What Is Your Choice For The Best Performance Car Under $50,000?

It is a commonly accepted fact that big power and performance usually comes hand in hand with a big price tag. The additional expense of heavy duty drivetrain components and the development costs of setting up the chassis to handle it all tend to add thousands of dollars to a car's base price. That said, technology has moved on at such a rapid pace that you can now find a performance machine out there for under $50,000 that performs as well as or even better than expensive exotics from a decade ago.
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ilovecar2015 - 2/5/2018 1:50:10 PM

-1 Boost

S3 all the way, then M240i.

CarCrazedinCali - 2/5/2018 1:50:55 PM

-2 Boost

I love my S3

focal - 2/5/2018 2:25:36 PM

+1 Boost

Used Porsche Cayman (base, S or GTS)...if you must have a convertible then the Boxster.

TomM - 2/5/2018 5:18:01 PM

+4 Boost

How can we actually answer this question? - WE are not people who readily have access to all the possible choices -so we would naturally be biased to the one WE have (To justify our choice) IF we have one in the price range. Add in the availability of used vehicles - which were not specifically eliminated - and a number of performance vehicles that can be had for Lower than the amount after discounts but List above the amount. Then - we are comparing wildly different classes of vehicles (The specification only says PERFORMANCE) - so from high powered small cars - to two seat sports cars - and lots of other option. This ends up being a popularity contest with the result actually being meaningless.

MDarringer - 2/5/2018 6:19:17 PM

+1 Boost

My short list:

Mustang GT
Camaro SS
Challenger R/T
Charger R/T
GTI

Thomas007 - 2/5/2018 7:05:40 PM

0 Boost

A 2011-14 V8 BMW M3 (E92).

Rianf1 - 2/5/2018 7:15:41 PM

0 Boost

Slightly used C7 corvette
Slightly used cayman/boxter
Slightly used hellcat
Mustang GT
S3
240i
Very used late model 997 911

MDarringer - 2/5/2018 8:12:25 PM

+1 Boost

I don't "do" used unless it's vintage, but that's a good list.

Agent001 - 2/5/2018 8:51:31 PM

-2 Boost

The Boxster/Cayman and M2 are the best all around performers although not as raw as the American Iron. But if I had to daily drive I'd choose the S3 because of more interior practicality and active cruise option for SoCal traffic. Also, you can drive for 10 hours and get out and not be fatigued. And lastly, it's not a car but you can STEAL lightly used Grand Cherokee SRT8's all day long (low 40's). I'd take one any day over the pony cars.

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Agent001 - 2/5/2018 8:53:05 PM

-6 Boost

Also forgot, S3 has absolute BEST dash/tech/google integration over anything in the space.

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valhallakey - 2/5/2018 11:50:32 PM

+2 Boost

New: BMW M240i, Audi S3, Camaro SS 1LE
Used: E92 M3/M4, Porsche Cayman S, DeTomaso Pantera - not sure you can still get one under $50k though

Agent001 - 2/6/2018 12:44:31 AM

0 Boost

Wish someone would resurrect Pantera like they did MINI.

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