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
Badgeology – Pontiac
GM’s big chief.
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It’s a ton of turbo fun, but big boost makes this a tricky muscle car to master.
Road v Race – FPV GT
It lacks the F6’s titanic twist, but progressive V8 power delivery proves there’s life in the GT yet.
Road v Race – HSV W427
Price of admission is steep, but nudging V8 Supercar performance was never going to come cheap.
Road v Race – HRT V8 Supercar
Rather than a true racer, HRT’s ‘ride’ car is the fastest passenger vehicle in Oz.
Road v Race – FPR V8 Supercar
The only true racer on test was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the top performer.
Road v Race – Credits, crunch
Our festival of figures may not have delivered any shock defeats, but it did prove two things: local muscle-car buyers have it very good, and V8 Supercar drivers earn every cent …
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Chrysler poised for imminent bankruptcy filing
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2009 Shanghai Auto Show
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2009 Audi R8 V10 Review
Audi’s R8 already shares DNA with Lambo’s Gallardo, and now they’ve added the baby bull’s V10 heart. Porsche’s 911 Turbo should be scared, very scared…
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GM’s CFO admits the company won’t make its June 1 repayment deadline, and will take its chances with its debtors instead, while Ford is offering dealerships for a dollar.
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There’s a new threat to the world order of compact sports sedans – a made-in-Japan missile with M Division and AMG in its sights…
Gunman kills speed camera operator
Is this the ultimate protest again revenue raising?
FIRST LOOK: Jaguar XJ
The Brit automaker has released a short clip and an even shorter media release about its all-new XJ.
Podium for Webber in Red Bull 1 – 2
Aussie Mark Webber shakes off the gremlins and lands a podium in the Chinese Grand Prix behind team mate Sebastien Vettel, as the diffuser debate is finally put to bed.
2009 Volkswagen Golf VI review
Round six, and both performance and economy are above par.
Skoda Roomster Long Termer – December 2008
Of diesel sipped and armchairs swallowed.
Mercedes C200K Estate Long Termer – November 2008
Magic wand makes life cruisy.
Mercedes C200K Estate Long Termer – October 2008
Kiddie conveyance a cargo challenge.
Mercedes-Benz C200K Estate Long Termer – September 2008
Fully loaded in more ways than one.
The fuel economy of the new Toyota Prius is bloody good …
… though not quite as good as the Japanese figures initially suggest.
Marcos Ambrose bags a Top 15 at Phoenix
No engine problems for Aussie Ambrose as he snaffles a boot-full of points.
Brabham robbed of Long Beach victory
Bizarre penalty costs Aussie a blue-ribbon American Le Mans sports car triumph.
