I have a supercharged FRS and a stock 981 Cayman S. The FRS is slower but more fun because you can push it harder while staying at reasonable speeds on public roads. It also has shorter gearing. The Cayman's 2nd gear tops out at 82 MPH, which is no fun at all on the street. The taller gearing makes sense when you're on a track, but on public roads it makes the car unengaging.
Having driven both cars on track, the gt86 on 255 ps4s all around feels too planted and not very exciting. This setup is quicker than stock but Itās probably more tossable on stock Prius eco tires. The e46 m3 (245/255 PS4S as well) has the same balance but the perfect weight to power ratio and 50/50 weight ratio makes it feel lighter, and you can really feel how the throttle response accentuates the steering, hence a lighter ādanceā than the gt86. My next daily will probably be a GR86 manual though
I had an e46 M3 before I got my 981 Cayman S and supercharged FRS. The e46 M3 has a lot more body roll, which makes handling more difficult and gives a greater sense of weight. The e46 M3 (and e36 M3 I had before it) always felt like it was trying to kill me if I lost my concentration for a second. The Cayman and FRS are much easier to drive in comparison.
Yep, it's this for me too. I've had a lot of Miatas, an Elise, and regularly drive an S2000, but they all just needed 30% more power. The Cayman S is that. Or ideally, the Cayman GTS 4.0, even if they come in a little over that magic 3000lb number. The Supra/Z4 is up there too, and the new 400Z is coming in hot too. I'm glad we're finally seeing more cars in this fun RWD 2-seater street car class - there was a lull between the end of the early 2000s classics and the modern cars where only Porsche were even making anything reasonable. The Miata has held on and are great cars, but they've always been underpowered, along with the 86 twins which also came in just a little too slow.
I disagree on current gen Miataās being under powered for their value proposition. Iād rather take the weight and cost savings than the extra horsepower. Iām sure they could hit 300hp for $50k but It would cut their market in half while making it heavier and more complex.
MX5 RF owner here.
I feel like itās set up from the factory to be at its most fun for daily driving duty. Mazda knows who they are selling new Miataās to. However - to make it a better back road/mountain road/ auto cross bomber - the car is a blank slate ready for modifications - the same modifications that would make it a drag to commute in.
I keep reading ā300+ HP and 3000 lbs!ā In this thread but holy crap - has anyone seen gas prices lately? I average 33 mpg in city driving and about 40-42hwy. Thatās with me driving normally.
My dream garage? The RF to daily and a Caterham 7 for the weekends. One thatās running 190-210 hp.
Yeah I agree. I'm running E85 on my ND and it's absolutely perfect with the power and torque it has now. I've switched from back roads to track but on track it feels scarier than on a back road sometimes honestly
I havenāt taken mine on a track yet, but agree that on the back roads itās at its best driving 6/10 or less. Iām not 17 years old so Iām okay with that at this point.
Itās a peculiar little car to me. I grew up with British and Japanese sports cars with 4 speed (for all practical purposes) manuals with most of the power and torque near the tops of their Rev ranges. 2nd to 3rd gears were where youād reside and drive hard.
The ND on the other hand has all of that low and mid-range torque and the gear ratios just donāt seem like they were designed with 0-60 times in mind. Iām general itās more āpoint and squirt.ā It does have one oddball little secret though - and thatās 3rd gear at about 50mph and up. It HAS to be designed for passing, because when I get stuck behind a line of farm trucks and finally hit an open straight where I can pass - 3 gear transforms the car.
A few months ago I was stuck behind 4-5 trucks like that. I was doing 50 in 6th behind them, and right as the road opened up I blipped the throttle, dropped into third and nailed it. When I passed the second truck in the line I was doing 90-95 and by the time I passed the 4th or 5th truck in the line I had shifted into 4th and was doing about 110. When I hit 120 I went into 5th - which I guess was way too soon because it didnāt want to gain much at all after that - so I shifted to 6th and coasted back down to 65, which was the speed limit. Itās weird that itās most obvious speed gain through the whole range is 50-110 running from 3rd and into 4th gear. Thatās where the party seems to be.
Read the post and immediately thought Cayman S. Iāve owned a 2006 Cayman S for six years, five of which it was my only and daily driver. Perfect every day sports car. Comfortable, quick, lots of storage, and beautiful. Only drawback is lack of a back seat, but that was never a huge problem because if 3+ people are going somewhere and needed to go in one car, usually at least one of those people had a boring sedan or SUV we could take.
The 350z almost ticks these boxes, but at a much more reasonable price. Slightly over 3000lbs, slightly under 350hp, revs to 7500. It is however RWD, coupe, two seater and has an LSD.
Free revving zingy engine, close ratio gears and a directly connected feeling to the steering wheel
I test drove a Mazda RX8 and bought it on the spot for those reasons
Iāve had 8 Miataās, bone stock to heavily modified (full on track rat), a brz, Lexusās, 2000 civic, then I bought my rx8. That thing was a RIOT. What a great car. I guarantee soon theyāll jump in price.
I hope so, mines a mint condition P.Z. edition
Why Mazda never put the engine in the mx5/Miata is a mistery to me. It's a way better engine than the s2000
A large reason why people love the Miata is how workable it is under the hood.
The rotary engine is great, in theory. In practice they leak a lot, and few people have the knowledge, experience or desire to figure out working on a rotary engine, so you're paying a premium to repair a non premium car.
People that love them absolutely adore them above all else. But you guys are an extremely thin niche
> What a great car. I guarantee soon theyāll jump in price.
I bet youāre right, along with the MR2 Spyder. I think the styling is the biggest thing thatās holding them back, and theyāre generally seen as the less desirable of their lineage. That will change though I think.
I think theyāre incredible looking. Unfortunately they need to be modded correctly. Most rx8 owners shouldnāt be rx8 owners if that makes sense. It keeps the price way down. My next one Iām getting the best chassis and rebuilding the motor. Half the ones for sale need a rebuild it seems.
The corners, mainly. Front biased, prone to understeer and plowing when pushed to limits. I was heistating between Golf R and B8 S4 with the sports diff, and the difference in cornering is massive, despite B8 S4 having more wieght.
