Bottom line is "What do you want in your sports car?"
Horsepower?
Low 0-60 times?
Top speed?
Eye catching looks?
For me, it's all about the handling. Speed is relative. You can get the same kinesthetic experience driving at 50 MPH in a confined area as you can at 100 MPH in an open area.
For handling, a mid-engine, rear drive setup is optimum. Disallowing exotics, there's only one mid-engine car on the US market right now - the Boxster. In the used car market of late models cars, there's the Boxster and the MR2 Spyder.
Nissan makes a fine automobile. I've owned three 240SXs in the past, and they were all great cars with a virtually bullet-proof engines. But the handling was nowhere close to that of a mid-engine car.
Lots of cars can "smoke" the Boxster off the line. Get used to Boxster, then take your "friend" for a ride on some desolate country road with that flat six screamin'...........Make sure he wears a diaper!
TO