8 Under $8,000 - Cheap Sports Car Showdown (Part 1) | Everyday Driver
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- Опубликовано: 30 май 2024
- Cheap sports cars still exist! We put our two long term cars against the ones we didn't chose: Mazda Miata, Pontiac Solstice, BMW Z3, Nissan 350z, Porsche Boxster, and Toyota MR2. In order to be included here these cars had to meet the same requirements we had when shopping:
Two seats, RWD, Manual Transmission, Less than 25 years old, and many options available on AutoTempest for under $8,000.
Do the same search with the link below:
www.autotempest.com/results?m...
And watch part 2, here:
• Top 5 Sports Cars Unde...
00:00 - 1:26 The Cheap Car Rules
1:26 - 5:54 BMW Z4 (Todd's Car)
5:54 - 11:14 Mercedes SLK (Paul's Car)
11:14 - 15:27 Mazda Miata (NB)
15:27 - 19:51 Pontiac Solstice
19:51 - 23:57 BMW Z3
23:57 - 28:28 Nissan 350Z
28:28 - 33:08 Porsche Boxster 986
33:08 - 37:41 Toyota MR2 Spyder
37:41 - 39:28 The Top 5
39:28 - Next Time...
#CheapSportsCarChallenge #BMW #Porsche #Mercedes #MR2 #MX5 #Solstice #350z
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This review is such a breath of fresh air! I love seeing Doug Demuro give himself chronic whiplash in the latest Tesla as much as anybody, but it's so nice to be reminded that fun cars can be for everybody! Keep up the good work, guys.
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed it. We're huge fans of affordable sports cars and know that they aren't interesting to the average RUclips viewer. Glad to have you with us!
@@EverydayDriver love you guys. Seriously underrated. I used to own an Evo X back in a day and found your channel when you reviewed the Evo X. I'm glad you guys are still kicking around! :)
personally really can't get used to his over excited style. He seems like a nice guy but jeez tone it down a little bit
I am not a fan of Demuro. I find him irritating, and his taste questionable. I don't know how he got to be the biggest name in RUclips car reviewers/car culture.
@@JS-hw8ve
I love the talk about a $7500 car being “disposable” and I’m over here like that’s out of my price range!! Great video love the open minded arguments towards and against each car!
"nearly throwaway" like BRO... I wish I had 8k to spend on a little "weekend" car
Base model sedans like jettas are selling for around $25k now, so $8k for a fun car is not that bad.
@@NickVetter on someone's old beat up used old car. You're not gonna get a cheap sports car that's been looked after. Usually if they've been taken care of they're not cheap at all
@Jacob Webb well I just bought a mr2 spyder for $8k, and it has 80k miles and has been maintained regularly. I had it inspected twice, and there was nothing even close to wrong with it. The paint and interior are in good shape too, so it's definitely possible to find a good car. I was looking at boxsters for quite a while, but I have more peace of mind with the toyota, and insurance is dirt cheap.
@@NickVetter I won't lie you overpaid. Those things were going for 4k before the car market boom. I mean I guess that is a sports coupe but they were acting like German Sedans are sports coupes when they're baby little grand touring cars for people that could t afford the real grand tourers. Your car is bare bones sports car that has a little bit of road functionality (which is sick btw, not dissing). I mean it's lighter than the NA Miata I believe, and I think it also revs higher.
That being said, I don't think the video publishers definition of a sports car and yours line up the same
None of these are under 8k anymore
"Do things sports car owner don't typically do with their cars." I have a '96 Miata I bought in '99. The first thing I did was buy a trailer hitch with a hidden receiver, then found a guy who was selling the trailer he towed behind his Goldwing. It was my only car for years. With the top down I've hauled lumber and plumbing pipe, trees, and other things. Several times I've thought about selling it, but I can't bring myself to do it. It's getting harder to get in and out, but once I'm in the seat it's all good.
Hope you still have it!
@@Weimerica8841 I still have the MIata and the hitch, but the trailer went to one of my brothers who has a Ural bike and side car.
@@baggins4354 Never was a fan of the Miata, but... My girlfriend has a '67 Ural with sidecar. Enjoy what you drive my friend!
Recent car prices in this sideways economy are nuts. Same for stock equities and real estate. My pick would be the Z and Miata because replacement parts are reasonable in cost, decent build quality, and plenty of aftermarket performance support.
The MR2 qualifies for reasonable in cost, decent build quality, and plenty of aftermarket performance support as well.
@@chad5617 The MR2 needed the 2ZZ right out of production.. would have put it into that iconic status just as the MR2 that came before it
I have own 2 Mercedes including an SLK. Awesome driving cars, BUT...Maintenance is AWFULLY EXPENSIVE! That is why you can pick them up so cheaply.
Look at upkeep...The "cheapest" car could bankrupt your wallet!
@@chad5617 definitely true, easy to maintain and reliable, Miata too. As for Z, despite the look and speed, given the brand, you know it is not that cheap to maintain and less reliable compare to MR2 and Miata. In addition, the top operates manually, so you we dont ha e to worry for any mechanical malfunction. But if I were to choose between Z3 and Z4, mmmm Z4 with Z3's front end I guess ..
@@curtisducati
I
Me thinks you’re much too secure in what others think about you in your MX5. I was commenting on costs in the USA but then again many things are more expensive across the Atlantic.
6:25 "Thats hydraulic fluid. Of course it is, yes." GOLD
I can relate.
I spent $2400 to refurbish the vario roof of my 1998 slk.
Never buy one of these with leaking hydraulic cylinders unless you just want to settle for a coupe.
I bought a 2007 SLK 350 as a cheap used sports car back in April as my sixth convertible over the past 32 years, an upgrade from my previous GM Sunbird/Cavaliers and Mitsu Eclipses. The Mercedes SLK is a FANTASTIC car and the 350 is a GREAT engine for the vehicle. I could not be happier with Veronica - she is FUN!
