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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 11,072
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 11,072 |
The Miata is cute...for a little girl's car. 
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,749
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,749 |
I agree with the Mazda Miata. Small, reliable as all get out, sips fuel. Kind of like having a newer/more reliable MG or Triumph Spitfire. Also not likely to draw the attention of every cop on the highway. I bought one for the ex (before she became such), and was glad to get rid of them both. The Miata was stone reliable, and very fun to drive... if it was kept under 25 minutes or so. Beyond that, it quickly became damned uncomfortable. The 5th gear ('99 vintage) wasn't nearly tall enough, & cruising above 55 mph was a noisy affair, indeed. Also, the short wheelbase made that thing buck like crazy over expansion joints, especially if they were spaced just right. We drove 2 hours in it once, & I felt beat by the time we got there. FC
"Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a banquet."
- Mrs. FC
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,234
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,234 |
Whatever I get has to be able to be a daily driver because I'll likely be driving it home on weekends and holidays while on contract which will be a 7-10 hour trip easily. Are you kidding? Seven-10 hours in a sportscar, driving, what, on limited access highways? Do you even know what a sportscar is for? 
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274 |
I had a 99 Miata, which I drove for a couple of years. It was a good car, and not uncomfortable to me. I once drove it from California to Texas and back, one Christmas.  The models with the 6 speed tranny have an overdrive, so the engine rpm(and noise) is significantly less than on the 5 speed models, with have 1:1 gears in 5th.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 46,748
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 46,748 |
Last edited by tzone; 09/26/12.
Camp is where you make it.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,673 Likes: 10
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,673 Likes: 10 |
Acura NSX: Like This. * Exotic * Reliable as a Civic * Lots of performance for the $ outlay * NOT a Corvette, Camaro, or Mustang. Just a thunk, FC This^^^^^
FJB & FJT
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 688
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 688 |
my step dad say miata is french for man getter
I got hooked on phonics
Guess my IP now fistphuckology!
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,002
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
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Lease a new Porsche 911 Carerra S with PDK, lovely to drive, comfy and damn fine to look at.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,254 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,254 Likes: 1 |
For that kind of money, looking at fun to drive blended with day to day comfort and practicality, I would be leaning toward a low-mileage BMW M3 coupe of recent vintage. I hope to get there one of these days....
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,589
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,589 |
Mark my words the Pontiac Solstice is going to become a collectors car the value of one is going to do nothing but increase as time goes on. http://www.pontiac.com/vehicles/pontiac_vehicles.html#/SOLSTICE
de 73's Archie - W7ACT ![[Linked Image]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t1.0-9/s180x540/532227_701629896563809_1743684631_n.jpg)
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,234
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,234 |
I need a sporty car that is also capable of driving 12 hours in a day in the rain in the comfort of a good seat with the heat/ac going as well. Not a sports car, then, but a sports sedan.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,883
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,883 |
Get a Subaru WRX and put the extra cash into something else cool.
Or get the Porsche Cayenne S if you want a multipurpose sporty car. The optional engine makes 500 horse IIRC.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 16,540
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 16,540 |
The Chosin Few November to December 1950, Korea.
I'm not one of the Chosin Few but no more remarkable group of Americans ever existed.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
If you're going to spend alot of seat time, get a mercedes. If it has to be sporty than the slk250 would work, but if you really just want something smooth and quiet for long drives, get an e-350 sedan.
The only downside is the fit and finish and ride is so nice you'll have a hard time driving anything else.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,455
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,455 |
I drove a BMW 128 a few years ago. Fantastic car, and comfortable to boot. The new BRZ/FR-S cars are sweet indeed, and there'l be tuner parts out before you know it. The solstice is not near as good for traveling as you might think. The neighbors have one, and can't use it for trips due to comfort issues and zero trunk space with the top down. We've run our Miata to Maine, Williamsburg, and Hilton Head without issues. Get the touring model with cruise and adjustable seats, and the 6-speed and you'll be fine.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing."
Robert E. Howard
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,821
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,821 |
�Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program." -- Milton Friedman
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,583 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,583 Likes: 3 |
Get a Subaru WRX and put the extra cash into something else cool.
Or get the Porsche Cayenne S if you want a multipurpose sporty car. The optional engine makes 500 horse IIRC. or a Mitsubishi EVO
Last edited by KFWA; 09/26/12.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 13,268
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 13,268 |
Whatever I get has to be able to be a daily driver because I'll likely be driving it home on weekends and holidays while on contract which will be a 7-10 hour trip easily. Are you kidding? Seven-10 hours in a sportscar, driving, what, on limited access highways? Do you even know what a sportscar is for? Yes but you still have to get them from point A to point B a couple of times a year. What would be your plan, buy it and sell it every 3-4 months? I guess I should have been more clear as well it will more than likely have to be a new car because if you read the craigslist here for cars or even the natiional used car listing sites it's exactly what I drive and everyone else drives here - a truck which is why I don't see any of these cars mentioned. Meaning I would have to drive 2 hours each way to see any of these cars new or used and driving 4 hours to check out used cars doesn't interest me much at all. Not that used cars can't fill the bill but thought of going thru all that with people who have something used for sale on craigslist and then driving 2 hours to get there and well you know the rest. I don't know anyone personally who owns a car except my grandmother who is 93. Even my mom drives a Ford F250.
Last edited by NathanL; 09/26/12.
Otto is my co-pilot.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,468
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,468 |
The only downside is the fit and finish and ride is so nice you'll have a hard time driving anything else. Oh crap!You said the magic words. Walt will be here to tell you the superior fit and finish and ride quality of a Mercedes is all liberal media bias! Sorta like saying Beetlejuice,Beetlejuice,Beetlejuice!
Last edited by Sauer200; 09/26/12.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 649
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 649 |
The BMW 3-series owns that price point, and has for more than 20 years. The 335i starts at $43K.
Alle Fähigkeit ist vergeblich, wenn ein Engel in Ihrem Notenloch uriniert
-- old German proverb
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