Coupes under $50k
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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

Hyundai i30 CRDi Long Termer – April 2009
Capitalising on the folding stuff.

LAUNCHED: Mini Cooper S Cabriolet
Finally, second-gen goes sunny-side up.

Hyundai i30 CRDi Long Termer – March 2009
Going for gold, but all’s not cruisy…

City Of Lights – Ford Fiesta LX vs Honda Jazz VTi vs Mazda 2 Neo vs Toyota Yaris YRS
We’ve established that Ford’s globe-trotting Fiesta is a small car with sizeable talent. Time now to see how brightly it shines when facing its natural nemeses.

Brotherly Shove – Audi RS6 vs Lambo Gallardo LP560 – 4
Two very different cars, one shared V10 heart. So should the VW Group be your preferred supplier for the ultimate two-car garage?

Hyundai i30 CRDi Long Termer – February 2009
It’s a long way into top.

Audi TTS v BMW 135i v Mazda RX-8 GT v Nissan 350Z
Japan takes on Germany in this shootout of compact coupes. Their differences are many, but their goal is the same: max attack for under $100K.

Fast, fun, frugal – 9th Audi A3
Fast, fun, frugal – 9th Audi A3

Fast, fun, frugal – 8th Merc C320
Fast, fun, frugal – 8th Merc C320

This week’s Wheels – Mazda 6 Diesel Sports hatch
The 6 fills a Japanese-branded gap in the diesel passenger market.

Virtual Golf GTI
Take a to-scale model of the MkVI GTI for a virtual spin, and be transported back to your slot car days.

Fun’raiser – FR-1 concept
In a melbourne warehouse, a team of enthusiasts have hand-crafted a contemporary homage to the hot rod. Their aim? To showcase local talent and raise $5m for charity.

LAUNCHED: Lexus RX350
RX returns to refine the luxo SUV formula it defined.

Ferrari does a hot deal on the 599XX project
Rich punters used as unpaid test drivers for supercar maker’s extreme track car.

Second sight – Honda Insight
Gen-two of Honda’s hybrid won’t lure buyers with its driving dynamics, but a $30K price tag and low running costs might have the pull to convert Prius zealots.

Today in 1960: Ford powers on
We dug up some pics from the Wheels archive for this date steeped in Ford production history.

Road v Race: all-Aussie shootout
How much quicker are V8 supercars than their road-going relatives? Strap in as we find out…

Road v Race – Aussie battlers!
The mantra ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ was coined back in an era when race cars bore more than a cosmetic resemblance to road cars. But, we wondered, is there any strength to it today?

Road v Race – HSV GTS
For half the W427’s price, the GTS offers 90 percent of the performance.

Billion dollar blow for Holden as GM confirms Pontiac to be axed
Holden-built G8 a casualty as Pontiac heads towards the knackery.

LAUNCHED: Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Gasp! A Porsche oiler? Relax, it’s actually quite okay.

Ambrose claims fantastic fourth at Talladega
Aussie Marcos nails his best oval track result.

FIRST DRIVE: Jaguar XKR
Coupe now with sharper claws.

Poles apart – BMW X6M X5M
The latest additions to BMW’s legendary M division forego big revs for serious slugs of turbocharged torque. Our pre-production drive in northern Sweden suggests they’re both seductive and questionable…