You're in your 20's and the property market hangs over you like the giant expensive mess it is these days. You have a job, a rather good one in fact, not thrilled with renting or living at home, but you know that no matter how many coffees or smashed avocados you skip out on, you're just not excited by the thought of trying to save $100,000 for a mere deposit.
Enter the 'Early Life Crisis'!
What else can you put your money down on that will give you a sense of ownership over something, perhaps even a sense of freedom & joy? A purchase that is meaningful, but not going to leave you with 35 years of debt in such an early stage of your life. Two powerful words: sports car! Why wait until midlife to expose yourself to an automotive marvel? Thanks to a few notable manufacturers offering exciting sub $40k sports cars, Mazda, Subaru & Toyota, there are options out there that can enrich your life, and shouldn't break the bank.
2017 Mazda MX-5
Starting with Mazda, we have one of the all time iconic droptops, the MX-5. Since its debut in 1989, the MX-5 has been one sweet little package. A lightweight 2 seater with an open top to let in some rays and a fresh breeze. In 2017 you can pick from the classic soft-top roadster, or the newly designed hard-top, the RF (retractable fastback). Engine wise, the soft-top has the option of either 1.5L or 2.0L in-line 4, noting that the RF only has the option of the 2.0L. The 2.0L MX-5's with their smooth launch and light body will manage 0-100kph in about 6.9sec (manual). If you don't tick too many extra boxes and are happy with the manual gearbox, then you can pick up the Roadster 2.0L variant for just under $40k. Skip out on a few more coffees, and you can take a look at the RF variant as well, but it does sit just over the magic $40k mark that we're aiming for here. |
| 2017 Mazda MX-5 Roadster 2.0L - from $39,115 | 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0L - from $42,617 Image sourced from mazda.com.au |
The standard equipment on the entry Roadster and RF models isn't all that bad either when you consider how light they are. Blind Spot Monitoring for added safety, and Mazda's 7 inch touch screen infotainment system "MZD Connect" with Sat-Nav come standard on both. There is plenty of kit standard and even more on offer if you choose to spend the extra money. But a near top spec MX-5 RF GT pushes you towards the $50k price point, and if you're going that high then you start to enter another market of cars.
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| 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF GT - from $48,126 Image sourced from carsguide.com.au |
2017 Subaru BRZ & Toyota 86
In 2012, Subaru and Toyota released their sister-cars the BRZ, and the 86. This joint venture by the two manufacturers saw them produce a fantastic rear-wheel drive coupe platform with a moderately strong 2.0L boxer engine producing 147kW. Both cars were more or less identical, bar a few slight aesthetic and suspension differences. The cars quickly became immensely popular and a top pick for their affordability and fantastic engineering. This year, both manufacturers brought forward their 5 year face-lift. This saw an update on the visuals for both cars, now setting them apart more than the initial release models, as well as a marginal power increase for the manual variants (up to 152kW). This updated engine will take the BRZ/86 from 0-100kph in a not too blinding 7.4sec. The pricing was restructured on both BRZ and 86 as well with the Subaru BRZ starting price now $36,160 drive-away, and the Toyota 86 at $35,179 drive-away (manual variants).
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| 2017 Subaru BRZ - from $36,160 Subaru have done some minor updates to the front bumper, headlights and taillights, overall keeping a similar look/shape to the previous model. Image sourced from subaru.com.au |
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| 2017 Toyota 86 - from $35,179 Toyota have almost completely redesigned the front bumper for a wider and more curvy opening. Image sourced from toyota.com.au |
Comparisons
In regards to daily drivability, both the BRZ/86 and MX-5 have a tight suspension so you will feel very attached to the road. In that sense, a badly surfaced road will knock you around a bit in these cars, although once again, the lighter MX-5 will absorb these kind of bumps a little better. When it comes to a trip away in these cars, the appeal of the droptop MX-5 may be up there, but if you're planning on taking anyone with you, you'll be hard pressed to fit more than 2 small carry-on size bags in the little 130L boot. The BRZ/86 on the other hand, can fold down its rear seats allowing much more luggage to be stored in the back, this is provided you can still fit your things in the rather small boot opening!
Once on the road or track, both these cars will provide an truly exhilarating sports-car experience. Achieving a low centre of gravity, particularly in the BRZ/86 thanks to the boxer engine. With no turbos, these cars also accelerate in a linear fashion, making them easy to handle under the petal.
The Verdict
Really what it comes down to with all 3 of the cars here is your personal preference. If the droptop is too much for you to pass up on, then the MX-5 Roadster or RF will have you feeling more than satisfied with its extra features and open top. For a more rugged sports car approach however, I think it's hard to look past the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86. Not only do they look more serious, but they feel it too, and if you need the wind in your hair, you can always drop the windows down! Either way you choose, the moment you hit the open road in one of these cars, the smashed avocados and property woes will seem a thing of the past, just you, your car and the road!
Which would you pick & why? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources
https://www.mazda.com.au/
http://www.toyota.com.au/
https://www.subaru.com.au/
