So, you think owning a super fast car that will wow you and your buddies both is out of reach? Hah! What I'd buy on a budget if I wanted to go fast and not:
A. Loose money to depreciation.
B. Spend an arm and a leg on maintining a fancy-named sports car that isn't all that fast or reliable to begin with.
-or-
Wanted something that was almost as much fun as getting nekkid with the wife in an inflatable kiddie pool with a jar of apricot preserves.

For those with a taste for good ol' roundy-round racing:
http://www.race-cars.com/carsa...060/1255570060ss.htm
http://www.race-cars.com/carsa...472/1227139472ss.htm
As long as you don't bend the thing up or pop the motor, these are really easy to maintain. The biggest weekend expense will be racing fuel. Brake pads and tires aren't cheap, either. But for weekend blasting once or twice a month at local tracks, both tires and brakes could last a year. Replace them every winter and go over the whole car. Looks really cool while sitting in the garage next to your wife's Camry as you do your lawn on Saturday mornings. Make your neighbors bring beer with them when they stop by.

For the corner burners, such as myself:
http://www.race-cars.com/carsa...259/1329411259ss.htm
http://www.race-cars.com/carsa...874/1296838874ss.htm
Bullet proof Reynard chassis, iron block and head Ford 4 cylinder engine (110 hp 1.6 liter Kent in the FF, 125 hp 2.0 liter Pinto in the FF2000.), with a single Holley 2-barrel carb. Runs on regular unleaded. Dead simple, no problems. Very fast in their strictly regulated form and the best car to really learn what fast driving is and build your skills. Join the vintage FF class and try not to come in last. It's a blast! Easily modified to compete in solo-class time trials and hill climbs with double the FF class horsepower. Amazing fun!

Now before you can get on the track with these, you have to take a drivers training course and earn your competition license. But unlike drivers ed in high school, this is fun. But these will certainly put a smile on your face and not break the bank.

for less $$$, all things considered, I would just buy a 2013 Shelby GT500. 650 horse power, and the back seat will hold four bags of groceries.

Personally, I am content with my XK-8 convertible. It and I are driving to St Louis on Wednesday, with an overnight stop enroute to see Colin Stolzer at his place in Washington, Kansas.
It will do 160 on a level straight stretch of road, and return 24-26 mpg at the speed limit.

Besides, none of the rigs you are talking about have cupholders!

Rich

I always regret not getting a Lotus Super Seven before anyone knew what they were.

quote:

I always regret not getting a Lotus Super Seven before anyone knew what they were.

Agreed!
Peter.

I bought a used 1999 Cobra. It has a really stiff IRS, 320 HP and is supposed to do 150. The thing is redlined at 6500 RPM and is scarey fast though I have no intentions of trying 150 in it. Due to careful shopping I got a car that needed no work and is now worth more than I paid for it.
Since I didn't buy the 2004 supercharged version for twice as much I have enough left over to buy an equivalent vintage Corvette.

the Jag did 1300+ miles two different days, from here to Colin's house in 16 hours; and from my parents house to Rock Springs, with a short stop at Colin's place enroute.

They are geared for the road, at speeds from 75 to 100 (brief spurts) I averaged just over 26 mpg.

Right at 4100 miles with zero issues.

SR, get some straight road and give it a spin. Last January I got a radar clock from the NHP of 159.6mph in the old kitty. Top down!

Rich
zoom-zoom

What year and model, again, ISS?
PETER.

I am pretty darn impressed with my wife's Porsche Boxter we bought last year. A 0-60 in 5.5 second 170 mph open top that sticks like glue to the road. Trunks front and rear that can carry the goods and very confortable to drive, not a cramped little roadster. Buzzing along at 70 mph is will deliver just shy of 30 mpg. Very forgiving when driven hard too.

Boxhead, those are impressive numbers. Without insulting you, I am of the opinion that the Boxters just don't look very good!
Peter.