Forbs fastest cars under $50k

Lemers · 05-21-2010, 05:39 PM

Fastest Cars Under $50,000
These affordable autos are the quickest in their classes.
By Hannah Elliott

Ford Mustang
The Texas Mile is an annual three-day racing event held on an airport runway 90 miles south of San Antonio. The rules are simple: more than 200 amateur racers in 11 different classes have a one-mile chance over the course of three days to see how fast they can go.

In March, Richard Holt won by pushing his 1,000-horsepower, twin-turbo auto 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera past 250 miles per hour--an event record.

The car cost roughly $200,000 new in 2007, plus thousands of dollars Holt spent with Underground Racing, a high-performance tuning outfit in Charlotte, N.C., beefing it up with engine extras to give it super-fast capabilities.

MORE AT FORBES.COM

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» Luxury Car Market is Back
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That price tag is out of reach of most Americans, but speed doesn't have to cost a fortune. The Nissan 370Z, Ford Mustang GT500 and Infiniti G37, for instance, each cost less than $50,000--and they all get to 60 miles per hour in under six seconds.

Fast But Feasible
To compile our list of the fastest cars under $50,000, we combed through zero-to-60 mph times for all likely performance coupes, sedans and roadsters (SUVs and trucks didn't qualify when it came to competing with these cars on speed) sold in the U.S. that cost under $50,000. The vehicles with the fastest times made our list. Zero-to-60 times were provided by the manufacturers or by Kelley Blue Book. Sport packages that may have decreased acceleration times but pushed the MSRP over $50,000 were not considered.

This can be a tough combination. That's because speed is achieved through costly turboboosters and torque and by lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and aluminum frames. The aluminum frame of the Audi TTS, for example, is 48% lighter than a steel frame of identical size. Other components, such as carbon fiber spoilers, ceramic brakes and finely tuned, hand-built engines are considerably more expensive than standard features. That's where the delicate balance of price vs. power comes in.

BMW has several models on our list. The Munich-based automaker prides itself on its high-performance engineering and driver-oriented design, found, for example, in the $46,000 Z4, $40,600 335i and $36,050 135i.

A base version of the 335i sedan has a 3.0-liter, 300-horsepower, turbo-charged engine that will go from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds (5.7 seconds with automatic transmission), with a top speed of 150 mph. The car makes things easy for drivers who actually enjoy the act of driving, using dynamic stability control and traction control to monitor the car around corners and through slick patches, with an on-board computer that shows oil levels, spark-plug status and remaining travel range.

The 135i is less expensive than its 3-Series counterpart, and smaller. Its size allows BMW to charge less than the 335i and makes the car faster. Jake Fisher, who has tested hundreds of cars for Consumer Reports, says that with the right driver, the 135i can even hold its own against more expensive sports coupes, like BMW's M3. Indeed the 135i does zero to 60 in 5 seconds (5.1 seconds with the manual), thanks to a turbo-boosted, 6-cylinder, 300-horsepower engine. Top speed is 131 mph.

American Muscle
Foreign-made cars--including the Porsche Boxster, Infiniti G37, Lexus IS and BMW Z4--dominate our list, but three American-made cars top it: Ford's $48,645 Mustang GT500, Dodge's $41,230 Challenger SRT8 and Chevy's $30,945 Camaro SS go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.3, 4.9 and 4.6 seconds, respectively. And the Challenger even has a zero-to-60 timer right on the dashboard.

Ford's GT500 packs a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine with 305 horsepower and 208 pound feet of torque. The SS also has a V8, but this one's even bigger: a 6.2-liter, 426-horsepower engine. Both cars have standard 6-speed manual transmissions.

These autos embody the legacy of American muscle cars, says Mike Caudill, an automotive expert for NADA Guides. But of the three, the Mustang has been around the longest--with continuous production since it debuted came out in 1964. (The Challenger and Camaro both temporarily left the market, were redesigned and then reissued.)

Ford sold 5,145 Mustangs in the U.S. last month, down 33% from April 2009 but up 20% for the year to date. Dodge sold 3,713 Challengers in April, up 42% from April 2009 and down just 2% for the year to date. Chevy sold 9,150 Camaros last month (the car hasn't been on sale long enough for an accurate year-over-year comparison.) The relatively strong sales show that even during tough times in the auto industry, niche segments like fast cars that aren't extremely expensive, still have a loyal audience.
Fastest Cars Under $50,000

Chevy Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro SS
Zero to 60 mph: 4.6 seconds

Top Speed: 160 mph (estimated)

Details: RWD, 6-speed manual transmission

MSRP: $33,945

Audi TTS
Zero to 60 mph: 4.9 seconds (coupe); 5.1 seconds (roadster)

Top Speed: 155 mph

Details: 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission

MSRP: $45,900

BMW 135
Zero to 60 mph: 5.1 seconds (135i)

Top Speed: 130 mph

Details: RWD, 6-speed manual transmission

MSRP: $36,050

BMW 335
Zero to 60 mph: 5.3 seconds (335i xDrive); 5.1 seconds (335s coupe)

Top Speed: 130 mph

Details: RWD, 6-speed manual transmission

MSRP: $42,600

BMW Z4
Zero to 60 mph: 5.6 seconds (sDrive30i)

Top Speed: 130 mph

Details: RWD 6-speed manual transmission

MSRP: $46,000

Forbes.com Mobile Edition

daleks · 05-21-2010, 05:56 PM

I don't know what looks more optimistic, the 0-60 numbers or the idea that you could get the German cars out the door for MSRP.

