Choosing the Best Sports Car for Sports Car Enthusiast
Sports car enthusiast – The sports car is highly dependent on the engine, the point of the sports car because its performance depends above all on it: its positioning and the number of cylinders, which vary in relation to each model, play a decisive role in terms of performance and for these reasons are factors not to be overlooked at the time of purchase.
The engine power is abundant so as to allow very high speeds to be reached. The speedometer will touch figures that can hardly be touched by other cars.
And it is precisely the engine that makes the difference on the unmistakable noise, peculiar to such cars, so much so that the experts in the sector know how to recognize one sports car from another based on it. It is generally recognized that a person is based on their voice.
But pay attention to consumption because speed pays, and how! The excellent performance of this type of car means that they are quite high but it is clear that this is a factor that does not surprise the buyer, who knows how extraordinary this car is.
Aesthetically, the sports car is striking for its captivating design and for its parade line which is, moreover, very precious for the vehicle’s performance as its shape is actually functional to aerodynamics, thus ensuring high speeds.
We see them darting along the street capable of emitting that roar that distinguishes them from all other cars, the ones we usually drive to go to work, to attend to our daily chores: the sports cars, which at least once in our life we have dreamed of owning, they are vehicles capable of reaching high speeds in very short times, cars intended for thrill seekers, for those who are not afraid to press the accelerator.
They are generally purchased as second cars to be used in special and particular circumstances as they are equipped with peculiar characteristics that would not be fully exploited in daily use.
Excellent handling and equally excellent driving performance are the necessary credentials for a good sports car that for obvious reasons has copious horsepower: it therefore does not struggle to accelerate in a few seconds reaching high speeds.
These are not cars used exclusively for competition purposes since they are also approved for use on the road. Externally they are generally low and with a rigid frame while internally they enjoy the presence of a very powerful engine capable of offering exemplary performance.
The speed of sports cars is encouraged by their particularly compact structure, the power / weight ratio and the materials used, the same used by cars capable of facing real car competitions.
It is undeniable that a sports car has its appeal that attracts a lot of people to buy and drive one. There are so many models to choose from when it comes to fast and beautiful cars offered by a lot of car manufacturers around the globe. Put simply, the market segment of sports cars today will be able to accommodate different personal tastes and preferences.
The different models and specs of sports cars out there are all meant to be the best cars for many people. Nevertheless, the battle for supremacy in the sports cars market segment of today is fierce. It is not easy for car manufacturers to create a decent car that will sell very well without thinking about the way other manufacturers do that and considering the demands of customers. There will always be reasons to eventually choose a sport car instead of other types.
Why Pick Sports Cars?
Some people just cannot understand the idea of a sports car. They will just prefer the likes of SUV, sedan, or even truck. Well, the basic idea to finally choose a sport car will have to pay attention to the functionality aspects. SUV will greatly offer better functions in a way that it is capable of accommodating more people and more stuff inside. A truck is a much more versatile vehicle to haul things. So, without the need for those things, a sport car will be a good idea for sure.
There are 2 seater sports cars as the common type to find today. Yet, more models of sports cars from different manufacturers are given the upgrade to be much more functional 4-seater cars. The car comes even with 4 doors instead of just the 2 front doors as in the most models of sports cars available in the market. So, today it is possible to buy a sporty looking car that is fast while also offering a decent set of 4 seats with 4 doors to accommodate more passengers and stuff.
What are the Best 4-Seater Sports Car for Sports Cars Enthusiast?
Deciding on which one of the many sports car models out there that is the best is pretty much a matter of subjectivity. At least there will always be some recommendations for the car models to eventually consider before purchasing. It is only reasonable to make use of such recommendations of the best model to choose to ensure that the purchased one is the one with the best of everything according to personal requirements and preferences.
Porsche Taycan
When it comes to the best sports car with 4 seats, one of the options is the Porsche Taycan. It is amidst the best one to choose because the 4 seats of the cars are accompanied by 4 doors. Another thing that stands out of this car is the fact that it is powered by an electric motor. It comes with the fast charging ability as well to ensure that the car will be drivable in no time after running out of juice. Its electric motor power is amidst the reason for it to be the best to choose today.
