Lightweight toy?

[dhalem]

I have an e93 with a VF540...it's a fun car, but it's heavy. I am thinking about picking up something lighter and more tossable. Something like a e36 m3, or a cayman or ....

I'm 6'3", so tiny cars like the elise and tesla roadster are out.

Budget is up to $50k. Availability of mods is a plus.

Ideas?

[Onurleft]

facelifted Cayman S with direct injection should suit your needs or an earlier model + a supercharger would be quite the toy

[krnnerdboy]

C5 or c6 z06. Completely different beast

[okusa]

Elise with proper seat is not to small and exactly fits your description.

[RingMeister01]

Caterham.

[Deathboy]

Used Ariel Atom

[Longboarder]

"lighter and more tossible"?

For $30K you could get a beat up e30 M3 and put $20K refurbishing it.

Or you can buy a new BRZ for what...$25K and put a supercharger and suspension mods for maybe $10K.

At 6'3" you could fit in both.

[adc]

Originally Posted by RingMeister01

Caterham.

Originally Posted by Deathboy

Used Ariel Atom

+1.

A Caterham as the more "practical" choice with some degree of weather protection available, and the Atom as a true exotic alternative.

An Atom will literally blow your mind, nothing else short of a formula car can compete.

[dhalem]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm not sure I see the vette as a 'tossable' car though. I'll look into the elise.

[s65e90]

Originally Posted by dhalem

Thanks for the ideas. I'm not sure I see the vette as a 'tossable' car though. I'll look into the elise.

you need to drive one then. At first it seems bigger but (at least the z06) is very light

[okusa]

Originally Posted by dhalem

Thanks for the ideas. I'm not sure I see the vette as a 'tossable' car though. I'll look into the elise.

You will find more info than you want over at lotustalk. A properly set up Elise is as tossable as they get.

[sensi09]

Healthy budget. I'd go for a 996 gt3 or a noble M400.

Both would probably be right around $50K if you can find one though. Seems like the 6gt3 have been going up a bit

[positiveions]

Elise might be small for you.
E36 M3 on the other hand can be very rewarding. Slap a Dinan S/C, upgrade the suspension, beef up the rear tower mounts, add slotted rotters with some good gripping pads (don't oversize, trust me), a nice tuned exhaust, and you got yourself a beast.
YOu can toss that car into any corner and come out as a champion.

[dhalem]

I'm liking the e36 M3 idea. Nice to have a toy that I don't have a ton of money in.

[apexkingjusto]

Used exige s240! Buy and s2000 and turbo it with moton coil overs and whatever other mods...

[F1Venom]

Noble M400 would be my choice. Great models can be had for $55k.

[W///]

Budget of 50? Dang, that's quite a big budget right there, so many choices.

I'd consider a Z4M and you can still mod it to your taste with the 20k you got left. It's a spectacular looking car.

[ridin135]

I agree on the ariel atom

[In Extremis]

Ariel, caterham and corvette in that order, although I'm not sure the first two are really what you're looking for. With a stock weight of 3100, the z06 is very tossable. The c6's 7 liter is also a beautiful motor and provides tons of power from down low, definitley will be a new experience at the track. The vettes ls7 is only about 50 pounds heavier than a s65 and overall the car is still 1000 pounds less than your e93. If 3000 pounds isn't light enough, I personally would go porsche 996 with weight reduction.

[dhalem]

I think the Ariel and Caterham are a bit too track specific for my tastes.

The budget could go higher if needed, but I also want to leave room for mods.

The real victory of this week is that I convinced my wife to let me have another car

Niether the M3 or the new car will be a daily driver, btw.

[adc]

Originally Posted by dhalem

I think the Ariel and Caterham are a bit too track specific for my tastes.

Perhaps so, but they are FAST! At least give them a test drive, you've got nothing to lose.

[RingMeister01]

Originally Posted by positiveions

Elise might be small for you.
E36 M3 on the other hand can be very rewarding. Slap a Dinan S/C, upgrade the suspension, beef up the rear tower mounts, add slotted rotters with some good gripping pads (don't oversize, trust me), a nice tuned exhaust, and you got yourself a beast.
YOu can toss that car into any corner and come out as a champion.

Mazda MX5 is another option. They are famous for their lightweight and handling characteristics. Slap on a SC, suspension and rubber; you will be smiling ear to ear.