So many great sporty cars. I passed up getting one for kinda silly reasons: the limited trunk space compared the the 986 and TT, the limited seat reclining, and the shift lag when selecting the next gear. But I would pick one over the Miatas I have driven on real world mountain roads!
Purchased a 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i with 85,000 miles for an amazing deal of 4,500$ in July 2021. I got incredibly lucky because the only real problem with the car was the shot lower control arms which scared other buyers away and the 3, 2-4 inch dents in the car. (Braking had lots of jerk so it seemed unsafe) Spent 700$ on new control arms and drove like a charm, PDR'd for 600$ and looked brand new. The very day I purchased it, went on a 300 mile road trip back home after picking it up. Planned for it to be a weekend car, but now it's at 98,000+ miles.
Besides maintenance and picky driving feel, I changed the tires for Michelin Pilots and a whole new Bilstein suspension, and other misc., the car has costed me a total of 9,000$ and has been an incredibly reliable daily driver, especially considering it's now 19 years old. My mechanic actually wanted to buy it for 11k, but I love it too much to sell it. Was looking at Honda S2000's, Miatas, Saturn Sky's, and other convertibles, but this deal blew me out of the water, and after test driving my friends S2000, I'm happy with my choice.
Better driving dynamics than an S2k any day, drive a Porsche Cayman S, it's a better driver focused car!
After 20 years of driving and loving a 1990 Mazdia MX-5, we replaced it with a 2003 BMW Z4, mostly because I had always admired the BMW inline six and the car's luxury features. After six years with the Z4, we replaced it with a 2019 MX5 GT-S. While the 2019 MX-5 is outside the price range of this video, we are loving it for offering the best of the 1990 Mazda (fun, reliability and tossability)and the 2003 BMW (power and luxury features). We have owned sports cars since 1970, and the MX-5 is the best in the bunch.
my biggest gripe about the new mx5 is that they made the hood too high in relation to the dash, the old 1990s miata had great visibility out of the front windshield where you could see the road and the painted lines a lot better. the new one has the hood way too high and blocking your view. feels like you're sitting in a big rig or a GMC Sierra which to me takes away from the sports car experience. if im in a sports car, it has to be designed with fighter jet visibility. not tank like. but that's also why i choose to either stay in the 90s with my sports cars, or go mid engined. they have the best visibility of them all.
I bought a 96 NA Miata ten years ago. It's been the best car I've ever owned, and I once owned a 1966 Shelby GT350. I put a Flying Miata Stage II suspension upgrade package on it along with 15X7 wheels and high performance tires. I love it because it is simple, light, reliable, perfectly balanced, easy to drive at the limit, and easy to work on. I believe this car is about 2300 pounds. It will out handle crotch rockets on a tight road. The engine is happy at high rpms where the power is found. I live in the Carolina foothills out in those hills, and it's a great daily driver, even puttering along at 50 mph with the top down running errands. And it does not matter how many miles I put on it.
Oh, and the AC still works! Sometimes you do need it mid-day in the summer. And it has one of the best shifters in any car at any price.
Ha ha. Miata is always the answer. I have had mine since 1991. I just can't sell it. It is still crazy fun. I have had all sorts of sports cars. I have a Jaguar F-TYPE coupe now too. But I cannot sell the Miata
@@JamesPetroff and the reason is that, nobody else offers a car like it. not even the new miata. and you may never get another one again in due time as the bureaucrats continue to ruin cars and turn them into padded rooms that drive themselves.
I purchased a 2003 Z4 3.0i last December with 45k miles for just under 14k. More than the budget but it's in perfect shape. Couldnt be happier, best $13,700 I have ever spent. Fall in love with it more everyday. Also, a 03 Boxster with 88K miles is a $16,000 car. Just discredits the whole video.
I've had my 04 350z roadster for 16 years...every day of ownership has been a dream. It's never disappointed by any measure
you’re one of the lucky ones
Fun fact: the porche boxters increased by over 45% in price already
These days, it's hard to find anything desirable for less than 10K, maybe more. Well done.
By the way, in the SLK, wouldn't it be appropriate to just leave the towel on your lap like your napkin in a fancy restaurant?
With prices as they are now this video series has become kind of silly. Yeah, you can find a car at this price, but it'll require at least 4-5k worth of work lol.
@@AB0BA_69 I disagree. You can find these cars at 8k without needing a 4k overhaul. Change the oil, maybe transmission fluid, and go. Sure not every example will need nothing but there are many available and that is why you inspect the car before you buy with someone who knows what they're looking for or through a PPI
@@Dr.Duck22 Where are you finding cars like those at these prices at this time?
@@TJDST4 autotempest!
the are so cheep but when you need to fix it it cost as much as you paid for it
I’ve been patiently waiting for these episodes! My 18 year old daughter is watching them as well. I listen to the podcast every single week. Thanks guys!🏎🏁🚘
Jessica.. my daughter loves our 325 i bmw convert.. the engine and seats are awesome
Does you daughter want to date a car guy? Asking for a friend :P
@@lovedreamfastener chill bro
@@12gaugetwinkie considering the username, surely it’s a joke. Right? Right…….?
It’s Friday, I think I will just keep my sense of humor 😊. We have been looking at cheap cars for her and she enjoys the way that Paul and Todd present information. The mountain scenery is a big plus 🏔⛰
Can't buy anything under 8k now
I would have to spend more than 8k on some weird taxes and delivery only to get some car from this video into Russia. Sad
Bidenomics
01' Z3 208k still going strong. 4 trips across the US never skipped a beat and turned heads everywhere I went. Classic roadster lines and handles like a dream. It's my daily driver and the best bmw I've owned. Solid motor.
