Looking for a Performance Car for under $40K

[Deactivated] on 29/05/2016 - 19:45

Hello,

My best friend is looking for a new car. His previous car was a Porsche Cayenne, which his evil step-father has since "confiscated". For the past 2 months, he was driving my macan which I've sold on Thursday.

So he is now looking for a new car.His budget is $37K. Since he is a dear friend, Wiki and I are happy to contribute towards his new car, if need be. However our generosity has a limit: a couple of thousands max.

He's looking at the 2016 Subaru WRX STi 4D Sedan which is unfortunately above his budget. Any recommendation please?

Thank you,
JJB

Automotive

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 29/05/2016 - 20:08
    +6

    Ford Focus ST or Holden Astra VXR 2015

  • Google Chrome on 29/05/2016 - 20:28
    +1

    r34
    edit: didn't see it had to be a new car

  • supnigs super skids on 29/05/2016 - 21:20
    +2

    Normal WRX. NOT Sti. Awd is the way to go if you don't mind rapid tire wear.

  • altomic on 29/05/2016 - 21:58
    +3

    2007 Toyota Camry.

    • pimpstimpy on 29/05/2016 - 23:28
      -2

      Perfect performance car for the male Asian student in us.

    • angelkulit025 on 02/06/2016 - 11:11

      I don't think they'll appreciate coming from a upmarket brand to a general public car like toyota =p.

  • spackbace on 29/05/2016 - 21:59
    +1

    Get him to drive a few.

    Depending on his height, WRX can be uncomfortable.

    SS/SS-V VF series 2 has an awesome exhaust note and tons of features.

    But yeah, 1 persons dream performance car isn't the same as another's. I've driven a 2012 STi and while the power was good, the features were lacklustre and I couldn't drive it very comfortably (I'm 6'2). So do some looking around first :)

    • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2016 - 22:20

      1 persons dream performance car

      He wants his cayenne back which is not going to happen. So he is going to have to 'settle' for a more 'affordable' car.

      Wouldn't an SS/SS-V VF series 2 be closer to 50k?

      • spackbace on 29/05/2016 - 22:27
        +1

        It would, but there's always demo models :)

        • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2016 - 22:32

          and a demo would be about… ? I wouldn't want to raise his expectations too much. The Mrs is going to kill me if we end up having to 'lend' him 8k+ because we both know that he's not going to be able to pay us back.

          Edit: I know very little about cars. I've been happily riding my bike to work for weeks before I even sold my car.

        • spackbace on 29/05/2016 - 22:53
          +7

          @Jar Jar Binks:

          Don't put money in, it's not up to you to pay for his 'treat'.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/05/2016 - 07:44

          @Spackbace: If this was a fairy tale, he would be Cinderella and the car, his Prince Charming. We wouldn't want the cruel, emotionally abusive step-father to win now, would we? :P

        • QW3RTY on 30/05/2016 - 11:13
          +3

          @Jar Jar Binks: Well, I don't play the "heartless bastard card" only because I want to, but because it's the right thing to do. If I cannot afford a performance car, I do one of two things:

          1. I save up more money to sink into a performance car; or,
          2. I buy a car which I can afford.

          I like to call it "The Real World" (Trademark pending, 2016).

          "we both know that he's not going to be able to pay us back" — I'm struggling with this too. It's not like you're saying "Sorry, little Billy. Mum and Dad can't afford your leg reconstruction surgery — looks like you'll never fulfil your dream to represent Australia at the Snappy McTapTap's World Championships of Jazz-Tap Dancing" — you're saying: "If you're serious about wanting a performance car, consider buying one your can afford, or save for one you can't afford at the current moment.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/05/2016 - 20:02

          @QW3RTY: Thank you.

  • slow on 30/05/2016 - 08:07

    Call me old fashioned but I would go and test drive the options and pick the one I liked best

    • [Deactivated] on 30/05/2016 - 08:18

      He's never been on a "budget" before (AFAIK, he's only driven Porsches). He doesn't know what kind of cars he can get for that kind of money.

  • chumlee on 30/05/2016 - 08:29

    VW Polo GTI and spend the leftover on therapy.

