Best Beater for 10K or less
 

What would you buy for a good daily beater that can also serve for occasional track duty for 10K? RWD or AWD.

I just bought a 97 Miata a month ago for this purpose but it's too darn slow in a straight line after driving my other cars.

Thinking S2000 is the next candidate. Maybe RX-8 (bad gas mileage), older Boxster S, E36 M3, Bugeye WRX? I've owned a S2000, RX-8 and E36 M3 sedan before so I know what those are like.

$10k for daily driving and track?

You have a GTR and a Cayman; why aren't you taking them to the track or daily driving them?

Wife daily drives the Cayman S. Trying to keep miles off the GT-R. It's a waste to put boring/bad weather commuter miles on that thing. Plus I only want to track it part time since consumables are insanely expensive so splitting time with a car with cheaper consumables is ideal.

http://bham.craigslist.org/cto/3310149788.html not mine but it's cheap and I was like O.O

My vote goes to an ap1 or e36m3, which ever one you can find. Since it's going to double for DD duty, I swing more to the e36 as far as practicality is concerned. If you want more bias for track driving - then an ap1.

I think you'll have an easier time finding an e36m3 in better condition for cheaper than an ap1.

Don't even bother with the rx-8. If it's number one duty is to be a DD, then you need reliability first, and gas mileage second - the rx-8 has neither when compared to the last two I recommended. Good luck and happy hunting.

yeah, if you want a DD and the Miata is too slow, sell it and get a used AP1.

How much are the Mazdaspeed Miatas going for these days?

A 600 cc sportbike is plenty fast, and gets great gas mileage. :D

Porsche 944 or 968, Alfa GTV6, Toyota Celica All-trac.

Hadn't looked but the dinky T25 turbo on those makes it barely faster than a normal NB. Want to sell me your 600RR? :) Or your S2000?

The problem with the E36 is that anyone I find will probably need a ton of maintenance (cooling system, rubber suspension parts). Also it will require camber plates and some other suspension upgrades to be fun on track. AP1 is more ready out of the box and not much to fix/update.

My RX-8 was dead reliable and gas milage isn't too much of a concern as long as it's better than the 14 I get in my GT-R. With mixed driving I was getting about 19-21 in my RX-8 when I had it. Also a lot of the earlier ones have extended engine warranties till 100K miles.

Looks exactly like the AP1 I owned except crappier :) Seriously though I would love a white/red/black S2000 again.