The car is capable of reaching 62 mph from 0 mph in just about 3 seconds flat. Porsche offers this car in 2 different trim levels known as the Turbo and Turbo S. The starting price of the base model called 4S is $105,150. The Turbo trim is priced at $152,250 and the Turbo S is priced at $186,350. The peak power output of the car is 522 horsepower for the base 4S, 563 horsepower for the 4S with upgraded battery, 670 horsepower for the Turbo, and 750 horsepower for the Turbo S.
Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door
The Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door is the next recommended choice of a sports car today with 4 seats and doors. Understandably the performance department is one thing that this car stands out. The engine under the hood is a powerful AMG V8 4.0L with its peak power of 577 horsepower for the GT63 and 630 horsepower for the GT63S. That power is transferred to the all-wheel-drive system of the car by a quick-shifting 9-speed transmission system.
The base of the car is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class with the addition of fiber and aluminum for better stiffness level of the car. The car is capable of reaching 60mph from 0mph in just about 3 seconds. Despite the spacious interior cabin, Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door offers a large luggage space of 456 liters that is a good thing for a sport car. The GT63 version is priced at $161,700 while the GT63S version is priced at $182,600 by Mercedes.
Kia Stinger GT-S
The next recommended choice of the best sports car with 4 seats and doors is the Kia Stinger GT-S. The manufacturer is kind enough to offer 4 different lines or trim levels of the Stinger to accommodate different preferences. It comes in the trim of GT-Line, GT, GT1, and GT2 to choose from. The price level is one thing that stands out of this car because it is an Asian car. The price of the Kia Stinger GT-S starts from $33,090 for the GT-Line model as the cheapest one from the rest of the options.
Unfortunately, there will only be 2 different engine options for the car. The engine can either be a 255 horsepower 2.0L turbo 4 cylinders or a 365 horsepower 3.3L V6 twin-turbo. Fortunately, Kia offers both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive options to consider. The performance output of the car is just enough for a sports car with about 5 to 7 seconds to hit 60 mph from 0 mph. All in all, the Kia Stinger GT-S remains a decent choice of affordable sport car for today.
What are the Best Value Sports Cars for Sports Cars Enthusiast?
One of the ways to eventually find the best car for purchase is by looking at the value of the cars. It is not just about the price of the cars but all things that are offered by manufacturers in specific cars. Thus, it is only reasonable to compare prices and features of some cars in the same market segment to determine the one with the best value. Of course, finding the best value of a car will still be affected by persona preferences and needs for the car to buy in the end.
BMW M2 Competition Coupe
It is undeniable that BMW has been in the market for sports cars for so long now. It is clear that one of the choices of the best sports car for the money is manufactured by BMW. It is the BMW M2 Competition Coupe that offers decent specs and performance levels for a sport car today. This car is a well-rounded package of a sport car that will promise a satisfactory drive for all fans of sports cars that are looking for a car at a rather reasonable price.
The M2 Competition Coupe is available for purchase at $58,900 which is very affordable for a sport car manufactured by BMW. The car comes with a 3.0L BMW M TwinPower Turbo 6 cylinders inline alongside a rear-wheel-drive system. It supposedly comes in 5 different colors to choose from. Offering its peak power output of 405 horsepower, the car will hit 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds from 0 mph.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Miata from Mazda is an iconic car that is considered as one of the best cars of the compact sports car type. The size of the car is tremendously compact that eventually affects people to decide to buy it for it does not need a lot of space to store. The 2020 model is a beautiful car with a decent performance level packed very well by Mazda for its global market. It comes in 3 different versions namely Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. The cheapest one is only $26,580 that is the Sport version.
Unfortunately, the different versions and prices are not affecting the performance department of the car itself. All of the versions will only be powered by the same engine of 2.0L DOHC 4 cylinders 16-valve with its performance output of just 181 horsepower. A good thing about it is the fact that Mazda offers the choices of either manual or automatic transmission. All in all, it is a beautiful looking compact sport car with just enough performance output following the price of it.
Audi TT RS Coupe
It is somewhat rare for an American car to be within the range of best value sports car because European and Asian manufacturers are the best at that. The car is only available as it is without other trims or versions with the starting price in the US at $67,600. That price will give a 394 horsepower out of a 2.5-L 5-cylinder DOHC 20-valve engine powered by Audi valvelift system. The top speed is up to 155 mph with just 3.6 seconds needed to hit 60 mph from 0 mph.
