Best sports car for x amount of $

[Dan_]

In sterling @ 1.5 exchange rate...

£20,000 2002/3 996 C2
£37,000 2006 997 C2S
£67,000 2007 996 GT3 RS
£300,000 2010 GT2 RS (I'll spend the £130,000 change on tyres )
£650,000 2010 997 RSR and spend the rest on a racing season

Whoa Stotty, I'm a little bit confused, help me out there: Do you really like Porsches?

As if your Custom title, avatar and signature weren't enough to realize how much you do.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm going to go with only brand-new cars. Picking used options makes this a bit easy, and a bit redundant for me (those of you who know me can guess what they are)...

$30,000 - Volkswagen Golf GTI MKVI
The overall look, feel and attitude of the car is about perfect for what I'd want. A comfortable car for day-to-day use that can crank it up to eleven when necessary. Price it right, stay away from the options, and you can get a helluva deal.

$50,000 - Ford Mustang BOSS 302R
This is probably the best car produced in America, right now. Hands down. I mean, I love my Corvettes (see the next spot), but this car is a God damned miracle. It's one of the fastest, best-handling, and arguably best-looking cars you can get. Tweaking the 5.0L GT and it's suspension to this level? Madness. Absolute madness.

$100,000 - Chevrolet Corvette "Z07"
Take the suspension, brakes and tires off a ZR1 and stick them on a Z06, you get a Z07. No, it's not quite as quick as the ZR1, but for those of us who prefer the big 7.0L and that outrageous howl that comes out the back... Yeah, that's the choice you want to make.

$500,000 - Mercedes SLS
Okay, it isn't the obvious answer that usually includes a prancing horse or a raging bull, but dammit, I love the thing. The look, sound and all around awesomeness of the car is built into the fact that it is so understated. I wouldn't expect people to turn in awe of the car, and I don't want them to. That's what makes it so awesome. Plus, it's probably the best-handling Merc they've screwed together in a while. And, I can still have money for that Corvette as well as the GTI for $500,000.

$1,000,000 - Ferrari 599 GTO
I really can't come up with anything better. The car simply defies physics.

 

[Daniel]

Had a quick look on TradeMe for some cars...

$30,000 - 2005 Holden Monaro (the real Pontiac GTO ). Used

$50,000 - FPV GT - New

$100,000 - Porsche Cayman S '08 - Used (but great condition )

$500,000 - As much Caparo T1s i can get for this Price (checking the price now) EDIT: About 1

$1,000,000 - Zenvo (Google it)


All the saved up money will go for an Aston DBS.

 

[Kylehnat]

Is that better? I'd even request them all to be painted beige to better suit the amount of excitement typical for the kind of person who worries that much about maintenance costs when talking about what sports cars they fantasize about buying at various price points.

You'll have even more time to fantasize as you sit in your garage and stare at your parked $30,000 sports car, waiting a week for a $350 tire to be special-ordered.

 

[JCE]

-> I like this thread!

Price - New (reason) | Used (resson) | other auto-related options

$30,000 - Ford Mustang GT 5.0 Base (good balance between confort and performance) | 2006 Pontiac GTO 6.0 (for the same performance as the GT 5.0, with a extra change in the bank)

You're smoking some funky stuff eh? There is nothing GM has produced with the same level of performance as the new '11 Mustang GT that isn't wearing a ZO6/ZR-1 badge in this decade. And those cost more than twice the price. The 6.0L GTO? Yea, right. Great car, but is easily slower to 60mph and 1/4mi.

http://www.zeroto60times.com/
2005 Ford Mustang GT (4.6L V8) 0-60 mph 5.0 Quarter mile 13.3 <-- 100bhp less than the 6.0L GTO
2005 Pontiac GTO (6.0L V8) 0-60 mph 4.7 Quarter mile 13.1

For grins (MT):
2011 Ford Mustang (3.7L V6) 0-60 mph 5.1 Quarter mile 13.7
2011 Ford Mustang GT (5.0L V8) 0-60 4.3 Quarter mile 12.8

The GTO driver would have a hard time fighting off the new V6 Mustang much less come close to the new GT. 👍 An intake and exhaust on the V6 would probably beat those GTO numbers or be even with them.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

JCE-> I'm not after 1/4mi. run as most people would imply with these cars. They might drive pretty similar judging by your butt-dynometer (I haven't touched the GT 5.0 yet). I'm just after the driving pleasure of these cars deliver. I don't drive for ticks of a second, I just want to drive to smile and having pointless fun. Plus the GTO 6.0 is oil barge full of fun so its pretty much justified.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

$30,000: 1999 Subaru Impreza WRX STi with a few modifications (lowered suspension, exhaust, ECU, etc.)

