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Suggestions for a Summer Car?

Greg

By Greg
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Greg Senior Enthusiast

Greg

Posted
Posted

I sold my vette last fall and really miss it. So does my wife. We're starting to look for another summer car. It needs to to be a vert or have a removeable top, needs a trunk that is at least 30" from front to back, spirited but not necessarily scorching performance, prefer a two seater, prefer rear wheel drive, prefer manual tranny, and prefer GM. It can be new or used, but has to be reliable. Price isn't really a concern. Options I'm considering (or already ruled out):

 

- Cadillac XLR has too little trunk space when the roof is down.

- C6 Corvette coupe would be great, but I'd probably be too anal about it and I would want to wait until the '06 model year.

- 2000-2002 C5 Corvette coupe would be a lot like what we had and I kinda want something different.

- Early - mid 90's C4 Corvette coupe is worth looking into.

- SSR would be rejected by my wife - it's a truck.

- Pontiac Solstice won't be out until fall and has too small of a trunk.

- Honda S2000 has too small of a trunk.

- 1990s Mazda Miata is one of my wife's favorites, but probably has too small of a trunk as I remember.

- 1990s Honda Del Sol has a pretty good sized trunk, but is front wheel drive.

 

Other suggestions for a fun summer car I should consider?

SnakeEyeSS Senior Enthusiast

SnakeEyeSS

Posted
Posted

On the Team Camaro site(primarily 1st generation camaro site), there are a LOT of guys who also are BMW owners....because they are addicted to FUN cars....

 

So I'm just going to say, check out some of the BMW's....

 

The laste 90's M Roadster has a LOT more torque than the S2000, and the last two years they were made they had the current M3 engine, which is another 70 HP(although some of them had morot issues, crank bearing were bad),...but no more than a week of luggage if you pack light.

 

325CiC or 330CiC has plenty of room and trunk and is a great all around car. If you know where to look for the parts, BMW's have a big following is there is something you to modify. Righgt now I'm seeing them coming out of the woodwork around here, and some times the guys try to keep up with me, so they are being enjoyed by their owners.

 

You might want to check the Z4 out also.

 

Edit, I know the general location in town of a 86ish Cutlass with the roof sawed off and 4 subs put in fiberglass in place of the back seat..... :D

The SPEEDY Senior Enthusiast

The SPEEDY

Posted
Posted

S2000 is too little car for the money, handles great, but not enough power. The beemer probably doesn't have enough trunk space either. The C4 wouldn't be much fun getting in and out of. So I suggest another C5. ZO6's are pretty cheap now too!

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Yeah...The 67 I listed has a whopping 210 hp.:D

 

That would be easily corrected...It's got a dang 327 in it. Slap a big a$$ed carb on it and you'd be golden.

Elwood 2000 Senior Enthusiast

Elwood 2000

Posted
Posted

Maybe an '01-'02 Z-28 or Firebird Convertible??

 

If you are wanting something really unique, look for a 1968-1973-ish Caddy Fleetwood Convertible.

 

I doubt you will have trouble with trunk space! :seeya:

MillerClemsonHD Enthusiast

MillerClemsonHD

Posted
Posted
I sold my vette last fall and really miss it.  So does my wife.  We're starting to look for another summer car.  It needs to to be a vert or have a removeable top, needs a trunk that is at least 30" from front to back, spirited but not necessarily scorching performance, prefer a two seater, prefer rear wheel drive, prefer manual tranny, and prefer GM.  It can be new or used, but has to be reliable.  Price isn't really a concern.  Options I'm considering (or already ruled out):

 

- Cadillac XLR has too little trunk space when the roof is down.

- C6 Corvette coupe would be great, but I'd probably be too anal about it and I would want to wait until the '06 model year.

- 2000-2002 C5 Corvette coupe would be a lot like what we had and I kinda want something different.

- Early - mid 90's C4 Corvette coupe is worth looking into.

