Just receive my copy of this months Road & Track. On the cover is; "12 Best Cars Under $30k. We Pick THE BEST Enthusiast Car for the Money." First the 12 cars:
- Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged: $22,385 S/C DOHC 2.0l
- Ford Mustang GT: $29,180 SOHC 4.6l V-8
- Honda Civic Si: $22,290 DOHC 2.0l
- Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT: $24,350 DOHC 2.0l
- Mazda Speed3: $22,240 Turbo DOHC 2.3l
- Mini Cooper S JCW: $28,850 S/C SOHC 1.6l
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution RS: $29,744 Turbo DOHC 2.0l
- Nissan 350Z: $29,845 DOHC 3.5l V-6
- Pontiac Solstice GXP: $29,820 Turbo DOHC 2.0l
- Scion tC TRD: $23,403 S/C DOHC 2.4l
- Subaru Impreza WRX Limited: $28,418 Turbo DOHC 2.5l
- Volkswagen GTI: $27,625 Turbo DOHC 2.0l

What do you all think of this list? I think its a fair list. All of the cars perform well, if not great. They all have some sense of style.

"And the winner was...
It was a close decision, but the Nissan 350Z won by a whisker over the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution RS, with the Ford Mustang GT Landing on the remaining step of our podium in a very respectable thrid. Nissan's sporty coupe, despite getting on in years, still impresses with its fine handling, rigid structure, free-revving engine and impressive brakes." R&T

 

Being #2 isn't all that bad .

 

Not too shabby.

 

That is a nice list. I wouldn't mind driving anyone of those cars except for the Chevy(I just don't like it) and the MX-5(I don't fit in them, I am to tall).

 

Tell you what, looks like turbo'd is the way to go huh...

 

i dont know why 350z would come 1st and evo would come second, but i guess its because they take all sorts of different things into account in their ratings, as opposed to strictly performance, because if it was strictly performance that was being tested, im sure the evo would be way ahead of the pack

 

side note: 350Zs are pretty awsome though, If for some reason i couldnt get the evo, i was gonna get a 350Z. def a cool car

 

this is the 2nd magazine article that put the Z over the Evo recently.....

gotta get myself a copy of this article.

 

Take into account the 53/47 weight, no turbo lag from a big turbo, 300hp, rwd, etc... Both are good buys but for the road course I think '06 Z is finally hit the hammer on the nails head. Plus as you said you're getting a lot more car with the Z vs a RS.

 

My guess would be because to stay under 30k they had to use a RS. Probably took the 350z due to it has all the power stuff that the RS doesn't. I can live with that decision if thats why.

 

The 350Z did outperform the MR in that last article.

 

also the z's interior isn't as spartan as the evo interior...probably another factor in why it won

 

if they used the gsr, then the Z might have lost. but the Z's interior is more civilized. the evo is more of performance...but we have 4 doors and 5 seats.

i'll give the Z props though...but we're still faster. LOL

 

WTF...

You ask and answer your own question in your reply, good job Einstein...

 

gti and miatas own =) same wit the civic si.. shame we dont get the hatch