Welp, the 2013 Porsche Boxster I have maybe on its last legs. I have a Nissan Titan diesel with a Cummins for towing and hauling stuff, but I'm looking for a small daily driver that's fun. The Porsche was fun but as I get older, I don't need the status and am looking for a daily driver I won't worry about racking up miles. Trying to decide on a small fun car to drive. These are the ones I'm considering that are all a fraction of the price of Porsche or other cars.

Honda Civic Type R
Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR86
Toyota GR Supra

Gotta have a manual transmission and four seats is a plus but not essential. Any one own one or have any thoughts?

Obvious answer is a Mustang

Dealer markups on the CTR are gonna make it not worth it. I'd go GR86 or Supra.

Or just get a Miata.

What's the issue with the Porsche? Too far gone to repair or do you just wanting something different?

silverado_lover said:

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Obvious answer is a Mustang

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Or this, if it's "small" enough for you. New 5.0 mustang is coming out this year.

Yeah, I need to look at the Mustang too. Buying American is a plus.

Canyon99 said:

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What's the issue with the Porsche? Too far gone to repair or do you just wanting something different?

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It's in the shop now. Obvious transmission issue. There's also an unknown electric issue and the soft top works but I have to go through a special procedure to get it to work.

I put probably 15,000 plus miles on it a year as a daily driver and just don't want to be paying expensive repair bills going forward. It's worth about $20k now (assuming I get the issues fixed), so it's probably a good time to unload it or trade it in. 80k + miles on it.

I'm driving the diesel truck daily which isn't smart.

HossAg said:

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GR86

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Coming from a Boxster the closest thing I would recommend would be an ND Miata for simplistic, light, small with good handling.

New Nissan Z

Wait a year and pick up a Lotus Emira which IMO price wise will drop like a rock on the used market.

Or if a coupe is acceptable how about Porsche Cayman ?

agracer said:

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New Nissan Z

Wait a year and pick up a Lotus Emira which IMO price wise will drop like a rock on the used market.

Or if a coupe is acceptable how about Porsche Cayman ?

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I had a 280z in college. Loved that car. Car and driver panned the Z.

If the Porsche is fixable I could wait. The Lotus/Cayman is getting up there in price. The used car market sucks now. I picked up the Boxster used with 13k miles on it for a steal.

Getting up in price there. Part of the appeal of the other cars is I could sell/trade the Porsche, slap another $20k or so down and have a paid for brand new car. I commute about 20 miles each way to/from work, so I hate to just rack up miles on a more expensive car.

GF drives a Subaru and is trying to get me to get one of those. Then we could both be lesbians.

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

You can get a manual Miata, around 2016-2017, with ~20-40k miles for $22-25k. It would be like driving a go kart to work every day.

agracer said:

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New Nissan Z

Wait a year and pick up a Lotus Emira which IMO price wise will drop like a rock on the used market.

Or if a coupe is acceptable how about Porsche Cayman ?

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Isn't the US Lotus Emira is autobox only?

Miata is an easier answer for a sporty commuter that won't eat your wallet.

I owned a NA and it was a hoot.

If you are willing to go used, there a bunch of BMW models you can get with sticks -- but they aren't going to save you much from a maintenance perspective.

Frankly, I'd trust a 80k mileage Boxster over a 40k mileage BMW.

GTI?

If the rear wheels aren't driven, it's not a sports car hth

If those are your three options you gotta go with the Supra. They first came out in automatic only but the 2023 should ahve manual option now.

Fair enough, but it is small and very fun to drive.

silverado_lover said:

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Obvious answer is a Mustang

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I would get a 2014 Mustang GT. I think that is the year in that gen that has the best reviews/ratings. Anyway, while it won't get quite as good of mileage as the Boxster, it won't suck. Plus, you should be able to get out of your Porsche and into the Mustang for about even if the 20K figure you think is accurate. Maybe less depending on the mileage.

Just have your mechanic check out the Mustang's clutch. I don't care what year GT you're looking at -- if you're buying a manual used, you have to look closely at them.

I'm actually thinking of getting one of these myself.

Getting long in the tooth but maybe an S2000 from one of the last years?

It's tough to find one in really good condition with low mileage for a reasonable price.

But it's a fantastic little car.

Trinity Ag said:

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agracer said:

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New Nissan Z

Wait a year and pick up a Lotus Emira which IMO price wise will drop like a rock on the used market.