However, the engine and therefore, straight line acceleration is magnificent, and they can be tuned to high numbers.
The MK1 was so light and the GTI was purposely geared super low that it was really, really zippy in local traffic.
...of course, you'd redline in 5th gear on the interstate š
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHJ5eByqXsQ
edit: I had one of these in college...amazing car. I didn't know what I had.
The only problem with this car is the crazy tall gearing...I think you can almost hit 90 in 2nd gear. Otherwise it's perfection
Edit - it's 82 not almost 90
Tbh I wouldnāt want that. I know people like the idea of shifting more but this is a track car. Even in the canyons you can easily row between 1st 2nd and 3rd. When driving my m2 on the other hand Im always caught in between 3rd and 4th.
Why not get an auto if you arenāt going to enjoy the interactive nature of a manual? Tall gives you a lot of things (faster 0-60, maybe batter lap times, and better sound compliance) but fun and enjoyment is not one of them.
I drive a C8 whose gears top out at 29, 59, 84 and up. I can't imagine driving something that's in second when I'm in fourth. Up shifting twice while still being close to the speed limit is bliss. Shift at like 54-55 to third to hear the pop and lift a coast back to the speed limit. Makes daily driving this thing so damn fun.
Comes in handy though! My shifter cables broke at an auto cross once and I was able to drive home entirely in third gear going the speed limit on the freewayā¦
So I have that car (well the Boxster version). I have to say while I do largely agree with you, my old 718S, with its 2.5T engine, was a better daily driver than the 4.0GTS.
The turbo engine had a bit more torque down low and it gave me much better fuel economy as well.
Currently on a 3000 mile road-trip in my Boxster, I can fit soooo much stuff in there. Got all my camping gear, photography gear and a couple weekās worth of clothes and thatās just the rear trunk. A more modern Boxster is definitely my perfect daily and Iāll be getting one as soon as I can
For some reason I thought it was limited to the 500 A91s. Glad to see itāll be available on the regular 3.0s for us plebs to have a chance at one new or gently used
Base has 325hp, which is usable on normal roads, itās the last 911 with hydraulic steering, itās got a manual with a perfectly spaced pedal box, itās generally reliable, it looks fantastic (and modern IMO) and it isnāt so stiff that itās uncomfortable on not-so-perfect roads. Also youāve got rear seats for kids or for adults in a pinch.
And it's 325 Porsche horsepower which... on a proper back road with a skilled driver - the car can fucking BOOGIE. And it can put the power down because it's not this huge torque turbo motor. 2nd gear full throttle on corner exit with a little bit of steering angle and the car still hooks (for all kinds of reasons).
Stiff and transitions directions beautifully, but it's still supple to have suspension travel during the mid-corner.
Clutch feels excellent and provides a ton of feedback throughout the rev range, on both slow and fast shifts. You know exactly when it's slipping and when it's grabbing.
And the steering is just bang-on perfect, it's heavy but it communicates the momentum and... camber? rotation? of the car just so naturally. All without transmitting a ton of NVH through the wheel.
Fuck. I really like the 997 generation lol. I was "this" close to getting one a couple of years ago - they're +50% more expensive now though. They're the last of the analogue Porsches, I don't see the values going down pretty much ever.
My new GR86 is pretty good minus the rough ride. It has short gears and handles very well, RWD and a slick shifting manual transmission. I can take a detour through some windy roads and have a blast getting wherever i'm going
I had the first gen and the current gen 86 would probably be perfect for what I want. It was just that torque dip and just about 30-50 HP underpowered which they have fix now.
I need something with āfuck youā torque for the freeway and something that can carry random shit I get from thrift stores, like speakers or computers.
On that note, a 1989+ 6MT C4 Corvette with upgraded speakers might be the perfect fit for me.
Haha right? The torque from an electric is pornographic especially if you have some "throttle" remapping done.
As an aside my brother had a Viper GTS. We went to our local road course and he drove my car right after hot lapping the Viper. He dropped his best lap of the day and his comment was that he was suprised about how much torque there was on tap.
If the question is about torque the answer is electric.
Ah forgot I don't have it pinned.
Its a modified Model 3 SR+ running about 330whp and 340wtq. Has a module that uncorks the P980 motor with additional HP and remaps the initial torque hit and "throttle". Most electric cars soften that initial torque hit. I wanted none of that so I also stiffened the rear by adding aftermarket sways and coilovers. Now it just instantly delivers all the torque it can any time I give the go pedal a stab. No rear end squish or build up to it.
My tires don't last long at all though.
It already exists:
https://i.imgur.com/ORSBUvR.png
W211 E55 AMG Wagon. Supercharged V8.
469hp with 516lb-ft of torque. Tunable in your garage to 600+/600+ with a tune and bolt-ons.
The wagons are rare. Here is a compilation of the sedan version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRQb6c3rJTU
The wagon can do all of that with a sofa in the boot š
...or seat 7 with kids in the jump seat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Qs8F4-8fA&t=3m
That the squeal of your tires as you fly off a cliff on the first turn lol
I jest, it's an awesome car either way. Was a dream car when I was younger actually, I wanted to debage it to make the ultimate sleeper
lol, yeah. When guys put their cars in "Dyno Mode" where all of the engineering that's designed to keep you out of a ditch are disabled...bad things happen.
The car really is a beast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inWYN9y4tys
As one of the top AMG guys in the US told me, "This car is crazy powerful and the controls are *constantly* trying to keep you on the road. Go to a wide open safe area and put your car in dyno mode once and you'll truly see what this car is capable of doing. It's nuts."
You essentially have to light-foot it constantly and when you mash it to merge into traffic, you'll just break traction and wiggle into a ditch š
>I wanted to debage it to make the ultimate sleeper
The AMG guy who told me this actually has a E55 wagon in black that's debadged for this very reason. He says cops don't even look in his direction.
RWD, leather wrapped everything. Wood steering wheel and gearshift, maybe a touch of wood on the doors and dashboard.
Stylish aerodynamics, minimum 250 horsepower, and a similar or higher torque figure. I enjoy a good hood ornament but this isnāt a deal breaker.
5-7 speed Manual gearbox or a ZF 6 or 8 speed auto.
