[apex]

Priced from $27,000 the Toyota 86 isn't exactly cheap.

If you were going for a more affordable sports car, what would you get?

Some suggestions found here include:

2013-2020 Toyota 86/BRZ
1990-2020 MX-5/Miata
2016+ Chevy Camaro
2000-2009 Honda S2000
2009-2020 Nissan 370Z
and many others.

 

[Stephenm]

Priced from $27,000 the Toyota 86 isn't exactly cheap.

If you were going for a more affordable sports car, what would you get?

Some suggestions found here include:

2013-2020 Toyota 86/BRZ
1990-2020 MX-5/Miata
2016+ Chevy Camaro
2000-2009 Honda S2000
2009-2020 Nissan 370Z
and many others.

 

[DMichael]

For me it's either the GR86 or Miata. The Miata with the soft top is a bargain, but I want the the RF and that's actually more expensive than the 86. Plus the ND Miata has a potentially weaker engine and transmission than the 86. So unless Toyota and Subaru really screw this gen up (like numb the wonderful Gen1 steering or give it terrible handling dynamics), I don't see anything else that interests me in the current market.

I don't think the S2000s are in this price range in the US unless you get a really beat one. Same with the Cayman and Boxster. You could probably get a nice one, but old with high mileage. Plus the Porsches have a lot of potentially expensive reliability and maintenance issues. Ultimately, you'd want a 2009+ and those are over $40k.

The Camaro and Nissan Z are fat pigs and not even in the same league as the 86 and Miata. They may be faster but not nearly as light and entertaining on the mountain back roads.