Or if a coupe is acceptable how about Porsche Cayman ?

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Isn't the US Lotus Emira is autobox only?

Miata is an easier answer for a sporty commuter that won't eat your wallet.

I owned a NA and it was a hoot.

If you are willing to go used, there a bunch of BMW models you can get with sticks -- but they aren't going to save you much from a maintenance perspective.

Frankly, I'd trust a 80k mileage Boxster over a 40k mileage BMW.

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That.

I daily drive my 98 986. Maintaining it isn't terribly expensive. Analog inspired. You have to drive it absent a lot of "bells and whistles" that can break and operate intermittingly.

Consider a 986. Inexpensive. Sporty. Truly a go cart experience.

The Miata? It's a no cart.

And no front wheel drive. That's NOT a sports car.

Axle broke. How the hell did that happen? Gonna be an expensive repair for the Porsche. I'm gonna fix it and unload it.

V8 sports cars are dying. I'd recommend getting a mustang or camaro.

I just got a '23 1SS 1LE and couldn't be happier, but I chose it because I plan to track the vehicle after engine break in. It's a circuit lap monster for the price.

theJonatron said:

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V8 sports cars are dying. I'd recommend getting a mustang or camaro.

I just got a '23 1SS 1LE and couldn't be happier, but I chose it because I plan to track the vehicle after engine break in. It's a circuit lap monster for the price.

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Can you egress with your helmet on? Lots of helmets won't fit through the window. That's an automatic no for me... sad because they're supposed to be really good!

robert

Mate been track riding a motorcycle for 7 years I'll be fine

GeorgiAg said:

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Axle broke. How the hell did that happen? Gonna be an expensive repair for the Porsche. I'm gonna fix it and unload it.

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Presumably, you hit something.

Surprised nobody's offered up a used Tesla yet.

Anyway, if you're 5'10" or shorter, the Subaru BRZ might be worth a look.

My little brother has one and loves it. From talking with him, it sounds like they've had problems getting certain option combinations built.

GR Corolla. 300hp, AWD, 3 Pedals, Toyota reliability.

FIDO*98* said:

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GR Corolla. 300hp, AWD, 3 Pedals, Toyota reliability.

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$40K + for 300 HP 3 cylinder
It's brake lines and fluid have to be changed if you plan to drive aggressively, they are too weak.

Yeah the GR Corolla has the same issue as the CTR with it being too expensive for what you get. Typically have dealer markups on those if you can even find them.

Trinity Ag said:

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agracer said:

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New Nissan Z

Wait a year and pick up a Lotus Emira which IMO price wise will drop like a rock on the used market.

Or if a coupe is acceptable how about Porsche Cayman ?

---

Isn't the US Lotus Emira is autobox only?

Miata is an easier answer for a sporty commuter that won't eat your wallet.

I owned a NA and it was a hoot.

If you are willing to go used, there a bunch of BMW models you can get with sticks -- but they aren't going to save you much from a maintenance perspective.

Frankly, I'd trust a 80k mileage Boxster over a 40k mileage BMW.

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Not sure where you are seeing that? There is supposed to be a manual and 8 speed sequential.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2023-lotus-emira-amg-turbo-four-engine-specs/

Quote:

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The new I-4 Emira will also get a new-to-Lotus eight-speed paddle-shift dual-clutch gearbox. Gavan Kershaw, Director, Vehicle Attributes, Lotus, says: "It's a bespoke rear-wheel drive variant of the transmission developed by Lotus in collaboration with AMG. On top of that, the gearshift strategy has been defined by the Hethel team as part of the car's performance attributes. It is unique to the Emira and optimised [sic] for the best blend of outstanding driving engagement and performance, fuel consumption and emissions." The V-6 Emira gets a six-speed manual 'box with the addition of a Torsen limited slip differential, or the familiar six-speed auto found on previous Lotus cars.

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2016-2017 Focus RS?

The Toyobaru twins are neat cars, but they are SLOW with skinny tires. Coming from a Boxster, you'll be really underwhelmed with the power.

Mustang is an easy answer

GR Supra would be awesome. I love those

You are correct...I was confused.

Have had 3 Miatas. If I was in your shoes, I'd buy another without hesitation.

I have a Ford GT I'll sell you OP…