Coupes under $50k
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- Best coupes under $50k
Whether you’re just starting to drive or heading into a mid-life crisis, coupes appeal to all of us. Luckily, these days you don’t need to spend big money to enjoy the thrills of the swept-back driving experience.
While you are able to buy a Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86 for less than $40,000, choices start to expand once you’re shopping under the $50,000 so let’s start there.
Toyota 86
It is getting a little long in the tooth, but the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ combo still offers sports car thrills for an affordable price. Available in manual or automatic with a choice of specification levels, the Toyota 86 has stood the test of time despite external pressure to fill it with extra power.
Mazda MX-5
With the nameplate just celebrating its 30th birthday, there’s small wonder why so many flock to the Mazda MX-5 for an engaging top-down drive. Even if you’re more of a hard-top fan, Mazda now offers the RF version which includes a folding metal roof.
Hyundai i30 Fastback N
A relatively new player to the coupe game, Hyundai’s i30 N was transformed into a four-door coupe following the success of the hatchback. Sleeker styling marries with everything that made Hyundai’s first true hot hatch great
Audi pushes the oil
Once reserved for trucks and tractors, the diesel engine in its impressive modern iteration has even moved to the engine bay of the Audi TT.
Right of way
Samoa switches to right-hand drive.
What financial crisis?
We take the world’s most valuable car for a spin 48 hours before it’s sold, then witness the moment it defies the global downturn.
Ford boss tells us why he went for the four cylinder Falcon
It all makes sense, says Burela. And it also makes sense to bone plans for a local Focus.
Second coming
In a small Victorian town, a father and his sons are painstakingly resurrecting one of the most venerated cars in motorsport – the Porsche 917.
Porsche shows its track ready and street legal 911 GT3 RS
Get shouted down by the aggressive body language; hear it roar.
Skoda cuts loose with revised RS Octavia
It’s fast fun, with VW standards.
Bruce McPhee was a racer and a thinker
He was the first man to claim Bathurst poles for both Ford and Holden.
YDOTY at AIMS
Australia’s young car designer hopefuls have penned their HSV for the future, but the results are in and there can be only one Wheels Designer of the Year. Drum roll…
YDOTY08 Winner – Johannes Collopy
HSV GT.E by Johannes Collopy.
Wraps come off the McLaren MP4-12C
Everything a modern iteration of the iconic driver’s supercar should be …
In the name of the farther
Back in 1965, Aussie journo Evan Green made history by crossing Australia in a Mini. Now, to commemorate the Mini’s 50th anniversary, Green’s son repeats the epic journey, giving a new Cooper a birthday bash it won’t forget
Japanese most concerned about emerging Hyundai
Forget the Chinese, and the Euros – South Koreans provide the real fear factor in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Block Party
Ken Block’s massive air and superhuman car control have made him a download demigod. he’s, like, having a blast, dude
Ford to launch a game changer into Oz market
Blue Oval claims Fiesta ECOnetic is Australia’s most fuel efficient car – better than the hybrids.
Mitsubishi PX-MiEV
Mitsubishi’s PX-MiEV concept at the coming Tokyo Show may be more significant than it first appears.
Dirty weekend with the GranTurismo S
Well, not quite. How about a latte and fruit bread instead?
Volvo could to be added to the Chinese menu
Ford tags Geely as its preferred bidder for the Swedish brand. But would you buy your herrings from a Chinese restaurant?
The purists howled, but V8 pulls the punters to BMW M3
Two more cylinders equate to more grunt, more fun and a swag more sales.
Book review: Speedway in the raw
The drama, thrills and tragedies across four recent decades of Australian speedway racing is captured in brilliant photography. Full Throttle has it all – sprintcars, sedans, 500cc bikes, sidecars, and speedcars.
911 Around Australia
Porsche’s iconic sports car tries its hand at a little grand touring, in the form of a 17,000km lap of Oz in 17 days. Steve Nally is your guide for the first 4000km leg.
Discovery 4
New Land Rover Disco sheds some of its tough exterior.
Falcon’s future
‘Ford Australia will never again go it alone.’ And so Ford Australia president Marin Burela confirmed that the FG will be the last Falcon designed, engineered and built exclusively for Australia.
Awkward Segway
In 2001, Segway inventor Dean Kamen said: ‘I would stake my reputation, my money and my time on the fact that 10 years from now, this will be the way many people in many places get around.’