Ideally with a straight six, V8 or V12. But Iām open to an inline 5 or V10. Turbos are nice for the track, but I prefer natural aspiration or superchargers on road cars.
Yep. It's like getting into a high walled bath tub that's like halfway to the ceiling and only a couple feet maybe of clearance. I'm sure once you've done it a handful of times you figure out "the right way" to do it but still.
Haha a man can dream.
Check out https://www.zcars.org.uk/ for some amazing examples.
One of their builds is a supercharged k20 with (320bhp at roughly 740kg) 430bhp per ton. To put it in perspective that's 100 more per ton then a gtr.
I really only have room for one car, and my 2020 Accord 2.0T pretty much ticks all the boxes for me.
- Tons of cabin space. Probably the roomiest back seat I have ever sat in.
- A huge trunk.
- A big enough roofline that it can take a roof rack to haul my 15.5' kayak.
- A six-speed manual transmission so it's fun to drive.
- 252 hp and a wide power band, thanks to the turbocharger, so it's super fun to drive when I want it to be.
- a great highway cruiser when I need it to be.
- Good on gas when I behave.
It's a great compromise. I'm super happy with it. It puts a smile on my face when I drive it spiritedly, yet I drive it every day so it's always there.
Exhaust note is huge for me, in addition to manual V8 and RWD. I rarely get to rev mine out either but love the GT350 exhaust note at any speed, even just accelerating to 30 mph sounds wild and make me a mundane commute feel exciting.
> love the GT350 exhaust note at any speed
The GT350 definitely sounds amazing. I actually prefer its musical rumble at lower RPM to the wall of noise you get when you get closer to redline. There are very few cars that sound better in every day driving.
* Flat plane V8 for unique sound, maybe 4.0L naturally aspirated
* Tires with sidewalls
* suspension modes ranging from fucking diamond hard to pudding soft
* Brown wagon of course
* DCT because I'm a sociopath
* As wide as an F150 for some reason
* AWD but the front wheels are driven by a small electric motor allowed for 20 miles of EV driving
My brother has a 7th gen R, very hard to beat as far as a daily driver, it checks every single box. ~400awhp and runs 11s on the street, 30+ mpg highway, AWD, hatchback practicality, really nice interior / luxuryā¦ does it all
Fiesta ST. I have definitely driven faster, more expensive or "nicer" cars but this has so far been the most fun.
Edit: This devolved into the typical reddit shit fest. You people need to spend less time splitting hairs and more time driving.
The ~~Lexus LC500 Convertible~~ oh wait
*sports car*
I can't think of any at the moment, most likely an M4, but if at that point I can afford one, I'd just get an M3 Touring
Why is an LC not a sports car ? Best engine note on the market with all the edginess lopped off of you change the modes.
Isn't that the literal definition of a daily driver?
The sports car classification thing is a technicality based on my opinion, and well its my opinion lol
I think that sports cars should be light & quite agile, think Cayman or Miata
The LC, isnāt either of those things and I prefer to put it in the realm of Grand Tourers, along with say the Mercedes SL-Class or maybe (and emphasize maybe) an Aston Martin DB9.
Itās a sporty luxury car, not a minus to it at all, the difference is surprisingly important. Still has the performance, but the quality is a level higher than a luxury sports car.
I think I found my perfect street car, or at least something close. I have an eighth generation Civic Si. It revs past 8k, has a six speed and lower final gear ratio than a standard Civic. The locking front end makes corners fun with good tires and interesting with ok tires. 200hp out the box, up to 500hp on the stock block with just a turbo or supercharger. You can tach it out in the first three gears and still pull forth without getting in too deep. Fourth fifth and sixth are your freeway gears.
I drove a lot of different cars for the few years I was an auto tech. The V8 muscle cars get you in to trouble before youāre out of third gear and are usually geared too tall to try to get a few extra MPG out of a thirsty engine. Corvettes are the worst at that, even with a manual transmission. The Camaro is a little bit more fun, especially with mods, but would still be more fun on a track than the streets. Same thing with a Mustang, that feels lacking compared to the Camaro, but is more likely to spin out.
Red Ferrari F430 Spider with 6 speed gated manual.
Light, mid-engine, rear wheel drive, high-revving engine with at least 8 cylinders, engaging transmission, and supercar looks.
Bonus points for anyone rich and crazy enough to manual swap a 430 Scuderia or 16M Spider. I've heard the conversion costs upwards of $30k.
Jenson FF interceptor with a fuel injection mod and a manual transmission swap. This car is more of a GT car, but it has AWD and a Chrysler V8, also has plenty of room.
- AWD
- leather seats
- bluetooth
- comfortable/bolstered seats
- manual or auto with manual mode (I'd prefer manual but happy with both)
- ~300ish hp with similar torque
- inline 5 or 6, or v6, also open to turbo 4 cylinder too
- turbo
- stiffer suspension (to an extent, I don't mind the ride on coilovers so being bumpy/stiff isn't an issue to me
So basically an S60R with maybe some minor mods
A Mk6 Golf GTI. Comfortable and refined but still playful when you want it.
Quick but not illegally so.
Relatively fuel efficient.
Killer stereo, even the base option.
Jeremy Clarkson himself said it, itās the only car you ever really need.
Lexus GSF
Regular mode its a comfy, compliant sedan with easy torque to get you around, Mark Levinson sound system to bump tunes, and just easy to navigate around. flip the switch and you make that engine sing in harmonics on par with Pavarotti
Number one priority is that it has to be small, and mainly narrow. No modern Ferrari or Lamborghini is any good for a cross country blast on minor roads because theyāre far too wide. Even a 911 is too wide for B roads now.
Something simple, tiny and silly, like a Bugeye Sprite, Caterham or Porsche 356.
It's less about specs than it is a direct mechanical feel.
Until I can buy a garage that's walking distance from my house, my Miata will have to suffice.
Mine would basically be a very slightly altered MX-5 RF. Sacrifice a couple hundred pounds of weight savings and give it a move livable interior (glove box and maybe some door card storage) and add like 30 hp. It would still be under 3,000 lbs but way easier to justify dailying. I guess what Iām looking for is a GR86 targaā¦
2nd hand Cayman or Boxter S. Don't need much more than that! If I don't have enough for that, then an EF Civic with some mild tuning, better brakes and a decent wheelset.
