gtapp is exactly right. In America, we have completely lost touch with what a true sports car is. We need to ask the Europeans when it comes to sports cars. A true sports car has to be a light weight 2 seater. The engine doesn’t have to be that powerful because the car is so light. In the US, we think a sports car has to have a powerful engine. A Mustang a sports car?? I’ve owned 7 brand new Mustangs in the last 10 years (most GT’s, some Cobras). They are not sports cars. Mustangs are muscle cars or sports coupes. Big difference from a sports car. A sports car eats up the twisties, they don’t force the driver to hold onto the steering wheel because of excess body roll.
I’d first go for the M3 - 2nd the tricked out Mini Cooper - I drove one of those and they killed on the FDR and grand central pkwy - a ny city specific sports car is much different then one you’d get for cali or any other place with long straight aways. Here you need mid range power and go kart type handling.
Sonny:
Back to your list, here are my comments:
Subaru WRX Sti: Ugly as hell, but fun
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: Ugly as hell, but fun
Dodge Neon SRT 4: Fun, a bargain, but it’s still a Neon anyway you look at it
Nissan 350ZX: Slick looking car with performance to match
VW Golf Gti: a gir’s car
Mini Cooper (loaded model w/ turbo): Really fun to drive but will get old
Ford Mustang GT '05: will be fun but be prepared for the inevitable shakes and rattles.
Mazda Miata: a blast to drive, but too small for a daily driver
Mazda RX-8: very fun, looks great, great performance
Toyota Celica: not bad, but too ricey for me.
You can’t go wrong with an M3, but you know my heart is always with the Lotus Elise.
I had an M3 with that many miles on it and it was well taken care of and it was awesome to drive. I have recently looked into a VW R32 and that is something to look at… 240hp VR6, all wheel drive, 18" rims w/wide high performance tires, updated everything, limited edition. Very sporty, comfortable, reliable, fast and fun. It looks similar to a GTI that’s been modified and its based on the Golf with I believe the Audi Quattro chassis. I imagine that a supercharger and some other modifications would make this an insane car to drive if 240hp on an all-wheel drive car isn’t enough for you.
Tough decision. I currently drive an RSX-S and can attest to the high quality of Honda motorsports. So an S2K might be the right idea, but get the 2.2. EVO’s and STI’s a good choice if you want mad performance and a 4 door; never caught on to the looks of them but the EVO is definitely growing on me. The Z is gorgeous; I think the track model might just barely over reach your budget but it is what I would personally purchase if I were to repurchase a new vehicle. Good luck finding an Elise in that price range; but if you can find a chassis, ie. an elise/exige that has been beaten to death on the track sold no motor/trans you have something going. Buy it and swap in a K20A(Honda’s new 2.0) motor/trans and you have the performance of a couple hundred k car for a fraction of the cost. CHeck out www.prototyperacing.com for more info. But the best route; go old school. I heard someone exclaim Buick Grand National and I concur; or better yet Hugger Orange 1969 Camaro with black Z28 stripes and a custom tailored ZL-1; then buy yourself a sport bike with the money left over. 
But honestly just get out and drive these vehicles; one of them(most likely a few of them) will call out to you.
I agree old classic cars are great but the prices on them are getting high, and they dont have all the traction control and ABS so you’ll have a lot of kids smashing into things when they unleash all that HP and TQ. What do you mean by custom ZL-1 the price on those are over 6 figures! even the limited crate engine is more money than a SRT-4 Neon. Plus classic cars are like money in the bank, every year my Chevelle SS goes up in value while new cars lose thousands!
Is no one going to mention the GM F-body in the 98-02 range. The camaro/firebird has nice style, severe power(rated at 330 but with the LS1 that is probably at the wheels), decent economy with the 6-speed. I have a 97 with the older LT1 engine and easily beat all mustangs in a straight line except the supercharged versions(witch cost double). I can school all ricers with the air on, with ease. The cars are cheap to fix compared to the german and jap stuff. Used they can be found for 10 to 16 grand. Put that extra loot into upgrades and you would have an asphault ripping monster.
Someone mentioned this earlier but the new Lotus Elise is at about 30 G. 0-60 in about 4 secs…you can’t fuck with that!
beAman13: I have no intention of ever owning a sportscar in NYC. Ever.
THen again, I will leave NYC by the end of next summer, so its a moot point.
To everyone posting possible mods to be done to various cars: they all sound great, but its not me. I have no mechanical knowledge, and I need a car that is going to be under warranty for at least a couple of years from when I buy it. I can’t deal with a high-maintenance, car, because to me that = high stress .
BUT, BUT, BUT: In the future, I may change my opinion. Y’all need to understand I’m a city boy: I didn’t get my license til I was 25, and didn’t own my own car til I was 28. So I’m like 14 yrs behind the curve to you guys who started driving at 16!
So I’m like a HS kid really: the first couple of cars I owned are a shitty old '90 Taurus and now a kind of ugly '95 Intrepid.
Now, in a year or 2 I’ll move up to a much nicer car.
Now maybe when I’m in my late forties I’ll want to spend my time and money on a GTO or SS.
I would LOVE to have one now, but I can’t be bothered at this point.
I wouldn’t mind the General Lee, but Kid Rock owns it and don’t I think he would sell it
How about an Audi S4?
Or an old Lamborghini?
http://www.qv500.com/lamborghinidiablomr.htm
Or maybe an old Testarossa?
Forget that lambo bit…
Seemed the place has got the prices wrong…
Sorry
But the Audi S4 still is a nice car
its a really fast saloon car.
Sonny - You should check out SCCA’s (Sports Car Club of America) site if you haven’t already. Since most of the people on those forums actively Autocross or Open Track their cars, you can get a lot of great information from them. Of particular interest may be the stock classifications for Autocross because then you get to see which cars are thought to be on fairly equal footing. At least on a tight, low speed course.
Tarjei- yeah, I’ve looked at the S4 as well, its definitely a viable alternative to an M3.
DCB- cool site, thanks
For just a little more you can get the Audi TT Roadster. I think that is by far the best car for the money.
Shelby Cobra - simply awesome, if you don’t know it do a search and start drooling!
You should check out the S4 then. A good friend of mine has it - beautiful ride, interior…etc.
MRSS402, you can pick up a ZL-1 short block for less than 5k. Check out Sallee Chevrolet. Maybe you thought I meant one of the original cast blocks…? But the jest of my post; buy a late 60’s early 70’s pony car with big block power.
If you are really looking to buy new I would buy an S2k or the Z.
Man, you left out the Corvette Zo6. Where else can you get 405 hp and remarkable craftsmanship under $55,000??