sporty RWD car under 4k?

[Altimas]

I'm almost 21 and lookin for a sporty RWD car with emphasis on handling.
Nothing that will rape me insurance or need constant maintenance
RWD for tail sliding fun
Oh and I live in so cal for pricing differences amongst states...

[4blogger 96]

240SX or Miata. Nuff said

[Altimas]

Does the miata have more legroom then the 1st gen mr2s, both being small cars?
Cuz I drove a SCed mr2 on the dyno (smog..) and with the seat all the way back and the steering wheel raised my knees hit the steering wheel and the pedal area was just too small for me.
I was surprised my 70 beetle had more room
I'm like 5 11 I think.

[drdisque]

if you're 5'11" you'll definitely fit in a Miata. I'm a leggy 6'4" and I can drive one, the only problem is sometimes its hard for me to see stop lights because my head is about at the same level as the visor.

[Altimas]

exactly how slow is the 1.8 miatas?
Like in the 1/4th with a good driver?

[camaroincal]

I got this for $2,000... a little over a month ago. I live in the bay area of Cali too where prices of everything are high.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kevinc...db.jpg&.src=ph

Here's a description of it:

1988 Mustang LX Saleen clone. It's a nice yellow and looks just like a Saleen of those years. It's a 5 speed with 2.73 gears. The top end was rebuilt about 50,000 miles ago including Cobra heads, port and polish, and GT-40 upper and lower intake. Also has headers of some sort and Flows. It sounds GREAT and...Ya...It's FAST! The lady we bought it from had to fork out $500 to get it smogged. It had 2 bad O2 sensors, but runs perfect besides that.

[Altimas]

ya..but those are straight line machines
I've been lookin at 2.5 924s and 944s, as I understand it (read in that forum) if it was well taken care of, it shouldnt be trouble but if it hasn't you could spent alot on preventative maintainance?

[SuperHighOutput]

Originally Posted by Altimas

ya..but those are straight line machines
I've been lookin at 2.5 924s and 944s, as I understand it (read in that forum) if it was well taken care of, it shouldnt be trouble but if it hasn't you could spent alot on preventative maintainance?

In that case the 240SX is out of the question. You could look at 3rd gen F-bodies (Camaros and Firebirds), they might not handle like a Miata, but they are very underrated in the handling department.

[Altimas]

I don't think insurance would like a v8 in a 21 year old male, however I will be on my parents insurance...
How would you a describe the handling chars of a 3rd gen?
I've read that 4th gen f-bodies are hard to drive on the limit, and one guy chimed in that you just need to learn to drive a live axle car?
Why do you say a 240 is out of the question?
What I don't like about them is the US getting a truck engine and needing premium despite being relatively slow.

[SuperHighOutput]

Originally Posted by Altimas

I don't think insurance would like a v8 in a 21 year old male, however I will be on my parents insurance...
How would you a describe the handling chars of a 3rd gen?
I've read that 4th gen f-bodies are hard to drive on the limit, and one guy chimed in that you just need to learn to drive a live axle car?
Why do you say a 240 is out of the question?
What I don't like about them is the US getting a truck engine and needing premium despite being relatively slow.

The 3rd gens are good handlers, again not go kart like, but good never the less, no understeer, fairly tight steering feel, and around .90g on the skidpad just to give you an idea. An IROC-Z or Z28 would be the best bet. The 240SX doesn't handle any better than a GT 5.0 Mustang from my experience, and with a relatively weak 4cyl you aren't going to be sliding the tail out, but they are fun to drive. Another thought though, you could get a Z31 or a higher milage Z32 if you look hard enough.

[camaroincal]

I forgot to mention the suspension is upgraded on that Stang with Koni adjustable shocks and maybe more. Came like that. Car is stiff as shit during hard cornering..almost no body roll.

[Altimas]

I didnt see any 3rd gens on autotrader
How much potential does the l98 engine had compared to the ford 302?

[4blogger 96]

Just go with a Miata, plenty of power for sliding fun. Get an LSD and an intake and you will be able to spin the tires like crazy. I personally wouldn't go with the 1.8, it might be a larger slightly more powerful engine, but the 1.6 is almost as powerful, but much smoother and is the block is already tapped for an oil drain, unlike the 1.8. Turbo-ing it would be a sinch. The Miata fits all of your standards perfectly, cheap insurance (dirt cheap for a 21 yr old), awesomely handling cars (go with the 2nd gen if you want the creme de la creme of suspension, though the 1st gen. will still handle better than 70% of the cars on the road), and consumer reports give it almost perfect reliablity reports. Just my .

[4blogger 96]

Oh, and at 5' 11", you will easily be able to fit in the Miata, I am 6 ft. and I fit perfectly.

[Altimas]

Does the 1.6 rev any higher ?