Lemers · 05-21-2010, 06:05 PM

What I don't get is forbs claiming 5.5 on the 370z? I usualy see it stated as 4.7

nuTinmuch · 05-21-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemers

What I don't get is forbs claiming 5.5 on the 370z? I usualy see it stated as 4.7

Not all tests are created equal.

jalopnik · 05-21-2010, 06:21 PM

That girl is an idiot...

"That's because speed is achieved through costly turboboosters and torque and by lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and aluminum frames."

craniac24 · 05-21-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalopnik

That girl is an idiot...

"That's because speed is achieved through costly turboboosters and torque and by lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and aluminum frames."

LOL...I thought the same thing.

nuTinmuch · 05-21-2010, 06:39 PM

turbo boosters

daleks · 05-21-2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemers

Ford's GT500 packs a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine with 305 horsepower and 208 pound feet of torque.

Every number in this article is mashed together across different trim lines and model years. It was either written by a computer or someone who had a gun put to their head by an editor that wanted 1000 words by sundown.

Lemers · 05-21-2010, 06:58 PM

Didn't catch that. Just skipped over the 500gt part. Not interested in cars I wouldn't buy.

Endgame · 05-21-2010, 08:02 PM

They listed the GT500 at 305 HP. Ummm no.

twp370z · 05-21-2010, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

They listed the GT500 at 305 HP. Ummm no.

Lol exactly. My 07 GT500 was 500 hp stock and the 2010's are 540hp. Talk about being way off...

spearfish25 · 05-21-2010, 08:39 PM

They list the 370Z with the slowest 0-60 time ever recorded by a magazine for the car.

370Zsteve · 05-21-2010, 08:51 PM

Zsteve · 05-21-2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalopnik

That girl is an idiot...

"That's because speed is achieved through costly turboboosters and torque and by lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and aluminum frames."

say hello to the future.

mrcardio · 05-21-2010, 10:04 PM

Someone needs to write and inform these people about their extreme ignorance regarding cars.

Its pathetic enough their judging “fastest” based solely on 0-60 times. And even worse that the times the claim are not even close in most cases.

