Best car (performer / sports) in the $30k range?

[LS20]

generally evo/sti will outperform s2000 which will outperform rx8/350z which will outperform g35 (too heavy)

however only rx8 and 350z are truly 30k cars.

 

[CraigRT]

I'd go with a 350.. I've always been a Z lover. I've driven a few of those. Great car.

 

[Blazin Trav]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Ktulu
GTO

in the straight line it dominates but doesnt handle good enough as the 350z, the EVO/STI are too harsh for the average joe to drive on the street and be comforable and dont have a good looking interior compared to the 350 because of their economy car roots

Couldn't you just mod the GTO's handling to be competitive?

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
mustang GT, anyone?

Too heavy, pretty shabby interior.

 

[EvilYoda]

GTO...I saw a guy in a nice Yellowjacket '05 in Chicago with wheels and exhaust done...I must've looked rather odd staring and telling my friend about it. I miss my QS.

 

[I Saw OJ]

If you're talking about a brand new car, then the new GTO is where you want to spend your money.

Great handling, awesome interior. Plus 400hp right out of the box, none of the cars listed here can touch that.

 

[thedarkwolf]

The sports car I'd go for in that range is the Pontiac Solstice GXP but its more around $26k. 260hp, lightweight, 2 seater, and convertible.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
mustang GT, anyone?

:laugh:

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: I Saw OJ
If you're talking about a brand new car, then the new GTO is where you want to spend your money.

Great handling, awesome interior. Plus 400hp right out of the box, none of the cars listed here can touch that.

Backseat entry is a bit of a pain, but very roomy and comfy once you're back there. If trunk space is a qualifier, the GTO is out.

She'll stick to the roads real well, but there is too much body roll for my tastes. Other than that, she'll smoke everything in this group 'cept STi/Evo. Stock, my understanding is it is a driver's race with the STi/Evo's, with the nod going to AWD for traction from a stop.

Can a Charger SRT8 be had for under $40K? If so it is a hair faster than a GTO, four doors, nice interior. Heavy bitch, but she moves!

P.S. RX-8 may handle well, but that torqueless rotary engine has nothing on the engines in any of these cars discussed, esp with regards to gas mileage. My 400HP V8 3700lbs car gets better gas mileage than that POS...

 

[krunchykrome]

Subaru STI

 

[thirdeye]

The RX-8 is an awesome handling car. That's it, but it's not gonna outperform in anyway an Evo or STi. Sure neither of these cars have the pretty interior, but they're bulletproof cars that do what they're designed to do. Go fast and handle like mad.

 

[vi edit]

If you want 4 doors and a bit of creature comforts without forgetting about raw performance, the STI Limited is an interesting choice.

It's just an STI with leather seats and butt warmers and sans the space shuttle wing on the trunk🙂

But overall, I just don't think anything can match the G35 for the value it represents it it's price class. 4 doors, a functional trunk, comfortable interior, lots of gee-whiz tech goodies, RWD, and a hell of an engine under the hood.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
It's just an STI with leather seats and butt warmers and sans the space shuttle wing on the trunk🙂

Didn't they add more sound deadening as well, like with the LGT Spec. B?

 

[JulesMaximus]

STI would spank the sh!t out of an RX-8.

Hell, the Lexus IS350 would too.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Blazin Trav

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
mustang GT, anyone?

Too heavy, pretty shabby interior.

because the mustang's 3500 lbs is so many more than the 350Z's 3600 lbs.

oh wait, the mustang gt is 100 lbs lighter. well, there goes that theory :roll:

as for the interior, i'm sure the 350z's plastic fantastic dash is better than the mustang's stitched leather dash.

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Backseat entry is a bit of a pain, but very roomy and comfy once you're back there. If trunk space is a qualifier, the GTO is out.

it can't be if the trunkless 350z is being considered

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Blazin Trav

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
mustang GT, anyone?

Too heavy, pretty shabby interior.

because the mustang's 3500 lbs is so many more than the 350Z's 3600 lbs.

oh wait, the mustang gt is 100 lbs lighter. well, there goes that theory :roll:

as for the interior, i'm sure the 350z's plastic fantastic dash is better than the mustang's stitched leather dash.

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Backseat entry is a bit of a pain, but very roomy and comfy once you're back there. If trunk space is a qualifier, the GTO is out.

it can't be if the trunkless 350z is being considered

350z's interior has an extremely cheap look and feel.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
350z's interior has an extremely cheap look and feel.

so how is it down there at the bottom of that sarchasm?

