I've been thinking about this a lot over recent months. you get quite an education by just reading comments in the listings over at BAT. what are the best handling affordable cars? obviously not supercars or radical modifications.
The reason I emphasize track performance in cars that are not even intended to be a track car, so to speak, is that I feel a day or two at the track proves a car's mettle. it shows you what needs to be upgraded or may show you that the car is just not worth keeping.
so what cars have you personally driven and which would you like to drive or have you heard make great handling corner carvers? it might be a distinction here between stock and upgrades. maybe a car is capable of greatness after a few improvements?

 

One of the best handling cars you can pick up fairly cheap is a Mini. The JCW is obviously the best choice, but they tend to be much pricier than an S. You can pick up a '10 or '11 S for under $10k all day long. Replace the run flats with good tires and you have a great canyon carver. If you want RWD, a second gen (also called NB) Miata is a great choice. Really nice ones also go for under $10k. As a bonus, Mazda just started production of the hardtop back up due to demand. They're not cheap at almost $3k, but if you want a coupe and not a soft top, it's an option. If you have a few grand more and a regular Miata is too slow, look for a Mazdaspeed Miata, with the factory turbo. They can get pricey in really nice condition though ($15k). My shop owns an NB Miata that we autocross. It has a few suspension mods, but nothing crazy. Probably have about $2k total in parts. We regularly set fast time of the day in it. That's against fully prepped Lamborghini's, GT3 RS's, Evo's, an even a tube chassis fully built '69 Mustang.

 

I rode in a NB Miata built for DE4/TT so it wasn't a good example, being a trailered race car. The handling was insane, glued to the track. he just had it floored the entire time, never even touched the brakes, lol. I think a Z3 is similar to a Miata. just not as popular.
A Mini would be fun. never even ridden in one... My cousin sold his manual mini years ago and still talks about it. I told him, just buy another one!

 

As far as an "affordable" sportscar, there's a case to be made for the 350Z. Having raced it in SCCA for almost 15 years (and probably the only Z33 to compete in Touring 1, 2 and 3 classes), I've seen the evolution of cars and most tellingly, in rules, to keep the classes competitive. For example, this year the T3 Z33 HR is mandated to use 42mm restrictors, 245 max tires and weigh at least 3,275 pounds as it comes off the track after a race. For a car that cost around $35K and competing against cars like the BMW Z4 M-Coupe, Mustang GT, Pro MX-5, Spec Boxster, BRZ/Toyota 86 and other cars, the Z33 is a frontrunner that's been heavily restricted over the years.

Some might say that the 370Z is another Z car that's one of the best handling and fastest cars around, and you'll get no argument from me. In the T3 class, it's got essentially the same restrictions as the Z33 HR and would run away from most "affordable" cars on a road racing track.

 

Everything is overpriced so "affordable" falls into the "What's your definition of affordable?"

i bought my Z33N in 2015, paid $25k with 28k on the clock. Same car today, people asking that much with 128k.

Bought out my Z34 lease for a total $$ outlay of just over $49k, gave to daughter and sold it a few monhs ago for $32k

So, my vote goes to the Z34 Nismo but their values are slowly climbing.

I feel like the Nismo Zs are some of the best handling cars out-of-the-box. Somewhere on here, I did reviews of both cars and made that comment then. Still maintain that outlook. My soon to depart 33 handles as well but that required suspension and tires but stock was quite good as well.

 

"Affordable" is certainly up for interpretation due to a wide range of incomes. perhaps under 20k? or the loan payment is not a concern? or easy to replace if it gets destroyed? keep the nominations coming! this is getting interesting.

 

A friend of mine used to have an MR2 which was a lot of fun. I think you might be able to find a clean example for less than $20K but it might require some patience.

 

I would have to mention the s2000, my buddy is running one of those and its pretty quick. He put a supercharger on it and he was running very similar times to me at VIR and CMP this year.

 

I've been following S2000s on BAT. 20K minimum. there's a VTEC listed right now that'll hit 36K. 240 hp. that is exciting for Honda fans? but a regular S2K would be fun to own.

 

Cayman, although higher costs.

 

All model years have vtec. I used to own an s2000 at the same time as my 350z over several years. I can easily say, the s2000 is far more nimble and focused. The s2000 is like a scalpel while 350z is more of a butcher's knife.
00-03 f20 ap1 9k redline
04-09 f22 ap2 8.2k redline
08-09 s2000 CR (Club Racer edition) limited production

 

yea I agree, it handles like a go kart and the gear box is really good. I prefer the Z over it just due to the fact im 6'2" but its a great car for sure.

 

well there's something special about that S2K at BAT right now because it's going for almost twice the price of every other S2K in sales history. ( it was relisted and sold for 36K last fall )

 

I guess one's definition depends on one's income level. To me, affordable is cheap enough that you wouldn't care if you drove it into a tire barrier at the track. So, I guess that's around $15k for me.

 

this is an entertaining episode of everyday driver covering affordable sports cars. they add a few good ones to our list here.

 

The term "sportscar" is also subjective in relation to "affordable". Jay Leno called the 350z a GT or muscle car and Jeremy Clarkson gave it a low review when the car first came out. The stock exhaust note was what got me when nothing else sounded or looked like the 350z back in 2005.

 

subjective means that you can't just throw money at it in order to pretend to be fast. that was my point. not to exclude awesome sports cars that are only available to the wealthy. those sorts of owners go through cars every year or two and they don't care. they have no brand loyalty. just whatever they can brag about.

affordable limits this list to cars people really put their heart into and maximize performance through blood sweat and tears. Rather than just going out and buying an insanely fast car. The affordable sports car also represents accessibility to the majority of people.

I would love to have a Cayman GT4. doesn't even have to be new it could be a 981. I would effing love that. they aren't even relatively expensive compared to a GT3. but would I buy one? If I had the money? That's a loaded question. If I had enough money that I wouldn't miss it by buying a GT4?

no. because as soon as you compromise skill for wealth than that's a black hole that you'll never come out of. from then on you'll always make excuses to indulge yourself.