335i takes 5.6sec for 0-60? LMFAO! Try 4.7

05-21-2010, 05:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lemers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Izmir, Turkey Posts: 15,371 Drives: 2012 Traverse LTZ Rep Power: 52	Forbs fastest cars under $50k Fastest Cars Under $50,000 These affordable autos are the quickest in their classes. By Hannah Elliott Ford Mustang The Texas Mile is an annual three-day racing event held on an airport runway 90 miles south of San Antonio. The rules are simple: more than 200 amateur racers in 11 different classes have a one-mile chance over the course of three days to see how fast they can go. In March, Richard Holt won by pushing his 1,000-horsepower, twin-turbo auto 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera past 250 miles per hour--an event record. The car cost roughly $200,000 new in 2007, plus thousands of dollars Holt spent with Underground Racing, a high-performance tuning outfit in Charlotte, N.C., beefing it up with engine extras to give it super-fast capabilities. MORE AT FORBES.COM » Fastest Cars Under $50,000 » Most Value-Packed Cars » Luxury Car Market is Back » Best and Worst Places To Own A Car That price tag is out of reach of most Americans, but speed doesn't have to cost a fortune. The Nissan 370Z, Ford Mustang GT500 and Infiniti G37, for instance, each cost less than $50,000--and they all get to 60 miles per hour in under six seconds. Fast But Feasible To compile our list of the fastest cars under $50,000, we combed through zero-to-60 mph times for all likely performance coupes, sedans and roadsters (SUVs and trucks didn't qualify when it came to competing with these cars on speed) sold in the U.S. that cost under $50,000. The vehicles with the fastest times made our list. Zero-to-60 times were provided by the manufacturers or by Kelley Blue Book. Sport packages that may have decreased acceleration times but pushed the MSRP over $50,000 were not considered. This can be a tough combination. That's because speed is achieved through costly turboboosters and torque and by lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and aluminum frames. The aluminum frame of the Audi TTS, for example, is 48% lighter than a steel frame of identical size. Other components, such as carbon fiber spoilers, ceramic brakes and finely tuned, hand-built engines are considerably more expensive than standard features. That's where the delicate balance of price vs. power comes in. BMW has several models on our list. The Munich-based automaker prides itself on its high-performance engineering and driver-oriented design, found, for example, in the $46,000 Z4, $40,600 335i and $36,050 135i. A base version of the 335i sedan has a 3.0-liter, 300-horsepower, turbo-charged engine that will go from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds (5.7 seconds with automatic transmission), with a top speed of 150 mph. The car makes things easy for drivers who actually enjoy the act of driving, using dynamic stability control and traction control to monitor the car around corners and through slick patches, with an on-board computer that shows oil levels, spark-plug status and remaining travel range. The 135i is less expensive than its 3-Series counterpart, and smaller. Its size allows BMW to charge less than the 335i and makes the car faster. Jake Fisher, who has tested hundreds of cars for Consumer Reports, says that with the right driver, the 135i can even hold its own against more expensive sports coupes, like BMW's M3. Indeed the 135i does zero to 60 in 5 seconds (5.1 seconds with the manual), thanks to a turbo-boosted, 6-cylinder, 300-horsepower engine. Top speed is 131 mph. American Muscle Foreign-made cars--including the Porsche Boxster, Infiniti G37, Lexus IS and BMW Z4--dominate our list, but three American-made cars top it: Ford's $48,645 Mustang GT500, Dodge's $41,230 Challenger SRT8 and Chevy's $30,945 Camaro SS go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.3, 4.9 and 4.6 seconds, respectively. And the Challenger even has a zero-to-60 timer right on the dashboard. Ford's GT500 packs a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine with 305 horsepower and 208 pound feet of torque. The SS also has a V8, but this one's even bigger: a 6.2-liter, 426-horsepower engine. Both cars have standard 6-speed manual transmissions. These autos embody the legacy of American muscle cars, says Mike Caudill, an automotive expert for NADA Guides. But of the three, the Mustang has been around the longest--with continuous production since it debuted came out in 1964. (The Challenger and Camaro both temporarily left the market, were redesigned and then reissued.) Ford sold 5,145 Mustangs in the U.S. last month, down 33% from April 2009 but up 20% for the year to date. Dodge sold 3,713 Challengers in April, up 42% from April 2009 and down just 2% for the year to date. Chevy sold 9,150 Camaros last month (the car hasn't been on sale long enough for an accurate year-over-year comparison.) The relatively strong sales show that even during tough times in the auto industry, niche segments like fast cars that aren't extremely expensive, still have a loyal audience. Fastest Cars Under $50,000 Chevy Camaro Chevrolet Camaro SS Zero to 60 mph: 4.6 seconds Top Speed: 160 mph (estimated) Details: RWD, 6-speed manual transmission MSRP: $33,945 Audi TTS Zero to 60 mph: 4.9 seconds (coupe); 5.1 seconds (roadster) Top Speed: 155 mph Details: 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission MSRP: $45,900 BMW 135 Zero to 60 mph: 5.1 seconds (135i) Top Speed: 130 mph Details: RWD, 6-speed manual transmission MSRP: $36,050 BMW 335 Zero to 60 mph: 5.3 seconds (335i xDrive); 5.1 seconds (335s coupe) Top Speed: 130 mph Details: RWD, 6-speed manual transmission MSRP: $42,600 BMW Z4 Zero to 60 mph: 5.6 seconds (sDrive30i) Top Speed: 130 mph Details: RWD 6-speed manual transmission MSRP: $46,000 Forbes.com Mobile Edition __________________ 2010 Black Cherry Touring/Sport/Nav Now - 2012 Travese LTZ until I leave for Turkey

05-21-2010, 06:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lemers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Izmir, Turkey Posts: 15,371 Drives: 2012 Traverse LTZ Rep Power: 52	What I don't get is forbs claiming 5.5 on the 370z? I usualy see it stated as 4.7 __________________ 2010 Black Cherry Touring/Sport/Nav Now - 2012 Travese LTZ until I leave for Turkey

05-21-2010, 06:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
nuTinmuch A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,092 Drives: PG 7AT 370Z Rep Power: 17	turbo boosters __________________ nuTinmuch! -- Platinum Graphite 370Z -- Check out my Gallery thread here!

05-21-2010, 06:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lemers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Izmir, Turkey Posts: 15,371 Drives: 2012 Traverse LTZ Rep Power: 52	Didn't catch that. Just skipped over the 500gt part. Not interested in cars I wouldn't buy. __________________ 2010 Black Cherry Touring/Sport/Nav Now - 2012 Travese LTZ until I leave for Turkey

05-21-2010, 08:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	They list the 370Z with the slowest 0-60 time ever recorded by a magazine for the car. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

05-21-2010, 05:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
daleks Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: St. Louis Posts: 424 Drives: 2011 Evo X MR Rep Power: 15	I don't know what looks more optimistic, the 0-60 numbers or the idea that you could get the German cars out the door for MSRP.

05-21-2010, 06:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
jalopnik Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NE Posts: 3 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 14	That girl is an idiot... "That's because speed is achieved through costly turboboosters and torque and by lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and aluminum frames."

05-21-2010, 08:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 223	They listed the GT500 at 305 HP. Ummm no.

05-21-2010, 08:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 42	__________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

05-21-2010, 10:04 PM	#15 (permalink)
mrcardio Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 219 Drives: 08 MS3 Rep Power: 14	Someone needs to write and inform these people about their extreme ignorance regarding cars. Its pathetic enough their judging “fastest” based solely on 0-60 times. And even worse that the times the claim are not even close in most cases. 335i takes 5.6sec for 0-60? LMFAO! Try 4.7 Last edited by mrcardio; 05-21-2010 at 10:07 PM.

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