Compare German engines - they're smaller, make a lot less noise, but also go a whole lot faster for a whole lot less fuel. Of course, most German cars are soulless, and despite all my harping on about build quality and what not, presence and that intangible feeling you get while driving a car - which is clinical and precise in most German cars - is not something I would go for. Volkswagons are reasonably priced and fun to punt around surely, but they're still not what you call exciting. Then take French cars - they're quirky sure, they've got "character" for the price you get, they're more expensive than other cars with similar performance you would get particularly with the hatch-backs (with the possible exception of Renaults). Italian cars are also slightly more expensive, but you've got to say something about a country where more manual cars are sold than automatics. They feel good, their engines make considerable noise for all you rev-heads out there and they also handle well. They don't have the build quality of a German car, and for the most part are more expensive, but they have slightly more power and in the hands of an experienced driver there is more feedback and why don't we just call it "soul" to the driving experience.
And then we come to Japanese cars. If you notice in Japan, they don't have those garish body-kits that race-boys in America tend to have. In comparison they're cheaper than the other products out there. If you want a super-car a Mitsubishi Evo VIII will do the job if you do some suspension work and tuning. This will beat a 911 Turbo - sure it looks ugly, and enthusiasts will harp on about the four-wheel-drive system and how it just doesn't feel good. But it's an idiot-proof car, and lets face it, most of the drivers on the road are idiots. Even if you're not a good driver, behind the wheel of an Evo you can still look half decent. Chivics with a little work done can be damn fast and well balanced, good handling cars in the way that Chryslers can never be the front-wheel-drive has its limitations, but other than four-wheel-drives they can handle extremely well with late-braking. And they look fine without all those silly stickers and wings. Japanese cars are also very tunable and adjustable - don't bag modders (and I mean performance based mods) just because they can't afford more expensive cars - with minimal suspension and engine work these cars can easily beat cars double or triple their price range.
Or you can try working on a classic car, as long as you have enough money for all the additional work you have to put into it, though there is only so far that a person can go on a certain chassis, even after being stripped and strengthened if the base was crudulent to begin with.
Ha! I couldn't resist posting in this thread.
P.S. I drive a hand-me-down AE92 with sports suspension, which used to be my brother's. My only defence is that I'm still a student and I'm sure I'll get something better when I can afford one. Besides, that doesn't mean I'm still not a kick-ass driver (or possibly just an annoyance to those living around me).
