By Michael Waterman, Vehix.comWhen people think of fast cars, they often think of Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and other ultra-exotic machines. But how many people do you know that actually own and drive an exotic car? Not many, right? For most of us, budgets, affordable payments and reality all play a starring role in our lives. But that doesn’t mean you can’t own a fast car that fulfills your need for speed. That’s why we’ve created our list of “The Fastest Affordable Cars." The cars on this list aren’t just fast. They’re scary fast. With 0-60 times under 6 seconds or less. That’s acceleration that can take your breath away. Best of all, they’re all available between $25,000 and $50,000. That’s not chump change. But for many American drivers, it falls into a range they can justify and afford. So rev your engines and read our list of "The Fastest Affordable Cars." Let the speed countdown begin!
10. 2010 Cadillac CTS 3.6 L Performance AWD
Speed: 0-60 6.7 seconds MSRP: $45,725 With 304 horses under the hood, the 2010 Cadillac CTS 3.6 L Performance AWD has plenty of pep and tasteful styling that leaves memories of your father’s or grandfather’s 1970s massive Cadillac sedan in the dust. You can race from 0-60 in 6.7 seconds. But if you’re willing to upgrade to the Cadillac CTS-V with its burly V8 engine, you can blaze from 0-60 in only 4.3 seconds. Fuel economy is improved in the 2010 Cadillac CTS 3.6 L Performance AWD, netting 18 mpg city and 27 highway. If you're willing to spend a little more dough, the CTS-V does 0-60 in a mind-melting 3.9 seconds. Unfortunately it costs $60,720 - a little out of our price range.
9. 2010 Dodge Ram Sport
Speed: 0-60 5.7 seconds MSRP: $24,885 We can't forget that America is a land of trucks. Big, beefy trucks. And Dodge has determined that truck drivers should enjoy some speed with all the utility a truck brings to its owner. Their answer is the 2010 Dodge Ram Sport with its 5.7 L V8 engine and 390 horsepower. Slam down the accelerator and this truck will reach 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. All this in a vehicle that weighs 6,200 pounds yet costs only $24,855. Mighty impressive indeed.
8. 2010 Nisssan 370Z RoadsterSpeed: 0-60 5.5 seconds MSRP: $36,970 You want beauty? I'll show you beauty in the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster. This two-seat roadster was introduced in 2009 when it replaced the Nissan 350Z. We think it's a big improvement with better looks, better styling, loads of power and a 0-60 mark of 5.5 seconds. Even with a large 332 HP engine, it still gets a respectable 18 mpg city/ 25 highway.
7. 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8Speed: 0-6- 5.3 seconds MSRP: $38,180 I fondly remember the 1970's version of the Dodge Charger that a teenager used to race up my street. The neighborhood kids would stop in our tracks and stare while our mothers shook an angry fist at the oblivious driver. That car looked and sounded scary. The 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 carries on that tradition and is likely terrorizing a neighborhood somewhere right now. With 425 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds, the Charger is a formidable driving machine. One feature that makes it attractive: the $38,180 price. You get virtually the same power and performance as the more expensive Dodge Challenger for about $3,000 less.
6. 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8Speed: 5.1 seconds MSRP: $27,995 One of three Dodge vehicles on this list, the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 boasts the fastest 0-60 time of the bunch: 5.1 seconds. It's shocking how fast that actually feels when you're behind the wheel and well worth a trip to your local dealer to strap in and take the feisty Challenger for a ride. All that speed, power and weight (this is a two-ton sports car after all) make the popular Challenger a bit thirsty at the pump. You can expect 13 mpg city and 19 highway. Expect some sticker shock if you opt for the SRT8 model: $41,230.
5. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SSSpeed: 0-60 5 seconds MSRP: $33.745 The Camaro makes its triumphant return in 2010. This fifth-generation version of the muscle car is a big improvement on the softer-looking 1990s version of the car. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro looks, feels and handles like the muscle car it is. And it outperforms the Dodge Challenger and Charger in terms of 0-60speed of 5 seconds and fuel economy as well. You can expect 16 mpg city. But the Camaro really shines when you place it on the open road and let it glide as you achieve about 24 mpg in highway driving. The price is attractive too, with the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS manual available at $33,745 at a local dealer. It’s definitely worth a look.
4. 2010 Audi S4
Speed: 0-60 4.9 seconds MSRP: $45,325 The highly anticipated 2010 Audi S4 delivers a refined mix of speed, interior comfort and driving pleasure—all for under $50,000. And did we mention speed? This redesigned sedan will rush you from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, compliments of a 333 horsepower engine. That speed makes it the fourth-fastest car on this list. The Audi S4 also comes with all-wheel drive, which is a big deal for drivers in snowy climes. And gas mileage is a surprising 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. It's also a more spacious sedan than earlier versions, so your passengers can spread out comfortably as you motor down the road.
3. 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STISpeed: 0-60 4.5 seconds MSRP: $34,995 The 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is the latest upgrade to this popular model and maintains its status as a performance machine. The 305 horsepower engine can propel this 3,000+ pound car from 0-60 in only 4.5 seconds. Mileage is solid too: 17 mpg city and 23 mpg in highway driving. If you're in the market for a small, lightweight and responsive hatchback, you may soon find yourself comfortably behind the wheel of the 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The face-melting speed of the STI is probably the biggest bang for your buck on this list.
2. 2010 Chevrolet CorvetteSpeed: 0-60 4.5 seconds MSRP: $48,930 The Corvette is the stereotypical mid-life crisis machine—for good reason. The 2010 Chevrolet Corvette 1LT is seriously fast. Especially for a production car. It reaches 60 mph from a dead stop in 4.5 seconds. And that’s for the base model only. You can increase speeds by increasing the size of the engine. The price goes up accordingly with engine size and features. In fact, a fully appointed Corvette 2dr Cpe ZR1 w/3ZR tops $100,000. We’re confident, however, that the 436 horsepower in the base model will deliver all the power you need to rocket down the highway (or to the grocery store).
1. 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500Speed: 0-60 4.3 seconds MSRP: $46,325 The original Pony car continues to draw attention and stares at it motors down the road. The 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the absolute top-of-the-line Mustang and is surprisingly affordable—only $46,325 for the two-door coupe. That machine offers a 5.4 liter V8, 540 horsepower engine and 0-60 speeds of 4.3 seconds. That's ridiculously fast. If you'd like something slightly more reasonable, however, the 2010 Ford Mustang GT checks in at $27,995 and includes a burly 315 hp V8 with a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds.
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