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

LAUNCHED: Nissan GT-R Spec-V
Ultimate Godzilla loses weight, adds bucks.

LAUNCHED: Audi Q5
Ingolstadt looks to shake up the SUV establishment.

Hummer, Chinese style
GM has announced the potential buyer for its Hummer brand.

US Mail: The consequences of GM’s actions
From faultlines to full ‘quake: Wheels’ US correspondent John Lamm analyses the aftermath of the General Motors collapse.

Saab saved by fellow Swede?
Saab may be bought out by fellow automaker and supercar company Koenigsegg.

The calm after the storm
Holden’s American-born boss steps up to the plate swinging at the official Holden media briefing at Fisherman’s Bend this morning. Wheels’ Bruce Newton reports.

Class struggle – Alfa 159 v Peugeot 407 v Renault Laguna v VW Passat
Jostling beneath the lofty rung occupied by the premium Germans is a second tier of Euro wannabes. Question is, do any of them deliver a case persuasive enough to tempt you out of an Audi, Benz or BMW?

Subaru diesels, hybrids, diesel hybrids …
Subaru jumps in to the eco wars … Peter Nunn reports from Japan.

LPG grant running on empty
Sneaky cuts to the Federal Budget include the LPG Autogas grant, which will be reduced from July 1.

Holden stands alone
It’s business as usual for Holden, despite its parent company going under.

Broke and broken
GM files for bankruptcy protection with an unmovable deficit of $US172.8 billion in debts. The Official GM statement

Fiat gets Chrysler, while Opel goes to pieces
Much of the spotlight has been on the GM restructuring but meanwhile Fiat has dipped out on Opel. Large chunks have gone to parts supplier Magna and to a Russian company, while Fiat focuses on Chrysler.

Ford left out in the cold?
Ford fears it may be forgotten in the US government’s grand plans to resurrect its car industry

Suzuki bucks the trend
Finishes in the black again, like it has every year since 1950.

Design accolade for VE Sportwagon
Holden’s slick Sportwagon takes out the 2009 Wheels Automotive Design Award.

The General’s last stand
Angry bondholders may have finally fired GM straight into Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy book, as the Obama administration and GM boss Fritz Henderson prepare to address the media tomorrow.

Cosworth fires up in F1
The controversial new price cap strategy has brought old and new faces back to the beleaguered sport.

LAUNCHED: Kia Soul
Doin’ it for the kids.

Fatter, bigger, more comfortable, more stylish …
It’s a bigger car for a big country. Here’s our first local drive of BMW’s next-gen Z4.

Trayding places – Kandos Street Machine Show
Ford and Holden’s hot ute heroes abandon the building site for a shot at sideways glory at the annual Kandos Street Machine Show.

Blood brothers – GT-R R32 v GT-R R35
Mark Skaife was instrumental in creating the legend of the original R32 Godzilla. Who better, then, to compare it with the current R35 beast-master?

LAUNCHED: Audi A6
Blown V6 leads facelifted charge.

The Creek becomes a Blue Oval
Ford and FPV fans to descend on Eastern Creek this weekend.

Chevy Camaro is out of time
Holden helped develop it, but now GM looks set to deprive us of Detroit’s best 21st century pony car.