OK, here we go... :)
If my standards were those of your friend's, I'd go for the Miata. Even if
he's not autocrossing, it's a fun car for tearing up the back roads. The
relatively low power (compared to a Vette, for example) means he'll have to
shift a bit more often, which in my mind is part of the fun. It's a Mazda,
so it won't require the maintenance of, say, an Alfa Spider (which I
wouldn't mind as a tinker car).
Second choice in that category would be a C4 Vette. Maybe not quite as
flingable, but fun, plus V8 power. It's a Chevy, so parts are plentiful.
Or maybe you can find a late 80s/early 90s (E30 chassis) BMW 325i. I admit,
not nearly as much of a true "sports car" as these other choices, but decent
performance, and it handles like... well, a BMW. It may not be as low
maintenance as he wants, being an older BMW (ask me how I know). But it has
a back seat. Plus some E30 M3 parts will bolt on to enhance its
sportiness... ;)
- Justin
95 SC2 "Locutus"
83 320i "Igor"
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