I love Paul's reaction as he's about to drive the Boxster. Notice at the exchange how quickly he trots to the driver's side! Like a 5 yr. old riding his first bike. Love the enthusiasm, great episode!
As a BMW Z3 owner 23 years now, I was holding my breath when it came up. What a nice surprise that you guys at least had an appreciation for it.
Z3 is the best one
Same. Owner for 3 years or so. I’ve repainted it estoril, done the subframe reinforcement, and replaced nearly everything. It’s just the 1.9 but someday I’ll swap the m52 or s52
I have 2001 Z3 2.5. Bought two years ago ...zero problems. Great fun for cheap. 20 years old and still turns heads
Bought 06 Solstice in Dec 2019. Paid 5k cash. 94k miles, manual. It's my daily driver and I will never get rid of it. Amazing little car.
Yeah 👍🏻 I have a 2007 in red and I dig it.
I have a 2008 GXP that I bought four years ago and love it. With the GM turbo upgrade (290 hp/340 lbs torque), it’s a blast to drive.
I have a black 08 gxp with 300 horsepower, only paid 8k for it from a dealer with 120k miles, and it has only ever needed minor fixes
The MR2's handling dynamics are very different than the rest. It takes a while to learn the mid engine difference, but once you do its a fun, reliable little car.
well it and the Boxster for the mid-engine cars. Still, I would love to try true MR2 spider
Most definitely I just bought one as my first car last week definitely weird adjustment to rhd and manual lol
@@boocrafty8783 how has it been?
@@UnseenSpirit absolutely love it! Already got an engine swap lined up for the car and some suspension work, all my friends who have driven it say its an amazing feeling platform!
Everyone should drive a Miata atleast once in their live. It’s surprisingly fun.
But it's very slow compared to a 350Z or Z4
@@HansBrodiAutomotive speed doesn't always equate to fun and no one is under the impression that a Miata is fast
It's fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow
@@HansBrodiAutomotive Who cares? Speed is never the reason for buying a Miata.
Fun in a silly way, but fast cars are much more fun in a thrilling way.
Love the MR2 coming out of left field. Awesome list and excellent addition to your content. This is one of your best pieces in quite some time.
33:10 if you guys want to dive in
It is much too obvious that Paul is biased towards Porsches... And German cars in general. Can you add it a Audi TT convertible into the lineup?
Honestly I did not see that coming with how much they bashed it especially on the looks
@@eVerProductions1 especially since they said it has a frog face and is uglier than the Boxster... is it just me or is the Boxster the ugly frog face?
@@Couyou If you want a frog face just look at a 1958 to 61 Austin Healey sprite
I know this video is a year old. But is refreshing to watch a car video not geared towards making the car have some insane power number. Well done.
Everything you described about the MR2 Spyder is the reason I bought one. However there is an achilles heel of the 2000-2002 MR2. There is a factory defect of the early 1ZZ engine. The oil control ring grooves become clogged. That causes the pistons to get oil starved that damages the rings. Then it begins burning oil. If not checked often it will become oil starved with NO WARNING ⚠️⚠️. I spun a bearing on mine at 186k. Now it's time for an upgrade.
Also I’m not sure about anyone else but I can’t find any of them for less than 12k (granted a number have well under 100k miles but still it’s pretty hard to find them for 8k if at all)
@@griffins750 depends if you want a project or a running low milage car. The demand for small fun cars is increasing with the fuel getting more expensive.
@@griffins750 I just bought mine for £1400 GBP, thats like 1600-1700 dollars. 77k miles, runs like a dream and nothing (that ive found) is wrong with it!
@@georgeashcroft Yeah well you Brit’s are fuckin weird lmao Jokes aside your prices are significantly lower than in the states, if I could I would import one but frankly if Im going to import a car I’d either get an AE111 Levin or Celica GT4
Bought mine recently with 113k kms (that's about 70k-ish miles, so not a high-mileage one, and it checks out with overall body and interior condition and registered odometer readings) and it burns copious amounts of oil (that explains why the seller so easily agreed to sell it for $8k instead of his $8900 initial asking price), it also appeared that one of the cylinders is low on compression and eats the spark plugs for breakfast, it's also scored due to one of 'em crumbling into the chamber. Not much for Toyota reliability that I expected, but I'm still extremely happy for buying this gem of a car, especially considering how rare they are over here in Ukraine, it's also a rarer facelift model with a 6-speed stick-shift, LSD and dealer-installed TTE wing and exhaust, that's almost as good of a spec as it gets, what a brilliant little machine. Gonna throw in some junker motor from 2006+ Avensis or remanufactured short block (if I succeed in ordering one from abroad) and be done with it. Thought about swapping 2ZZ, but I'm not ready to shell out so much money on a car currently (especially considering the on-going war), buying the second vehicle was kinda unwise to begin with, but I couldn't help myself, at least it solved my insomnia lol.
"There's no more gears?" Paul's comment just amused me. Your shows are so entertaining, while being informative to car guys and girls. it's what Top Gear lost. I'm so glad to have caught your channel.
Glad you found us. Thanks for watching!
@@EverydayDriver Loving the MR2 inclusion!! But get a >2003 MR2 - which is 6spd and has better chassis bracing.... even better, get the TF300 version (meaty, burbly, TTE exhaust) and spend ~$100 on a Toyosport manifold, so it can at least sound like a sports car! 986 is the more comprehensive car (V6, more solid, etc)... but I couldn't face the risk of crazy repair bills. Also, the US prices for MR2's are nuts.... in the UK, I can buy TWO 2006 MR2's for less than a pre-2000 written-off 986!
Love my mr2 Spyder.
The most fun you can have for 5k. The smaller the roads and the tighter the corners, the better. It puts a smile on my face every day.
