Author Topic: Help me understand purchasing a sports car  (Read 16685 times)

Sid Hoffman

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Re: Help me understand purchasing a sports car
« Reply #50 on: March 06, 2015, 12:09:54 PM »
LOL, you missed the point. There was no 1998 Miata in the states.

Correct, there was no 2003 Camaro/Firebird, no 1983 Corvette, and no 1998 MX-5 Miata.  For the record, I owned an '03 MX-5 SE 6-speed.  I enjoyed it, paid about $11k OTD, sold for $9k in cash 2.5 years later.  Overall one of the best moves I've made from a financial standpoint as far as toys are concerned.  I've driven C4's and C5s, including autocrossing a C5 and they're certainly different cars.  I too am not sure the Corvette is 2-4x as much fun as the Miata, but good gravy it DOES have 2-4x as much low-end torque, which is kind of like a measurement of fun.

Jack

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Re: Help me understand purchasing a sports car
« Reply #51 on: March 06, 2015, 02:37:20 PM »
LOL, you missed the point. There was no 1998 Miata in the states.

Derp.

As for the 22/28 mpg, it is the transmission. Part of what makes it so good is that you're always in the powerband, even if there isn't much powerband.

Ah, that makes sense. I wish I could swap in a high-ratio (or low ratio? I always forget how that works) 5th gear, but I think it'd be technically illegal for autocross even though it wouldn't actually help performance.

And if it wasn't a daily driver, it would hold onto its value well enough that in the long run (ignoring opportunity cost and tires/brakes) it would probably not be 400% more expensive than the Miata.

I'm expecting my Miata to hold its value (not that it has all that much to begin with) even though it is a daily driver, just because I'm starting out with so many fewer miles than average. Plus, there's a limit to how cheap an old car (in good condition) will get before it starts turning into a "classic" and getting more expensive again.

I too am not sure the Corvette is 2-4x as much fun as the Miata, but good gravy it DOES have 2-4x as much low-end torque, which is kind of like a measurement of fun.

Low-end torque? My TDI's got that covered! :D

Although I suppose it could be nice to have the handling and torque in the same car, instead of two different ones...