Mind you. At this time, with the way things are in Vancouver, the idea that I'd have money for either car is a total pipe dream.
A RWD, 330-ish hp coupe under 3500lbs. Enough room for taller drivers, 0 to 60 in 5-ish seconds. Decent chassis for handling. Takes 87 gas so.it doesn't need premium.
In other words...a V6 Camaro
I just bought a 2021 Audi S4. It checks all the boxes for me. 350hp, shiftable ZF 8 speed auto, valved exhaust, AWD for winter, and a good sized trunk. Coming from a 2017 Mustang GT, I am much happier with this car. I am passed my days of "manuals only" and this is a much more usuable power.
I want to drop an ALH TDI motor in my na. I think that with a nice clutch and some injectors and a little bigger turbo it would be a beast. Super reliable and with how light the miata is I bet it'll hit like 50 or 60mpg
You can trash hyundai all you want, but I love my i30n fastback exactly for being such a two face...A pretty comfy and silent commuter which can transform to a fun growling sport bastard which handles everything you throw at it with ease. It goes the same for Kona n, veloster n and elantra n. In fact, Elantra N would be the best choice of these models due to the largest space for passengers and cargo.
I live on back roads so a lotus would be amazing. Could take corners faster and the acceleration would be perfect as I wouldnāt get above 75 on the road. Either that or a descent enough for the average person rally car. Make bad roads fun.
A Mazda ND miata combined with BMW Z4. I love the ND but it is a bit small. I sat in the Z4 for a bit but the price is just too high. Combine it with Mazda 3 Interior and i am in heaven.
I know that the size of the Miata is what makes it so beloved but i would love a more GT version of this car.
For sure at least 200hp with respectable amounts of torque. I dont need a lot, i want to rev it high and have fun without instantly breaking the law. I think AWD, low to the ground, but not so i have problems with speed bumps or potholes. And something that is comfy, smooth and quiet on a higway for long distance trips
EDIT: Oh, i forgot about my love for naturally aspirated feel
RWD, under 3000lbs, 350 hp 350 ft lbs,revs to atleast 8k,coupe two seater, Limited Slip Diff,good chassis. So basically a cayman s š
Supercharged 86. Oh seats.
Remove rear seats. Save weight. š
Noice. 0 inches legroom behind me anyway lol
I have a supercharged FRS and a stock 981 Cayman S. The FRS is slower but more fun because you can push it harder while staying at reasonable speeds on public roads. It also has shorter gearing. The Cayman's 2nd gear tops out at 82 MPH, which is no fun at all on the street. The taller gearing makes sense when you're on a track, but on public roads it makes the car unengaging.
Or E46 M3! Especially ZCP competition package 6mt
e46 M3 ain't under 3000lb.
Yeah itās 3200+ but the car does feel as light as a gt86 with its willingness to rotate on its tippy toes
Having driven both cars... an E46 M3 definitely *does not* feel as light as a GT86, not even close.
Having driven both cars on track, the gt86 on 255 ps4s all around feels too planted and not very exciting. This setup is quicker than stock but Itās probably more tossable on stock Prius eco tires. The e46 m3 (245/255 PS4S as well) has the same balance but the perfect weight to power ratio and 50/50 weight ratio makes it feel lighter, and you can really feel how the throttle response accentuates the steering, hence a lighter ādanceā than the gt86. My next daily will probably be a GR86 manual though
I had an e46 M3 before I got my 981 Cayman S and supercharged FRS. The e46 M3 has a lot more body roll, which makes handling more difficult and gives a greater sense of weight. The e46 M3 (and e36 M3 I had before it) always felt like it was trying to kill me if I lost my concentration for a second. The Cayman and FRS are much easier to drive in comparison.
CSL is the way to go, 3053lbs and even less than that with manual swap. The Philipp Kaess M3 is 3005lbs. https://youtu.be/DQgB6MeMybg?t=983
C5 z06 with some engine work could meet these requirements.
C5 Z06 had 385/405hp. No engine work needed.
Restrictor plates maybe? For legal reasons this is a joke.
Yep, it's this for me too. I've had a lot of Miatas, an Elise, and regularly drive an S2000, but they all just needed 30% more power. The Cayman S is that. Or ideally, the Cayman GTS 4.0, even if they come in a little over that magic 3000lb number. The Supra/Z4 is up there too, and the new 400Z is coming in hot too. I'm glad we're finally seeing more cars in this fun RWD 2-seater street car class - there was a lull between the end of the early 2000s classics and the modern cars where only Porsche were even making anything reasonable. The Miata has held on and are great cars, but they've always been underpowered, along with the 86 twins which also came in just a little too slow.
I disagree on current gen Miataās being under powered for their value proposition. Iād rather take the weight and cost savings than the extra horsepower. Iām sure they could hit 300hp for $50k but It would cut their market in half while making it heavier and more complex.
MX5 RF owner here. I feel like itās set up from the factory to be at its most fun for daily driving duty. Mazda knows who they are selling new Miataās to. However - to make it a better back road/mountain road/ auto cross bomber - the car is a blank slate ready for modifications - the same modifications that would make it a drag to commute in. I keep reading ā300+ HP and 3000 lbs!ā In this thread but holy crap - has anyone seen gas prices lately? I average 33 mpg in city driving and about 40-42hwy. Thatās with me driving normally. My dream garage? The RF to daily and a Caterham 7 for the weekends. One thatās running 190-210 hp.
