What’s the cheapest new car (MSRP) I can buy today in the US that has 500 horsepower. Is it a gas car or an EV?

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e136@reddit

4 NA Miatas. Ultimate fleet experience

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midri@reddit

I love me some miata, but even if you drop $42k for a new one and another $10k for a supercharger/turbo and exhaust you're still only looking at like 250whp.

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Mammoth-Access-1181@reddit

Flyin' Miata used to build Miata with the Corvette LS in it. Top model was around $50k I think. Maybe $60k, but it was a Miata with 630 HP.

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sfo2@reddit

Yeah my NC was about 135 at the wheels, and was absolutely the best car I’ve ever owned.

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There’s dealers out there putting roush blower packages on base model single cab 5.0 f150s. 700 hp for 45k. I don’t think there’s any better bang for the buck horsepower wise, when talking new with a warranty.

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IrritablePanda@reddit

There are also a really good amount of rcsb coyote f150s on Autotrader for $34k-$36k brand new. This is the absolute cheapest way to do 400hp/rwd/v8 new today.

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FearlessTomatillo911@reddit

Probably the challenger scat pack.

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IrritablePanda@reddit

There are some new 2023 challenger scats left in the country on Autotrader for $39k

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el_muerte28@reddit

GTI. Throw in a hybrid turbo, a clutch, and a tune and you are looking at $40k.

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KitchenPalentologist@reddit

Front wheel drive tho.

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el_muerte28@reddit

That wasn't a criterion.

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nattyd@reddit

Good use of the singular “criterion”. As the owner of a stage 1 GTI that already struggles to put down 323 hp on PS4S rubber, I do think anything above 9 lb/hp is pretty much a waste on a FWD car. Which is probably why nobody has ever sold one more powerful than that in the history of FWD cars.

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KitchenPalentologist@reddit

I drive a stock MK7.5, 323hp would be a blast! But yeah, if you want more, you need to look at the Golf R or a different car altogether.

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proscriptus@reddit

Sadly, it's the Model 3 Performance. 10hp more than the Dark Horse, and probably the only new car with 500hp you could hope to buy for under $50K.

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jrileyy229@reddit

Mustang is 480. Really splitting hairs here over a couple of % shy of 500.

If you want to further split hairs, you could argue the model 3 doesn't have 500hp in the real world 'most' of the time. Those numbers are at 100% charge. As the % charge goes down, so does peak power

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Swaminathan_Malgudi@reddit (OP)

ChatGPT says M3 performance has 480.

In my quick and limited search, I found Mustang Dark Horse to be the cheapest.

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proscriptus@reddit

There's no "M3 Performance," so ChatGPT is as crappy as usual. There's an M3 Competition with 503hp for $80K though.

Dark Horse MSRP is $62,230. Even before incentives, Model 3 Perf is $56,630, but in reality you can find them well under $50K. The cheapest new Dark Horse for sale in America is just over $60K.

A Kia EV6 GT is probably the best bang for the buck though.

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proscriptus@reddit

Oh, you were using "M3" to mean Model 3. No one does that.

It makes 510 peak hp.

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nattyd@reddit

Not only that but with peak torque at 0 RPM, the Model 3’s straight line performance at typical public road speeds is going to feel a lot more intense than the equivalent-power ICE car that doesn’t pull its hardest until you’re halfway to highway speed.

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Hopeful_Corner1333@reddit

For what it's worth I see people use M3 as model 3 on reddit at least once a week.

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Roonil-B_Wazlib@reddit

But they shouldn’t. M3 is its own model.

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Swaminathan_Malgudi@reddit (OP)

I am too poor to even think of BMW LOL

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PrinceofNoHair01@reddit

If it doesn’t have to be new and you can drive a stick get a 06-13 z06 corvette way better car than a dark horse or Tesla

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PrinceofNoHair01@reddit

A dark horse isn’t cheap at all lol they are going for 70k plus near me just get a 24 model 3 performance they make 510 for around 50k

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PCho222@reddit

Pretty much every muscle/pony car i.e. Mustang GT makes around that mark and can be had for sub-50 new, although I think they recently stopped making the Camaro/Challenger and next gen Charger isn't out yet. Next would be EVs like the M3P and EV6 GT but they're in the 50-60 range after incentives.

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midri@reddit

Camaro still exists, Challenger/Charger got rolled into one body.

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theres-no-more_names@reddit

No it doesnt 2024 is the last year their producing camaros

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midri@reddit

Well shit, looks like you're right.

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albertpenello@reddit

I'll give you a suggestion that meets none of your requirements :)

A 6th Gen Camaro is the same car from 2016 - 2024. The all make 455HP and have the same 7sp manual or 8sp auto.

You can pick up a used 2016+ car with low-ish miles for mid $20K. I've seen 1SS cars in the low $20's and 2SS cars in the Mid-high $20's. Those cars will have carplay, heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, backup camera, and HUD and are fast as hell and easy to work on.

I don't think there is a cheaper price/perf ratio and the LT1 and both auto and manual transmissions are as bulletproof as anything you can get today.

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Scazitar@reddit

Used Mustangs and challengers are kings of crazy horsepower for economy prices.

I guess model 3 would be the cheapest but i don't really feel like gas vs ev HP is a really good 1:1 comparison. They are just totally different experiences

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