Which car has the best performance-to-cost ratio?

[Sqube]

I'm just wondering what cars you think have the best cost-to-performance ratio.

I'm thinking the Acura TL A-Spec myself; quality car, great handling and performance, sub $35,000 (if I'm not mistaken) price.

[Symbiotic Hat]

Subaru WRX STI. Performance on par with a Corvette but for a starting price of $32,000.

[Blues]

A Lancer Evolution

One of THE Best performance to cost cars out there.

Holds its own against exotics that cost 2-3 times as much.

[randy_tho]

If your talking straight line there is no contest with a Mustang GT after a couple grand in upgrades. Sure its not the best quality but its a mean engine on wheels. Then maybe the C6 or a Z06.

Whats this WRX = vette stuff? :)

[Symbiotic Hat]

Compare the WRX STI and the Corvette.

[Sn00pY]

Arial Atom - UK designed car worth ?29k or so... puts out 1000BHP per tonne.

check it out and gear it - and for the idiot who said an Evo can hold its on against an exotic is talking nonsense...a standard evo is NOT that fast...yes the 300BHP rally spec Evo maybe can - but thats not a ?27000 [standard evo] priced car.

and WRX STi will also not hold its own against a corevette...where do you people get this nonsense from i mean seriously...wtf...you do not compare a European Car to an American car - cause American cars are just pure horse ****e....you cant name one good fast sexy American Car - the Dodg(y) Viper is a heap even its new SRT-10 is a piece of crap...

[Matt]

03 cobra is probalby your best bang for your buck.

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

Arial Atom - UK designed car worth ?29k or so... puts out 1000BHP per tonne.

check it out and gear it - and for the idiot who said an Evo can hold its on against an exotic is talking nonsense...a standard evo is NOT that fast...yes the 300BHP rally spec Evo maybe can - but thats not a ?27000 [standard evo] priced car.

and WRX STi will also not hold its own against a corevette...where do you people get this nonsense from i mean seriously...wtf...you do not compare a European Car to an American car - cause American cars are just pure horse ****e....you cant name one good fast sexy American Car - the Dodg(y) Viper is a heap even its new SRT-10 is a piece of crap...

585338301[/snapback]

If you are gonna talk shop, lets at least get some facts right!

Firstly - Ariel Atom - 300BHP from its supercharged Civic Type R engine and the car weighs 500KG - so 600BHP per tonne.

Secondly - the Evo's and stuff - well whilst they won't outright destroy exotics on a track, they will give them a bloody good scare. And the standard released ones are sold, under agreement with Japan, at around 280BHP - but literally a new exhaust and air filter will free power up from all kinds of places as the restrictions to keep the Japanese government happy are really really simple and easy to get around. And quite honestly get a good tank of petrol in there (Ultimate, perhaps with some octane booster) and these cars just go even more crazy.

And I dont know what this rant about American cars comes from. Admittely some American cars aren't top whack, but there is a classic saying which holds true for American cars - there is no replacement for displacement. You can take all the turbo's, nitrous and all that other crap you want and stick it on a 2.0 4 cylinder motor, but you just can't beat the kind of muscle (and quite frankly soundtrack) that a big V8 or V10 will give you. If the sound of something like an American V8 just doesn't just make you smile, then I seriously doubt you have a real interest in motoring.

[randy_tho]

Yeah just because the vette and WRX have similar specs/ times whatever doesn't mean jack. Don't get me wrong, I like some of these small engine cars with 300+ hp but you just can't compare the two. You can't compare an NA to a turbo that has the same hp / tq.

You take a 2.5 - 3 L with a turbo and a 6-8 L and add a turbo or supercharger and then compare. :laugh:

[Ivand]

Definitively a Impreza WRX STi

[xxkrnxstylezxx]

if you seriously want a performance car, the Ariel Atom. It has no luxuries at all tho, but I think it's fairly cheap.

Only car that beat its time in Top Gear was the enzo.

http://www.kuecker.net/downloads/Videos/To...r_ArielAtom.wmv

There's the video

[randy_tho]

if you seriously want a performance car, the Ariel Atom. It has no luxuries at all tho, but I think it's fairly cheap.

Only car that beat its time in Top Gear was the enzo.

http://www.kuecker.net/downloads/Videos/To...r_ArielAtom.wmv

There's the video

585340172[/snapback]

So is this car mass produced in Europe?

I just watched the beginning of the video. Sorry, thats not a car. Its a go kart. I can take a supercharged small block that makes 800 hp and strap it to the back of a lawn mower and have something similar. :D

It has no luxuries at all tho

Yeah like sheetmetal and a roof. :rolleyes: Edited January 23, 2005 by randy_tho

[bayrider]

Probably the Vette Z06. Its pretty damn fast, doesnt cost much and can keep up with the big boys. Prior to the bad rap of american cars, Vettes have some pretty good traction and acceleration, especially the latest generation vette

[randy_tho]

That video just reminded me how stupid the Top gear host is. "Its so great because you can see the suspension working."

Has he even driven an Indy car?

Let me guess? That thing is put togethor in the UK?