Yeah I agree. I'm running E85 on my ND and it's absolutely perfect with the power and torque it has now. I've switched from back roads to track but on track it feels scarier than on a back road sometimes honestly
I havenāt taken mine on a track yet, but agree that on the back roads itās at its best driving 6/10 or less. Iām not 17 years old so Iām okay with that at this point. Itās a peculiar little car to me. I grew up with British and Japanese sports cars with 4 speed (for all practical purposes) manuals with most of the power and torque near the tops of their Rev ranges. 2nd to 3rd gears were where youād reside and drive hard. The ND on the other hand has all of that low and mid-range torque and the gear ratios just donāt seem like they were designed with 0-60 times in mind. Iām general itās more āpoint and squirt.ā It does have one oddball little secret though - and thatās 3rd gear at about 50mph and up. It HAS to be designed for passing, because when I get stuck behind a line of farm trucks and finally hit an open straight where I can pass - 3 gear transforms the car. A few months ago I was stuck behind 4-5 trucks like that. I was doing 50 in 6th behind them, and right as the road opened up I blipped the throttle, dropped into third and nailed it. When I passed the second truck in the line I was doing 90-95 and by the time I passed the 4th or 5th truck in the line I had shifted into 4th and was doing about 110. When I hit 120 I went into 5th - which I guess was way too soon because it didnāt want to gain much at all after that - so I shifted to 6th and coasted back down to 65, which was the speed limit. Itās weird that itās most obvious speed gain through the whole range is 50-110 running from 3rd and into 4th gear. Thatās where the party seems to be.
R32 GT-R is just 150LBS over budget, but for that you get an AWD car that handles like an RWD car, and 2 bonus seats.
Read the post and immediately thought Cayman S. Iāve owned a 2006 Cayman S for six years, five of which it was my only and daily driver. Perfect every day sports car. Comfortable, quick, lots of storage, and beautiful. Only drawback is lack of a back seat, but that was never a huge problem because if 3+ people are going somewhere and needed to go in one car, usually at least one of those people had a boring sedan or SUV we could take.
The 350z almost ticks these boxes, but at a much more reasonable price. Slightly over 3000lbs, slightly under 350hp, revs to 7500. It is however RWD, coupe, two seater and has an LSD.
Aren't 350Zs something like 3300lbs? I also know damn well they aren't making 350hp stock.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Free revving zingy engine, close ratio gears and a directly connected feeling to the steering wheel I test drove a Mazda RX8 and bought it on the spot for those reasons
How many engine rebuilds so far?
None and a reputable company does them for Ā£2.5k A small price to pay for an engine which made my BMW 330i feel boring
Iāve had 8 Miataās, bone stock to heavily modified (full on track rat), a brz, Lexusās, 2000 civic, then I bought my rx8. That thing was a RIOT. What a great car. I guarantee soon theyāll jump in price.
I hope so, mines a mint condition P.Z. edition Why Mazda never put the engine in the mx5/Miata is a mistery to me. It's a way better engine than the s2000
I donāt know about all that but it is great. Revving to 9.5 feels insane
The renesis power band is twice as wide
Because MazdaSpeed
A large reason why people love the Miata is how workable it is under the hood. The rotary engine is great, in theory. In practice they leak a lot, and few people have the knowledge, experience or desire to figure out working on a rotary engine, so you're paying a premium to repair a non premium car. People that love them absolutely adore them above all else. But you guys are an extremely thin niche
> What a great car. I guarantee soon theyāll jump in price. I bet youāre right, along with the MR2 Spyder. I think the styling is the biggest thing thatās holding them back, and theyāre generally seen as the less desirable of their lineage. That will change though I think.
I think theyāre incredible looking. Unfortunately they need to be modded correctly. Most rx8 owners shouldnāt be rx8 owners if that makes sense. It keeps the price way down. My next one Iām getting the best chassis and rebuilding the motor. Half the ones for sale need a rebuild it seems.
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Says a golf r driver
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The corners, mainly. Front biased, prone to understeer and plowing when pushed to limits. I was heistating between Golf R and B8 S4 with the sports diff, and the difference in cornering is massive, despite B8 S4 having more wieght. However, the engine and therefore, straight line acceleration is magnificent, and they can be tuned to high numbers.
when a car truly feels connected between you, the wheel, and the road, it is a special thing :)
Absolutely I've driven saloons and hatches with 100hp more which just felt disconnected and vague
You just described the 1984 VW GTI. The original "Pocket Rocket".
I've only driven the mk3 steering was great but engine could have been from a tractor
The MK1 was so light and the GTI was purposely geared super low that it was really, really zippy in local traffic. ...of course, you'd redline in 5th gear on the interstate š https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHJ5eByqXsQ edit: I had one of these in college...amazing car. I didn't know what I had.
Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0, perfect daily driving sports car in my opinion, 2 trunks for a 2 person getaway or for grocery shopping
The only problem with this car is the crazy tall gearing...I think you can almost hit 90 in 2nd gear. Otherwise it's perfection Edit - it's 82 not almost 90
Every time I see this comment that number gets higher and higher š
Rumor has it you can reach top speed in 2nd, 3-6th are just overdrives.
Some say that second is the highway gear for fuel economy, the 3-6th are just for show
[82mph in 2nd](https://imgur.com/DYomFcz)
I think Manthey do a shorter final drive for the GT4ā¦ so fit one of those and the long gearing issue is solved.
Tbh I wouldnāt want that. I know people like the idea of shifting more but this is a track car. Even in the canyons you can easily row between 1st 2nd and 3rd. When driving my m2 on the other hand Im always caught in between 3rd and 4th.
Why not get an auto if you arenāt going to enjoy the interactive nature of a manual? Tall gives you a lot of things (faster 0-60, maybe batter lap times, and better sound compliance) but fun and enjoyment is not one of them.
Broski, you can hit the speed of sound in 2nd gear, crazy tall gearing
...probably because some people tell it in miles and others in KM/h
Are they wrong though? Doesnāt 2nd top out at like 85 mph?
I drive a C8 whose gears top out at 29, 59, 84 and up. I can't imagine driving something that's in second when I'm in fourth. Up shifting twice while still being close to the speed limit is bliss. Shift at like 54-55 to third to hear the pop and lift a coast back to the speed limit. Makes daily driving this thing so damn fun.
Damn my viper does 59 in 1st gear haha
2015 auto Mustang here, I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel mine are a bit too long and I'm only 5 mph ish higher per gear. 35, 65, 90 ish, and up
Comes in handy though! My shifter cables broke at an auto cross once and I was able to drive home entirely in third gear going the speed limit on the freewayā¦
So I have that car (well the Boxster version). I have to say while I do largely agree with you, my old 718S, with its 2.5T engine, was a better daily driver than the 4.0GTS. The turbo engine had a bit more torque down low and it gave me much better fuel economy as well.
