Fun sports car for retirement

I am close to retirement and am very much enjoying my 320 HP Ecoboost mustang. Go read the Reddit on it.

Run with the wom wrote:

I am close to retirement and am very much enjoying my 320 HP Ecoboost mustang. Go read the Reddit on it.

I do like the styling of the Mustang and would be my top domestic pick. Probably worth a test drive. Not so much interested in HP as handling and the fun factor but it's nice to have when you need it.

Going to Reddit now...

V8 5 speed mustang. The end.

Pretzel Man wrote:

V8 5 speed mustang. The end.

I rented a mustang in FL last month. It was nice. I didn't make a note of the specs but seemed to have lots of oomph and handled nicely. I am a few years away from retirement myself, and find myself thinking about what will be my last car purchase. I was in the Porsche website the other day. Sigh...

Make sure you get a convertible so your bald head (and complete idiocy for driving around in a mid-life crisis car when you should be more mature than that) will be on full display. Have fun!

Nissan GTR or cheaper 370z

Btw you can't afford a Porsche.

How tall are you?

My dad's 5'4 and loved Miatas--he owned an original from 1990 and got newer models in around 1999 (maybe 2000?) and 2009. He still drives an hour and a half down to Santa Cruz every few months just because he loves cruising through windy mountain roads in that car.

I'm 5'10 and never really liked driving Miatas. I always felt cramped and a little too close to the wheel. Without the top down, they tend to make me feel slightly claustrophobic.

If you fit comfortably in the Miata, it's a great car, and there's no reason to spend an extra 20k on a BMW Z4 or an Audi TT. I wouldn't recommend looking at any of the Jaguar/Porsche/AlfaRomeo/etc, even if you can get it used for a decent price--maintenance and insurance will cost you a fortune.

If the Mazda isn't your thing, I'd check out the Honda S2000. I found it roomier than Miatas and if you're good at driving manual, it's a ton of fun. Not sure if they still make them, but you can definitely get a good one used. I've also heard good things about the Fiat 124 Spider and some of the newer Toyotas.

You'll be better off with a beach cruiser bicycle.

Retiring Runner,

My second "fun" car is a '95 MR2 Turbo in excellent condition. Tasteful engine, exhaust & suspension modifications were done by the previous owner. It's been dyno'd at 276h, measured at the rear wheels. Lots of fun!

As far as your car goes, I'd still suggest a Porsche Cayman S as first choice. From what I've read, it's one of the best handling cars around. Other thoughts would be a BMW M235 or 435, or an Audi S3.

I'm a car aficionado and with a bit more thought, I'm sure I can come up with other ideas.

Just get a vintage, aircooled 911. Prices are going up but they are dependable cars.

I grew up with 2 in my dad's garage and it was something special when he would take me out for a drive or let me drive one of those cars

Maintence on them is not ridiculously expensive. You can get them fixed and worked on by the same guy who fixes VW cars. Most parts are standard VW parts.

Most of all, those cars are an absolute hoot to drive. Take them on a mountain road an try not to smile.

Pretzel Man wrote:

V8 5 speed mustang. The end.

you really dont have a clue do you?

CP0 porshe cayman or boxster. do not get the S versions, too fast unless you want to lose your license. also tires will be cheaper with the smaller wheels w/more sidewall.

The Miata is a car that you can drive it 10/10 on a lot of roads and its by far the lightest, it will be without a doubt the most fun if you are like 5'10" or smaller. If youre above that then consider the 86/brz. also youll want to look for the club spec model in the mx-5.

I just dont get fast cars..maybe i have very little restraint but having a car floored through turns and exploring the limits is most fun to me. unless youre going to the race track all that power will be wasted on public roads.

also consider the s2000. and if you buy one with low miles you might be able to sell for more than you bought it depending on how much you drive

Corvette

It depends what you want. If you want fun on the back roads but are ok with something a little underpowered then the 86 is just fine. It will be great in the curves but leaves you lacking if you want to feel a solid punch of g forces. If you want endless power in something that is naturally aspirated, then look into the chevy ss. Not sure if 2016 was the last year but it was the only full size rwd sedan with a manual tranny and a kickass 400+ hp v8. My co worker has one and added a cold air intake. It pulls 450 hp on the dyno and is boss.

Straight line or fun curves wrote:

It depends what you want. If you want fun on the back roads but are ok with something a little underpowered then the 86 is just fine. It will be great in the curves but leaves you lacking if you want to feel a solid punch of g forces. If you want endless power in something that is naturally aspirated, then look into the chevy ss. Not sure if 2016 was the last year but it was the only full size rwd sedan with a manual tranny and a kickass 400+ hp v8. My co worker has one and added a cold air intake. It pulls 450 hp on the dyno and is boss.

He should rebadge it as a holden commodore

lib wrote:

Straight line or fun curves wrote:

It depends what you want. If you want fun on the back roads but are ok with something a little underpowered then the 86 is just fine. It will be great in the curves but leaves you lacking if you want to feel a solid punch of g forces. If you want endless power in something that is naturally aspirated, then look into the chevy ss. Not sure if 2016 was the last year but it was the only full size rwd sedan with a manual tranny and a kickass 400+ hp v8. My co worker has one and added a cold air intake. It pulls 450 hp on the dyno and is boss.

He should rebadge it as a holden commodore

do I detect sarcasm? He knows it's a holden

Straight line or fun curves wrote:

lib wrote:

He should rebadge it as a holden commodore

do I detect sarcasm? He knows it's a holden

no. theres one roaming around my city and i love it

Audi TT Quattro roadster.

Bib #1 wrote:

Pretzel Man wrote:

V8 5 speed mustang. The end.

I rented a mustang in FL last month. It was nice. I didn't make a note of the specs but seemed to have lots of oomph and handled nicely. I am a few years away from retirement myself, and find myself thinking about what will be my last car purchase. I was in the Porsche website the other day. Sigh...

Yeah, hard to avoid those dreams. Pretty sure anything with that much HP might bring The End a bit early for me.