- SSR would be rejected by my wife - it's a truck.

- Pontiac Solstice won't be out until fall and has too small of a trunk.

- Honda S2000 has too small of a trunk.

- 1990s Mazda Miata is one of my wife's favorites, but probably has too small of a trunk as I remember.

- 1990s Honda Del Sol has a pretty good sized trunk, but is front wheel drive.

 

Other suggestions for a fun summer car I should consider?

 

 

 

 

I know its not american but what about a 350Z. I used to have an old 300 i miss those fast days but i probably wouldnt have a liscense anymore.

 

Always a harley for the summer too, that would be my choice, no trunk space though, but who needs a trunk when your riding a hog.

officialfoxracer2006 Enthusiast

officialfoxracer2006

Posted
Posted
I sold my vette last fall and really miss it.  So does my wife.  We're starting to look for another summer car.  It needs to to be a vert or have a removeable top, needs a trunk that is at least 30" from front to back, spirited but not necessarily scorching performance, prefer a two seater, prefer rear wheel drive, prefer manual tranny, and prefer GM.  It can be new or used, but has to be reliable.  Price isn't really a concern.  Options I'm considering (or already ruled out):

 

- Cadillac XLR has too little trunk space when the roof is down.

- C6 Corvette coupe would be great, but I'd probably be too anal about it and I would want to wait until the '06 model year.

- 2000-2002 C5 Corvette coupe would be a lot like what we had and I kinda want something different.

- Early - mid 90's C4 Corvette coupe is worth looking into.

- SSR would be rejected by my wife - it's a truck.

- Pontiac Solstice won't be out until fall and has too small of a trunk.

- Honda S2000 has too small of a trunk.

- 1990s Mazda Miata is one of my wife's favorites, but probably has too small of a trunk as I remember.

- 1990s Honda Del Sol has a pretty good sized trunk, but is front wheel drive.

 

Other suggestions for a fun summer car I should consider?

 

 

 

 

I know its not american but what about a 350Z. I used to have an old 300 i miss those fast days but i probably wouldnt have a liscense anymore.

 

Always a harley for the summer too, that would be my choice, no trunk space though, but who needs a trunk when your riding a hog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

C6

01silverado2500 Enthusiast

01silverado2500

Posted
Posted

How about a GTO, I think they are really nice cars and there are some really good buys out there now. I know a dealer around here still has a new 04 and they have it listed for under 24,000.

Greg Senior Enthusiast

Greg

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I ruled the GTO out early due to too little trunk, too much roof, and too little good looks.

 

I'm trying to minimize the trunk needs, picking up a 19 lb. transport chair for my wife to use on the road that folds down to a size of 30"x24"x10"

 

While I really liked my vette and will likely buy another one in a couple years, I'm thinking of more of a basic roadster for around town and short trips. Over the weekend I drove a supercharged '99 Miata for grins. I wonder if I can shoehorn that new chair into a Miata trunk...

catiaeng Enthusiast

catiaeng

Posted
Posted

I'm not a F**d fan but the new Mustang convertable is FUN, I took one for a spin two weeks ago and it rocks........Come on GM get REASONABLE rear wheel drive muscle CAR again!!!!

 

I am a diehard GM man myself, and if I had a chance I would get another 79 Trans Am, good looks, fits the golf clubs and it just ROCKS!

 

BJ

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted
I'm not a F**d fan but the new Mustang convertable is FUN, I took one for a spin two weeks ago and it rocks........Come on GM get REASONABLE rear wheel drive muscle CAR again!!!!

 

I am a diehard GM man myself, and if I had a chance I would get another 79 Trans Am, good looks, fits the golf clubs and it just ROCKS!

 

BJ

 

 

 

 

 

A '79 TA only "ROCKS" when you have a kickass 8 track of Billy Squire kicking "Stroke Me" at 100 db while pimping your mullet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah...I want one too. :driving:

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