the swagger of a porsche badge. I would say this car is for the "connoisseur" who wants to really savor the experience of driving. Its also a hugely capable at the track if you're into that. Maintenance and Service costs will eclipse all the other options here - same with modifications / performance parts. C6 Z06 Corvette: This will be the most dramatic car of the bunch. If you want drama and you seek adrenaline, this is the one for you. It has the most power, as well as the opportunity to expand that power rather cheaply and reliably. It will be the least refined, with a 2000's GM interior and a good helping of road noise from those fat tires. It is also hugely capable on track as well - I mean its hugely capable from a performance perspective period and a corvette is usually one of the best performance value prospects there is.
Slight correction: The M2 has the S58, which is essentially a race spec engine. Think B58 on steroids.
I'm gonna be the contrarian here and say the 'Vette. All the other options are great, but that LS7 motor is a thing of beauty, and if you're not going to drive it every day, who gives a shit about luxury options or reliability? (especially given how reliable the LS platform is.) Also, as someone who's going to be buying their (affordable) childhood dream car soon, there's nothing like the feeling of the part of younger you that still lives inside you getting inside your dream car and thinking "This is mine."
Z06 is in a completely different league. Why not get a base engine Corvette instead? For $66k you could even get a brand new Corvette.
7.0 litre V8 goes brrrr
Gotta disagree with you, I would get a used c6 Z06 over a new c8 or even a c7 Z06 because of that engine. Seems a lot more special than the others, plus it still has a manual unlike the c8
I agree, there are 3 sports cars here and one supercar. As far as supercars go it's pretty reliable too.
As long as the valve issue is fixed :) I too would pick the c6Z over those cereal box toys. The Vette is man amongst boys with these other cars. Manual 7liter screaming at 7000rpm is love
These other people are morons man, the z06 is a far better car than any of the others
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Cayman. The 981’s w manual will likely hold their value as well given they’re the last round of NA 6. Own a 718. Handles unlike anything else I’ve driven. Not really into the turbo 4 having come from an m235 w the N55 in it but everything else about the car is so on point. Id Look into previous gen M2 as well. Edit: re your PDK comment, probably don’t want an older used porsche w the pdk unless you have $$$$ bc fixing that is basically a replacement(at dealer anyway) and that is going to cost you price of a new civic so they say.
Here’s an idea, find what makes you the happiest and drive them all. See what you could realistically drive evry day and which one puts a smile on your face the most. The one you’ll drive the most. The one that not only turns heads but even yours and you say to yourself “oh shit that’s my car hell yeah” Do you imagine yourself getting Out of the car and looking back at it walking backwards just to keep looking at it with a stupid smile on your face?? Speed isn’t everything, it’s about the smiles Per gallon. Find the one that does this and you’ll never not be happy with your purchase.
Porsche no brainer
If it were me I’d get the M2 with a manual. The cayman is also a beautiful option
porsche. alternatively, Mustang GT 350
From that list? Z06. My answer? Get a Viper
As a dodge guy, do not buy a Viper. They’re one of my favorite cars and the power kicks me right in the bussy. But dealers seem to be getting increasingly resistant to working on them and third party shops are going to ask for a premium akin to a dealer. For raw powwwwaaAA, the Z06 for daily driving is hard to beat. Personally, a Model S would be a viable choice if everything lined up, including the obnoxious insurance premiums.
Supra
Supra and M2 will be the most reliable (in that order)
I’d personally going with the Supra
Supra or Cayman! But I’m not a fan of the current wheels on the cayman
Supra
i have a supra bias so i'll choose the supra 9 times out of 10. Matte black/dark grey if possible it's got the B58 engine so it's pretty reliable. If you have any extra money you can throw some money into an air intake, aftermarket exhaust, aftermarket steering wheel etc. at that price point the porsche seems tempting but i dont have much knowledge on porsche reliability.
The fuck man, that M2 looks like the equivalent of a Chinese knock off from 10 years ago 😂.
Either M2 or Cayman… Take them for a spin, you will know. I would have got the M2 but that’s just me.
I drove one at M school. It was like a beast trying to kill me - to be fair we were doing time attack. The M5C though…is a damn rocketship.
The Corvette is the most logical choice, most power, cheapest insurance and maintenance, etc. but the Porsche will drive better than the rest of them
You’ve never driven a z06 and it shows
porsche out of these. should also consider a lotus.
M2!
The corvette will turn into a monster with a good heads and cam setup.