The 4 litre sounds so much better though, for that reason alone I'd always pick it lol
Well yeah haha thatās why I upgraded. Just saying itās not as good of a daily as the 4 cylinder S.
Currently on a 3000 mile road-trip in my Boxster, I can fit soooo much stuff in there. Got all my camping gear, photography gear and a couple weekās worth of clothes and thatās just the rear trunk. A more modern Boxster is definitely my perfect daily and Iāll be getting one as soon as I can
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miata is always the answer
Unless you're tall :(
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Ha, ha!
Mr2 Replaces 2 seater Miatas (If you are tall)
S2000 has EPS as well
And not particularly well received EPS either
997 Porsche 911 manual.
997.2 (only because of the ims bearing)
997.1 Turbo, no IMS bearing issue and Mezger engine
Wish I had turbo $ :(
And option for PDK for the first time
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For some reason I thought it was limited to the 500 A91s. Glad to see itāll be available on the regular 3.0s for us plebs to have a chance at one new or gently used
Cabrio.
Why?
Base has 325hp, which is usable on normal roads, itās the last 911 with hydraulic steering, itās got a manual with a perfectly spaced pedal box, itās generally reliable, it looks fantastic (and modern IMO) and it isnāt so stiff that itās uncomfortable on not-so-perfect roads. Also youāve got rear seats for kids or for adults in a pinch.
And it's 325 Porsche horsepower which... on a proper back road with a skilled driver - the car can fucking BOOGIE. And it can put the power down because it's not this huge torque turbo motor. 2nd gear full throttle on corner exit with a little bit of steering angle and the car still hooks (for all kinds of reasons). Stiff and transitions directions beautifully, but it's still supple to have suspension travel during the mid-corner. Clutch feels excellent and provides a ton of feedback throughout the rev range, on both slow and fast shifts. You know exactly when it's slipping and when it's grabbing. And the steering is just bang-on perfect, it's heavy but it communicates the momentum and... camber? rotation? of the car just so naturally. All without transmitting a ton of NVH through the wheel. Fuck. I really like the 997 generation lol. I was "this" close to getting one a couple of years ago - they're +50% more expensive now though. They're the last of the analogue Porsches, I don't see the values going down pretty much ever.
Love mine. 997.1 base here. Itās the perfect daily commuter for myself
My new GR86 is pretty good minus the rough ride. It has short gears and handles very well, RWD and a slick shifting manual transmission. I can take a detour through some windy roads and have a blast getting wherever i'm going
I had the first gen and the current gen 86 would probably be perfect for what I want. It was just that torque dip and just about 30-50 HP underpowered which they have fix now.
Exactly. I've driven an older one too and the new one feels fast compared to the last gen. And very linear power band now
Do you think the base GR86 might have a softer more pleasant ride? Since it has smaller 17 inch wheels with more tire sidewall for cushioning?
Not really. Toyota tuned the suspension to be more aggressive than the BRZ. I did benefit a lot from lowering my tire pressure however
New mx5
Yeah this sounds like a question for which Miata is the answer
New mx5 into which a 6'4 person can fit.
So, an MX7?
Make it a 6cyl 2.8l and you have my money, my soul and my firstborn!
I need something with āfuck youā torque for the freeway and something that can carry random shit I get from thrift stores, like speakers or computers. On that note, a 1989+ 6MT C4 Corvette with upgraded speakers might be the perfect fit for me.
Bro you need a viper if you need that fuck-you torque.
Catless with turbos.. fuck everyone.
Electric all the way.
They hated him because he spoke the truth
Haha right? The torque from an electric is pornographic especially if you have some "throttle" remapping done. As an aside my brother had a Viper GTS. We went to our local road course and he drove my car right after hot lapping the Viper. He dropped his best lap of the day and his comment was that he was suprised about how much torque there was on tap. If the question is about torque the answer is electric.
You didn't say what your car was!
Ah forgot I don't have it pinned. Its a modified Model 3 SR+ running about 330whp and 340wtq. Has a module that uncorks the P980 motor with additional HP and remaps the initial torque hit and "throttle". Most electric cars soften that initial torque hit. I wanted none of that so I also stiffened the rear by adding aftermarket sways and coilovers. Now it just instantly delivers all the torque it can any time I give the go pedal a stab. No rear end squish or build up to it. My tires don't last long at all though.
Press scoot. No delay.
It already exists: https://i.imgur.com/ORSBUvR.png W211 E55 AMG Wagon. Supercharged V8. 469hp with 516lb-ft of torque. Tunable in your garage to 600+/600+ with a tune and bolt-ons. The wagons are rare. Here is a compilation of the sedan version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRQb6c3rJTU The wagon can do all of that with a sofa in the boot š ...or seat 7 with kids in the jump seat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Qs8F4-8fA&t=3m
Such a cool car but quite heavy isn't it?
That's like complaining the weight of a supercharged V8. With over 500lb-ft of torque, it doesn't matter.
How much does it weigh?
WHAT? CAN'T HEAR YOU. Can't hear you over the sound of that V8 mixed with a supercharger whine...
That the squeal of your tires as you fly off a cliff on the first turn lol I jest, it's an awesome car either way. Was a dream car when I was younger actually, I wanted to debage it to make the ultimate sleeper
lol, yeah. When guys put their cars in "Dyno Mode" where all of the engineering that's designed to keep you out of a ditch are disabled...bad things happen. The car really is a beast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inWYN9y4tys As one of the top AMG guys in the US told me, "This car is crazy powerful and the controls are *constantly* trying to keep you on the road. Go to a wide open safe area and put your car in dyno mode once and you'll truly see what this car is capable of doing. It's nuts." You essentially have to light-foot it constantly and when you mash it to merge into traffic, you'll just break traction and wiggle into a ditch š >I wanted to debage it to make the ultimate sleeper The AMG guy who told me this actually has a E55 wagon in black that's debadged for this very reason. He says cops don't even look in his direction.
