Best Performance Car under 40K

[Sojourner]

Checking through the latest Wheels Magazine I looked into some of the performance cars that are on offer and found one that I think is great value for money, a surprise though, in the days of Korean cars flooding the market I wouldent have thought an import from France would be the one!

Renault Megane II R'Sport 225 3dr 2.0 Turbo, $37 990, 165 KW, 0-400m 14.6

For similar or under 40k here is the competition,

Ford XR6, $39 710, 190 KW, 0-400m 16.5

Holden Commodore VE SV6 $39 990, 0-400m 15.5

Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0 Turbo $39 990, 0-400m 15.0

Mitsubishi 380 VRX $38 990, 0-400m 16.2

The Renault Megane smashes each of these hands down and is on average 2-3k cheaper. Naturally though Ford and Holden make better performance cars than these, yet to get up the the level of the Renualt, you have to spend at least another 7-10k to meet those performance figures. Consider also that another 7k will easily buy you enough aftermarket Renualt parts to boost performance again, although why you would want to I dont know, factory stock that is pretty damm impressive for bang for your buck!

[Rushby Hinds]

Checking through the latest Wheels Magazine I looked into some of the performance cars that are on offer and found one that I think is great value for money, a surprise though, in the days of Korean cars flooding the market I wouldent have thought an import from France would be the one!

Renault Megane II R'Sport 225 3dr 2.0 Turbo, $37 990, 165 KW, 0-400m 14.6

For similar or under 40k here is the competition,

Ford XR6, $39 710, 190 KW, 0-400m 16.5

Holden Commodore VE SV6 $39 990, 0-400m 15.5

Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0 Turbo $39 990, 0-400m 15.0

Mitsubishi 380 VRX $38 990, 0-400m 16.2

The Renault Megane smashes each of these hands down and is on average 2-3k cheaper. Naturally though Ford and Holden make better performance cars than these, yet to get up the the level of the Renualt, you have to spend at least another 7-10k to meet those performance figures. Consider also that another 7k will easily buy you enough aftermarket Renualt parts to boost performance again, although why you would want to I dont know, factory stock that is pretty damm impressive for bang for your buck!

Mate, your comparing apples with oranges.

The Megane (try buying spare parts...) is, as you said, a hatchback.

The other 4 cars have back doors.



Much smaller then the ford and the holden.

Many motorbikes could meet that quarter mile speed.

Not saying the Megane isn't a good car, but...

[Sojourner]

Hi Borat,

I am happy to make any comparision between the Ford Focus, Holden Astra, whatever, yet the manufacturers have nothing that meets the performance at under 40K. What I am going on here is "Bang for your Buck", the best performance you can get in any car at under 40K.

Renalt and Nissan are the same company, and part share, so parts are not as big a problem as it could be with another import. When Renault-Nissan merged, the new company became the most improved car company globally, still Porsche are still in front as the most profitable car company per unit sold.

[dinglinga]

well currently mazda 6 MPS 2.3 lt turbo 190Kw/380Nm(3000 rpm) from 39,990


10.5l/100km

[Sam_goUUUdogs]

"Bang for your Buck", the best performance you can get in any car at under 40K.

2003-2005 Clubsport/SS (5.7L-6.0L) around $30,000

Supercharger around $9000.

=$39,000 (Approx 440Kw)

[Sojourner]

well currently mazda 6 MPS 2.3 lt turbo 190Kw/380Nm(3000 rpm) from 39,990


10.5l/100km

The Mazda 6 MPS 2.3L Turbo is listed in the Wheels magazine guide, the retail price on it though is listed at $48 600, Yet there is the Mazda 3 MPS $39 990, 190KW 0-400 14.6 Certainley a better performance figure than the Golf, still another $2000 over the Reno, yet certainley still a pretty good buy at that price!

[Sojourner]

"Bang for your Buck", the best performance you can get in any car at under 40K.

2003-2005 Clubsport/SS (5.7L-6.0L) around $30,000

Supercharger around $9000.

=$39,000 (Approx 440Kw)

My Brother had an E49 Charger (replica), 265 Hemi with the Triple Webers and Extractors - 13.6 at the drags, cost him a little over $8000 at the time! - Not bad bang for your buck!

[TroyGFC]

Comeon people buy a 380 and keep a few of us happilly employee'd!!

[mick]

Comeon people buy a 380 and keep a few of us happilly employee'd!!

Interesting that the 380 VRX motor is exactly the same as all the other 380 variants. So a stock standard 380 around $32K is as good bang as the VRX. It is puzzling why they didn't add a few go faster bits to the 380VRX as they did with the old MagnaVRX

[johntheclaret]

Is this thread being written in Aussie slang

[TroyGFC]

Comeon people buy a 380 and keep a few of us happilly employee'd!!

Interesting that the 380 VRX motor is exactly the same as all the other 380 variants. So a stock standard 380 around $32K is as good bang as the VRX. It is puzzling why they didn't add a few go faster bits to the 380VRX as they did with the old MagnaVRX

And heavier with its options. yes i agree needs to be better motor.

[WRxb0y]

go the Golf !! hands down a better bang for your buck....