I would love to drive an MR2 to see how it handles. I've never driven one. I have been hesitant to buy one for a couple reasons. I hear the shifters are not precise, not being directly linked to the transmission, and far short of the precise Miata shifter. Second, I'm curious why you rarely see the car raced. Miatas are the most raced sports car ever. So why are the MR2's absent from the track? When my Miata hits the limit in a corner, all four tires will start slipping in a predictable manner, and it's easy to regain control with the steering wheel or the accelerator. How is the MR2 once it breaks grip with the road?
Also, I like the idea of a mid-engined sports car, but the fact that the MR2 has a transverse mounted engine rather than a longitudinal mount seems like a serious design flaw, one you don't see in larger high-performance sports cars with mid-engine designs. The transverse layout smacks of a econobox with the transverse engine over the rear wheels rather than the front ones.
They really don’t like the z3 for some reason. A lot of people (myself included) think it’s a beautiful car and has aged extremely well
I enjoyed the fact that the wind deflector is still up in the SLK even though the roof doesn't go down 😄 Looks like it works as a sun shade too.
Owned a 2007 GXP turbo Pontiac solstice for 6 years. Turbo adds 49% horsepower to base model. A few other options too like leather. Had the car cut polished 4 years in and for 200 bucks car looked like I just drove it off the lot. Could never understand the hate tossed towards the car online cuz lotsa folks up close loved the car . Only had to change the battery. Whooty do! Car was awesome. Sold it while it was still a gem.
Because the Solstice has to go up against cars with crazy defensive communities that the Solstice lacks. An American 4 cyl roadster is pretty unheard of and results in it being in a weird spot. I'm having trouble finding someone to work on and tune the thing in my area just because everyone around specializes in LS v8s, Ford v8s or JDM which the solstice fits none of those categories
I have a Saturn Sky Redline, for $300 had my ECM tuned, now 300hp and 340 torque! It will smoke any of those cars by many buses!
Hands down my favorite car series on youtube right now.
Our 2002 Z3 3.0 is so much fun to drive, just going to the post office puts a smile on my face!
Miata is always the answer. I have had one since 1991. It still runs perfectly. I have spent probably less than $1,000 to fix and detail it in 30 years. I bought it used for $12,000. It has 60k miles because I drive it in the summer but I have used it as a daily driver too. I can remember having to drive three hours in a sedan for work. After a long day I got home ... and went for a drive! ... in the sun ... with the wind in my hair ... in my Miata. : )
I highly recommend trying out a 2zz swapped MR2 spyder. It is a much more lively engine and turns the MR2 into the car it should've been from the factory.
it should have come with that from the factory.. it would have made it so much more special and put it in that iconic status of the MR2 that came b4
a lot of people do 2gr-fe swaps on it which makes them insanely quick
@@gavinstanley4338 I wouldn't say a lot of people
Idk man I’m pretty happy with mine stock lol
I always found that the 1999-2001 Mercury Cougar, despite not being a muscle car like its ancestors/predecessors, is a sporty little ride and that it is essentially an American answer to the Eurospec or JDM tuner/drifter cars.
I bought that exact same 2000 Miata SE four years ago for $7500 (the "wine" color is actually called "Merlot Mica") - only mine was completely bone stock with only 43k miles on it (and 10-yr-old tires)! I put new tires on it and daily drove it on my 80-mile round-trip commute for three years (and I'm in my 50's - 6'0 200-ish lbs), my wife & I drove it to the NC mountains (including Deal's Gap a.k.a. "The Dragon", to the beach and I autocrossed it for three full seasons and had an absolute blast! Took third place in my region in the E-Street class in 2019. The only real repair it required the entire time was a new alternator. Dead reliable - and I beat the crap out of it on a daily basis. Literally. It was too much fun NOT to!!! Then... I lost my mind when I had too much time on my hands while working from home during the early days of the COVID pandemic and decided I HAD to have a Corvette - my childhood dream car, so I bought a 2012 Grand Sport Coupe (manual, of course!) with 38k miles and sold my Miata with right at 100k miles on it for $5,000. the Corvette is a lot of fun in a VERY different way, but it's a BIG, relatively heavy car - and you can't come CLOSE to pushing it's limits on the street at anything less than go-directly-to-jail speeds. For those reasons, there are still days when I truly miss my Miata. For the money, I should have just kept it. I have to say, the Boxster in this comparison is very compelling. Looking forward to finding out if it wins.
I got one se, colour is actually mahogany mica mine has 70k klms cost me $9500 nz dollars a couple of years ago
My 93 supercharged NA Miata is definitely the most fun i've had on the road. They are such special cars.
Ayyyyy Derek the maaaan , love your channel bro
Still not as good as a TT
@@ronrichardson3103 not even in the same league, TT is nothing compared to the Miata.
@@freddarau they dont rust for a start
Did you put Supercharged and naturally aspirated in one sentence, right next to each other? :)
Being a car enthusiast of most of my life of 60 years and being poor or hand to mouth much of the time, affordability of keeping drivable has always been a key factor in my sportscar and street rod purchases. EverydayDriver rarely comments on that aspect. I have owned, for short periods of time, affordable to purchase European cars such as MGB, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, etc. There are a few exceptions but in general you better have money to burn or be a mechanic to keep "Euro-cars" on the road. I mean they are bigger money eaters than boats. Get a Japanese or American made rwd car unless you just like looking at your car or it doesn't bother you spending $3k to use your convertible top again. Of course, that is what old consumer reports magazines are for. Your videos are the only ones I actually watch all of. Great job!!!
Glad to have you watching, and thrilled our approach resonates with you. Thank you!
I've been wanting you guys to review the MR2 Spyder for ages! So glad to see it in this context, too.
