Would you like to purchase a new car? Not a used one, but the one that has single-digit mileage, no title, and still has that new-car smell? Of course, for one reason or another, a new car seems attractive. What would you go for: a Chevy SS with the six-speed before Holden pulls the plug? A new Mustang? One of the sociopathic Mopars? Subaru STi? All of them sound great…then you look at the prices and realize that you’re easily way over your head, with most of these cars deep in the $30,000 range and climbing with each and every option. Well, crap…so much for that, right? Wrong.
Just like way back when, if you know your way around an options sheet, you can walk out with a sleeper of a car or truck and keep as much possible coin in your pocket. Here’s a couple good examples, and we will start with the white Ram 1500 in the lead photo. On the surface this looks like the kind of truck that a rental agency keeps on tap, or the one that is scooped up by U-haul. Refrigerator white, steel wheels, stripper interior. If you didn’t look at the badge you’d think it was a bare-bones V6 model.
What you really have here is a Ram Tradesman: 5.7 Hemi, six-speed automatic, 3.55 axle, upgraded alternator, and a rear sliding window. The only two options this truck has are an appearance option that put on the 17″ wheels and a chrome grille and satellite radio. Some badge deletion and some work on the Hemi and you could have a riot of a time at the local drags. Total price out the door is $26,715, which puts it on par with a V6 Chevrolet Camaro. You aren’t getting into a V8 powered Challenger or Charger for under $31,000, either.
In Ford’s camp, the fastest Mustang under $30K is the EcoBoost powered Mustang, which, according to Ford’s website should retail for just a tick over $25,000. But since it is the newest kid on the block, the premium is still high. The local Ford dealership has a Premium level EcoBoost Mustang on the lot, but the price is “Call for Details”…not good, especially when they have a new GT marked up to $40,015. A little work with the pricing guide got a new Ford F-150 XL V8 close to compare with the Ram, but here’s where the Ford falls off of a cliff: you literally get nothing if you want to stay under $30K. No cruise. No upgraded sound system. Nothing. You can’t even get a good rear axle combo without buying the towing package, which pushes the price above the mark, and that’s all before you count in delivery charges and the like.
Now, the Tradesman does have competition from Chevrolet with the Silverado. Playing the options game there conjured up a Silverado 1WT 2wd regular cab short box with a 5.3, automatic, 3.42 rear with locker and surprise, surprise, a dealer-installed Borla aftermarket exhaust for $27,848.
Any of these selections will haul the mail, and the trucks will give you the classic recipe of strong motor in a stripper vehicle. You think you can do better for a new car? Give it a shot and let us know below!
I’d probably go with a new 2015 WRX. Spec’d out a base WRX with a factory performance exhaust, front lip spoiler and short-throw shifter for $28,927.
2014 F-150 XLT Texas Edition, Chrome package, 5.0 coyote, 3:55 traction-lok towing package, keyless entry, Optional Ruby red clearcoat and factory spray in bed liner…….
$29,845.00 out the door. I brought it home last Saturday and I am driving the #1 Vehicle in North America both in parts and in sales. I dumped a 2013 Fiat Ram ST with Hemi….reason for trading in?
The radio would never shut off, variable displacement vibration, and 3 times to the dealer with check engine light with only 8k miles.
Buy a $5k to $10k used P/U, plenty of fun stuff out there in the $15k range to race or cruise, above all else-HAVE FUN
You have to stay with a Chevy or Ram 1500 to get a V8 under 30k. Car wise the WRX is a great choice, or the Scion/Subaru: FR-S/BRZ. Right wheel drive, manual and light weight. Mitzubushi Lancer is ok too, but you need to crank up the boost bunches. You could get a v6 Challenger and at least look cool. I wonder if you could buy one of the fleet Caprice PPVs for cheap, their cheap used.
I just picked up a new 2014 Mustang GT for $29500.
it’s equipped with he Track Package and cloth Recaro seats
being the only options.
The same dealer has the 2015 version with the same options at under $33K.
A used C5 of C6 Z06 or a C4 ZR-1 will crush any of this trash (and almost anything else on the road) and is at the top or under the price range.
If you are talking Hp for 30K I think the Ram wins but if you want the best E.T. per 30K I think the 2014 V-6 Mustang was the best the last few years. I have not seen a test of a 2015 V-6 Mustang to know how it ranks today.
a truck might appear to have good HP to the dollar but the HP to weight sucks, so there goes any performance edge.
With 395 HP in the Ram, a RC/SB should be getting into 13.7/13.8 range in the 1/4 mile. For that quickness (For a truck) a lot depends on the driver.
I had a 03 (headers, 3.92 and a 20 hp tune) that ran a best of 13.89 and I really ruined many mustangs day.