Mazda MX-5 MiataJapanese automakers wrote the book on reliability, so that’s the best place to start—and the obvious pick from the Land of the Rising Sun is the Mazda MX-5 Miata. This two-seat rear-drive roadster was designed to deliver the thrills of a classic British droptop without the mechanical headaches. First- and second-generation Miatas are so responsive that one seems to drive them by brainwaves rather than steering inputs; later model cars gained some weight, but they have more interior space and are not short on the fun factor. For used buyers, the Miata’s twenty-five years of production is an advantage: There is an MX-5 for every budget, from fixer-uppers priced under a grand to nearly-new $20K bargains.Scion FR-SA car with a less storied past is the Scion FR-S (and we’ll lump in its identical twin, the Subaru BRZ). These rear-drive coupes were designed for those who value handling over power. While they aren’t slow, they aren’t terribly quick—but they are exquisitely well-balanced handlers, making them a great way to master the technique of oversteer (sliding the back end of the car). The FR-S and BRZ have only been in production for a few years, so prices are higher; the least expensive ones we’ve seen are selling for 16 to 18 grand, and later model cars can run into the low 20s.Subaru WRXStaying in Japan, our next pick is the Subaru WRX, which uses a turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive to deliver power and grip well beyond your typical four-door sedan. Though patterned after rally cars that run hell for leather over ridiculous terrain, the WRX is at its best on dry pavement, where the all-wheel-drive system shows off its ability to find traction beyond what two-wheel-drive cars can muster. Fifteen years of production gives buyers a good selection of cars, and we’ve seen plenty of older high-milers selling for less than $3,000. This is not a car to buy on impulse: WRXs are often driven hard, and while you should not be afraid of high mileage, you should know the signs of abuse or bad modifications and avoid cars that have been mistreated.Porsche BoxsterIt’s the Germans who (arguably) make the best handling cars—or at least are most consistent about it. If you’re looking for an old, reliable German car, we’d recommend the Porsche Boxster. Granted, Boxsters aren’t the simplest cars, nor are they the cheapest to repair, but they are solidly constructed and are often purchased new as weekend cruisers by buyers who can afford to maintain them properly. Boxsters are surprisingly cheap on the used market: $7,500 will buy you a clean example with less than 100,000 miles on the clock, and if you can spend $15,000 to $20,000, you’ll have your pick of low-mileage examples. Look for examples with a complete service and repair history and be sure to budget for what repairs do come up, as Porshce parts and labor aren’t cheap.
Chevrolet Corvette
If you’re looking for something that is less expensive to repair, how about theCorvette? C5 and C6 cars (1997 and later) are good fun to drive and fairly robust, though you should carefully check the service records of any prospective purchases to be sure it doesn’t have a history of trouble. Though electrical issues can pop up, the mechanical bits of the Corvette are pretty simple and reliable, and parts are generally cheaper than those for Asian or European sports cars. In the world of Corvettes, it’s a buyer’s market: as with the Miata, there are a lot of cars for sale, in all sorts of conditions and priced to fit all sorts of budgets. Shop aggressively and you should be able to find the right car at the right price.
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