I would have opted for the Saturn Sky rather than the Solstice, but that 07 350Z has a lot of potential!
Everything has potential if you dump 5-10k under the hood.
If you want to mod it after you buy it, the best options are Miata or 350z. The aftermarket support is amazing for those two cars.
@@CrappyCar neither are bad choices. I have a mr2 spyder w a kswap and it's fast af
@@cyruslever586 thinking about going this route. Found a $600 shell. It's it worth the money put into a k24 swap?
@@SlokeyPokey i guess it depends on what you want it for...aaand if you can find a 600 dollar shell in good condition.. aaaand of you have time and shitloads of money.... and experience NOT including the price of the car or any upgrades or building the engine the kswap cost like 10k+ to get running. Id have atleast 15k set back after you find a car. And a shell is probably closer to 3k.if you can find one and get them to sell. I originally was going to pay 6k for a shell that was widebodied but went a differemt route. Or 6k on the low end for a running in not great condition one. Not trying to discourage you this is the reality. Id say all together you'd need like 20k minimum just to be safe. Of course it depends on exactly what you want and stuff as far as 5spd/6spd/lsd/cosmetic condition/what engine exactly/tuning. And its alot of work. Ar you can buy one that's already swapped but noone wants to sell and it's gonna be hard to find one for less than 25k... im sure someone will be along to argue and say it can be done cheaper. But to do it right amd to make sure you have all the parts and odds and ends and unforseen things noone thinks about and some financial cushion that's probably a realistic estimate. Then there's wheels/tires/body work/cosmetics/built engine/turbo set up/suspension upgrades and modification also hardtop prices are through the roof.
I included the price of coilovers already you're gonna need them with custom Spring rates for the difference in weight. And that's if you can do all of the work yourself...besides the swap which is the easy part that's not easy there's the wiring harness and the shifter linkages and shit that's a bitch and tuning. Goodluck. They're amazing tho
As someone who daily drives 2 Veilside widebody 350Z's.... I whole heartedly agree with this review. This is a really decent list of cars you gents have put together. In fact, I am now going to seek out a few of these on the list. Keep up the great work and you guys have gained a subscriber!
Glad to have you with us and thanks for
Watching!
Love your videos. I wish I had roads and car prices like you do. I’ve researched many of the cars you tested but most aren’t available close to your price limit. Great work!
I love the "Z Not Zed" plate...to the folks across the pond haha.
...or to the North.
What's that big chair you Yanks sit in? Oh yes, the Lay Zed Boy.😁🇬🇧
I owned an 01 Mr2 spyder from new and loved it. Towed my track bike with it for track days and put a luggage rack on the rear and drove up and down the coast. Regarding its looks mine was yellow and got more compliments than any other car I’ve owned. People loved it. Fun, twitchy handling made for great fun on back roads.
I think the headlights look great compared to the dowdy NB jellybean rubbish. I have the mr2 with a 2zz turbo and safe tune 260hp. Soooo much fun
Oil burnner
For looks, you have to go with the Z3 or the Miata. For cost, reliability and maintainability (parts availability), it has to be the Miata by a long ways.
Love this series and the reviews. Going to treat myself to roadster hopefully next year. Thanks to you guys I have narrowed it down to the Z4 and the Solstice.
I'll never understand why they didn't put the 180hp 2zzfe in the mr2. 8k rpm, 40 more horsepower, it would have been amazing!
plenty of mr2s with 2zz around, its cheap and easy swap
2ZZGE
@@mattjohnston3321 oops
the speculation is that they didn't want it to compete with the Elise at the time which had the same engine. I have a 2zz MR2 and it's great fun but I would like to see if I can get the lift cam to come on lower so I can have a more useable powerband.
Sounds like you need a k swap 🤣
Great format and I really think this channel should get more traffic. You two always give an honest perspective that's professional and you relate to actual drivers. You review cars people can obtain. I've recently unsubbed a few auto channels with 1m+ because I wasn't loving their content or format anymore. They were either too clickbaity, too much sensationalism with cars that are the price of luxury homes or just spoiled rotten. There'a not a single infotainment system ruining any one of these cars and on a similar note, you haven't ruined yourselves either.
We take this as big compliments. Thank you. Glad to have you with us!
Best Review ever! Love the time stamps and informative commentary.
These cars are 15-25k here in Canada. Cheap cars are a thing of the past. Especially if they have low kms, no rust and in semi decent (taken care of) shape.
Surely not the Miata.
Fantastic video guys, probably one of my favourites. This really opens up the discussions around buying a relatively cheap car, but still having fun!
On MR2 - under 10k, heck, boost it and it will FLY.
I've owned 3 Mr2 Spyders, bought all used one had 6,000 miles black 2002, red 2001 had 15,000 and green w/ tan top 2003 with 20,000. The most fun car to drive because of the weight and with the engine in the back the front has almost no weight to it at all and can be made into a complete street go kart.
My first one I had eibach 1" lowering kit, intake and the old Falken Azenis tires on lighter wheels and it was seriously fun to drive. Those OG Azenis tires were so bad ass from early 2000's.
Second one I spent way to much on it like a idiot and bought a APR wide body kit and it was so low it became no fun to drive because you would have to worry about cracking the front endon everything lol.
Third one and I recommend this to anyone thinking about getting one, get a 2003-2005, had the best features, better head lights, leather seat options, gage cluster options,better looking tail lights, extra painted body mouldings here and there that make a nice difference. I did a 1k coil over kit on this one, front trd strut brace, rear big trd strut brace, chassis brace that goes under the center of the car and sporty tires and that thing was a actual Go- Kart.
Lastly when buying one and lowering it, get used to no trucks or big rigs being able to see you on the road. You will get run off the road all the time by big rigs lol it will make you the best defensive driver you can possibly be.
