What would you buy?

[RxCritical]

If you had to purchase a new or used vehicle that had to serve as both your daily commuter and weekend SOLO warrior what would it be?
New or used, let's say under $40,000. And why?

[sentrase]

2015 Mustang GT. I can't think of any other car that I would want right now in that price range. Perfect for both purposes without compromising either.

[steverife]

If I was comfortable with that budget...

2015 Mustang GT
6 speed
Guard green
Performance Package with no other options than a backup camera.

[lcoleman]

Two cars just makes sooooo much more sense. I can't even think of anything that isn't a painful compromise in one or both directions.

[Teufelshund]

Mk7 Golf R. Plenty of power (296 hp bone stock), looks great, AWD, very nice interior and if it's anything like the Mk6, plenty of room inside and very comfortable. Not to mention relatively good on gas. Not sure they will be under 40k though.

[thrdeye]

Under $40? That's a good budget. You can drive some nice cars at that price...but do want to win or just participate?

2015 wrx - versatile
2015 mustang - cool, rwd (but everyone else has one)
FRS with STX prep.

But really if I had true $40k budget, I'd do a tow rig and and 06,07 wrx in STX.

OR...

I'd buy a lot of codrives in many many national events for a good 10 years or more and dd an m3.

[thrdeye]

Tappytawk doesn't like line breaks. Sorry

[Gen52SS]

I've already started my search for my next car which will be summer of 2016. Right now I don't keep a car past it's manufacturer's warranty. I have a list of car's some within your budget some higher. They will all be new 2015 or 2016 models. At this point in my life I don't need the hassle of trailering a car to an event changing tires all the other stuff some of you younger people do. I just want to take my daily driver and race it. These are the cars on my list so far in no particular order.

C7 Corvette always wanted one
370 Z Nismo good all round daily and track
Audi TT
Scion FRS / BRZ I considered the FRS before my Camaro but hard for me to get in and out fun to drive
Genesis coupe with the V8 new for 2016
Camaro ? 1LE or ZL1 2016 will be on the Cadillac chassis less weight with track pack
Toyota Supra new 2016?
Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT same problem as FRS
Honda new S2000

[MARKP]

Here's my thoughts on practical for daily use and still very competitve (in order)

FoST or FiST
HS Mini
2015 WRX (Maybe Golf R)
FRS/BRZ (probably have to go to ST prep to be super competitive)
DS Mini
Z51 C5
C5 or C6 Z06

[jpvette]

C7 gone? I've been looking too. $40k will buy a used S4 CPO. Fast,comfortable and can be tuned. New WRX with money left over. New golf r isn't out yet but look's promising. For me a 2 door is out as a d/d. Spend $30k on the d/d and $10k on a miata. Yes I said that. Good luck

[RxCritical]

I still have the C7. I am just looking forward to a new job situation that may cause me to sell/trade it. I will be having to make a decision within the next couple of months.

[Mike Burke]

Hello Paul,


You might considering using $15-20,000 of your budget to acquire a well-built/safe and competitive (act quickly as prices will increase and the "good" cars will be sold as Spring approaches) Spec Miata or IT road race car; allot $6-8,000 to race 4-6 weekends in 2015, and use the balance to buy a 2004-10 model Miata to street/solo drive with cash leftover for gas. You will savor the racing experience and memories for the rest of your days plus, presuming you take reasonable care of the race car, its value will not significantly decline.



Mike Burke
Asheville
828 258-2442

[rocket71]

But really if I had true $40k budget, I'd do a tow rig and and 06,07 wrx in STX.

Why?

[thrdeye]

Because I know the cars, and I believe that I could do pretty well in one. They have a 2.5L, so you'll gain some displacement against any other WRX and have one of the bigger engines in the class (since the 2008-2014 WRXs are STU cars). With the right trim level WRX, you can probably get down to a little over 2900 pounds. No one has tried them, really, but I think they would do well based on a result I was able to get out of a no prep one a couple of years ago at Bristol. The STX rules allow you to fix pretty much everything that sucks about a WRX.

With a $40k budget, you could afford to drive the crap out of the thing and just replace drive line parts as they wear out and break.

The tow rig is for when the thing breaks transmissions at pro solos and I need to get home.

[rocket71]

I can see what you are saying but why not a 1st Gen Audi TT, more power, same weight, and reliable.