What would you do....?

Not to mention the sanctioned racing around the stock miata and wrx.

 

My wife bought me a Miata for my 60th birthday. I wasn't even interested in them as I have some fantastic motorcycles, but the first time I drove it I fell in love with it.
The cars have manual tranny's, are cheap to buy, easy to repair, very reliable and an absolute blast to drive.
Go check them out, you might be surprised?

Cheers

 

I’d go with a low mileage garage queen C7 if you can find one. They are the last of what a corvette should be. In my opinion you can’t just take an automotive icon that has always been a front engine, RWD, manual transmission car for 65+ years and make it mid engined and call it a corvette. I’d also check out the Supra, Nissan Z or maybe grab a Camaro if they’re still available to purchase new.

As for the SC tundra, it’s fun but it’s still a truck and fills a different role. It can go quickly in a straight line but will obviously never handle or be driven spiritedly with any confidence or real fun. With some extra mods some of us on the forum are easily in the 600-630 crank hp range. There is something to be said for hitting 0-60 in 4.3s, and then weighing it on a cat scale the next day to find out it weighs 6600 lbs. In the words of car and driver, “it’s like driving a ballistic building.”

 

I did consider it, If it was all Japanese without a doubt, but from what I have been reading with the bmw engine, expect seals to leak around 60 k..... I could change my mind and get a stingray with the auto, but i doubt it. It is such a beautiful car compared to the C7.

 

For all i know I may do both. Harrop in the truck an then a sports car yet to be determined. Life is too short to drive slow cars.

 

Opinions are just that, but get a late 60s-early 70s convertible big-block or high revving small block muscle car. Pay a few thousand for newer stickshift and higher performance handling. Blast to drive, more unique, and it'll appreciate, not depreciate.

If I HAD to have a Vette, it'd be a stingray...63, not 23!

Good luck on it!

 

I fell in love with the new Challengers in 08 when they came out and finally picked up an RT 6 speed new in 2016. Enjoyed it for 5 years before sending it on for someone else to enjoy during the price spike so I could rebuild my deck and buy a brand new truck in the same year. I insisted on a 6 speed, got my fill, don't lose sleep over letting it go, and will in a few years be ready for my next muscle car. Likely a Mustang if the next round of Dodges are all plug in, and definitely an auto.

Manual is a total nostalgia thing now. High performance Automatics are faster, and generally built strong enough to last as long as you own the car when they are taken care of. No clutch to mess with in traffic or replace at some interval. And my wife can take the wheel to get home if I want to take it out on the town and have a few beers, with no worries about stripped gears and clutch wear. That is If I ever could have gotten her to learn at all.

I was all proud of myself when I'd show it off and people would look in and see the shifter and tell me I "did it right" but now I don't particularly care.

I owned a manual vehicle 15 years before this, got away from it for awhile. Drove only automatic V8 pickups. Forgot what it was really like to drive a stick. Felt nostalgic for it, so I Got another one for a few years, got my fill and finally outgrew it for good.

 

Its BMW in more than engine, basically the entire driveline and suspension.

 

There’s still a few out there

Supra
Gr corolla
86
Nissan z
Wrx
911
BMW m

 

Miata’s can be driven 9/10s on the street and you won’t go to prison. they are super light and tossable and just about a perfect driving experience right out of the gate. I honestly liked mine better than my vette.


That said I have had many WRXs. I raced them on a dirt track and they are just a metric ton of fun for not a lot of money. You can drop the clutch pulling out into traffic, in the rain, and that little son of a bitch will scramble out onto that road faster than anything on the road. You can add 50- 100hp for a few hundred bucks and that same maneuver will give a spicy little 4 wheel slide. I just love these things. All weather hooning with none of the prison time.


as for the manual naysayers… they are more engaging and thus fun to me and a few others. Are they faster? Nope. But what’s the point of all that speed you can’t use it. Moreover, electric cars are so insanely fast that the ICE car had better have something those electric cars don’t. For me, that thing is engagement. That engagement is, for me, largely lost with the loss of the manual transmission.