Very lastly, Scion XB way better radio unit fits exactly into the slot where the old piece of junk camry tape player they put it goes lol also recommend that.
Toyota MR2 Spyder?
I'm just about to get into that price range for a fun car and I want to know exactly what we're talking about, thanks!
@@teemcshanney8910 ya Toyota MR2 Spyder, go test drive a decent one somewhere. You will love it.
im gonna go look at one on saturday this comment helped alot thank you sir 😅
Great video guys. Thnx a lot for bringing back stick shifts to your show even though less than 8k and quite old. 😍
Fantastic film! I love the podcast, and like this format with you two sitting in the same car, side by side.
Johnny fd It was a shame that I didn't encounter one of these when I was searching for a new ride!. Instead I ended up with a 2009 Mitsubishi eclipse spider that I found for simular money Infact When I first started watching this I thought my car might be in there!.But when they said it would have to be a two seater which a Mitsubishi eclipse seems like but it isn't. BTW If these guys wanted to go older they might have tried a 1993 to 97 Honda delsol want to talk about over looked and forgotten about I had one for many years and what a fun to drive little car that was!!!!.
Wow I see you with Bald in Ukraine and then on these car videos, hahaha good taste Johnny.
Hey cool!!! I follow Benjamin too!!! No wonder your pfp seemed familiar!
No mini cooper convertible? Hmmm
I know your goal with this piece was to get all of us thinking about and wanting to buy one of these and its does. I love that none of these are BaT heirlooms with eye-watering prices. Real, great, if somewhat flawed cars for sane-people money. We need the reminder sometimes that those exist.
Thank you. Yes, that's exactly our hope. We want everyone, of every budget, driving something great!
I think the solstice GXPs are extremely slept on. I've almost finished paying off my Mazda 3, and she's still running insanely well with about 170k on the clock. I'm thinking in 6 months when I've paid it off, I'm going to be in the market for a GXP. Absolutely love the looks of the solstice, and you can find them with under 40k miles for like 15k and under. Getting so excited to finally have a fun car, take some road trips with my dad. I'll have him lead the way and eat the tickets in his supra lol.
I’ve been looking at the sky redline pretty much the same car I just like the look better, around me they’re kinda pricy 13-15k for under 100,000 miles
@@willham1427 I got my GXP for exactly $8k with 70k miles right before the start of the pandemic. it has just under 100k miles now.
I have a 08' Saturn SKY Redline that has been my daily driver since then. Its a blast of a car to own.
I have a Solstice GXP. There are more personalization & performance things you can do to them w/o spending a lot of $$$ and modifying the engine/chassis/suspension, etc. I've had her for 12 years now and every time I drive her I fall in love again.
@@l00k4tstuffSame here. I bought my SKY RedLine in 2008. Its still my daily driver since the day I brought it home.
Excellent videos! The information is super helpful and the sport car comparisons were very interesting. The filming, narration, editing and pace made me feel like I was there with both of you riding shotgun. Well done!!! 🙂
Thanks for putting out great RUclips content guys! Despite your podcast rants(🤣), there are those of us who really appreciate the quality and depth of the videos you put out for RUclips!
Great work! A great collection to compare. I just realised I was smiling through the whole episode :)
I got my MR 2 and it's fun to drive. I take it out on April 1 and put it away on October 1 and it's mint. What you should also have addressed and that is very important in all cars is reliability and the cost of repair and maintenance.
Had my 99 Miata for ten years. Other than a coil pack when I bought it and a battery, have had ZERO issues other than fluid changes.
I got that exact model Miata last November for well under $8k (and with 52k mi at the time, to boot) - now I'm shopping for something faster, like a Cayman, but then I get in the Miata and think nah, this is exactly right, I've got nothing to really gain in an "upgrade". Great looks with the Nardi wood bits, 6 speeds on the stick, big grins, and no pain to the wallet. I could add a Boxster to the fleet for less than the yearly depreciation on a fancy car, drive the bolts off of it, and pick between the two later. But I gotta think Miata is always the answer.
If you had the flat 6 in the back, it is hard to go back to a pedestrian 4-banger in the front... have you tried? I don't even get upset if I'm stuck in a traffic jam, I just listen to the engine :) Now the only old-men-project-car that can do it for me is like a BMW 850 12 cylinder ;) With a Porsche, you automatically join automotive royalty, so there is that ;)
Great video, here are my 2 cents. I owned a 2001 Boxster S for two years, sold it for almost what I paid for it. Recently, I bought a 2001 MR2-Spyder. Hands down for me, the MR2 is the nicer car. It's lighter (than my S) by over 700 lbs. Also, I think the one they have is beat, mine sounds great (have a header but that's it). Better shifter, mechanical throttle, and this is hard to explain, but it feels even more "mid-engine" than the Porsche, meaning, even at low speeds that dynamic makes itself known. Never selling the MR2.
Your steering problem in the Z4 may be part of the “sticky steering” issue with 03 to 06 Z4s. I suggest you look into it if your plan to keep the car.
Notice how they say you're not beating anything from a stop light. But I've beaten a lot of things from a stop light. Just don't know how to launch it
@@kogoat2390 considering it's mid engine, there's good grip off the line. These things launch pretty darn good, it's not fast but it's not hella slow too.
I cried when they said it was ONLY 2,200lbs. My 88' Supra has to be somewhere around 3,600! I'm sure they MR2 feels a lot more sporty lol.
@@rushnerd mines 2300lbs w me in it
Thank you for this series!
The best purchase I ever made was for my 2007 Z4 3.0si 6speed 90k miles the car is worth its weight in gold to me. Its my weekend warrior that I end up driving mid week. The best thing I did was replace those run flat tires I put middle priced high performance Continental it improved the ride like night and day difference thanks to the guys from Discount Tire Co in Scottsdale. If I am having a bad day I will drop top and take a drive best therapy for the mind and soul. BMW knew exactly what they were building and being built in USA only German by badging is icing on the cake of this little sports savior!
