I had a 91 Turbo MR2 when I was in high school. Fun little car.


I had a Elise for 3 weeks (car swap with a friend). It is a cool go kart, which what it is. I was living in SoCal at the time so the top was off ALL the time because after 2 days of getting in and out with it on, IT SUCKED. The other thing I didn't like was how noisy it was. The one I was driving had the "Luxury" Package or what ever its called which has a "carpeted" interior and it was very noisy. Me and my wife had to yell just to have a conversation. It was very impractical for other thing other than spirited/track driving on the weekends. The one thing I liked was the gas mileage though, average of 32 mpg when not stomping on it. I was glad to get my 350Z back though.

As far as a Z06 goes, they are FAST that's about it. The interior is a real disappointment. My boss has a C5Z and I sat in it and I was not impressed with the interior layout and material. If I had to get one, there would be a Huge make over for the inside. I can't comment on the C6Z as I haven't sat in one. I do love the exterior looks though.

 

You should sit in one, and drive one. The magazines complain about the seats/interior/etc. but I can't see why... everyone's opinion is different when it comes to interior bits, etc., but when you step on it... holy cow. The car HOOKS, it's FAST. It sounds great, looks great. Only problem, for me at least, (not that it really is a "problem") is that they are a dime a dozen around So CA. An honest car nut knows they are beastly, ridiculous cars, but I see one about every day Can't say the same thing about an FD.

 

Part of my complaint with the C6, and indeed most modern cars is all the ridiculous gadgetry. Really, do I need my doors to electrically close themselves or my rear view mirrors to reposition when I put the car in reverse?

What kind of man can't shut a door or back his car up without electric assistance? Reminds me of those old Miller High Life ads.

 

Can't think of anything as a replacement for our '94 FD except a Porsche Cayman, or maybe a Cayman S.

 

I can't even handle the push button door release mechanism. However if you're 50 years old, fat and your favorite way to pass time is sitting in your electric lazy boy with remote in hand it's the perfect sports car and that's basically who GM is trying to please so I guess it makes sense but like Pete said it's definitely not my cup of tea.

Unlike the corvette the GT3 has very few bells and whistles (of course porsche has an option for everything so you could get your p car with a stripper if you had the cash) which is one of the many reasons it's still my dream car but even if I bought one I'd keep atleast one FD. Nothing that I know of can replace it.

I get on my knees in prayer every night; oh lord please help Mazda to build a 3 rotor rx7.

 

E46 M3, best bang for the buck in my opinion if you want looks, good power, and incredible 2003 but won't give up my FD

 

bmw a bang for the buck?

 

The GT3 is dream car for the street, or the track. It strikes a great balance between hard core and easy to live with...
http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/911/911-gt3/

 

older NSX with pop-up headlights
Lotus Elise or Exige
Mazdaspeed 3 or 6 or even CX-7 with some mods
Power Hard top Miata with turbo kit
91 turbo MR-2

those are for my personal interest, now for picking up girls I'd need a BMW, Mercedes, Audi or Porsche

 

996 Turbo - The cost of parts scares me silly though.

 

Ferrari 355

Best looking ferrari of the modern age IMO, and can be had now for 40k

 

Edited for accuracy, otherwise you would be saying the 355 is more aesthetically pleasing than the f430 which would be false on all counts. I do believe that the 355 might be one of the best sounding ferrari's ever made though.

 

Got rid of the FD in 04, bought an rx8, & starting last year got to building a '67 austin 1100 with fd drivetrain & subframes. I miss my red slipper though, I like the rx8 alot + insurance is cheaper, but the little austin will be my dream cars smashed together.

 

Naahh, I still prefer to stare at a 355 over a 430. The 430's obviously flashier, but the 355 to me is just a much simpler, cleaner shape which I like more. You did make me think, and I'd have a tough time picking it over the new 458 though.

 

Nissan Skyline R34 GTR (I don't know why, but I am in love with that car) or a Ford GT.

Neither of which could or will ever happen for me. I really love my FD and have no intentions of parting ways with it.

 

You keep editing messages for accuracy so now I have to edit yours for accuracy

From a pure design perspective 430 is nowhere near a 355. 430 is a facelifted 360.

+1. As far as Ferraris go, it's 512TR, 288GTO and 355 for me.

 

ah, the 355. now there is a car i havent thought about in a while.
i used to have a model of a 355F1 challenge car when i was a kid. beautiful car. and yeah, i think more aesthetically pleasing than the 360/430/458 deal.

 

I still have mine

 

Guys, this thread is not a "what car is better" thread. Keep it on topic or I'll close this thread too..


Back on topic.... I'm not sure I understand the question. If I *had* to give up my FD, that would mean I was pretty much done with tracking. In that case, I'd go for a Benz C63 AMG. Still thinking about that as a replacement for the M3.

Now, if I didn't *have* to give up the FD and just wanted a different performance car for tracking (which I've been thinking about), here's my current list:

1. Exige S (love to find a used Cup car)
2. Porsche 996 GT3 (997's are still more than what I want to pay)
3. Elise (non-SC, I like the Elise in a more pure form)
4. Porsche Cayman S

I have the Exige up on the list higher than a 996 GT3 for a few reasons, mainly a slightly used Exige is a very good bang for the buck track car. It doesn't have the legs on a track with lots of straights like a Vette, but there aren't a lot of those kinds of tracks in my area.

 

If I had to give up my fd based on my salary i would go with an 03 or around that body style Zo6.

 

Man Several of you picked NSXs... I used to want one of these Hondas but my past experience of trying to own one has soured desire and no way in hell I would pay 25+K for 94 NSX... or close to 40-60K for ones in the 2000+. They are overly priced for something that handles like RX8 and with not much more power as RX8. Also, most NSX owners been a total douchbags with min. knowledge in cars.

Most likely, I would never replace my FDs as I don't want to start all over on some other car with all the crap I have acquired so far. But if I have to consider, I would choose the following.

1. R35 GTR - as I think it would be easy to drive, technological, Daily and track ready, and seat 4 people if I have to. Great all around car that I could see myself driving and potentially afford.

2. New M3 - I see several around town and in my work garage and I like how they look.. Seems to be good all around daily and track (what I hear but never driven).

3. S2k - Just fun car with options like FD and handles great! Great price these days. Only issue is that its not rare like FDs. Dime a dozen and see at least 2-3 a day just driving 7-10 miles to work. There are so many crap for this car that you could make it unique to your taste.. which I also consider similar to FD. Also, Even my wife like this car

 

Have you had one on track? Supposedly there is a new, lighter version coming out in '11 or '12?

 

I instructed an older one a while back and it was a very nimble car. It's more of a momentum car as it doesn't have all that much of a punch from the throttle. For me, I don't need the lightest, fastest car for an open track day. F1 contracts aren't up for grabs at open track days so it's more of enjoyment than anything else. I could (and would) enjoy a Cayman. If I was looking for a car to do time trial competition, it's not in my list of cars.

 

aside from the cost of a nearly 20 yr old car, the main concern with the NSX is the power. are there not any turbo/supercharger kits? it seems that a 3-3.2l v6 with a 8000rpm redline could make some sick power with forced induction of some sort. is it just a lack of room, or perhaps the midengine setup. just curious.

 

There are many FI options for the NSX. They aren't cheap, but they are available.