TOP 5 CAPARO T1 ALTERNATIVES - RACE CARS FOR THE ROAD
In the case of most Big Ticket Items, simply setting one's sights a little lower generates a fleet of vehicles of the same type; if not similar capability. In the case of an insect-like supercar with a skewed seating arrangement, exposed suspension, and 164 horsepower/per litre, it's difficult to think of less expensive facsimiles.
Difficult, yes, but not impossible. The Good Car Guy has come up with five more financially appealing options. Like the Caparo T1 with its 10,500 rpm power peak and clear race car inspiration, these five cars could easily be raced in a pinch, some more easily than others. They're all fast, feature two doors (or less), but are configured to provide a more driveable nature than the stimulus for this Top 5, Caparo's T1.
You'll see them all arranged by price, along with a photo slideshow, after the jump.
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#5 - 2001 ACURA INTEGRA TYPE-R: Found on eBay for the half-decent Buy-It-Now price of $13,995, a used Integra Type-R is a front-wheel drive classic. To see a car like this in Acura's 2010 lineup would be a shock, but in 2001, when the Integra was bidding farewell, it was still possible to purchase a lightweight 195-bhp 4-cylinder hatchback with a tall rear wing and steering that'd light a fire in your fingertips. There hasn't been a small sporty coupe or hatchback available in North America with this kind of feel and intimacy since.
#4 - CATERHAM 7 CLASSIC: True, the $29,580 price quoted by Caterham USA doesn't include an engine or transmission. Plus, it's just a kit, not an actual car until you or someone else builds it. Standard equipment includes such luxuries as cloth seats and a roll-over bar. Just pretend you're saying, "No thanks" to the 6-speaker iPod-compatible stereo - it's not on offer. Adapted from Colin Chapman's original Lotus 7, the Caterham Classic is the lowest rung on a ladder which climbs past $60,000.... before an engine's been installed. For sheer driving thrills, nothing touches a 7.
#3 - CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT: Chevrolet says the dry-sump oil system in the new Grand Sport "helps prevent oil starvation on high-speed corners or under heavy braking". Launch control, vented and cross-drilled brakes, four seconds to 60mph from a standing start.... all things that speak of a car's ability to take to the track and conquer. Of course the Corvette Grand Sport does so more brutally than others in this Top 5.
#2 - LOTUS EXIGE S 240: Never the cheapest way to find your way around a racetrack, a modern Lotus is one of the quickest. Think of the Exige as a hardtop version of the Lotus Elise only with more of a thoroughbred nature. At $65,690, you'll be expecting a lot. And you won't get a lot, unless you feel strongly that less is more. The Lotus Exige S 240 weighs little more than 2,000 pounds and, as you guessed, shoves the weight around with 240 horsepower. Corners arrive before you knew they existed. Fortunately, mechanical grip is so mighty that brakes won't be needed as much as in a heavyweight like the Corvette Grand Sport.
#1 - PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS: Iconic as its livery is, the 997 GT3 RS will be memorable for more than just technical brilliance. Your teeth will remember losing their fillings. Your kidneys will remember being thrust up against your ribs. And your passenger will remember tossing his or her cookies after a hot lap. Yet many consider all the trouble to be worth it. Yes, you could be coddled by a remarkably capable 911 4S. You could drive at a similar pace in an identically priced ($132,800) Porsche 911 Turbo, or even kept appreciably more comfortable in a "regular" Porsche 911 GT3. Here, fabric door pulls, carbonfiber seating, dynamic engine mounts, and a single mass flywheel all contribute to one of the most hardcore production cars in the known universe. Rather resolute then.
Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
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Chevrolet Corvette Acceleration Run At Milford Proving Grounds
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