  • tomleonhart on 30/05/2016 - 08:34

    ROLF R 2012 ?

  • shroomish on 30/05/2016 - 09:26
    +7

    Toyota gt86. best bang for buck. beats out a $100k Porshe in the review by wheels i think.

    • supnigs super skids on 30/05/2016 - 17:33

      Probably only in price lol.

      • shroomish on 01/06/2016 - 16:47

        for performance car thrills per dollar, the gt86 offers you the best value.

    • Aids on 01/06/2016 - 22:58

      This would be my pick, but I wouldn't buy it without testing a MX5 first.

      • [Deactivated] on 02/06/2016 - 07:37

        He test drove an mx5. Said it was tiny and didn't like the soft top roof.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/06/2016 - 07:29

      Or a Subaru BRZ?

      • Aids on 02/06/2016 - 09:06

        Essentially the same thing, yeah.

        • shroomish on 02/06/2016 - 13:33

          made in subaru factories, but the brz is over priced and has non essentials tacked on that detract from the car imo

      • WhatWouldBiggieDo on 02/06/2016 - 16:02
        +2

        I have a BRZ with all options. Can confirm it's amazing. The only cars I would trade up to are the Lotus Elise, Porsche Cayman or Alfa 4C. And I'm struggling to justify any of those at the moment

        • shroomish on 02/06/2016 - 16:13

          you got one sweet fkn ride bro.

        • Mumbles on 03/06/2016 - 12:17

          My thoughts exactly! I think the BRZ/86 chassis is so good that I used to dream of buying one, engine swapping it and making it an affordable Lotus Exige contender. Then I found out about the 818 FactoryFive kit car for my Subaru.

  • Mumbles on 30/05/2016 - 12:40
    +3

    Jar Jar please don't put any of your money into the car. If your friend is unable to afford the car then how is he going to afford its maintenance?

    Cars are money pits. The more expensive the car the more higher the servicing and insurance costs. The more powerful the car the more frequent the consumables (eg. sports tyres, brake pads, brake rotors, fuel).

    If you help your friend to buy a car that he cannot afford you might be trapping him into bigger debts and headaches. When you share responsibility for their car costs then you also share in the guilt when something goes wrong. Eg. crippling car accident due to an over powered car.

    Consider gifting your friend a driving experience. For example V8 supercar experience, rally experience, Porsche driving experience, Supercar track day experience (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, etc), car drifting/skid pan lessons. You can even join your friend as a bonding exercise.

    • [Deactivated] on 30/05/2016 - 19:34

      Thank you.

  • Save 50 Cent on 30/05/2016 - 19:02

    Is it the same friend who is staying at your house for free? That is one lucky bastard.
    Also, I don't get how and why his car was confiscated. Is he 7 years old or somwthing? Did he do a naughty thing?

    • [Deactivated] on 30/05/2016 - 19:53
      +1

      He didn't attend a family event.

      • QW3RTY on 02/06/2016 - 08:51

        "I lost my Porsche Cayenne privileges after my step-father confiscated it, following my non attendance of our families yacht weekend."

        How close am I?

        • [Deactivated] on 02/06/2016 - 10:49

          Not quite. He didn't attend his mother's wedding.

          He got kicked out of his family home when his now stepfather moved in.

        • Euphemistic on 02/06/2016 - 10:56
          +1

          @Jar Jar Binks: 'ungrateful spoiled brat' springs to mind, but I'll withhold final judgement not having met the friend, nor his family.

          Don't give him a cent, he is not in dire straights if he can afford $37k, just need to lower his standards. You've already helped out enough by providing a free car for 2 months.

        • QW3RTY on 02/06/2016 - 11:09
          +1

          @Jar Jar Binks: Well that is a bit of a bummer about being kicked out of home.

          Still, $37,000 budget for a car isn't exactly terrible. If he's keen on a performance vehicle, I am a fan of the Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ. Both have a racey performance car soul and decent track performance to back it up. $37,000 is an appropriate budget for these machines too.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/06/2016 - 02:44

          I like the 86 Trueno better, backed by a decent comic.

    • ozeebee on 22/06/2016 - 20:53
      +1

      I'm less demanding, can I be your friend JarJar?

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