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Holden’s Commodore SS ute has been our sub-$50K Bang For Your Bucks (BFYB) champion for the last two years, but would that be so had we included used cars in the mix?
While we will never know categorically, we can survey how past racetrack stars have since fared on the used market – and enter into contention sub-$100K models that have depreciated.
So if a near-new racetrack star is on the purchasing cards, where would MOTOR look?
A year later, in 2015, BFYB’s fastest lap time was 1min 42.1sec from the Holden Astra VXR. That 206kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo Lion, with standard Recaros and Brembos, can now be had for under $20,000 with a 20,000km odometer. That’s a lot of ‘fast’ for not much cash.
Of course while those former Bang stars have fallen far in resale-value terms, there are also more expensive and focused sports cars that are just starting to fall under $50,000 used.
Although $61,990 plus on-road costs new, this 201kW/360Nm 2.0-litre turbo front-driven stripped-out special can now be purchased for around $45,000 – particularly for a rare (read ‘unwanted’) model de-optioned without audio and air-conditioning.
All-paw Japanese hero or front-drive French maestro? It would be a tough tussle, depending on the priorities. Either way, when it comes to used racetrack stars, we may not give out awards – but there’s plenty of bang for your buck to be found here.
