I'm a car guy through and through. In the past, i've jumped between cheap cars (E46, mini, '81 honda civic wagon that-i-wish-i-didn't-have-to-sell) to the shiny cars (brand new Focus ST, Hyundai Genesis Coupe) while i've grappled between financial efficiency and that sweet, sweet smell of oil and grease on your hands after you wash them for the 30th time and your back hurts because you laid down on your torque wrench accidentally.
My 'solve' to merge my petrol and mustachian tendencies has been to try to make the most cost efficient performing car I can, and I finally got it right this time around. I bought a used Miata for < 5k, did my research, compiled a list of the best bang-for-your-buck improvements that would result in the car that i wanted at the end of the road, and then scoured CL and FB marketplace for those parts. Bought a couple pieces new (Flyin Miata wheels and tires), but the majority was all either sourced on CL (sway bars) or the DIY route (air intake, lots of elbow grease to fix/clean rust rather than replace parts, etc).
Currently sitting at $7,156 all in cost (including registration, taxes on purchase, etc). Only major purchase left may be an exhaust if I can't patch the stock one.