Happy to hear the MR2 Spyder ranking so well, I own a Corolla with a similar engine so the MR2 would be very easy for me to work on. It can handle a small supercharger from some other cars that also came with the 2ZZ.
Unfortunately, The air intake manifold in the MR2 Spyder is located forward of the engine just right behind the firewall. Any supercharger would require you to remove the convertible top & cut out a section of firewall to fit it.
@@marce152 That's good to know actually, thanks for the advice. Don't know how I didn't see it sooner lol.
Or both like mine 😉
Ya but the motor isn't what they like about it
it's tough to get to the engine for some things...I had one and a NA Miata, the Miata was more fun
Been following Everyday driver and you guys for year's. And this is the best you tube car show for the best information on the car media stage, there is.
Because it's honest, accurate, and gives a no bones truth of every car out there, best of all the test drivers are really useful to all of us car guys.Great job guys. Keep up the good work, and your staff as well !!! My 2011CTS, 2010 E92, M sport 328I, THANK YOU for everything.
Wow. Thanks for saying this. We're glad our work resonates for you, big compliments here!
I shopped the MR2 back when I had a 1st gen. Miata; a Miata trunk is surprisingly spacious, but still- small. The MR2 doesn't even have room for 2 bags of groceries, no hyperbole.
I think Nissan still looks tremendously good. The overall shape looks like those drawn concept cars out of the paper. Same goes for Solstice. Germans have always been a bit more reserved when it comes to styling.
I'm surprised you didn't comment on the space in the MR2 more. After sitting in and driving a variety of Miatas I was surprised a car 200lbs lighter would have SO MUCH more passenger space. My head fits better and my legs can actually get around the steering wheel!
My brother and I are both 6’2” and we got comfortably in his MRS, they’re incredible cars
And the cabin ergonomics are great butter than the z4 or merc.
This is awesome. Helping people get into these light weight fun to drive rides!
Nobody will find 350Z VQ35HR for $8,000!😂😂😂😂😂😂
MR2 all day! Just imported myself an 05’ MR-S with a 6 spd manual earlier this year and man its a lot of fun. Attracts lot of attention too
I have owned the following cars: NA, NB, AW11, Z3 2.5, Base Boxster 2.5 and MR2 Spyder...the only car I repurchased later in life was the Spyder. I think your example might not be running correctly, the engine makes decent torque from idle to redline and is much stronger than a Miata at any speed in any gear. The incredibly lightweight chassis and dynamics are just amazing, nothing turns in and gives you that mid engine rotation quite like an Elise or Spyder. I actually liked how it drove better than my Boxster, the shifter was better, car was much lighter and the shorter gearing really all worked for canyon carving. I bought a green/tan leather example 6 years ago and have no plans on ever selling it. I will eventually k20 or 2zz swap it, I actually recently moved to Utah myself and the power level is greatly impacted by the elevation
I can definitely see myself owning a Mr2 Spyder and or a 350z. The MR2 Spyder is a handling beast while the 350z just begs you to push it with no regrets. The reliability for both of these cars is really really good.
Just k swapped my spyder and I’ve never been happier
I test drove a 2019 350 z when I was shopping . This was a base model with no lsd and the big ugly glove box in the middle of the dash .I ended up buying a RF Miata . Did not like the 370 much . Maybe the upper models would of been ok . Will give the new 400 a go but with the Supra coming with a manual I think that’s the ticket.
@@harrismorley9489 k swapped?
May be a little late, but I got a 04’ 350Z with 24,439 miles, mint interior, never been modded all stock right down down to the wheels. Black
love it! My wife and I ran a first generation Boxster S for about 9 years ('05 to '14), including through one baby and only had to get rid of it due to baby 2.... With the airbag deactivate you can have a kid in the front where they want to be, and a stroller folded into the rear trunk while still driving a sports car. In fact, we found that being near a kid was more relaxing for both kid and parent, and she loved the sound and the sky... Over about 9 years and almost 100k miles it needed a fuel pump, water pump, plugs, and an occasional exhaust weld, and Oxygen sensor, as well as one new convertible top (FL is hard on everything). Using a non-dealer specialist it was surprisingly reasonable to run, and was loads of fun. So our real-life experience was entirely positive and surprisingly affordable (in context of what starts as a 50-80k car)
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Nice comparison of fun cars. I own a 2006 Boxster S (outside your pricing) and it is the most fun car to drive. I have ridden in, driven and road tripped in many of the cars you are testing and found the second generation Boxster to be the best everyday driver. Comfortable on long drives and fun, fun, fun on every “twisty turny” rode. And reliable. The cabin comfort and roominess . A trunk and frunk for extra storage that most cars in this class lack.
I really enjoyed this episode! Keep them coming 😊
They're very smooth, wide open roads for testing sport cars. To me a sports car belongs on tight, twisting challenging roads. These roads will suit the cruisers in the group more than the sports cars.
Makes sense. I live in the Carolina foothills on tight, twisting roads with constant elevation changes. My Miata is perfectly suited for these roads, light, precise. You do learn to carry your speed. A 3200 lb car would be too heavy.
@@gordonipock9385 That's exactly the roads the miata is designed for, like any good sports car.
What a fun and useful video! Loving this collection of cars.
I recently bought a Toyota MR2. December 2004 with 31000 miles for $4750! I got it from the car's second owner, a 74 year old man that had owned it for 14 yeas. The thing is perfect, I mean really good. I really like it a lot.