Audi focuses more on the actual appeal of the car for the 2020 model year that is just great in comparison to the older models of TT. Technology is another aspect that the Audi TT RS Coupe sports car offers with a set of great techs for driving experience enhancement. One of them that is noticeable is the so-called MMI Touch with a handwriting recognition system. It allows the driver to write specific entries to the virtual cockpit for much more accurate input and output to get.
How to Choose a Sports Car for Sports Cars Enthusiast?
The idea to buy one of many 2-seater sports cars out there is a common desire of sports car enthusiasts. Those who are having no worries at all in spending a lot of money on cars will not find it tricky to choose the right car to buy. On the other hand, others will have to think about it thoroughly before finally deciding to buy this or that car. It is getting much more difficult because a sport car is not that kind of versatile car that can be used for anything.
One thing to do in choosing the right sport car to buy is to think of the use of it. If the car will be a daily driven car to go to work and return home at the end of the day, a compact one with decent fuel economy will be the best one to buy. A daily driven car means that it will add up to the fuel consumption expense at the end. Buying a fast car that is so thirsty for fuel is not a recommended thing to do at all.
Another thing to consider is the features of the car itself. Modern sports cars are all packed with tech features that will boost their chance to be the choice of the best sports car for the money. Driver assistance and safety features are all needed to be considered for they will all be nothing but helpful especially when the car is driven very often. Even the entertainment aspects of the car will greatly affect the overall value of the car to purchase.
One last thing to think about upon purchasing a sports car in 2020 is the practicality of using and driving the car. Despite the beautiful design and the speed of the car itself, think of other practical elements of the car that will be beneficial once it is purchased. It is very often that the desire to buy a new sport car is just a short period of impulsive desire due to the effect given by the upcoming releases of the car itself.
The market segment of the sports car in 2020 is only getting more crowded than before. New cars are available that can either be the slightly upgraded versions of the old ones or fully fresh cars from the factory. It is unquestionable to find the right and the best one to buy for the ultimate satisfaction and enjoyment in using and driving the car for years to come.
In addition to what has been listed so far, it is important to evaluate other fundamental characteristics related to a sports car.
Think of comfort: although they are designed to reach high speeds in a short time and certainly not to ensure maximum comfort for the driver and passenger, it is necessary to carefully evaluate this factor which could affect driving.
The driver can also benefit from the technological systems adopted inside the vehicle that can guarantee greater safety, which is essential especially in these cases, when the foot is often kept pressed on the accelerator.
Many sports cars, for example, have greater control of the ride position so as to benefit the driving of the driver, who is committed to maintaining a speed generally higher than normal cars.
Particular attention goes to the braking system because the power of the engine necessarily requires a respectable system: although the driver undoubtedly possesses an excellent command of the vehicle, one cannot do without an excellent braking system.
Choosing such a particular car requires not only a solid wealth of knowledge about engines but also the ability to evaluate what can be the safest and most reliable car based on one’s driving experience.
The Top Choices of Japanese Sports Car to Buy Today
The vast market of automobiles has led to the rapid development and production of cars including the sports car segment. Car manufacturers from different continents have delivered their best interpretations of the best cars just yet as of today. Japanese car manufacturers are obviously in the middle of the mix in providing the best options for cars to buy today. Sports cars from Japan have managed to fight against their competitors from other countries bravely with a reasonably lower price and similar performance level.
Many of the highly popular sports cars from Japan were created from the base model or design of their predecessor. Back in the old days, they were known as JDM cars that cannot be found in other parts of the world but Japan. Nowadays many of them have been upgraded and updated to be released in the newer models for international markets to reach more sports car enthusiast all around the globe. The following list will provide brief information on the best sports cars from Japan.
Nissan GT-R R35
This car has been very popular for years in which the current model is the 2020 Nissan GT-R R35. The R34 model was somewhat popularized by its appearance in the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious as the iconic Brian O’Conner’s ride. The car was called Skyline GT-R previously with the current model is the first to leave the name Skyline. Yet, it brings everything good from the old Skyline R34 into a whole new level of a high-performance Japanese sports car.