$50,000: E-Series HSV GTS

$100,000: Used Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

$500,000: Maserati GranTurismo S (There are many "quicker" options, but none, I feel, classier...or sexier)

$1,000,000: The only car OTHER than a Zonda that gets close to this price: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead. Not exactly a sports car, but still.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

There is nothing GM has produced with the same level of performance as the new '11 Mustang GT that isn't wearing a ZO6/ZR-1 badge in this decade.

If you're looking at only Corvettes, then the regular one will do as well.

 

[Cale]

An intake and exhaust on the V6 would probably beat those GTO numbers or be even with them.

No.

 

[JCE]

If you're looking at only Corvettes, then the regular one will do as well.

Corvettes do not cost $30k though.

No.

Yes.

 

[Tornado]

Yes.

This isn't a 4th gen Trans Am we are talking about, where fiddling with the exhaust ads 30-40 horsepower because the manufacturer intentionally detuned it. Unless you were going to dump thousands of dollars into it, you would probably only gain 15-20 horsepower at best, and that wouldn't be enough considering the lighter and 30 horsepower stronger 370Z also typically can't match the GTO in acceleration.

 

[Famine]

Best sports car for x amount of $

What sports car would you buy...

There's a subtle difference between these two questions.

People don't necessarily buy the best. If you ask me what car I'd buy for £50k, I could give you an answer in an instant but the car I'd pick would be one that might not be the best at any particular thing - in fact it might be a terrible car. I'd buy that one because it's a car I want and not because it's "the best".

If we're going with "what would you buy if..." then that's a lottery winner thread and they've been done to death. If we're going with "what's the best" then discussion can be had.

$30,000
$50,000
$100,000
$500,000
$1,000,000

I'm not entirely sure it's possible to buy a sportscar for $500k and $1m. I'd have questions over $100k too. Case in point, your own answers:

$30,000: 2011 Mazda MX-5 - Sports car
$50,000: 2011 Shelby GT500 - Not a sports car. Muscle car.
$100,000: Lotus Elise - Sports car (grossly overvalued too - you'd be better putting it in the $50k bracket)
$500,000: 2011 Lamborghini Murciealago SV. Not a sports car. Super car.
$1,000,000: No doubt: SSC Ultimate Aero. Not a sports car. Hypercar.

Others' answers are similar:

$500k: Alfa Romeo 8C, Aston Martin DBS, Locost, Caparo T1, Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, Maserati Gran Turismo S, McLaren Mercedes SLR, McLaren Mercedes SLS, Porsche 959, Porsche Carrera GT, Very Expensive Monster Truck
$1m: ex-F1 car, Extremely Expensive Monster Truck, Ferrari 599 GTO, Ferrari Enzo Ferrari, Mercedes CLK-GTR, Pagani Zonda Roadster, Pagani Zonda S, Porsche 911 GT1, Rolls Royce Phantom DHC, Zenvo

The closest to a sports car on that list, excluding the four Locosts, is the Alfa Romeo 8C - presumably the present-day Competizione - and that only makes the list because it's grossly overvalued. And it's a bit soft and woolly anyway - it's more of a GT car. I don't intend any offence to the users that posted those vehicles - they don't really have any better option when asked what car they'd buy for $500k/$1m and the given examples are a supercar and a hypercar.

Past $100k we lose sports cars almost entirely and we just hit lottery garage land again and, as I said before, that's been done to death. If this thread is going to retain its identity and not be merged into a lottery thread, it needs to be better defined.

 

[Stotty]

Whoa Stotty, I'm a little bit confused, help me out there: Do you really like Porsches?

As if your Custom title, avatar and signature weren't enough to realize how much you do.

Is it that obvious?

Seriously... yes. With a 911 it's not so much about the speed as they aren't the fastest in their class (GT2 RS excepted), but the driving experience/feel is totally unique... a 911 is still a joy to drive even at normal road speeds.

 

[Famine]

And at least you can probably claim a 911 of most flavours to be a sportscar (GT1 aside).

 

[Stotty]

And at least you can probably claim a 911 of most flavours to be a sportscar (GT1 aside).

👍

It's a car defined by it's size, engine layout and driving feel rather than outright speed.

GT1 isn't a 911 IMO.

 

[Famine]

I'd struggle to justify one of the ones full of pipes as a sportscar but they are still 911s so... *shrug*

 

[Zenith]

Didn't the Reventon Cost somewhere near $1 million?

