The King for under $40,000

[3000ways]

Well the votes have been cast, and it came down to three. One from an American manufactuer, one from a Japanese manufactuer, and one from an European manufactuer. So now who is really the King for under $40,000.

Your broke and you barely make ends meet, but one day luck is on your side. You check your lotto ticket and guess what you just won $40,000. So you always had dreams of owning a fast car, and you decide f*ck it I’m getting me a fast car. So you make a list of cars categorizing them into three seperate lists of European, Japanese, and American. You rate each car with in the lists on-

Stock Power
Tuning Potential
Price
Styling
All Around Performance
Livability

From your list of European cars, you decide the best choice for you is a 2001 BMW M3. From your list of American cars you decide that the best choice is a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette ZO6. Then from your list of Japanese cars you decide that the best choice for you is the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR. So between these three cars which is the best, which offers the greatest combination of Stock Power, Tuning Potential, Price, Styling, All Around Performance, and Livability?

2001 BMW M3
3.2L 6-Cylinder
333HP
262TQ
6-Speed Manual
RWD
3420Lbs
0-60- 4.9 Seconds
$36,300

2001 Chevrolet Corvette ZO6
5.7L 8-Cylinder
385HP
385TQ
6-Speed Manual
RWD
3120Lbs
0-60- 4.5 Seconds
$34,100

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR
2.0L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
285HP
295TQ
6-Speed Manual
AWD
3080Lbs
0-60- 4.3 Seconds
$33,000

So who is the King?

[3000ways]

I chose the EVO MR for a number of factors, while I believe the other two cars are awesome as well the EVO MR would be my choice. Of course of the selected areas in which I had to rate the cars I felt the EVO MR had some weak spots, but all the cars had areas were they were not that strong. With the EVO MR styling was an issue, but I must admit the EVO MR does look better than the base EVO with it's smoked headlights, BBS gun metal rims, lower stance, and black spoiler, all give it an overall apperance better than the regular EVO. Yet it still is not as good looking as the BMW or Corvette. But there are areas were the EVO MR stood out, one being it's price and availability as a new car, the others would have to be purchased used and who knows what abuse they could have gone through with the previous owner. Plus it's price is lower than the other two, leaving me with more than enough money to fix her up. $7,000 on a base EVO, would hit the 11s possibly the 10s easily, imagine that money on a EVO MR, with it's more durable tranny it should easily hit 10s (So there's my thoughts on the tunning potential). While it's inerior is not the best, it does offer room for 4 or 5 like the BMW M3, while the Corvette only offers room for 2. While some people wouldn't mind room just for 2, for me I'd love to have a vehicle perform well and have room for my friends and family to enjoy the experience too. That's just my personal feelings on that. Stock power is great for the MR, while it's numbers suggest otherwise, (The EVO has the lowest rating in HP between the 3) it's the fastest to 60 miles, and only it and the Corvette ZO6 in the list of three can hit in 12 second 1/4 mile time range stock. It's all around performance is also awesome, braking and handling is awesome especially for a 4 door sedan. Add in AWD, and yes with out a doubt the EVO MR is my choice between the three, and to me or in my opinion the EVO MR is the King under $40,000. Of course others will have different opinions, and I'd love to hear your thoughts and choices. Arguments in certain areas can be made for and made against each car.

[flylwsi]

i chose the zo6.
i'm a diehard evo fan, yes.
and stock, it'd put up a good fight for the zo6.

however, once you start modding, the zo6 is in a league of its own.
it's the only car that can consistently outhandle, outbrake, outrun any car on the market when you throw money or boost at it.

i'm ok with room for 2, that's what i've got now. the trunk isn't that bad, and the interior is definitely livable.
i like the styling, and i like the way that people "in the know" know what a zo6 is, same as an m3 or mr, but more so...

handling is amazing stock (lingenfelter upgrades to zo6 susp. parts on the c5s he mods)
braking is great (maybe not as good as an evo, but not hard to fix)
straightline speed is sick, i've driven the 405hp version, i'll vouch for that. it may not beat the awd evo to 60, but it'd be a great time trying
burnout potential:
405hp can roast a LOT of uber wide tire!

so, for the overall car, i've got a vette in my garage...

