sports car

What is the best sports car under 50k? Give me your opinion.

I like the Vette, 350z, and RX-8.

I really like the 350Z too. It seems like a great all around car.

M3...Maybe its a little more expensive.

If we are talking strickly sports car for the track and weekend jaunts around the mountains and back...hands down...Lotus Elise...weighing in around 1800 lbs...probably the best handling car to come stateside in a long time...long time coming for us to get this beaut.

Now if it had to pull duty as a daily driver...I would say the new Corvette...the LS2 is supposed to be marvellous...better than the LS1 so I've heard...if that's too pricey...look into a used ZO6 (LS6 engine IIRC)...405HP and 1.00 g's....very nice...you get Porsche 911 Turbo speed and handling for half the price....less obviously since ZO6's are now used

The best value in this segment, in my opinion, is the Chevrolet Corvette. Re-designed for 2005, the new Corvette is just as strong as last year's Z06 model. However, it's $5,000 cheaper, it handles even better, and the interior is much improved. If you're looking for maximum performance, look no further than the Corvette.

Then there's the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The Evo is a lot cheaper than the Corvette, and it performs nearly as well. It's also more practical in the real world, seeing as how it has decent-sized back seats and doors to go with 'em. However, it's got a lot less potential than the Corvette since it's so highly tuned out of the factory, and all-wheel-drive is a mixed blessing depending on what kind of performance you're looking for. There's also the Subaru Impreza WRX STi, which is a similar type of car as the Lancer Evolution. It's less hard-edged, but it's also a bit more user-friendly. If the STi is still too much for you, consider the Volkswagen R32. It still has a performance-tuned AWD system, but rather than a turbocharged four-banger, it uses a 3.2-liter version of Volkswagen's stout VR6 engine. It's also a hatchback rather than a sedan, though the rear seats are still acceptably roomy. The R32 is certainly not as quick as the STi or the Evo, but it's a lot easier to live with on a daily basis.

There are some other good values if AWD turbocharged sedans don't tickle your fancy. The Nissan 350Z is very quick for the money, and it uses a much more traditional sports car setup: two seats and rear-wheel-drive. There's also the Mazda RX-8, which is unique in a couple of ways. The most obvious deviation from the norm is that it uses a high-revving, 1.3L rotary engine, and is the only car on the U.S. market to do so. Also of note are the two additional "suicide" doors that provide easy access to the decently roomy back seats. It's definitely low on power compared to other sports cars in its price range, but it's very fun to drive, the handling is top notch, it's got an undeniable uniqueness factor, and it's much more practical than the 350Z.

There's one other car that I feel is worth mentioning: the Honda S2000. This is very much a love-it-or-hate-it type of car. There really isn't much I can say about it, other than that it makes 240 horsepower from a 2.2-liter engine without using forced induction, it makes all of that power at well over 7000 rpm, and you press a small red button to start it up. The 2000-2003 versions are even more hardcore, using a higher-revving engine and a more spin-happy suspension.

My Personal Picks (all 2005 models):
1. Chevrolet Corvette
2. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR
3. Subaru Impreza WRX STi

The best car for 50k stock I'd say a vette,lotus elise or a m3 but modded I'd say an evo8 mr,sti or a 350z. I'm going for one of the last three.

Well, my favorite car is the corvette. Combine a sports car and a muscle car=my dream.

The evo and sti sound like great cars but I don't like the styling at all. it is almost factory rice, btw I did say almost.

The 911 is more refined but it is alot more costly and lack the torque that i love in a muscle car.

Right now I have a modded mustang. I was going to just pump money into it as I got it and realized how much I wanted a sports car. I suppose that I could make a stang handle well and would be cheaper but thats not my dream.

I would throw an Audi S4 into this as a great sports car for just under 50k...its fast with a nice 340hp V8, and throw in the 6 speed...its practical with 4 doors and awd and in my opinion it looks fantastic

I'm going with the corvette as well. In this months Car and Driver they compared it to a Porsche 911, and it beat it in every category. And the price difference is 25000. It's the best bang for the buck. If you're a strict numbers person, go with it.

If we are talking strickly sports car for the track and weekend jaunts around the mountains and back...hands down...Lotus Elise...weighing in around 1800 lbs...probably the best handling car to come stateside in a long time...long time coming for us to get this beaut.

I totally agree with that...change my choice from the 350Z to the Elise!!!

Hehe, I forgot to mention the Lotus Elise. I'd still rather have the Corvette, but the Elise is definitely worth mentioning. :)

Totally agree, considering that the elise has a new toyota motor that puts the power that it lacked to the wheels. If I had a track I would buy one.

