Another option is Spec E30. Those are a bunch of fun and probably the route I'd go if I eventually do anything.
M3's are too costly to maintain. E30's are dirt cheap.
Are you doing any more NASA events this summer? If so - you can take my car out for Hyperdrive or lunchtime laps if you want. I have it set up very neutral, it rarely starts getting sideways and if it does it comes back easy. Honestly I'm not the best driver, I can lift mid turn, hit the brakes at the wrong time, basically do a whole bunch of stoopid stuff with it - and it doesn't bite me in the arse (usually).
Mine is kind of a mess - '91 chassis with '95 engine, etc. I'd look at buying a used '99, there was just one for sale on another forum that already had a rollbar, hardtop and I think mild suspension mods for only $5.5k. Someone could buy that, put some 15x8 rims with Hoosiers on it, and pretty much be set...modify the suspension a little more aggressively later, maybe do minor head work, that's it. '99+ SM's are running 1:45 club course or 1:43 pro course at MidOhio - which is fast enough to have fun but not so fast you're really gonna hurt yourself....
Later,
- Mark
'99 Miata w/ hard top for $5.5k sounds extremely fishy. You'd be extremely lucky to get a nice NA w/ hard top for that. I'd look real close before jumping on that one.
Another option is Spec E30. Those are a bunch of fun and probably the route I'd go if I eventually do anything.
A word of advice... be weary of Ohio Miatas. Rust can form in some hidden areas and without warning, comes to surface and really can't be fixed.
They tend to rust from the inside out at the drain holes in front of the rear tires. That's why my next one will be always garaged, no winters.. but I'll have to pay for that...
Ya, the BMW was way worse unfortunately. Both cars caused some big delays.
My friend has an in-car video of a Mustang spinning out directly in front of me. I'll post it up once I get it from him.