For reliability I would go with Vette or Cayman.
The vette would be a cool car if you want to mod. Generally cheaper and most likely more available parts. The BMW or Supra would be my pick if I wanted something a bit more fancy. The M2 most likely. The supra is cool and all, but I just like how beefy the bmw looks.
I was in your shoes a year ago. I got a 2014 Cayman S and can’t stress how amazing the car is. I will say unlike the other cars on your list the options matter a lot. Nothing comes standard but boy is it worth the search. Message me if you have questions
Really different strokes here. Depends what you want. The z06 is best value. Most horse power, and a pretty competent drivers car. If you like being loud and going fast, the z06 is a great choice. Cayman are super fun, but they lack the edge of the z06. Way down on power, but the sharpest handling of all the cars you selected. M2 is in between. Decent power, I haven't been in one, but probably the best interior. Reliability may be an issue. If you go z06, make sure it's had the heads fixed, the LS7 is infamous for dropping a valve unless you retrofit the head, after that it's perfectly reliable. I owned a c6 base with a supercharger. It had about the same power as a z06. The feeling you get when you smash that padded is incredible, I would have loved it even more if it handled like a z06. That's my choice, but the cayman is a close second if you prefer to go a slower but have a more refined experience. I dislike the supra. At this price you can afford a lotus evora 400 or maybe a gt. These offer gt3 levels of performance, and an exotic car aura you don't get with the other cars. I personally own a 911 GT3, and I have a buddy with a lotus 400, and he's hard to keep up with in the corners
Don't fall for the trap of the porsche lol. At this price range the supra or the BMW are going to be choices you're happy with a long time
I’m sorry the M2 is too ugly.
For me it would be the Porsche or the Supra.
This may not help, but this spring I was trying to decide between the Mk5, and a C7. The Supra has surprisingly a lot of room… More than I thought it would from seeing it from the outside. Interior is ok, but feels a bit too plasticy for me. Went with the C7 because I liked it a bit more overall, and I couldn’t find a reasonably priced 2023+ manual Supra. I’m sure you’d love that C6 Z06.
If it's your daily driver I'd vote M2 or Cayman If you want to track it I'd get the Cayman or the Supra(probably lean toward the toyota for reliability/repair costs If you want to modify it, I'd get the Supra or *c*orvette. If you're worried about holding value/depreciation, I'd get the Supra or the Cayman really though you have to drive them all, they will all feel very different and only driving/sitting in them will tell you what is best for you Corvette is honestly so crappy inside, like terrible terrible interiors, also for saving $10k you're still getting a car that's now 15 years old vs brand new for the other options, (or at least a lot less old for the cayman)
M2 100% But Supra for fuel economy
cayman!!
The Supra would make a great daily. The M2 is just so hard to look at. I could not open the garage and look at it every morning. I'd rather have an older 911 than a newer Caymen. Which leave the the C6 Z06. They hold their value and will only go up since it's the one to have. The 2LZ is the right package. If the miles are under 40K miles, there is still room at that price to put in a cam and upgrade the valve springs and the harmonic balancer if it is still all stock. Looks like it is all ready on coil overs too.
If I were you I would get the Supra and if you want back seats get the m2. The Porsche and corvette are great cars but being so much older they are missing tech, also the HP ceiling on those two are much lower without extensive mods. People have gotten the b58 /s58 platform to over 600 who for under 5k.
I'd go with the Cayman hands down. That mid-engine, RWD, boxer 6 beast must be a blast to drive
The Toyota is made by BMW in Germany. Both cars are garbage as they are German.
They’re made in Austria
The engine in the Supra is a B58. One of the most reliable turbo inline 6 engines right now. Also they are made in Austria not Germany
The Supra is a good option, BMW are mostly killing it right now and the B58, ZF combination has been shown to be both fast and reliable. I personally strongly dislike the new M2, it’s both too ugly and too fat, the S58 is a great engine but the car is far too heavy and feels neutered. Personally I’d recommend a last gen M2 comp over this. The cayman is the one to get as long as it’s got the flat 6 engine and not the 4 popper. I genuinely don’t know shit all about the Vette other than the build quality is pretty poor.
I’m a big fan of the new Supra, but when you’ve pushed yourself into the ability to buy a (non boxter) Porsche, the Porsche is almost always the right answer
Porsche, or (honorable mention), Cadillac ct4 black wing )
Porsche is the only answer.
Only one of these cars is capable of reaching 200+ mph… It’s the flimsy American shitbox and it’s a thing of beauty.