Stunningly there are six trims of the 2020 Nissan GT-R to choose from. The trims are Premium, 50th Anniversary, Track Edition, and NISMO. The 50th Anniversary trim comes in three different colors as individual trim that makes it six trims in total. The Premium trim is the cheapest one at $113,540 while the NISMO is the most expensive one at $210,740 for the US market. The car is now considered a premium car amidst the Japanese cars because of its high price.
The engine under the hood of this Japanese sports car is a 3.8-liter DOHC 24-valve twin-turbocharged V6 for all trims. Yet, the NISMO and Track Edition trims come with higher peak power at 600 horsepower. That is because the engine is tuned and optimized by NISMO unlike the other trims with just 565 horsepower at peak performance level. All of the trims come with a dual-clutch 6-speed transmission in the ATTESA E-TS® All-Wheel Drive.
The three different colors of the 50th Anniversary edition include Bayside Blue, Super Silver QuadCoat, and Pearl White TriCoat. The special anniversary graphic is amidst the special features of this trim of the 2020 Nissan GT-R. There have been no updates just yet regarding the possible release of the newer model. Yet, a beautifully modified version of the car has just been made into a prototype by Italdesign namely the GT-R 50 project for the anniversary of both Nissan and Italdesign. The car looks great in many ways that some people believed to be the possible design for the upcoming model of the Nissan GT-R.
Toyota Supra Mark V
Another one of the top choices when it comes to a Japanese sports car is Toyota Supra. This car emerged from the JDM scope as well that now has become one of the legendary cars from Japan. The newest model is the 2021 Toyota GR Supra Mark V. The car is among the much more affordable choices of sports car for today. The low price of this car makes it much easier to see and find in car events even not long after its official release.
Toyota offers sports car enthusiast four different trims to choose from in this beautiful car. The factory trims are 2.0, 3.0, 3.0 Premium, and A91 Edition. The 2.0 trim as the cheapest one comes at $42,990 while the A91 Edition as the most expensive trim comes at $55,990. The 2021 model is the second-year model release of this Mark V Supra in which the Mark IV was highly recognizable from the movie The Fast and The Furious. Many car guys build a replica of the Supra seen in that movie.
The performance aspect of this sports car is considered as an average with only 382 horsepower at most in terms of its peak power. The base trim comes with even lower peak power at only 255 horsepower. The engine of the A91 Edition is a 3.0L Twin-Scroll Single-Turbo DOHC 24-Valve Inline 6-Cylinder with its 368 lb.-ft. of torque to expect. Meanwhile, the lowest trim comes only with a 2.0L Twin-Scroll Single-Turbo Inline 4-Cylinder that produces 295 lb.-ft. of torque out of it.
Toyota Supra is a car with a front engine and Rear-Wheel Drive drivetrain in all of its trim levels. The transmission is also the same for all of the trim levels that is an 8-speed automatic type with paddle shifters as well as Manual Mode. All in all, Toyota Supra for the 2021 model is a decent choice to consider especially for those sports car enthusiast with a bit limited budget. The price of the car is certainly one of the main selling points of the car itself despite its average peak power output.
Honda Civic Type R
It will not be proper when talking about Japanese sports car models without mentioning Honda Civic Type R. The name Civic has been around the car marketplace for a long time. It has been redesigned several times as well before it has the current design and shape. The latest model of this car is the 2020 Honda Civic Type R. Honda has been kind enough not to put different trim levels for this car so that it is easier to decide whether to buy it or not.
The price of 2020 Honda Civic Type R starts from $36,995 for its base model. It comes with a 2-liter In-Line 4-Cylinder 16-Valve DOHC VTEC with Turbocharger producing up to 306 horsepower. The maximum rpm is 7000 rpm with the peak horsepower is obtainable at 6500 rpm. Meanwhile, the maximum torque of this car is 295 lb-ft that is achievable at 2500 to 4500 rpm. The power transfer from the engine is done smoothly by the use of a 6-Speed Manual Transmission (6MT) with Rev-Match Control.
Despite the rather average level of the performance department of this affordable sports car, the overall appeal of the car is just beautiful. It comes with a set of 20 in x 8.5 in Alloys as the standard wheels. With the 12.39 gallon of fuel capacity, this car offers 28 / 22 MPG ratings. Despite the absence of trim levels, Honda offers six colors to choose from. The colors are Boost Blue Pearl, Championship White, Crystal Black Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic, Rallye Red, and Sonic Gray Pearl.
