yeah m3 would be the right ticket

 

Not broken all the time and not a Honda for under 20K






Nothing

 

Motorcycle with a side a car.

 

Already stated, worth repeating: RX-8 is essentially a closed 2+2 S2000. Except for the gas mileage...

Anything else out there is way too heavy, way out of character vs. S2000.

 

Would a first gen Lexus IS be close at all? I haven't driven one and agree that nothing will match the S with in these constraints but the IS has 4 doors and is rear wheel drive and reliable.

 

Of the 3 cars listed, the E36 is the easiest to find in good, unabused condition for under $20k. They are also a blast to drive, but in stock form fel a little disconnected from the sports/performance car driving experience (IMO). If you manage to find a clean and unmolested EVO, I thik thats the best choice.

I would look at RX-8s as well. Perhaps not the best milage (but neither is an E36 M3) but it feels a lot like driving an S2000. You can find 04 and 05s for under $20k these days as well (I wouldn't get one older than 05 though, seems like a lot of small issues were solved from 04-05).

 

RX-8. You can get a really nice 06 or 07 for under 20K now.

E36 M3 is fun but not like the S2000. Also you can find some E36 M3/4 5spd's if you look hard enough. I sold mine to a guy in Colorado. A clean one should only fetch about 12-13K these days. If you can afford it, I'd rather have the 330 ZHP. It's similar to the M3 but much nicer and updated.

Also you can get a E39 M5 for around 20K with 75-130K miles. Not sure if you want to see the maintenance bills on that though. Gas guzzler as well.

 

Dan

 

04/05 STI (from what I've driven)

 

No.