Article: 55654 of rec.autos.driving
From: vectorg@crl.com (Josh White)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: MR2 = RX7 = 2002? $5k debate
Date: 30 Jun 1995 12:17:53 -0700
Organization: CRL Dialup Internet Access
Lines: 58

Hi fellow cheap sports car lovers! 

Now that the question has been posted for a couple weeks, I'm sharing 
my biased results with you-all, in regards to finding a sports car with the
following criteria: under $5000 for a decent, reliable car, weight 
less than 2200 lbs, rear wheel drive, has an avid support group/fanatical 
following/easy availability of performance parts. In the blatantly biased 
department, the car must match my admittedly weird sense of style and 
image ("looks").

Note that I changed the weight requirements (what was I thinking when I 
posted?) and added "looks" to help me justify my biased elimination of 
certain ugly IMO cars. Just like Car & Driver; wow, I must be good...

Anyway, the two winning cars for me are the BMW 2002 and the Toyota MR2. 
The 2002 only kinda wins; most examples I have owned didn't pass the
"decent, reliable" part of the criteria, but I believe there are some that
do, even though they are all 19 years old, at least.  

The MR2 has cleared its name (for me) of engine design problems; many MR2
owners have testified that they have had no trouble whatsoever, and have
never heard of MR2 engine problems from anyone, ever...  If you have more
proof (positive or negative), please post. 


Not enough info department:

 Datsun 240z. (early models; late models fail on price) Please post if you 
can help this car pass or fail on the criteria above.


The losers:

 RX-7s, 1st generation, fail on weight I think; are they <2200 lbs? & looks.
 RX-7s, 2nd generation, fail on weight (2600 lbs)
 RX-7s, 2nd generation, fail on price & weight
 Miata kinda fails on price ($7000 minimum), but I watch the ads...
 Porsche 914 fails on fanatical following, decent/reliable, and looks.
 Porsche 911 fails on price ($10k at least)
 Porsche 924/944 fails on price ($7k) and looks
 Merkur XR4ti fails on fanatical following and looks
 Pontiac Fiero fails on fanatical following and looks
 Modern BMWs fail on price and are very weak on looks
 Most modern sports cars (Acuras, VWs, Mitsubishi) fail on rear-wheel-drive

------
Conclusion:

Since I'm tired of owning 2002s, I'm starting my long-term search for an
87, 88, or 89 Toyota MR2, supercharged, T-Tops, red with leather interior,
5-speed trans, full aero package, under 100k miles.  Of course, with all 
these fancy things, I probably can't stay under $5000...

-Josh