It may not be that recognizable as a beast on the streets but Honda Civic Type R has a long history in the world of cars. The DNA of the legendary Civic Type R EK9 is certainly within the 2020 Honda Civic Type R. Affordability is a key point of this car to consider when looking for one of the many sports cars in today’s car marketplace. The long history of Honda as the manufacturer and Civic itself as a performance car will ensure that it is a great car to buy.
Subaru WRX
Another Japanese car manufacturer that continues its tradition to produce a great sports car over the decades is Subaru with the WRX model. The 2020 Subaru WRX is the latest model of the famous WRX that originated from 1992 for its first release. The name WRX was originally used to label the high-performance version of Subaru Impreza following its participation in the World Rally Championship competition. WRX stands for World Rally Experimental.
Subaru offers the 2020 model in five different trims that are WRX, WRX Premium, WRX Limited, WRX STI, and WRX STI Limited. The WRX trim is offered at $27,495 while the WRX STI Limited at $41,695. The noticeable differences between the five trims in terms of the exterior include rim size. There are three different sizes of the rim in between those trims. The WRX has 17 x 8.0-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, the WRX Premium and WRX Limited has 18 x 8.5-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, while the WRX STI and WRX STI Limited have 19 x 8.5-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
The performance department comes with only two engine options within the five trims of this sports car. The engine choices consist of a 2.0-liter DOHC turbocharged engine for the three lower trims and a 2.5-liter DOHC turbocharged engine for the two higher trims. The 2.0-liter engine delivers a combination of 268 horsepower of power at 5600 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 2000 to 5200 rpm. Meanwhile, the 2.5-liter engine offers 310 horsepower of power at 6,000 rpm and 290 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 to 5,200 rpm.
The power transfer is done by a fully synchronized 6-speed manual transmission for the first three trims and a fully synchronized close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission plus Subaru Intelligent Drive for the last two trims. The use of the Subaru Boxer engine is among the iconic feature of this car. The engine is a powerful one with a decent MPG of 27/21 for the standard trims and 22/16 for the STI trims. Subaru claims that the 2020 Subaru WRX is the best-performing and best-handling model of WRX so far that makes it worth to buy.
Honorable Mentions
Aside from those famous models of a sports car from Japan, there are more cars as well within the segment of sports cars from the legendary Japanese car manufacturers. Unfortunately, some of them have not been updated or renewed by their respective manufacturers. These cars are still available in the marketplace today but only in used condition. Yet, they remain amidst the top choices of Japanese high-performance cars to buy today.
The Mazda RX7 is surely a popular fast car from Japan. It is widely known as a beast within the drifting scene all over the globe. One of the most popular versions of Mazda RX7 is the one appearing on Tokyo Drift movie driven by Han. Unfortunately, it was in 2002 that the RX7 with the legendary rotary engine was last produced by Mazda. The successor is released the year after under the name of RX8 but the car has not been as popular as the RX7. The RX8 is not as beautiful as RX7 in many ways though.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X is definitely amidst the best choices of a sports car from Japan to pick today. It is the tenth and the last model of the legendary Mitsubishi Lancer. Many of the previous models were famous in the scene of the World Rally Championship. Unfortunately, Evolution X has not been successful there. The car was last produced in 2016 without a clear sign from Mitsubishi to continue its model in the future. As of today, many sports car enthusiast remain customizing the car for various purposes due to its stunning appeal and performance.
Summing Up
Japanese car manufacturers have always been great in providing affordable cars in different segments of the car marketplace. In the segment of sports cars, several best choices come with a decent performance while remaining very affordable. In comparison to European and American cars, sports cars from Japan are different in many ways. Even the discontinued cars from years ago are still being sought after by sports car enthusiast today.
Car enthusiast who are on a tight budget should consider choosing one of many sports cars from Japan. They are surprisingly easy to find in good condition and fair price especially the used ones. The new ones are reasonably priced as well although the GT-R is considerably pricey. In the end, there should be no reason not to take a closer and deeper look into Japanese sports car models to get the vibe of a real sports car that looks great and run well. You can also look up other car enthusiast gifts.