[CarSuperfreak]

last i checked, the Z06 was closer to 50K, not 34......

[3000ways]

Originally Posted by CarSuperfreak

last i checked, the Z06 was closer to 50K, not 34......

Check again, the comparison is using a 2001 ZO6, not a new one.

[panzershreck]

i picked the BMW M3, enough room to haul people, stylish yet not too much for long-lasting looks, superb handling, not the extreme end of power (like a Hartge), but still more than i'll ever need, superb body design and quality as well... only thing the M3 lacks is in the modification department (which is fine by my standards, but we arent going by my standards)

[youngvr4]

i've seen 02 Z06 for 40grand even and htose have 405hp, its all bout looking around and doing research.

my answer is the Z06, and like fly said until proven i believe the Z06 will win on a track simply because its close in handling with the evo but faster. plus i like opening my car up on the highway and evo have such short gears, it won't really do it for me.

[Joseph1082]

I'd have to say there really is no comparison... all 3 cars won for a reason, but compared to the rest, the Z06 is just a class above. It really compares to cars that cost more than double it's price. And I don't know what the MR pulls on the skidpad, but the Z06 pulls 1g, so I doubt that the MR is pulling something so much higher... I'm saying there handling is pretty much the same, that's pretty damn good for a RWD car.

[3000ways]

Originally Posted by Joseph1082

I'd have to say there really is no comparison... all 3 cars won for a reason, but compared to the rest, the Z06 is just a class above. It really compares to cars that cost more than double it's price. And I don't know what the MR pulls on the skidpad, but the Z06 pulls 1g, so I doubt that the MR is pulling something so much higher... I'm saying there handling is pretty much the same, that's pretty damn good for a RWD car.

The MR pulled a .98g, so yeah on the skidpad the ZO6 wins, but I think the AWD MR Slaloms faster, still both cars handle awesome.

[youngvr4]

i heard the evo-8 doesn't come with a boost gauge thats pretty dang stupid. what sense does that make

[del]

i voted for the Z06. the evo? well yeah, it's fast and the performance is there. the big wing, body style isn't my style at all. the M3, sweet and all, but if you ever have to bring this thing in for repairs, it can get ugly, as in dollar-wise.

[3000ways]

Originally Posted by youngvr4

i heard the evo-8 doesn't come with a boost gauge thats pretty dang stupid. what sense does that make

Ok seriously WTF does that have to do with the topic?

[aznxthuggie]

Originally Posted by youngvr4

i heard the evo-8 doesn't come with a boost gauge thats pretty dang stupid. what sense does that make

WHAT IT DOESN'T? WTF, man just for that reason i won't buy the evo

all three cars were good, but i would go with the EVO MR, actually if possible i would go with the STI Spec C, which outperforms the EVO mr is some areas, the M3 is a really nice car, so is the Z06 but i like rally cars.. crap it makes be biased huh? ok lets say the EVO is out of the picture because it would most obviously be my favorite, i would pick the M3, its more classy than the Z06 and for the same price with almost the same horsepower i would just take the M3

[Joseph1082]

But they way the Z06 (don't get me wrong, love the M3) is set up, it is just in a higher class than the M3... I don't think the M3 breaks into 12s, let alone low 12s, this is a CAR!!!!

[youngvr4]

Originally Posted by 3000ways

Ok seriously WTF does that have to do with the topic?

shut up punk i had just heard that

back on topic the m3 is at 333hp right? i'm not gonna lie it would be a hard pick between the m3 and Z06 but if we are talking 02 Z06 there is no doubt wich i would choose and like i said a 02 Z06 can be found for 40grand