Fun sports car for retirement

The answer is always Miata:

http://jalopnik.com/5654312/miata-the-answer-to-every-question

El Coache wrote:

Just put our new RF5 LE into the garage. Too early (and icy out) to tell how responsive it is but looks very nice, getting kids taking vids as they roll past. Our 4th Mazda so pretty comfortable knowing the reliability will be good and the reviews have been great. The Fiat looks frumpy imho. At a cost significantly less than a Ferrari Cali, lots of bang for the buck.

Duuuude! I had gotten a notice for the LE but just not able to pull the trigger at the time. Full review ASAP please.

been around ya' know wrote:

The answer is always Miata:

http://jalopnik.com/5654312/miata-the-answer-to-every-question

Do you have the vanity tag "42"?

I'm not retired as yet, have about 3 to 4 years. I've always been fond of old Triumph's, have had GT6's my entire adult life. Currently have a 1972 MKIII. That being said, if I wanted to spend the money I'd likely try and obtain a Lotus (any late model), or perhaps a vintage XKE E-Type. Or maybe a 67 Shelby supercharged GT500.

You should go to your local running shop and have them analyse your technique and make a recommendation based on their professional experience.

Oh, sorry...

(Yes get the Mazda. The answer is always Miata/MX5. And it looks better than the Fiat)

Other than your wife's car, if this will be your only car, I'd size it carefully. Our sports car (99 Z3) is much too small for every day use and very marginal to go away for a weekend, but we each have another car. If I only had one, I'd likely get something a bit bigger but not sure what - maybe used Porsche.

Also read that you had an R bike. Thinking of getting another?

As a fun car, this is a bit different than others in our fleet. As a true 2-seater, the trunk space is needed if 2 people are traveling and is adequate for a couple of bags. The Interior is a nice blend of touring and sport, not as appointed as our new CX9 but sharing the auburn leather and most of the major control systems. Since it's a "family" car, it's a sport auto, not my 1st choice but then it's not a Club Sport so it will never be raced. Having another car with a paddle shift semi-auto, moving to a full-auto paddle feels video game-ish but it will hold the gear until shifted and since almost all new Porsche, Ferrari's and McClarens are paddle now, will likely not miss having a clutch much. IMHO, manual shifting is way more fun in a big V8 anyway.

The roof retraction is fun to watch, will it break eventually.....probably. In size, the panel is more Targa than the PRHT on "C" Miata's but feels about right. No noticeable wind gaps, fairly quiet, on par with an older econobox or SUV with mud/snows on. It really is small car and being a dark grey, have already almost been lane squashed by an Expedition. Already having nicer fun cars to drive, the RF is a much stealthier alternative to a SLK, Z4 or Cayman which are all much more new and quite similar in mission without the "rich old guy" stigma.

Low mile AP2 S2000 in good shape:

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/2006-honda-s2000-3/

Good luck!

Retiring Runner? Are you Ashton? Just buy a Tesla already.

could afford a Porsche but don't want the higher maintenance costs.

Or Nick from yet another other retire thread.BTW, why do so many runners retire in the New Year? Is it for tax reasons?OP, is this why you retired? I was joking "Nick" or "Ashton", but who knows so I'll ask. OP, are you a retired professional runner?

read the other retire thread wrote:

Retiring Runner? Are you Ashton? Just buy a Tesla already.

could afford a Porsche but don't want the higher maintenance costs.

See the new announcement:

http://www.businessinsider.com/ford-hybrid-mustang-muscle-car-2017-1

Miata's kind of suck for going to Costco. I do it all the time in my 'stang and am able to get a ton of s**t in the trunk.

run with the wom wrote:

See the new announcement:

http://www.businessinsider.com/ford-hybrid-mustang-muscle-car-2017-1

Miata's kind of suck for going to Costco. I do it all the time in my 'stang and am able to get a ton of s**t in the trunk.

2020? Bit of a wait there for a guy with one foot in the grave.

Been to Costco exactly once with someone else. Plan to be exploring the secondary roads instead of shopping. Well that's my plan, my wife may disagree.

imarunr wrote:

Retiring Runner (or anyone else with interest in MR2s),

Here is a short video of MY 1995 MR2 Turbo. It was shot by the former owner, but the car in this video now sits in my garage. :)

Tell me honestly, how many other MR2 Turbos you've seen that are nicer or cleaner than this one. It is SO MUCH fun to drive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_P8JMp4aNo

That is a fine looking MR2 Turbo, the wing really finishes the design! As I recall the stock turbo came in at 200HP for 2.0l. There was a nice red one in my area I recall seeing a few times in years past but haven't seen it in a while.

Fwiw when I started telling my wife about my waiting the retirement car she said JUST GO ON AND GET IT ALREADY in a less than amorous tone. Ha! Anyhow I will wait until I have to turn in the company which will be sometime in March or a bit later.

Richmond Runner wrote:

You should go to your local running shop and have them analyse your technique and make a recommendation based on their professional experience.

Oh, sorry...

(Yes get the Mazda. The answer is always Miata/MX5. And it looks better than the Fiat)

Ha! I am a true underpronator and at one of the running stores those b@st@rds tried to sell me shoes for overpronators. Idiots. They'd probably want me to buy a Leaf or a Prius. I am cheap but not crazy.

truckdriver wrote:

Other than your wife's car, if this will be your only car, I'd size it carefully. Our sports car (99 Z3) is much too small for every day use and very marginal to go away for a weekend, but we each have another car. If I only had one, I'd likely get something a bit bigger but not sure what - maybe used Porsche.

Also read that you had an R bike. Thinking of getting another?

There may be a mid-sized SUV in our future for other travel. My brother's wife has a Z3 as a second car which he says is a blast to drive. I drove an MR for about 10 years and managed okay with it.

Yes, I loved the bike, but love living more. I won't be getting another. This is what mine looked like:

read the other retire thread wrote:

Or Nick from yet another other retire thread.

BTW, why do so many runners retire in the New Year? Is it for tax reasons?

OP, is this why you retired? I was joking "Nick" or "Ashton", but who knows so I'll ask.

OP, are you a retired professional runner?

read the other retire thread wrote:

Retiring Runner? Are you Ashton? Just buy a Tesla already.

Retiring because my birthday happens to be soon, not a professional runner so I will never retire from the sport.

Btw I tried the Miata RF and at 6'1" I do not fit in it. I WAS DEVASTATED. Need at least 2" more legroom, knee is pinched between steering wheel and transmission tunnel.

Looking at used Caymans now, might test drive a Mustang, only domestic that interests me,

An exec at my company has started showing up in a Lotus... looks amazing and amazingly fun to drive. Great acceleration and gas mileage. I'm sure you can find one used at a good price.

http://www.lotuscars.com/elise-sport

co wrote:

An exec at my company has started showing up in a Lotus... looks amazing and amazingly fun to drive. Great acceleration and gas mileage. I'm sure you can find one used at a good price.

http://www.lotuscars.com/elise-sport

Expensive even for a used one in my budget, dealer is 300 mi away. I'm sure it is a blast to drive but a bit too rare for everyday driving.

Probably some new cars coming down the pike in a year or too but not sure I care to wait, life is short, death is long.

Alfa Romeo had a lotta ads in the Stupor Bowl, check 'em out meatball.