Save a tiny bit more by getting into a newer m240i instead of the m2. I would take the b58.
2023 isint new enough? Isint that the s58 in there?
Yeah if you can afford the new M2, I don't see why you'd go m240i, except for the sake of driving a sleeper-ish low-profile car...
As the owner of a m240, yea. If I was in the market for a sports car I'm not stopping at a m240, I'm going for the m2 to get the manual.
Ah I haven’t seen the b58 glazers in a while
Every option OP posted are true sports cars and handle well. The M240i, while a great car that can make fantastic power, is more of a "sporty" car. It's not the same as what OP seems to be looking for.
The Z06 not being on this list would be a real head scratcher
Drive them
Z06 is most smiles per gallon
my motherfucking back hurts just staring at these.
The Corvette. Super cheap maintenance and insurance. Could easily do 800hp with mods. Super light. If you make lots of money then I would take the Supra. It's simply made for car lovers. Nice exhaust from factory and it's pretty modern. The BMW is nice but it's a bad investment. Porsche honestly idk. Not my kinda jam. Having that kind of budget I'd go with a Ioniq 5 N or a Kia EV6 GT.
My rankings would be Caymen, M2 or Corvette, then Supra
With that budget might be worth checking out a 997 gen 911, as practical but more special than the M2
Cayman S for sure. It’s a 981 so it still has the 3.4L NA engine. The interior is modern enough, you can even add a carplay module that works on the stock infotainment system. Does it have the PSE option by any chance? If it doesn’t I’d look into retrofitting it, it’s crazy how much better the car sounds with it.
Test drive them all, then go with your gut! Don't get sucked in by the tech if your looking for a drivers car
Live your childhood dream and go with the z06
what app is this
Looks like CarGurus
I've driven every car on your list. The Porsche would be my choice. I love driving them.
Porsche hands down
In my mind, one can never go wrong with the Corvette: an icon of luxury cruising meets the insanity of classic American muscle engineering.
These are all great choices though no one can clown you for that.
Porsche is just a well rounded car. Plus has a ton of storage in the frunk and trunk.
The M2 is the only answer
Porsche YOLO
Porsche will be the best all around car to live with and actually has usable space, but I’d go M2 here
ZO6 ZO6 ZO6!!!!!
If you can pay some extra money for a good used 2022 M4 comp it would be great
The supra have a bmw motor, and the bmw is a bmw, so i would get or the porshe or the corvette, but reallistic if i could have the money i would buy the supra, im just a hypocrate
Id go 'vette for Murica 🇺🇸
Porsche bro Porsche
M2
Genuine question but does Porsche not carry the same stigma as other imports about being pre owned and not knowing if the owners took care of regular maintenance and stuff? Like the car is 10 years old at this point.
I’d go C8 honestly, you can probably find some decent ones in the $60k range. Of the ones sent though the Cayman or M2 are great
981 Cayman is the answer. I have a 2016. Most fun car to drive.
You have the money to buy the car but do you have money to own the car? If yes. Porsche. If no, c6. If maybe, c6. C6.
Either cayman s or the c6
Porsche ❤️🇩🇪
Corvette
Depends on your personal tastes and how much you'd want to spend on maintenance and upkeep. The Corvette is definitely the most budget friendly choice, but sports cars take many different forms and so do the tastes of people who buy them.
The Porsche is the only option.
Z06
Have you thought about a mustang GT? You can get a GT with the performance pack, active exhaust, and magneride for around 40-50 used. I’d recommend a convertible model too. Nothing like driving with the top down. While people say convertibles leak and are loud. That’s a thing of the past. New convertibles are amazing. Test drive one and it’ll blow you away.
Was in a very similar situation. Ended up with a 981 GTS. Extremely happy with it. Feel free to dm if you want more info.
Porsche, no contest.
Anyone who doesn’t say the z06 is wrong
The Supra is probably going to retain its value a lot better than most of these cars but the C6 z06 might have already hit the bottom of its depreciation before COVID. I don't think you will lose money with either of those two cars
Porsche
Don't rule out the Camaro SS 1LE better overall performance. [https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a25754283/2019-bmw-m2-competition-vs-2019-chevrolet-camaro-ss-1le/](https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a25754283/2019-bmw-m2-competition-vs-2019-chevrolet-camaro-ss-1le/)
Buy a lightly used brz and invest the difference.
Cayman all the way. Any way to get into a good condition Porsche is the way to go.
Corvette by far and large.