[dinglinga]

current promotion pricing on MPS 6 is 39,990 and 44,990 ( leather , bose system, sunroof)

[Wedgie]

Comparing Falcons, Commodores and Golfs?
WTF?
Might as well as include suped up motorbikes or airplanes into the equation.
Honestly, who the hell would by a car simply because its the fastest because its so damn small?
There's no comparison for people who aren't midgets or have family and friends they might want to take for a drive somewhere.
Falcon v Commodore

[Sojourner]

Comparing Falcons, Commodores and Golfs?
WTF?
Might as well as include suped up motorbikes or airplanes into the equation.
Honestly, who the hell would by a car simply because its the fastest because its so damn small?
There's no comparison for people who aren't midgets or have family and friends they might want to take for a drive somewhere.
Falcon v Commodore

Both Rear Wheel Drive cars that dont have as much room in the reat as a Toyota Aurion! For a large sized vehicle for 5 Adults, you would do better in a Tarago or Voyager! Both the Golf and the Megane are not the smallest vehicles in the range, that would be the Golf Polo and the Renualt Scenic. They are both front wheel drive cars with more room in the back than what you might think!

4cyl Turbo cars are the way of the future, I always will have time for a classic muscle car like a HQ Monaro, yet current Falcons and Commodores are lagging behind in technology and the gap will only widen in the next few years. The Megane is smaller, yet shits all over similar priced cars in performance & resale value and has a 6 star safety rating to boot.

[smac]

Comparing Falcons, Commodores and Golfs?
WTF?
Might as well as include suped up motorbikes or airplanes into the equation.
Honestly, who the hell would by a car simply because its the fastest because its so damn small?
There's no comparison for people who aren't midgets or have family and friends they might want to take for a drive somewhere.
Falcon v Commodore

Both Rear Wheel Drive cars that dont have as much room in the reat as a Toyota Aurion! For a large sized vehicle for 5 Adults, you would do better in a Tarago or Voyager! Both the Golf and the Megane are not the smallest vehicles in the range, that would be the Golf Polo and the Renualt Scenic. They are both front wheel drive cars with more room in the back than what you might think!

4cyl Turbo cars are the way of the future, I always will have time for a classic muscle car like a HQ Monaro, yet current Falcons and Commodores are lagging behind in technology and the gap will only widen in the next few years. The Megane is smaller, yet shits all over similar priced cars in performance & resale value and has a 6 star safety rating to boot.

What technology are you referring to? (serious question)

For me, ten years ago a Commodore did the job I need at the best price.

Last month I shopped around and found myself in yet another Commodore. I looked for 4 weeks at cars, many hours on the net and talking with those who knew (supposedly at least). A 5 person family can't get much better value than a Commodore (or Falcon - Not that there's anything wrong with that*). Camry Sportivo was close, but a little lacking in back seat width and with 2 car seats, we need as much of that as we can get or smac jr loses shoulder room.

[Wedgie]

Both Rear Wheel Drive cars that dont have as much room in the reat as a Toyota Aurion!

Sussed out the Aurion and was keen on it but it didn't stack up on so many things I even had to put the Commodore in front of it at the end.

[Ian]

4cyl Turbo cars are the way of the future, .......................current Falcons and Commodores are lagging behind in technology and the gap will only widen in the next few years.

Have you driven a 6 cyl turbo Falcon.....have a drive of one, I doubt you'd still feel that way, if only they could come up with a trans' that was able to take the 400+kw that the Falcon engine is capable of while still meeting emission regulations.

[mick]

4cyl Turbo cars are the way of the future, .......................current Falcons and Commodores are lagging behind in technology and the gap will only widen in the next few years.

Have you driven a 6 cyl turbo Falcon.....have a drive of one, I doubt you'd still feel that way, if only they could come up with a trans' that was able to take the 400+kw that the Falcon engine is capable of while still meeting emission regulations.

Apparently in development Ford had to DETUNE the turbo six because it was making their V8 hero car look a bit lame.

[Sojourner]

4cyl Turbo cars are the way of the future, .......................current Falcons and Commodores are lagging behind in technology and the gap will only widen in the next few years.

Have you driven a 6 cyl turbo Falcon.....have a drive of one, I doubt you'd still feel that way, if only they could come up with a trans' that was able to take the 400+kw that the Falcon engine is capable of while still meeting emission regulations.

I have to confess that I havent, I have taken the non Turbo XR6 out and it was o.k, yet not great. What I did hear with the Turbo Falcon is that they had some problems early on with the Turbo literally blowing Crankshafts apart. - I am tipping that it is one powerfull engine!

Yet the problem is cost, reliability and running costs. No doubt an XR6 Turbo would be all over a Megane, yet it is a significant jump up in price to get one and to maintain it. The Toyota Corolla is in its fifth year of the current tired shape yet leads sales of all model cars by a long way. Aussies are increasingly turning to these types of cars at the expense of the traditional cars. The blunt facts are that this trend is only going to increase. Ford are already looking at dumping their V8 to focus on the 6 & Turbo, no doubt their arguement will be that technology makes the Ford V8 obselete.

If you go out and buy a performance Ford, you are getting value for your money. Take as the benchmark, the Ford FPV Falcon Force6 Turbo Typhoon, $71 590, 0-400m 13.6 That is the best of Fords current technology and sounds to me like a pretty awesome ride! Many cars in Mercedes range dont get near that until you start to hit the 120K mark. Yet as great a buy at it is, repayments on 71K plus on roads are likely to be farily prohibitive. Renault are offering a performance car at half the price that is in reach of a lot more people. The question is why Ford and Holden do not have something similar - performance and value in the Astra - Focus range? Doing so would likely get alot more people into Holdens and Fords outside of the market of the largest size cars of which tarrif protection soon is to be taken fully away from.