What Is Your Favorite, {$30,000 Or Less},car

I'm looking to buy a car, and my budget is $30,000 or less, any suggestions. please help me.

Best bang for buck w/ potential i'd say is the EVO.

Common complaints for that car are the looks, the interior and the fact that its so easy to drive fast, you feel like the car doesnt need you.

What kind type of qualities are you looking for in a car? Is performance the main attribute your looking for, or are you looking for somthing with a more well rounded approach? Give us some more info and we will be able to better help you with your decision. :smile:

Well, if it was my $30,000 and I was going to buy a new car, I'd go pick up a Lancer Evolution RS, or maybe a 350Z or RX-8. The Evo is ridiculously fast and the RX-8 is very fun-to-drive; I haven't driven a 350Z yet.

Used '00-'02 Corvette

faster, lighter, handles better, and more comfortable than an evo.

05 GT i may be snagging one next year fully loaded nice comfy seats good system fast looks great.

are used cars included?

Also really what kind of car are you after a sports car gas saver entry level luxuary? plz elabortae on it so we can help more

New car: Evo RS or 350Z or Mini Cooper S (you didnt say what kind of car you wanted...)

Used car: C5 Vette, M3, S4, S2k, G35 Coupe, 911 (mid 90's Carreras), MR2 Turbo, Supra TT, 300ZX TT, VW R32

NO USED CARS!!!!!! I want something that has AT LEAST 200hp and 180f/lbs of torque. speed sports car, comfort. but mostly speed and the lowest price possible. i'm not trying to spend all 30,000 but that's the highest i would go if i had to. how much dose the evo cost, rx-8, ect. and what are the specifications for the evo?

Used '00-'02 Corvette

faster, lighter, handles better, and more comfortable than an evo.

Faster- maybe, from a roll YES, from a dig NO

Lighter- NO (especially not lighter than the RS Model, and weighs about the same as a GSR model)

Handles better- NO

More comfortable- maybe, but last time I checked the Corvette wasn't a BMW or Mercedes, In fact the EVO seats are considered one of the most comfortable.

NO USED CARS!!!!!! I want something that has AT LEAST 200hp and 180f/lbs of torque. speed sports car, comfort. but mostly speed and the lowest price possible. i'm not trying to spend all 30,000 but that's the highest i would go if i had to. how much dose the evo cost, rx-8, ect. and what are the specifications for the evo?

In that case for under $30,000 as far as all around performance the EVO can't be beat. The 2005 EVO RS which is the light weight versions of the EVO comes minus all the creature comforts a person is used to, but it is around 200Lbs less than a regular EVO and it prices are going for $26,000 to $28,000. Although I have heard of some people picking them up brand new for under $26,000. The 2005 EVO GSR has all the creature comforts, and costs around $29,000 to $30,000. All 2005 EVOs have more power than previous EVOs and seem to be better cars than the previous 2004 and 2003 models.

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution RS
2.0L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
276HP@6500RPM 282TQ@3500RPM
5-Speed Manual AWD
3110Lbs
0-60- 4.6 Seconds
1/4 Mile- 13.2 Seconds
1/4 Mile Speed- 103.1MPH
0-100- 12.5 Seconds
Skidpad- .95g
Braking- 110FT
Top Speed- 157MPH
$27,100

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR
2.0L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
276HP@6500RPM 282TQ@3500RPM
5-Speed Manual AWD
3260Lbs
0-60- 4.7 Seconds
1/4 Mile- 13.3 Seconds
1/4 Mile Speed- 102.8MPH
0-100- 12.6 Seconds
Skidpad- .94g
Braking- 108FT
Top Speed- 156MPH
$29,900

Also another good choice for under $30,000 is the new Mustang GT. These cars seem to be more polished overall vehicles than the previous generation. Plus it has 300HP and killer looks.

2005 Ford Mustang GT
4.6L 8-Cylinder
300HP@6000RPM 315TQ@4500RPM
5-Speed Manual RWD
3510Lbs
0-60- 5.2 Seconds
1/4 Mile- 13.8 Seconds
1/4 Mile Speed- 104.2MPH
0-100- 12.8 Seconds
Skidpad- .88g
Braking- 120FT
Top Speed- 143MPH
$26,500

Also the SRT-4 is an awesome bargain, this car is cheap to mod, but FWD has it's limits.

2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4
2.4L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
230HP@5300RPM 250TQ@2200RPM
5-Speed Manual FWD
2920Lbs
0-60- 5.4 Seconds
1/4 Mile- 14.0 Seconds
1/4 Mile Speed- 102.6MPH
0-100- 13.6 Seconds
Skidpad- .86g
Braking- 120FT
Top Speed- 152MPH
$21,800

Acceleration and performance numbers can be plus or minus, depending on the driver, track, conditions, etc.