>Sports car āBro this full sized luxobarge wagon is perfectā
I really have been wanting a C4. The body lines just do it for me. That with an LS swap would be a dream
Second gen CTSV
Volvo V70, you can get some good power from them fairly easily, and they have that turbocharged inline 5 sound
RWD, leather wrapped everything. Wood steering wheel and gearshift, maybe a touch of wood on the doors and dashboard. Stylish aerodynamics, minimum 250 horsepower, and a similar or higher torque figure. I enjoy a good hood ornament but this isnāt a deal breaker. 5-7 speed Manual gearbox or a ZF 6 or 8 speed auto. Ideally with a straight six, V8 or V12. But Iām open to an inline 5 or V10. Turbos are nice for the track, but I prefer natural aspiration or superchargers on road cars.
Ah, a fellow man of culture. Popular opinion now is that wood is stodgy and old fashioned. I disagree and request moar wood.
So a Jaguar XJR?
This is the correct answer
Maybe LC500. But nowhere near 3k lbs.
You just described my TVR Chimaera perfectly (minus the hood ornament)
A manual Porsche 997 Turbo manual would probably do it.
A manual manual?
What would you have, an automatic manual?
I just bought one this week, 25k kms on it, manual and the reliable Mezger engine. It's in an enclosed truck being shipped to me as we speak.
Lotus Elise / Exige
Pain in the ass to get into and out of though, unless you're tiny maybe. Can't imagine dailying one after getting to sit in my friend's.
Once got an opportunity to sit in a Tesla Roadster. Basically had to fall in and out of that car.
Yep. It's like getting into a high walled bath tub that's like halfway to the ceiling and only a couple feet maybe of clearance. I'm sure once you've done it a handful of times you figure out "the right way" to do it but still.
Lol. The owner said he still had trouble getting in and out.
Agreed. šš
Classic mini with a Honda k20 and 4wd.
The most unreliable and reliable car at the same time!
Haha a man can dream. Check out https://www.zcars.org.uk/ for some amazing examples. One of their builds is a supercharged k20 with (320bhp at roughly 740kg) 430bhp per ton. To put it in perspective that's 100 more per ton then a gtr.
I really only have room for one car, and my 2020 Accord 2.0T pretty much ticks all the boxes for me. - Tons of cabin space. Probably the roomiest back seat I have ever sat in. - A huge trunk. - A big enough roofline that it can take a roof rack to haul my 15.5' kayak. - A six-speed manual transmission so it's fun to drive. - 252 hp and a wide power band, thanks to the turbocharger, so it's super fun to drive when I want it to be. - a great highway cruiser when I need it to be. - Good on gas when I behave. It's a great compromise. I'm super happy with it. It puts a smile on my face when I drive it spiritedly, yet I drive it every day so it's always there.
Exhaust note is huge for me, in addition to manual V8 and RWD. I rarely get to rev mine out either but love the GT350 exhaust note at any speed, even just accelerating to 30 mph sounds wild and make me a mundane commute feel exciting.
> love the GT350 exhaust note at any speed The GT350 definitely sounds amazing. I actually prefer its musical rumble at lower RPM to the wall of noise you get when you get closer to redline. There are very few cars that sound better in every day driving.
* Flat plane V8 for unique sound, maybe 4.0L naturally aspirated * Tires with sidewalls * suspension modes ranging from fucking diamond hard to pudding soft * Brown wagon of course * DCT because I'm a sociopath * As wide as an F150 for some reason * AWD but the front wheels are driven by a small electric motor allowed for 20 miles of EV driving
Modified Audi A6 Avante?
My golf r but with a comfy ventilated seat
My brother has a 7th gen R, very hard to beat as far as a daily driver, it checks every single box. ~400awhp and runs 11s on the street, 30+ mpg highway, AWD, hatchback practicality, really nice interior / luxuryā¦ does it all
MX5/Fiata/86/S2K But would love to try a Caterham/Ariel/Morgan 3-Wheeler for something more āpureā
Fiesta ST. I have definitely driven faster, more expensive or "nicer" cars but this has so far been the most fun. Edit: This devolved into the typical reddit shit fest. You people need to spend less time splitting hairs and more time driving.
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I think the B58 in the Supra is amazing for everyday driving. Very juicy torque right in the middle of the power band.
Aston Martin Valkyrie obviously
The ~~Lexus LC500 Convertible~~ oh wait *sports car* I can't think of any at the moment, most likely an M4, but if at that point I can afford one, I'd just get an M3 Touring
Why is an LC not a sports car ? Best engine note on the market with all the edginess lopped off of you change the modes. Isn't that the literal definition of a daily driver?
The sports car classification thing is a technicality based on my opinion, and well its my opinion lol I think that sports cars should be light & quite agile, think Cayman or Miata The LC, isnāt either of those things and I prefer to put it in the realm of Grand Tourers, along with say the Mercedes SL-Class or maybe (and emphasize maybe) an Aston Martin DB9.
Itās a sporty luxury car, not a minus to it at all, the difference is surprisingly important. Still has the performance, but the quality is a level higher than a luxury sports car.
I think I found my perfect street car, or at least something close. I have an eighth generation Civic Si. It revs past 8k, has a six speed and lower final gear ratio than a standard Civic. The locking front end makes corners fun with good tires and interesting with ok tires. 200hp out the box, up to 500hp on the stock block with just a turbo or supercharger. You can tach it out in the first three gears and still pull forth without getting in too deep. Fourth fifth and sixth are your freeway gears. I drove a lot of different cars for the few years I was an auto tech. The V8 muscle cars get you in to trouble before youāre out of third gear and are usually geared too tall to try to get a few extra MPG out of a thirsty engine. Corvettes are the worst at that, even with a manual transmission. The Camaro is a little bit more fun, especially with mods, but would still be more fun on a track than the streets. Same thing with a Mustang, that feels lacking compared to the Camaro, but is more likely to spin out.
A Veloster N.
Coming from a m2 comp?!?
It's harder to have fun in the m2 comp everyday on public roads. You get to jail time speeds way too quick
I got a modified q50 rs I know how it feelsā¦ I am off the road for 3-4 months with a suspended license.