I'm 6'3 and found it hard to get my knees around the steering wheel, so I installed an MOMO 13" wheel, which makes it more comfortable. I also fitted a set of fully adjustable coilovers and lowed it about 1.5", which improves it tremendously. It's not fast, but it's not slow, it does need another 50-60 bhp.
I've been eyeing the MR2 and Boxster, but seems that people been pricing them up in my area. It's hard to find decent ones under $15k in TX
Shop around the country… even if it costs you $2k to ship a $9k car you’ll still “save”…
@@Rick1984FL true point. Just afraid to get scammed. I rather be able to drive and have the car inspected in person
I bought one with a bad motor for 2k. I mean, it's a cheap replacement and now you have a reason to install a 2zz
They are both 10k more than true value. Just wait for the housing market to bust…
@@cameronspann7949 how do you get through smog check tho
This series made me into an SLK fan. I never thought I would be one, but it grew on me
I have a 01 Slk 320 and the longer I've owned it, the more I love it. It's very reliable, beautiful, and fun to drive. The 230 4cyl is good but if you can, get the 6cyl. I guarantee you will not be disappointed
@@chrisperry2922 get the slk350
@@bbhoustontx I want to drive that but I personally don't think it has that classic appeal like the r170 chassis
@@chrisperry2922 that’s awesome! Thanks for the thoughts!
@@kylecopier2616 you're welcome
Such a good review over a range of sport cars! Thank you
Outstanding work, guys! It’s obvious you’re having a blast…and so did I. Bought an NC Miata about three months ago. (Thanks, Todd!) The party is on!
Glad you enjoyed! And congrats on a great car. Thanks for watching!
Great job. Long time fan. I think this will get you the attention you guys deserve.
This was great! Thank you for the informative and entertaining content. Side note: I’m addicted to your podcast
Thanks for watching - and listening. Very glad to have you with us!
I bought my 05 BMW Z4 2 years ago and absolutely love it. Great little road car, I love it because you are so low and for me it has always been fun on trips. I paid 9 for it which was 3-4 less than the average price at the time. It's a great looking car, big trunk for a spots car, top comes down in like 7 seconds.
You look hilarious in the MX-5. You really can be to big for this car. For me, I’m 5’10” it is literally the most comfortable position to sit, not in a car - in general.
This is your best video on a long time
I tried to convince my wife that the little squeal while in a corner is just the tires communicating to the driver. However, I should preference this by saying, I was in a 2009 Honda CRV on The Tail of the Dragon. Lol
Based on the Honda Fit. WTF
Well done guys! The Boxster for the win, followed closely by the Miata. Pretty sure, I’m the only guy on the planet who likes the 996/986 interior. I think it looks cool. Toyota helped Porsche with cost savings, including the interior on the 997.
I love the 986 interior too, especially in red
Red 986 interior is lovely.
I recently bought an 07 solstice GXP, 53,000 miles, and all the packages, for 9k and it is utterly amazing. I have a friend with a like 2014 or something 370z and it just eats his up around corners. I don't know if there was something done to lighten the GXP model but mine only weighs in at 2700 lbs and I'm paying like $95 a month for full coverage and with me being 18, at 50/100, and I get somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 mpg. Super easy to work on, everything's very accessable, sounds great, and it's probably the best financial decision I've made as far as cars go. The community behind them is great, and as long as you can get around the funky looking front end, I would highly recommend it to everyone.
Most of these cars are 10k or more with reasonable mileage.
Yes. A 03 Boxtser with 88k for under 8k. I'll buy 20 because that car is worth at least 17k. And if its mint, that's a good deal, but they are misleading on price.
@@botterweckwb Literally 5 under $8K on AutoTempest right now. 2 minutes ago.
@@almuliman are they in great shape with 88k miles and 8k? And bids under reserve dont count. Only counts what they actually sell for.
@Brian Botterweck we shot this less than a month ago and ALL the cars down can be found for 8k or less. Condition will vary of course. This specific Boxster and Solstice are the only two shown that are likely worth more than 8k however, you can find plenty of them nationwide for 8k or less.
@@botterweckwb Indeed Brian, I had been looking for a relatively low mileage Solstice for some time. I settled on a 50k mile example for slightly less than $10,000.
@12:15 -- this 2000 Miata is the *early* NB generation, not the late. Changeover happened to NB2 in 2001. So this car lacks the VVT and some other features of the NB2.
And that's a bad thing? The headlamps are a LOT better on the NB2
Had 2 NB2s. Love 'em! Just correcting Paul's statement in the video where he calls this 2000 Miata a late NB when it is clearly an early NB.
Well these are the same people who made the Miata series and had an NB2 and said it was the first year facelift..
Yep! I know they knew better. Easy slip-up to make. Lord knows that I make bigger screwups than this on a daily basis.
Great comparison video! I enjoyed watching the whole way through. You guys are a great team to show people what these cars are like realistically. If I had the choice to take one of these cars I would go with the boxster. I respect the others and have owned some of them. My second choice would have to be the 350z but I see how the others still offer cool different driving experiences. Thanks for doing these types of videos. Great job guys! 😎👍💯
Glad you enjoyed. Thank you for watching!
Wow this episode is still seeing tremendous action two years later!
Great video, really enjoyed learning more about these models. Drive a 986S that I’ve put a lot of $$ and TLC into, just because it’s so iconic/fun to drive. Intake/exhaust mods + tune = exhaust notes that are legendary. Unfortunately, to get the full effect in terms of rpm you’re very quickly going too fast! Don’t overlook to 986 base model, had one of those years ago and though not as fast as the S model it was a blast to drive.
I've been seeing a lot of MR2 Spyder prices go up in the last couple of months.
Same...its actually quite surprising for a car just a couple years ago, was such an outcast and undesired.
K24 or K20 swap.
Calling a $7500 purchase 'almost throwaway'. Classy
Wow, really good journalism guys, and very very helpful.