Entry level sports cars Comparison...

I thought I'd quiz the AF membership on what car they would buy with NZ$40,000 (Around $27,000 US). Not saying I have that kind of money, but the segment that these cars are selling in has never been better and the new car market has fully recovered from a slump back in the 90's, so now is as good of a time as any...


That kind of money buys these cars over here:

1. BMW Compact (2.0 model, sort of under-powered, but RWD nonetheless)
2. FIAT Stilo Abarth 2.4 3 door (Sneaks in a few thousand over 40k, but still worth considering)
3. Ford Focus ST170 (The car that needs no introduction)
4. Holden (Opel/Vauxhall) Astra SRi (Old, but a 2.2 Vectra engine does make it interesting)
5. Honda Integra Type R ($45k, but you get what you pay for- however it is still an Acura RSX Type S, not the geniune JDM DC5 Type R)
6. Hyundai Tiburon V6 2.7 (Kind of underpowered for a V6, but looks awesome)
7. Mazda3 SP23 (Slowest one, but can it make it up in other areas)
8. MG ZR 160 (The manual model, looks wicked, goes like the clappers and is light as well)
9. Peugeot 206 GTi 180 (Almost as fast to 100 km/h as a Silvia Spec R manual)
10. Renault Clio RS (Not the 182 bhp model, but the 172)
11. Skoda Octavia vRS (The wildcard, because it's bigger)
12. Toyota Corolla GT (A Corolla with a Celica 190 bhp engine in it)
13. Volkswagen Golf 2.0 FSI (Sort of sporty)


and that's my comparo, but which one do YOU think is best.

For $27,000, I'd buy a Subaru Impreza WRX with a few options (I live in the USA, by the way). My second choice would probably be a Mazda RX-8.

I'd go with the Renault Clio RS if they were available here.

hmm, how about something daft like a mini cooper s works?

or a second-hand clio V6.
it's not that much faster than a 172 or a 182 but a little car that has an engine where there are normally two small kids and a bag of groceries, gets my vote any day.
and um, where's the civic type-r in the list?
it beats the corolla hands down for drive (but the corolla isn't as manic if you're after sanity....)

anyway.
back to your list.
yeah, the only one that stands out is the clio.

I personally love the look of the Clio, perhaps the best looking hatchback in my opinion. I know cars are much more expensive elsewhere than the United States even with the exchange rate, but is it possible to get a WRX for $40,000 NZ ($27,000 US)? If so that would be my choice.

Forgot one, maybe a Silvia Spec R, if they are still for sale new there, if not new, then used.

Forgot one, maybe a Silvia Spec R, if they are still for sale new there, if not new, then used.

Silvia Spec R over anything up there...250HP, RWD, 6 spd (IIRC)...nuff said

The 200SX Spec R II and Skyline GTt got replaced by the $67,000 350Z about a year ago- but the 200SX 6 speed (not the ghey Auto) was my favourite car until it died.

The Civic Type R is not on sale here- Honda NZ reckon it's too expensive to import (Used Imports are fetching about $50,000!!!!) So we have the RSX/Integra instead, probably for the better.

The WRX is just over the price barrier- but remains good value nonetheless, used ones are cheap and plentiful. But most insurance companies won't even look at one.

depends on where you live, but how about a R32 GT-R?

cu