[ForeverUnknown]

wrx sti or lancer evo

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

That video just reminded me how stupid the Top gear host is.  "Its so great because you can see the suspension working."

Has he even driven an Indy car?

Let me guess? That thing is put togethor in the UK?

585340699[/snapback]

Sorry bud - UK TV personalities are just different to US TV personalities - Clarkson is just hugely sarcastic and bloody funny.

The Atom uses the engine from a Civic Type R, but is built in a small workshop in the UK, yes. But its UK road legal so you could use it every day.. if you were a bit insane :)

[ScottieG]

no way, the 2005 mustang GT!!! starts at 24.5k for 300hp??? No way you could beat that... there is no class even close to that value!

[kak]

The WRX STi may be fast for a while, until you smashing the pedal at every stop sign blows your turbo. Then you're just like every other I-4 out there.

[ScottieG]

Compare the WRX STI and the Corvette.

585338297[/snapback]

yea i love the STI, but remember the new vetts have a top speed at 186mph... no way an sti could beat that... but sure yea around corners sti is bad ass

[randy_tho]

Has nothing to do with him being from the UK. At least I hope not. He's way to condescending to anything but something built in the UK. Seems like to me anyway. Ever since he trashed on the C6 he's seemed like an idiot.

I guess I just don't see how that gokart is so special. It doesn't take a lot to strap a big engine on a small frame and call it a race car.

Sorry bud - UK TV personalities are just different to US TV personalities - Clarkson is just hugely sarcastic and bloody funny.

The Atom uses the engine from a Civic Type R, but is built in a small workshop in the UK, yes. But its UK road legal so you could use it every day.. if you were a bit insane :)

585341040[/snapback]

but sure yea around corners sti is bad ass

The C6 could hold its own againt the STi. And destroy it in the straights. The STi and the EVO are just hopped up grocery getters. I don't know about you but I wouldn't really want a small 4 door like that for 35K+. If I'm getting a sedan I'm getting a 300C or a Cadillac or something.

[amdme3200]

Saleen.

[Razorwing]

Has nothing to do with him being from the UK.  At least I hope not.  He's way to condescending to anything but something built in the UK.  Seems like to me anyway.  Ever since he trashed on the C6 he's seemed like an idiot.

I guess I just don't see how that gokart is so special.  It doesn't take a lot to strap a big engine on a small frame and call it a race car.

The C6 could hold its own againt the STi.  And destroy it in the straights.  The STi and the EVO are just hopped up grocery getters.  I don't know about you but I wouldn't really want a small 4 door like that for 35K+.  If I'm getting a sedan I'm getting a 300C or a Cadillac or something.

585342031[/snapback]

but the Sti will pwn it on corners. :yes: Even the Evolution 8, it pwnd a Lambo Murc around corners.

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

I guess I just don't see how that gokart is so special.  It doesn't take a lot to strap a big engine on a small frame and call it a race car.

The C6 could hold its own againt the STi.  And destroy it in the straights.  The STi and the EVO are just hopped up grocery getters.  I don't know about you but I wouldn't really want a small 4 door like that for 35K+.  If I'm getting a sedan I'm getting a 300C or a Cadillac or something.

585342031[/snapback]

Top Gear have a 'fastest road cars' score board. They have track which was developed by Lotus, and they have the same professional (but anonymous driver) take every decent ROAD LEGAL car they ever have on the show around the track. Now there have been all kinds of cars on there (Porsche Carrera GT, Mercedes McLaren SLR, Koenigsegg, Ferarri Enzo, etc) and when I tell you that the Ariel Atom which you so easily brush off as being a go kart dicked everything except the Ferarri Enzo on that score board. Engineering and handling aren't just a given - sticking a big engine onto a small frame doesn't just work from the off.

[Jim K Global Moderator]

pwnd <-- God how I hate that "word". Way overused by people that think it is "cool"...cool to use such a stupid "word".

Anyway...I would have to go with the Corvette (higher end) and the Mustang (lower end). Screw those little 4 cylinders with turbo. A grin comes over my face every time I see one of those cars with smoke coming out of its exhaust.

[randy_tho]

Top Gear have a 'fastest road cars' score board. They have track which was developed by Lotus, and they have the same professional (but anonymous driver) take every decent ROAD LEGAL car they ever have on the show around the track. Now there have been all kinds of cars on there (Porsche Carrera GT, Mercedes McLaren SLR, Koenigsegg, Ferarri Enzo, etc) and when I tell you that the Ariel Atom which you so easily brush off as being a go kart dicked everything except the Ferarri Enzo on that score board. Engineering and handling aren't just a given - sticking a big engine onto a small frame doesn't just work from the off.

585344314[/snapback]

Sure they have some R&D into balancing the frame and making the car neutral. I just don't compare that "car" to anything else on the board. Even the Lotus. They were closer to being on track putting it up against the CBR. I'm not saying it isn't cool. But it , despite what they say, is just a toy. It's not a real car. It's half of one. :) Being street legal and practical are different things entirely. I think they should make the reviewers drive it to work for a month and see how they like it then. :laugh: