Notices
The Loft / EvoM Car Talk Corner The landing pad for automotive discussions, news, articles, and opinions. A place for the community to kick back and chat.

R&T 12 Best Car Under $30k

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 1, 2006, 10:42 AM
  #1  
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Robert_K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: In a van down by the river
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thumbs up R&T 12 Best Car Under $30k

Just receive my copy of this months Road & Track. On the cover is; "12 Best Cars Under $30k. We Pick THE BEST Enthusiast Car for the Money." First the 12 cars:
- Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged: $22,385 S/C DOHC 2.0l
- Ford Mustang GT: $29,180 SOHC 4.6l V-8
- Honda Civic Si: $22,290 DOHC 2.0l
- Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT: $24,350 DOHC 2.0l
- Mazda Speed3: $22,240 Turbo DOHC 2.3l
- Mini Cooper S JCW: $28,850 S/C SOHC 1.6l
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution RS: $29,744 Turbo DOHC 2.0l
- Nissan 350Z: $29,845 DOHC 3.5l V-6
- Pontiac Solstice GXP: $29,820 Turbo DOHC 2.0l
- Scion tC TRD: $23,403 S/C DOHC 2.4l
- Subaru Impreza WRX Limited: $28,418 Turbo DOHC 2.5l
- Volkswagen GTI: $27,625 Turbo DOHC 2.0l

What do you all think of this list? I think its a fair list. All of the cars perform well, if not great. They all have some sense of style.

"And the winner was...
It was a close decision, but the Nissan 350Z won by a whisker over the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution RS, with the Ford Mustang GT Landing on the remaining step of our podium in a very respectable thrid. Nissan's sporty coupe, despite getting on in years, still impresses with its fine handling, rigid structure, free-revving engine and impressive brakes." R&T
Old Nov 1, 2006, 10:52 AM
  #2  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (19)
 
Ralph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Being #2 isn't all that bad .
Old Nov 1, 2006, 11:14 AM
  #3  
Pocket Mo
iTrader: (8)
 
andyktlee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Washington
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not too shabby.
Old Nov 1, 2006, 11:22 AM
  #4  
EvoM Staff Alumni
iTrader: (1)
 
Kurt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Maryland.
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
That is a nice list. I wouldn't mind driving anyone of those cars except for the Chevy(I just don't like it) and the MX-5(I don't fit in them, I am to tall).
Old Nov 1, 2006, 12:14 PM
  #5  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (10)
 
SLVROZ_03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tell you what, looks like turbo'd is the way to go huh...
Old Nov 1, 2006, 12:19 PM
  #6  
Evolving Member
 
06redMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i dont know why 350z would come 1st and evo would come second, but i guess its because they take all sorts of different things into account in their ratings, as opposed to strictly performance, because if it was strictly performance that was being tested, im sure the evo would be way ahead of the pack
Old Nov 1, 2006, 12:20 PM
  #7  
Evolving Member
 
06redMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
side note: 350Zs are pretty awsome though, If for some reason i couldnt get the evo, i was gonna get a 350Z. def a cool car
Old Nov 1, 2006, 12:22 PM
  #8  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (1)
 
fusionchicken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: socal
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
this is the 2nd magazine article that put the Z over the Evo recently.....

gotta get myself a copy of this article.
Old Nov 1, 2006, 03:09 PM
  #9  
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Robert_K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: In a van down by the river
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 06redMR
i dont know why 350z would come 1st and evo would come second, but i guess its because they take all sorts of different things into account in their ratings, as opposed to strictly performance, because if it was strictly performance that was being tested, im sure the evo would be way ahead of the pack
Take into account the 53/47 weight, no turbo lag from a big turbo, 300hp, rwd, etc... Both are good buys but for the road course I think '06 Z is finally hit the hammer on the nails head. Plus as you said you're getting a lot more car with the Z vs a RS.
Old Nov 1, 2006, 03:17 PM
  #10  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (18)
 
04WWRS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Frederick Maryland
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 06redMR
i dont know why 350z would come 1st and evo would come second, but i guess its because they take all sorts of different things into account in their ratings, as opposed to strictly performance, because if it was strictly performance that was being tested, im sure the evo would be way ahead of the pack
My guess would be because to stay under 30k they had to use a RS. Probably took the 350z due to it has all the power stuff that the RS doesn't. I can live with that decision if thats why.
Old Nov 1, 2006, 03:18 PM
  #11  
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Robert_K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: In a van down by the river
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The 350Z did outperform the MR in that last article.
Old Nov 1, 2006, 04:31 PM
  #12  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (41)
 
theEVOdream's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Delran, NJ
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
also the z's interior isn't as spartan as the evo interior...probably another factor in why it won
Old Nov 1, 2006, 04:36 PM
  #13  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (17)
 
thisxguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
if they used the gsr, then the Z might have lost. but the Z's interior is more civilized. the evo is more of performance...but we have 4 doors and 5 seats.

i'll give the Z props though...but we're still faster. LOL
Old Nov 1, 2006, 05:19 PM
  #14  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Arithmetic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,856
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Exclamation

Originally Posted by 06redMR
i dont know why 350z would come 1st and evo would come second,
Originally Posted by 06redMR
but i guess its because they take all sorts of different things into account in their ratings, as opposed to strictly performance, because if it was strictly performance that was being tested, im sure the evo would be way ahead of the pack
WTF...

You ask and answer your own question in your reply, good job Einstein...
Old Nov 1, 2006, 05:45 PM
  #15  
Evolving Member
 
EvoPanda7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: santa rosa c.a
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
gti and miatas own =) same wit the civic si.. shame we dont get the hatch


Quick Reply: R&T 12 Best Car Under $30k



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:33 PM.