Also, I love motorcycles but I don’t think I’m up for riding on the street anymore. Most of the people i see are too busy on their phones or screwing with their touchscreens for me to feel comfortable on the road anymore.

 

C7 ZR1 or Z06, won’t be new but I bet you could find a stupid low mileage one bc most corvette guys don’t drive them.

 

I appreciate all the input people...a lot to digest and think about.

 

Go drive em ALL. Pick what you love.

 

I would consider a vehicle with another supercharged Toyota engine - the Lotus Emira. Mid engine, 3200 lbs, and manual.

 

I did consider a lotus, but with my brain being what it is, cant remember shit anymore,...back on the list . Thanks

 

600hp+ tundra is pretty fun and usable for truck things, especially with a 6.5ft bed. I also have an itch for a small manual and the GR Corolla is taking the lead, if one could be had for MSRP it’s a good cost/benefit fun car. The Supra is out due to small cockpit size and BMW parts, GR86 is a fun choice too and msrp of 29k is tempting.

 

That little GR looks like a bucket of fun but the markups have been insane. Might as well go with the WRX and a tune and save yourself a bucket of money.

 

Are you completely set on getting a manual transmission? The last time I had a manual daily driver was about 16 years ago. As much as I love driving a manual transmission, if I were to get a high end sports car now, I think I would go for an automatic with paddle shifters. I understand the nostalgia and fun a stick shift brings, but paddles are just better in every way. Best of both worlds, ease of daily driving and when you need it, sequential shifting and it’s just flat out faster on the track. There’s a reason all race cars are now paddles.

And with any car like a Vette or Porsche it’s a damn shame to not get them on the track. You won’t ever drive those to even 10% of its potential on the street. You may be too busy now but you never know in a couple of years. And if you have no interest in pushing a sports car to its limits, just get a luxury car.

 

My .02, if this isn’t a daily driver find a manual car you’ll enjoy. I’ve owned 12 mustangs over the years, all manuals, & I would be eventually be bored driving an auto. Unless your racing said car & need every .10 of a second to count, I say stick to the fun factor of a manual. My current mustang is a 07 Gt500 that makes 700hp & 650 trq to the rear wheels. It’s a toy that only gets driven occasionally when it’s nice out, but for me rowing gears, the rawness of it without all today’s nannies, is what makes it fun. If you’re looking to stay with newer 2020+ there’s still good manual options: ZL1 Camaro, Mach 1 mustang, Hellcat Challenger’s, Supra, etc…

 

I could not agree more with your thoughts on the manual driving experience! There is no substitute. If someone can’t understand, then we are just not the same kind of people IMO.

 

Totally agree with you on this, there is something special about driving a muscle car with a 4/5 speed. Its a feeling you can't explain to someone who has never experienced it. My 2 cents.

https://youtu.be/9SFqPGoYfik?t=254

 

I really want one, but I'm just going to have o do some test driving of various cars to figure ouy what I want.

 

Yeah I was considering the Challenger before I got the truck, I dont like the body style on the new Camaros, old yes, new no. Just going to take some time....

 

A 991.1 turbo s is right in your wheel house, comes in manual.

I am deeply envious of your situation, congrats and enjoy!

 

You could wait and try for the new Tacoma manual. I am sure there will be lots aftermarket parts, and it can be tuned for higher HP and torque

 

He could also enter brand new top end 718 for this entry fee. The heavy rear makes the 911 feel odd to me after driving it... But that is a ME thing. Though, I far more enjoyed it in both gens of the MR2.

Favo stick ive ever owned, an elise... its a car i'd love to own again. I dont know if @Roborob70 Has coinsidered a lotus elise cup 220...


Its a yota engine and trans with lotus body and handling... An amazing little car with an honest 6 speed.

Models can be had for 30-50ish depending... a far cry less than he has to spend.


The thing handles like its on rails, is boosted from the factory, and can be tuned for greater power.