Sports Cars: Best Bang for the Buck

Base price: $62,165
Wait, a luxury car on a "bang for buck" list? Yes, hear us out. Even if the CTS-V was stripped of all signs of luxury, it would still embarrass practically everything else at its price point, sports car or otherwise. Don't forget we're talking about a supercharged V8 engine with a roaring 550 horsepower, and a chassis and suspension legitimately tuned and rigorously tested at the famous Nurburgring circuit in Deutschland. This vehicle is no joke.

View Pictures:  Sports Cars: Best Bang for the Buck

Base price: $48,950
A perennial midlife-crisis favorite, the Corvette often scores high points for its affordable perfomance, although that's usually accompanied by low points for practically everything else. It's not a particularly refined driving experience, nor is it brimming with high-class materials, fit or finish, but it definitely knows how to move quickly. Its base 6.2-liter 430-horsepower V8 engine makes it plenty fast for weekend track days and stoplight drags. Along with cars such as the Porsche 911, the Corvette is a living classic.

Read:  2010 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport vs. 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - Comparison Tests

Base price: $22,145
The latest Ford Mustang finally packs the firepower needed to go head-to-head with the frontrunners in today's horsepower wars. The all-new 5.0-liter 412-horsepower V8 engine found in the GT trim provides explosive acceleration, although it is still matched to the unfortunately archaic rear suspension. Still, the big car handles itself fairly well on smooth roads, and the interior is vastly improved over previous Mustangs. Plus, its road and track manners help the 'Stang edge ahead of the competition from Chevrolet and Dodge. For now, anyway.

View Pictures:  2011 Ford Mustang

Base price: $22,250
If shown this car just a decade ago and told it was a Hyundai, we would have laughed at the notion. Little did we know how far the Korean automaker would progress. Its Genesis line of affordable upscale models has been praised since its introduction in 2007, and the Genesis Coupe is a solid, sporty, rear-wheel-drive coupe with impressive build quality and genuinely good looks. The top-of-the-line V6 trim barely cracks $30K, yet sports over 300 horsepower and loads of standard equipment.

Watch Video:  2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Base price: $47,250
It's impossible for a car aficionado not to appreciate the Lotus Elise, one of the purest driving machines on the planet. Flying in the face of current trends, this head-turning baby exotic skips the gadgets and fancy leathers. It's a simple, lightweight, midengine sports car with a single purpose: to be riotously fun to drive, channeling a direct line of communication between asphalt and driver. Because of the Elise's low mass, the Toyota-sourced 4-cylinder engine is surprisingly adequate, but its tight, cramped cabin and obvious lack of creature comforts aren't for everyone.

Bing Images: Lotus Elise

Base price: $23,110
Mazda's Miata has done for roadsters what the Datsun 240Z did for sports cars in the early 1970s: It reinvigorated the entire genre by being a genuinely excellent car, reliable and priced for the masses. Now, more than two decades later, this little guy has done an admirable job of staying true to its roots, despite stricter safety regulations and public demand for amenities. Its no-frills 167-horsepower engine moves the lightweight roadster without trouble, and its near-perfect balance makes for great handling.

Bing Videos: 2011 Mazda Miata

Base price: $23,700
We had to throw the quirky MAZDASPEED3 in here simply because, dollar for dollar, it packs a potent punch. Even the standard run-of-the-mill Mazda3 that it's based on has a bigger emphasis on handling and fun than most of its competition. On top of that package, the MAZDASPEED3 adds a turbo and a bunch of go-fast goodies for extra zoom-zoom. While we're not exactly enamored with its odd new face or the feel of its driver's seat, there's no denying it's a ton of bang for the buck.

Compare: Mazda MAZDASPEED3 vs. Volkswagen GTI vs. Subaru Impreza WRX

Base price: $30,610
The 370Z is the latest in the nearly 40-year saga of the Z car and, by most accounts, it's the best yet. While still largely inspired by the previous 350Z, the new car is a surprisingly different experience to drive. It's actually smaller and much sprightlier than the more GT-esque 350Z. The versatile Nissan VQ-series engine seems perfectly at home in this latest sport-tuned state, now good for a stout 332 horsepower. A brand-new 370Z can be had for around $30K, complete with a stylish interior and an impressive array of standard features.

Watch Video:  2011 Nissan 370Z

Base price: $84,060
Nissan's physics-defying GT-R needs no introduction to gearheads. While its $84K price tag isn't exactly chump change, the GT-R still appears here due to its ability to humiliate some of the most exclusive sports cars in the world, at any price. Although it's been criticized for its computer-controlled manners and reliance on techno-wizardry, that doesn't mean it lacks excitement. Frankly, anyone who finds a GT-R at speed to be dull needs to get their pulse checked.

Bing Images: 2011 Nissan GT-R

Base price: $23,695
The GTI earns a mention here partly because of its excellent driving dynamics, and partly because it practically invented the "hot hatch" genre. Despite a few dark years in the 1990s, the GTI has continued to hold true to its original design, and it is still a fun, tossable, usable and well-designed vehicle. The punchy turbo engine is a perfect match for the car, serving up delightfully instant squirts of torque whenever needed. Build quality is fantastic, and the interior serves up just the right mix of hip and refined.

View Pictures:  2010 VW Golf GTI

James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.

• Become a fan of MSN Autos on Facebook.
• Visit MSN Autos' "Exhaust Notes" blog to keep up on all things automotive.
• In the market for a new car? MSN Autos is pleased to provide you with information and services designed to save you time, money and hassle. Click to research prices and specifications on any new car on the market or get a free price quote through MSN Autos' New-Car Buying Service.