As much as I love to argue with the Mitsubishi guys around here, I have to agree; for less than 30K, the Evolution RS can't be beat.

a Corvette coupe weighs 3212 lbs, in between an RS and GSR

and sadly, yes, the corvette does handle better, it is in Super Stock in SCCA Autocross, the fastest stock class and is the dominant car in that class, the Evo is only in A-stock, the second fastest stock class.

a Corvette coupe weighs 3212 lbs, in between an RS and GSR

and sadly, yes, the corvette does handle better, it is in Super Stock in SCCA Autocross, the fastest stock class and is the dominant car in that class, the Evo is only in A-stock, the second fastest stock class.

Sorry but still don't think a base C5 Corvette handles better than EVO, I don't care what class of Autocross it's in. The EVO has more than enough racing credentials to back up it's handling, such as in the One Lap Of America Event where an EVO placed ahead of 4 Corvettes, including two Z06s. Also like I already stated the EVO is lighter, the RS is an EVO isn't it. Plus depending on options in the Vette, it can easily ballon to well over 3300Lbs, most C5 vettes on the road weigh more than 3212Lbs. So in reality the Corvette and EVO GSR weigh just about the same.

Sorry but still don't think a base C5 Corvette handles better than EVO, I don't care what class of Autocross it's in. The EVO has more than enough racing credentials to back up it's handling, such as in the One Lap Of America Event where an EVO placed ahead of 4 Corvettes, including two Z06s. Also like I already stated the EVO is lighter, the RS is an EVO isn't it. Plus depending on options in the Vette, it can easily ballon to well over 3300Lbs, most C5 vettes on the road weigh more than 3212Lbs. So in reality the Corvette and EVO GSR weigh just about the same.

Tell em' straight! it's true

I'd go with an R32. You wont find a faster stock car for under 30k. As for luxury I dont know but the R32 is the most fun car I have driven. And by the way, its FAST!

I'd go with an R32. You wont find a faster stock car for under 30k

A VW R32?

Umm...here are the cars faster than a VW R32...(all new )

Nissan 350Z
Ford Mustang GT
Chevy Cobalt SS/Saturn Ion Redline
Mazda RX8
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo RS




MSRP'ing at $29,200...the VW R32 is seriously a bit overpriced and overweight...nice car though...I'll admit

If you are willing to open up to a car only a year or two old you'll get alot better spread of choices and spend alot less money. You can find plenty of rides with under 20k miles and factory warranties still on them. Just sayin, mostly because I never understood buying a new car when I can get more car cheaper even it is "used". But then again I have a small shop in my garage and too much time on my hands...

if the evo really handled better, it would be in at least the same class as the corvette, but its not. Instead, the corvettes is DOMINANT in a FASTER class.

It completely depends on the track. In general, a track with lots of tight turns would favor the Evo, whereas a more wide open track with long, sweeping turns would favor the Corvette.

he aint lying

dodge srt-4 its a beast or maybe vw r32

i made my decision i'm getting toe Evo 8

a hopped up golf for 30000? Give me a break. Do you really want to be seen in a car like that, hoping someone will spot the little r32 badge? Personally I would never even test drive one. If i was limited to 30000 i would get a subaru sti, mustang gt, the new gto, or a used sports car (corvette).

Anyone of those would smoke the r32. It might appeal to the wannabe euro crowd who can't afford a mercedes e55.

a hopped up golf for 30000? Give me a break. Do you really want to be seen in a car like that, hoping someone will spot the little r32 badge?

That's exactly what I want the person next to me to think, right before I blow their f*cking doors off -- in a Golf.

you would get a better feeling when your car looks hella stock and you whip the damn outta them.... leave them wondering what the hell was under the hood!?!?! or was it a ghost!?!?! =D

What? Are u saying u would rather be driving some hopped up civic when you could have a corvette for the same money?

An an srt-4? Come on i know it has good performance for 20k, but would you really be seen in a neon? You could get a good bmw 330 for that.

What? Are u saying u would rather be driving some hopped up civic when you could have a corvette for the same money?

No, because no amount of tuning is gonna make a Civic out-perform a Corvette, at least in my eyes.

An an srt-4? Come on i know it has good performance for 20k, but would you really be seen in a neon? You could get a good bmw 330 for that.

I'd rather have the BMW, but not because I give a shit what I'm "seen" in; I just like the RWD and the awesome multilink rear suspension.

It think with all the discounts, you could get a brand new gto for under 30k. Not sure how it handles, but you can't argue with that corvette engine. The way I see it, gm is trying to unload these cars like crazy, they can't be suprised, I mean I looks terrible. I hope the exterior designers were fired for that s*it. But it does prove my point that people will not buy ugly cars no matter how they perform.

its not an ugly car, its just boring

also, they handle pretty well considering their weight, not a corvette by any means, but better than an '05 Mustang.

i like the evo X (10)