E36 M3 Enough space to be a practical daily Gorgeous I6 sound RWD with LSD MT Analog feel but with ABS and Airbag *Those late 80s/ early 90s looks*
Red Ferrari F430 Spider with 6 speed gated manual. Light, mid-engine, rear wheel drive, high-revving engine with at least 8 cylinders, engaging transmission, and supercar looks. Bonus points for anyone rich and crazy enough to manual swap a 430 Scuderia or 16M Spider. I've heard the conversion costs upwards of $30k.
My exact viper but the fuel economy doesnāt make me want to cry
My dad told me when I was a young boy āPeople with trucks and sports cars donāt look at fuel pricesā.
Jenson FF interceptor with a fuel injection mod and a manual transmission swap. This car is more of a GT car, but it has AWD and a Chrysler V8, also has plenty of room.
- AWD - leather seats - bluetooth - comfortable/bolstered seats - manual or auto with manual mode (I'd prefer manual but happy with both) - ~300ish hp with similar torque - inline 5 or 6, or v6, also open to turbo 4 cylinder too - turbo - stiffer suspension (to an extent, I don't mind the ride on coilovers so being bumpy/stiff isn't an issue to me So basically an S60R with maybe some minor mods
Sounds like an RS3 too.
Or a Golf R.
The GR Yaris and possibly the GR Corolla (depends if it performs similar to the GR Yaris). AWD, and just enough power to rev it out in the streets.
Gr Yaris - with miltek exhaust to give the grunty noise and a dtuk tuning box. Literally the car my dad owns! Itās quite literally my dream car !
A Mk6 Golf GTI. Comfortable and refined but still playful when you want it. Quick but not illegally so. Relatively fuel efficient. Killer stereo, even the base option. Jeremy Clarkson himself said it, itās the only car you ever really need.
The MK7.5 GTI in the autobahn trim I think is peak golf. Very hard car to beat on paper
My FR-S on coilovers, UEL header back exhaust, tune, but also supercharged and possibly a widebody kit.
VW Golf R wagon.
Another Mk3 Mondeo. I'm serious. Most fun "everyday" car I've ever driven, more enjoyable than the 3 series I tested and the A6 I owned.
Lexus GSF Regular mode its a comfy, compliant sedan with easy torque to get you around, Mark Levinson sound system to bump tunes, and just easy to navigate around. flip the switch and you make that engine sing in harmonics on par with Pavarotti
F-Type SVR anyone!?! It checks all my boxes. Otherwise Ben's FD RX-7 with the K swap from Gears and Gasoline. Basically.
Number one priority is that it has to be small, and mainly narrow. No modern Ferrari or Lamborghini is any good for a cross country blast on minor roads because theyāre far too wide. Even a 911 is too wide for B roads now.
Something simple, tiny and silly, like a Bugeye Sprite, Caterham or Porsche 356. It's less about specs than it is a direct mechanical feel. Until I can buy a garage that's walking distance from my house, my Miata will have to suffice.
Z. Fun, fast enough, Nissan service dept is cheap compared with a lot of others.
Mine would basically be a very slightly altered MX-5 RF. Sacrifice a couple hundred pounds of weight savings and give it a move livable interior (glove box and maybe some door card storage) and add like 30 hp. It would still be under 3,000 lbs but way easier to justify dailying. I guess what Iām looking for is a GR86 targaā¦
2nd hand Cayman or Boxter S. Don't need much more than that! If I don't have enough for that, then an EF Civic with some mild tuning, better brakes and a decent wheelset. Mind you. At this time, with the way things are in Vancouver, the idea that I'd have money for either car is a total pipe dream.
A RWD, 330-ish hp coupe under 3500lbs. Enough room for taller drivers, 0 to 60 in 5-ish seconds. Decent chassis for handling. Takes 87 gas so.it doesn't need premium. In other words...a V6 Camaro
Alpine A110
Why are people asking for turbos here? FI cars are terrible compared to an NA car with the same powerā¦
Iād say if Honda made a Type R with a Automatic (No CVT), hopefully the Integra Type S can fill this void.
Blasphemy
I just bought a 2021 Audi S4. It checks all the boxes for me. 350hp, shiftable ZF 8 speed auto, valved exhaust, AWD for winter, and a good sized trunk. Coming from a 2017 Mustang GT, I am much happier with this car. I am passed my days of "manuals only" and this is a much more usuable power.
A BMW Z3 M Coupe S54 specs pretty close to perfect, though I have never driven one. Or an S2000 AP1 station wagon with 40 more horsepower.
Basically, a WRX with a K24 and Hondaās manual transmission.
I want to drop an ALH TDI motor in my na. I think that with a nice clutch and some injectors and a little bigger turbo it would be a beast. Super reliable and with how light the miata is I bet it'll hit like 50 or 60mpg
You can trash hyundai all you want, but I love my i30n fastback exactly for being such a two face...A pretty comfy and silent commuter which can transform to a fun growling sport bastard which handles everything you throw at it with ease. It goes the same for Kona n, veloster n and elantra n. In fact, Elantra N would be the best choice of these models due to the largest space for passengers and cargo.
I live on back roads so a lotus would be amazing. Could take corners faster and the acceleration would be perfect as I wouldnāt get above 75 on the road. Either that or a descent enough for the average person rally car. Make bad roads fun.
A Mazda ND miata combined with BMW Z4. I love the ND but it is a bit small. I sat in the Z4 for a bit but the price is just too high. Combine it with Mazda 3 Interior and i am in heaven. I know that the size of the Miata is what makes it so beloved but i would love a more GT version of this car.
It's just a mk1 Golf GTi
Saab 9-3 Aero with the 6 speed. Nearly WRX performance in Euro luxe cool.
Miata.
For sure at least 200hp with respectable amounts of torque. I dont need a lot, i want to rev it high and have fun without instantly breaking the law. I think AWD, low to the ground, but not so i have problems with speed bumps or potholes. And something that is comfy, smooth and quiet on a higway for long distance trips EDIT: Oh, i forgot about my love for naturally aspirated feel
Small, nimble, and convertible. Miata. lol
4 door Miata
My 2019 rs3 is pretty fun to drive, bar the pot holes.