M3...Maybe its a little more expensive.

54$ starting but hey I'd go with the 05 vette. If your willing to push it buy a NOBLE M12 GTO for 54,500 its amazing!!!!!!And I mean amazing!!!!!

Car of the year! 0-60 3.8 secs!! top speed of 170 + its a looker!

I bought a 02ss camaro for 19k with only 21k miles on it...stock i was running 13.1's in the 1/4..i bested 162mph after removing limiter. has 4spd auto to boot....my vote the 02 camaro...cheap buy..big bang for buck..lots of potential for improvment, styling and areo is decent. mid 90s vettes are a good buy too, under 15g and can contend with alot of this years so called fast cars

if i had to get a NEW sports car, id go with 05 vette..bang for buck cant beat the suspension and the 400hp stock..got the chance to drive one at my dealership,about 2 weeks ago, i have to say im impressed. but i still cast my vote on late camaros and vettes...for the money you cant beat em..BUT chevy hastn made a DURABLE car yet..TONS of mechanic bulletins on the 98-02 camaro and the new vettes already have a bulletin out on the oil sending tube

I still see A LOT of old 2nd and 3rd gen Camaros/Firebirds around. Those Camaros last almost forever if you keep up with maintenance and repair. They might not be that reliable after they have aged, but they are still "durable."

the 05 vette has leaf springs. They do a good job in the new vette but it's just a technology from the stone age in chevrolets flag ship that happens to be one of the cars at the top of my wish list.

you talk about its suspension like its sluggish or something....just a recap for ya...Chassis/Suspension

Front:
short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber

Rear:
short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber

Traction control:
electronic traction control, active handling

Steering type:
speed sensitive, magnetic power-assisted rack-and-pinion

Steering ratio:
16.1:1

Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock:
TBD

Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m):
39 / 12


just a few specs on the suspension to chew on...drive just one of the z51 models and your tune will change, mine sure did

I still see A LOT of old 2nd and 3rd gen Camaros/Firebirds around. Those Camaros last almost forever if you keep up with maintenance and repair. They might not be that reliable after they have aged, but they are still "durable."


By durable i mean teh car not having alot of factory problems to deal with,...and they had alot of em. as far as keeping up a car to last...your right, its all in who turns the wrench. I have a 78 2dr caprice that has well over 350000 miles on orig motor with the biggest repair ive ever done being a tranny overhaul. if you maintain ANY car it will last you a lifetime. but we all knmow that some cars come outta the factory more DURABLE than others. the toyota is a prime example, im a diehard chevy fan, but ive seen ppl get 2-300k miles out of those lil suckers and never have any major problems.

i would have to say the C6 Corvette as well...those cars are amazing...they dont look like an american car...60 in 4.2 seconds, that is incredible...or a Z06, a tad slower but looks sick...

yup for NEW sports car i say the vette...but personally ive always been one to lean towards the money side of it, you can grab a used 02 now for 16-18g....not bad for a car that ran 12.9s-13.3's in the 1/4 with a 5.1-5.2 0-60....topped at around 159-164..all depending on variables of elev,temp,and driver. but i bested 8.7s in the local 1/8th mile drag at around 89-92mph with a best of 1.9 60ft but usally i got around 2.1 60ft...with simple, headers, cam, heads, airlid, exhaust swap, an comp programmed correctly...you can get 500+hp ezy and be in 10s or lower...seen it happen..even the handling isnt too shabby comparable to base vettes of that year

left out the car i was talkinga bout/...used 02 ss camaro or ws6

well i will get a 04 Mustang Cobra SVT there pretty quick.

ive heard good things about the new svt cobras...the older 99 and 00s were not that great considering a stock ss maro could hang with or beat em for less money. but the new ones are wicked, i wouldnt mess with one in either my camaro or my corvette, my caprice is a diff story, not afraid to race much of anything in that.

0-60 mph: 4.5 sec
0-100 mph: 10.4 sec
Quarter Mile: 12.6 sec @ 112 mph

not too bad if you can find one for a decent price

well... try get your hands on the Evo VIII MR FQ400! Probably near impossible to import one, but it's worth every cent if you can! 3.5 seconds 0-60. Now.... how many cars can do that? 2.0 litre turbo 4wd, it can sprint to 60 even before you finish saying it's name. Look at that Mitsubishi lancer evolution 8 MR FQ 400... too late dude, it's gone... pagani zonda 3.7s, porsche carrera GT 3.9s, play with these guys right after you get your car from the dealer.