 

[HenGTX]

$30,000 - A Renault 5 Turbo 2
$50,000 - A Renault 5 Turbo 2
$100,000 - A Renault 5 Turbo 2
$500,000 - A Renault 5 Turbo 2
$1,000,000 - A Renault 5 Turbo 2


Cause I'm a freaking R5 Freak 👍

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Didn't the Reventon Cost somewhere near $1 million?

It actually cost north of $1mil if Im not mistaken.

 

[Mustangman99]

Also, should have mentioned that these are cars without mods.

 

[Famine]

Also, should have mentioned that these are cars without mods.

And not sportscars. And you can't decide whether they're "favourite" or "best". If you could answer some of these points I'll consider leaving your thread open and unmerged.

 

[Mustangman99]

What do you mean? Everyone can choose their own car.

 

[Famine]

What do you mean? Everyone can choose their own car.

If your thread is "What sportscar is the best for a given amount of money" then there is mileage in the thread (though I question whether it's possible to buy a sportscar and come close to the maximum budget for $500k and $1m).

If your thread is "What car would you buy for a given amount of money" then there is no mileage in the thread as it is just another example of a lottery wishlist which has been done to death.

Since three of your five examples ($50k, $500k, $1m) are not sportscars, I'd naturally draw the conclusion that it's the second. As fully explained in this post in this thread.

 

[Mustangman99]

I don't get what you mean. All of the cars I chose are sports cars, just at different levels. Plus, the other people posted whatever they want, Im not in control of the mileage thing.

 

[Famine]

I don't get what you mean.

Ugh.

It's relatively simple. There have been very many "what car would you buy for x money" threads. They have been done before. Many times. We don't need another one. If this is another one - and it appears to be based on your opening post - I will lock it.

However "what car is the best for x money" hasn't been done before. Furthermore "what sportscar is the best for x money" is interesting. I wouldn't lock it.


Since you just picked your favourite cars for x money in the first place, the purpose of the thread becomes the former despite the title of the thread being the latter. Which is a pity.

All of the cars I chose are sports cars, just at different levels.

No they aren't. The Mustang is a pony car. The Murcielago is a supercar. The SSC Ultimate Aero is a hypercar. These things are designed, built and function on entirely different principles to a sports car - and as said before, the principles of a sports car may well preclude there being any $1m sportscars, and Stotty's examples being about the only time you can approach $500k for one.

Plus, the other people posted whatever they want

Following your example. You, after all, started the thread.

I'm not in control of the mileage thing.

You started the thread. You defined it when you posted. You are in control of whether it remains open or not.

If it's a discussion of the best sportscars for x money, it stays open. If it's a discussion of what people would buy from any type of car for x money it gets locked. This is so breathtakingly simple that it shouldn't require explaining to you three times.

 

[Tornado]

You'll have even more time to fantasize as you sit in your garage and stare at your parked $30,000 sports car, waiting a week for a $350 tire to be special-ordered.

Because, what, 275/40-17 fronts and 315/35-17 rears are some kind of ultra rare size nowadays?

 

[JCE]

This isn't a 4th gen Trans Am we are talking about, where fiddling with the exhaust ads 30-40 horsepower because the manufacturer intentionally detuned it. Unless you were going to dump thousands of dollars into it, you would probably only gain 15-20 horsepower at best, and that wouldn't be enough considering the lighter and 30 horsepower stronger 370Z also typically can't match the GTO in acceleration.

I wasn't talking about BHP though, I was talking about acceleration numbers. The '11 Mustang V6's 0.4s to 60mph and 0.6s to the 1/4mi deficit are obtainable by changing out the intake and exhaust.

 

[Kylehnat]

Because, what, 275/40-17 fronts and 315/35-17 rears are some kind of ultra rare size nowadays?

No, they just aren't stocked at any shops, because nobody buys them on a regular basis. These are the types of things that sometimes make owning a "fun" car not so fun.

 

[niky]

Others' answers are similar:

To be fair... for $1,000,000, I was going to go for twenty Locosts and a racetrack... but I don't have twenty friends who race, so I went with something different...

 

[Tornado]

I wasn't talking about BHP though, I was talking about acceleration numbers. The '11 Mustang V6's 0.4s to 60mph and 0.6s to the 1/4mi deficit are obtainable by changing out the intake and exhaust.

I have to say that I'm skeptical.

No, they just aren't stocked at any shops, because nobody buys them on a regular basis.

Well, except for Mustang owners (because 275/40-17 was the standard size front and rear for all Terminator Cobras, and 315/35-17 is a popular aftermarket size for SN-95 Mustangs).
This is a moot point, because I would invest in some C6 Z06 wheels anyways. The factory ZR-1 wheels probably weigh 45 pounds each.