From: su27dvr on
I'm looking to buy a used sports car for our family of 3 (2 parents around
50 and a 17 year old son) - 2nd car to replace an aging Commodore. -
Considering an open roadster - 2 seater - used around year 2000. Budget up
to $15k. Wife and son only know automatics but are both happy to learn
manual or sequential shift. Want to keep maintenance costs reasonable. have
been considering MR2 (series 3), MX-5, MG-F, Alfa Spyder, maybe S2000 under
20k. Are there any other models in Oz (sydney surrounds) that we should
consider and what is the opinion on reliabilty on any of the above. Does it
make any sense in the sydney traffic - maybe some sports car owners are
happy to share their experiences.



From: st3ph3nm on
On May 11, 10:02 am, "su27dvr" <a...(a)ghjkl.com> wrote:
> I'm looking to buy a used sports car for our family of 3 (2 parents around
> 50 and a 17 year old son) - 2nd car to replace an aging Commodore. -
> Considering an open roadster - 2 seater - used around year 2000. Budget up
> to $15k. Wife and son only know automatics but are both happy to learn
> manual or sequential shift. Want to keep maintenance costs reasonable. have
> been considering MR2 (series 3), MX-5, MG-F, Alfa Spyder, maybe S2000 under
> 20k. Are there any other models in Oz (sydney surrounds) that we should
> consider and what is the opinion on reliabilty on any of the above. Does it
> make any sense in the sydney traffic - maybe some sports car owners are
> happy to share their experiences.

With that budget, I'd be suggesting the MX5. Actually, with any
budget up to $50k I'd be making the same suggestion. Superb cars, and
probably the cheapest to maintain out of any of those things, and
actually fairly practical as well - especially in comparison to the
mid-engined options. You'll get all the good bits of a classic sports
car (great handling, wind in the hair etc. etc.) without the usual
dramas normally associated with them. Please GOD teach your family to
drive and get a manual. It'd be criminal to purchase such a car with
a slushbox.

Cheers,
Steve
From: Fraser Johnston on

"su27dvr" <asdf(a)ghjkl.com> wrote in message
news:481Gn.24078$pv.12(a)news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> I'm looking to buy a used sports car for our family of 3 (2 parents around 50
> and a 17 year old son) - 2nd car to replace an aging Commodore. - Considering
> an open roadster - 2 seater - used around year 2000. Budget up to $15k. Wife
> and son only know automatics but are both happy to learn manual or sequential
> shift. Want to keep maintenance costs reasonable. have been considering MR2
> (series 3), MX-5, MG-F, Alfa Spyder, maybe S2000 under 20k. Are there any
> other models in Oz (sydney surrounds) that we should consider and what is the
> opinion on reliabilty on any of the above. Does it make any sense in the
> sydney traffic - maybe some sports car owners are happy to share their
> experiences.

MX-5 all the way. My partner has one and she loves it.

Fraser


From: su27dvr on
Thanks for both replies, yes MX-5 - very attractive. Conventional layout,
good chassis, reliability and relative simplicity are considered a plus in
many review sites I read.

"Fraser Johnston" <ftrust(a)iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:851ir2Frq2U1(a)mid.individual.net...
>
> "su27dvr" <asdf(a)ghjkl.com> wrote in message
> news:481Gn.24078$pv.12(a)news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> I'm looking to buy a used sports car for our family of 3 (2 parents
>> around 50 and a 17 year old son) - 2nd car to replace an aging
>> Commodore. - Considering an open roadster - 2 seater - used around year
>> 2000. Budget up to $15k. Wife and son only know automatics but are both
>> happy to learn manual or sequential shift. Want to keep maintenance costs
>> reasonable. have been considering MR2 (series 3), MX-5, MG-F, Alfa
>> Spyder, maybe S2000 under 20k. Are there any other models in Oz (sydney
>> surrounds) that we should consider and what is the opinion on reliabilty
>> on any of the above. Does it make any sense in the sydney traffic - maybe
>> some sports car owners are happy to share their experiences.
>
> MX-5 all the way. My partner has one and she loves it.
>
> Fraser
>


From: Fraser Johnston on

"su27dvr" <asdf(a)ghjkl.com> wrote in message
news:DQiIn.25418$pv.16126(a)news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Thanks for both replies, yes MX-5 - very attractive. Conventional layout,
> good chassis, reliability and relative simplicity are considered a plus in
> many review sites I read.
>

It's 80% of a lotus elise with 20% of the price and reliablity thrown in as a
bonus.

Fraser