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Blazin Trav
What is the best car in the $30k range?

We were comparing the G35 coupe, the 350Z and the RX8.

My friend claims the RX8 is best, I said the 350Z since the RX8 is underpowered and I don't like the interior as much as the Z. I also said the 350Z has won many a shootout for cars in the category in car magazines/reviews.

So, what's your call?

EDIT: This thread is NOT limited to any particular car, just the $30k price range.

Best at what? Going from 0 to 60? Having horsepower? Winning a drag race? Winning a race around a road track?

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
STI would spank the sh!t out of an RX-8.

Hell, the Lexus IS350 would too.

IS350 costs a LOT more... and wouldnt beat rx-8 on a track

Originally posted by: ElFenix
because the mustang's 3500 lbs is so many more than the 350Z's 3600 lbs.

as for the interior, i'm sure the 350z's plastic fantastic dash is better than the mustang's stitched leather dash.

Z is as low as 3200... which both surprises and impresses me

this is superior to <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus">that</a>

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Blazin Trav

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
mustang GT, anyone?

Too heavy, pretty shabby interior.

It's lighter than the GTO...

350Z weight: 3,300 lbs
Mustang GT weight: 3,400 lbs
GTO weight: 3,700 lbs
Evo weight: 3,300 lbs
STI weight: 3,300 lbs

Your "heavy" Mustang is a mere 100 pounds heavier than the 350Z, STI or Evo (a 3% weight difference). It's not significant.

In a comparison by Edmunds.com, the Mustang GT came in a strong first above both the 350Z (2nd) and the RX8 (3rd). The 350Z was fastest around the track, but it was judged to be very impractical for everyday use. Unlike the 350Z, the Mustang has a back seat , a larger and more useable trunk, and better ride quality. The Mustang also is happy with regular fuel instead of the 350Z's requirement of Premium.

For a car that is going to be an only car and is going to be driven every day, the GTO, the Mustang, and the base WRX are the only real options in this category. The Evo and STi are simply not practical enough given their harsh ride and the 350Z lacks the ability to carry more than one passenger, plus it can't carry as much in its trunk. The 350Z is an exceptional sportscar, and is one of the best "second cars" on the market, but it is a very poor choice as an only car.

ZV

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: LS20

Originally posted by: ElFenix
because the mustang's 3500 lbs is so many more than the 350Z's 3600 lbs.

as for the interior, i'm sure the 350z's plastic fantastic dash is better than the mustang's stitched leather dash.

Z is as low as 3200... which both surprises and impresses me

this is superior to

goddamnit i was looking at the convertible numbers. still, carpoint says 3339 is the lightest.


oh and theres something seriously wrong with your second link

plastic fantastic

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Blazin Trav
What is the best car in the $30k range?

We were comparing the G35 coupe, the 350Z and the RX8.

My friend claims the RX8 is best, I said the 350Z since the RX8 is underpowered and I don't like the interior as much as the Z. I also said the 350Z has won many a shootout for cars in the category in car magazines/reviews.

So, what's your call?

EDIT: This thread is NOT limited to any particular car, just the $30k price range.

I am a big fan of the RX-8, but it's definitely not the top in it's class as far as performance goes. It's more about looks 😉

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Blazin Trav

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
mustang GT, anyone?

Too heavy, pretty shabby interior.

because the mustang's 3500 lbs is so many more than the 350Z's 3600 lbs.

oh wait, the mustang gt is 100 lbs lighter. well, there goes that theory :roll:

as for the interior, i'm sure the 350z's plastic fantastic dash is better than the mustang's stitched leather dash.

404-stitched leather dash not found.

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
oh and theres something seriously wrong with your second link

plastic fantastic

yeah, its definately not the best in its segment (rx8), and that huge dash cover thing doesnt help... but, like the infinitis, they made slight improvements in the last few years

pontiac solstice notwidstanding, most domestics hvac/stereo controls seem to be stuck in 1980s mode

 

[ElFenix]

it's part of the premier trim package


hvac controls on the mustang look the same as the ones on my nissan. and the radios look about the same in both the 350z and the mustang.

if the hvac controls are the number 1 thing you look for in a car, well... you're probably in the minority

 

[BillyBatson]

I would go with the Suburu WRX STI