Best sports coupe under 10k?

[KwS]

its only the 6spd manuals that got 6 port, correct? And the difference is more powerz?

[Lloyd]

Yup. Sold my 6 port for 10k. I know of a guy selling a 4 port, 5 speed for 10k down here at the moment too

[dnalunchie]

Yup. Sold my 6 port for 10k. I know of a guy selling a 4 port, 5 speed for 10k down here at the moment too

wow they really dont hold their value. I mean you look at a similar year 350z which cost the same new and the Z costs like twice as much now

[VR-4Squid]

Yup. Sold my 6 port for 10k. I know of a guy selling a 4 port, 5 speed for 10k down here at the moment too

wow they really dont hold their value. I mean you look at a similar year 350z which cost the same new and the Z costs like twice as much now

Would probably be a different story if mazda had produced it with a turbo rotary, but the average buyer is scared off by stories of rotary engines lack of reliability whilst the more enthusiast type buyers look to the 350z's extra power and torque.

350z's are quite good to drive with a very mechanical feel about the engine/gearbox - you aren't as insulated from the engine noise and vibration as in most newish cars, but in a good way (reminded me a lot of the way a porsche cayman feels actually. )

Shame the interior is comprised entirely of utterly nasty cheap thin plastic that looks like it belongs in a kia (or a low budget, pre cgi, sci fi movie)
Reckon a vq35 and box in an r32 would be great tbh.

[TTEETT]

Harsh, Kia build some quality cars!

You wont get the 350z in a Manual with the Track Pac for 10k so out of the question.

Not bad cars, heavy to drive and not that fast on a track in reality.

[d1 mule]

Harsh, Kia build some quality cars!

Maybe now they do, but 5-10 years ago they were pieces of shit, same as hyundais.

[dnalunchie]

Yup. Sold my 6 port for 10k. I know of a guy selling a 4 port, 5 speed for 10k down here at the moment too

wow they really dont hold their value. I mean you look at a similar year 350z which cost the same new and the Z costs like twice as much now

Would probably be a different story if mazda had produced it with a turbo rotary, but the average buyer is scared off by stories of rotary engines lack of reliability whilst the more enthusiast type buyers look to the 350z's extra power and torque.

350z's are quite good to drive with a very mechanical feel about the engine/gearbox - you aren't as insulated from the engine noise and vibration as in most newish cars, but in a good way (reminded me a lot of the way a porsche cayman feels actually. )

Shame the interior is comprised entirely of utterly nasty cheap thin plastic that looks like it belongs in a kia (or a low budget, pre cgi, sci fi movie)
Reckon a vq35 and box in an r32 would be great tbh.

I remember driving a FL 350z with 300hp instead of the usual 276. Went really well and man the back stepped out easy

[Looonie]

Just to throw some fuel on the fire...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2HAeZM8ZG0


(Unfortunately missing a JZZ30 and 350Z from the comparo, and personally I'd rather see it done with stock cars...)

Wonder if there is any sort of lap time record for the same track and different stock cars, same driver?

[iOnic]

Wonder if there is any sort of lap time record for the same track and different stock cars, same driver?

Top Gear?

[Lith]

This site is quite good: http://www.fastestlaps.com/

They have an option for listing the driver - and the driver is listed for quite a lot of lap times there but unfortunately more often than not they aren't. Its still a pretty worth reference, more than enough data there to establish trends.

[Leon]

Toyota Cavalier.

They have a bigger motor, therefore are superior.

[hides]

[1I1]

They make excellent demo derby cars

[AE82 FXGT]

Out of interest, how do you tell the difference between 4 port and 6 port?

+ 2 and whats the diff?

The 4 port came in auto and 5 speed, although the later facelift 4 ports came in 6 speed too, so you can get caught out.

Easy way to tell is the 4 port will redline at ~7800rpm and the 6 port will redline at ~9000rpm (but will go over 9000! They can supposedly be spun up to 12000rpm but for long term reliability Mazda held it back)

From the engine side of things you can see the extra intake manifold runners either side of the two main runners.

Yes the main difference is torque and power, I've driven a fair few of both and the power and delivery is drastically different. The 4 ports are slow as hell, I thought something was wrong with the first one I drove when I was comparing it to mine.

[Looonie]

It really doesn't help that I'm addicted to boost...

Even the thought of an evo/gsr turns me on a little... lightweight, responsive turbo motor... yum yum.

While I respect that the JZA80 SZ-R is most likely an extremely capable weapon around the track due to its chassis and braking, I don't need another track car at the moment...

I'm probably stating the obvious here, but it seems nigh on impossible to find something "fun" (by my definition) and affordable these days... with the caveat that I have to fit into it, which rules out FC RX7 and NA/NB MX5.

The idea of shelling out 5k+ for a stock NA/Auto Silvia doesn't sit well with me, and while I don't mind doing some upgrades/mods, I'd probably prefer to stick with just coilovers, swaybars, manual conversion, exhaust etc...

Oh woe is the world (or at least little ol NZ)

[iOnic]

Rx8's are getting cheaper.