Just to rain on your parade...

Ferrari F40...0-60 in 3.2 seconds...bye!

well the point of this post i believe mtang36 was sports cars under 50k....but if your gonna go that route...hers a few numbers to chew on

Worlds Fastest Cars 0 - 60 mph
2.7 93 Dauer 962 Le Mans
2.8 96 Renault Espace F1
2.9 91 Audi Avus Quattro
2.9 97 Callaway C7 Corvette
2.9 97 Dodge Viper GTS-R
3.1 95 Ford GT-90
3.1 93 Jaguar XJR-15
3.1 98 Koenigsegg CC
3.1 91 Lotec C1000
3.1 91 McLaren F1
3.1 95 Yamaha OX99-11
3.2 92 Bugatti EB110 SS
3.2 96 Quadraduce
3.3 87 Vector Avtech WX3
3.4 92 Bugatti EB110 GT
3.4 85 Koenig Competition Evolution
3.4 94 Schuppan 962CR
3.4 87 Westfield SEI
3.4 97 Dodge Viper Venom 600 GTS
3.5 2002 FERRARI "ENZO"
3.6 2001 Lamborghini Muriélago
3.6 97 Porsche 911 GT1
3.6 87 Porsche 959
3.6 97 RUF Porsche CTR-2
3.7 91 BMW Nazca C2
3.7 96 Ferrari F 50
3.7 94 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Jota
3.7 96 Porsche 911 GT2
3.8 97 Campagna T-Rex
3.8 92 Jaguar XJ220
3.8 96 Lamborghini Diablo SV
3.8 98 Lotus GT1
3.8 94 Ultima Spyder
3.9 2003 Viper SRT/10
3.9 87 Ferrari F 40
4.0 93 Lamborghini Diablo SE30
4.1 90 BMW Nazca M12
4.1 93 Lamborghini Diablo VT
4.1 96 Lamborghini Diablo Roadster
4.2 94 TVR Cerbera
4.2 85 Vector W8 Twin Turbo
4.3 96 Bugatti EB112
4.4 88 Cizeta Moroder V16T
4.4 97 Dodge Viper GTS
4.4 97 Gillet Vertigo
4.4 96 Mega Monté Carlo
4.4 96 Porsche 911 Turbo
4.4 96 Spectre R42
4.4 90 TVR Griffith
4.4 96 Vector Aeromotive M12
4.5 2003 z06 Corvette
4.6 96 Dodge Viper RT/10
4.6 94 Ferrari F 512 M
4.6 96 Ferrari F 355 GTS
4.6 96 Ferrari F 355 Spider
4.6 82 Lamborghini Countach
4.7 92 Aston Martin Vantage
4.7 96 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
4.7 97 Ferrari F 550 Maranello
4.7 85 Isdera Commendatore
4.7 96 Lotus Esprit S4S
4.7 97 Rinspeed Mono Ego
4.8 97 Chevrolet Corvette C5
4.8 96 Lotus Esprit V8
4.8 97 Panoz Roadster
4.9 94 Chaterham Seven HPC
4.9 89 De Tomaso Guara
4.9 96 Ferrari F 355 Berlinetta
4.9 96 Ford Mustang Saleen S351
4.9 97 Italdesign Scighera

cant argue with lingemfelter tt427 or callaway vette

So which car did you end up buying?

I'm going with the corvette as well. In this months Car and Driver they compared it to a Porsche 911, and it beat it in every category. And the price difference is 25000. It's the best bang for the buck. If you're a strict numbers person, go with it.

If my memory serves... Didnt the Vette only win by one point over the 997 Carrera (not S), and the Vette got 10/10 for value where as the 997 got 5/10. So price not included, the Porsche actually wins the comparo. So im goin to go ahead and assume you were talking about the straight line acceleration stats...

M3...Maybe its a little more expensive.
Actually the M3 starts at $47,300, but you'd be hard pressed to find one for much less then $50k.

well even though teh porsche and vette are close...the orignal question of this post i believe was sports cars UNDER 50k....last time i checked, cant get a new 997 Carrera or a new M3 for under 50 grand, at least ive never come across any yet, m3 does start at around 48k though so i guess it would fall into teh catagory but its cutting it close, really though who gets an m3 base model?? most ppl buying that car got a few dollars to throw around, then again alot more base vettes were sold over the upgraded versions, never made since to me though, spend a few more grand for a faster better looking car. Always thought it to be a no brainer myself, but hey you know what they say about opinoins. There like butts everybody has one and they all stink.