Imagine the situation: you have £50,000 to buy any car you want. No dropping £20k on a run around and keeping the rest; you have to spend around £50k on a set of new wheels. What do you buy? What should you absolutely not buy?
To save you the trouble, here are the top 5 best (and WORST!) performance cars for around £50k.
1.Porsche 718 Cayman
Sure, it’s an entry level Porsche. But this car is seriously punching. Thanks to its 345bhp and upgraded springs, brakes and steering, The Cayman promises a whole lot of fun for such a modest price tag. This is not the Porsche that will change your life, but it’s the gateway drug that will have you chasing the Porsche driving high.
Prices from £42897
2. Jaguar F-Type Coupé
Note that we’re talking about the supercharged V6 version here. The smaller engine doesn’t carry that essential Jaguar soundtrack, which is 60% of the reason to buy this car. Unlike its soft top brother, the hardtop version is lighter, more balanced and feels more powerful. This makes it so much fun to drive, all in the comfort of a modern Jaguar interior.
Target Price from £47,951
3. Range Rover Velar
If you find yourself moved to buy an SUV with your £50k, choose this one. The price difference between this and the Evoque is £30,000, so there must be something going on with the Velar. That extra pocket change buys you the best looking Range Rover in the last five years. But you don’t just get looks, you get a respectable four-cylinder diesel that offers a smooth ride and excitement where it counts. The Velar is a refined and sophisticated SUV that never forgets its roots.
Prices from £43,850
4. Abarth 695 Biposto
Is it worth it to drop almost £50k on a Fiat 500?
Turns out, yes. Yes it is. Because it’s nuts! This suped up Fiat is 3 times as powerful as a standard Fiat 500 thanks to its 1.4 litre turbo. This mad little monster goes from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 143mph! Kit this car out with the upgraded gearbox, racing harness and lightening features for maximum silliness. This car is far from perfect, but if you have a love for old school Abarth nonsense, the Biposto has you more than covered.
Prices from £50,000 (upgraded)
5. BMW M2
The M2 is one of the most anticipated Beemers in history. And boy, did it deliver! If you’re looking for a sports coupé that’s also surprisingly practical, the BMW M2 should definitely be on your shortlist. An enhanced version of the already rapid M240i, it has a 365bhp 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine under the bonnet and is the kind of car that you’ll be looking for excuses to drive.
Prices from £44,504
But for every day there must be a night. For every cream, there must be a cheese.
Here are 5 cars that you should NOT be buying with your precious £50,000…
1. Ford Mustang Convertible
You could buy a Ford Mustang! Whoa, there. Hold your horses.
This isn’t your father’s Mustang. This one tries to compromise on so many fronts and ends up coming off worse. This one has back seats, but don’t be fooled, no one’s having a party back there.
It also has a whole host of equipment that ranges from cheap to uninspired. Couple this with a dull interior, you end up with a car that doesn’t excite. The engine is a 2.3 litre four cylinder affair, which lacks the excitement of its younger days.
2. Lexus RX
Dull, aging and less practical than its competitors, this Lexus feels worn down. The RX’s handling is uninspired and despite the radical new looks, the Lexus is just missing too much for the price you’re paying. On top of that, the hybrid powertrain is already dated, making the question of investment very suspect indeed.
3. Porsche Macan
Porsche giveth, Porsche taketh away. The problem with the Macan isn’t that it’s a bad car. It’s got nothing on the Velar, granted, but it’s a fine SUV and nice upgrade for growing, Porsche-loving families. The problem is that for £50,000, you can do so much better in both directions.
The Cayman gives you better Porsche driving thrill, while the Velar, Audi Q5 and X3 out strip it in the SUV arena. Sometimes the badge is enough. In this case, it falls short for the price.
4. Maserati Ghibli
Maserati took a limo and turned it into a sports car! Unlike older Maserati’s this is the most mainstream yet. Maserati’s are supposed to be something special, but the Ghibli carries the tragic sense of the generic. This is a real shame because it’s fun to drive, but you’d be better off picking up a used Quattraporte or Gran Tourismo.
5. Chevrolet Camaro
It’s a Camaro that goes round corners. Sadly, that comes at the cost of horrible design, poor-quality interiors and impractical size. Plus it has the trademark thirstiness of every Camaro ever. It’s ostentatious, uncomfortable and almost undriveable on UK roads.
The Mustang is better than this. Just.
So those are our best and worst performance cars for £50k. Do you agree? Are we so wrong it hurts? Let us know on our Facebook page!