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The Top Ten 300 Horsepower Cars for Under $10,000 (w/slideshow)
Next Autos ^ | November 16, 2008 | Seyth Miersma

Posted on 12/03/2008 12:52:50 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Not so many years ago, cars that produced 300 horsepower or more were considered rather rare and desirable things. Generally only the top tier of sports car or the very most posh boulevardiers had engines that could muster such prodigious output, and the price tags of the vehicles reflected it.

These days though, thanks to depreciation, a decade-long power race, and newly changing customer tastes, 300 horsepower cars can be had for much more reasonable rates—often less than $10,000. Those power and dollar figures are exciting starting places for those second-hand shoppers who may be looking for a deal on a performance machine, which is why we picked them as our two markers for making this list.

We’ve gotten our pricing estimates from the good folks at Kelley Blue Book, though we understand that in some cases much better deals can be had. Unless otherwise noted, the prices we’ve listed represent the private party value of a car in “excellent” condition with about 80,000 miles on the clock. We’ve also strived to get the best combination of power and newness when selecting between discrete model years, all while keeping a close eye on the budget. Click through our gallery above to read about our 300 horsepower/$10,000 picks, and then be sure to let us know which gems we may have missed, in comments.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: austinpowers; automobiles; automotive; cars; goldmember; jaguar; transportation
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To: Spktyr
X-Type: All.

S-Type: All.

All?...........8^(

141 posted on 12/04/2008 10:00:32 AM PST by Red Badger (Never has a man risen so far, so fast and is expected to do so much, for so many, with so little...)
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To: Red Badger

Yes, all. The X-Type was NOT up to the usual Jaguar quality standards. Early models fell apart rapidly and is known to have a very weak transmission. It’s also known to randomly blow off coolant hoses. It’s not a bad car to drive; it is really a rebadged Euro Ford Mondeo with a new front and rear fascia plus a new interior. I feel that it would have done well as a Mercury - but as Jags go, it’s a disaster on four wheels.

The S-Type, while not a rebadged Euro Ford, suffers from similar quality problems, though not as bad. The real bit of nastiness was that they kept (significantly) changing the car throughout the 8 year run, so parts are expensive as there wasn’t any one stretch where all the parts were common. There were at least four different dashboard designs, three rear fender types, etc., etc., and almost none of them interchange! In addition, the seats are usually terrible except in the R-models and the last revision. Some also had electrical problems that hadn’t been seen since 88-90. Finally, the V6 uses a similar transmission to that used in the X-Type and is known to be weak; premature failure is the order of the day with the V6 auto. Yes, it’s a Ford tranny. Quality of Ford-designed Jaguars is not so good.

Here’s the funny part - none of this really matters, because the used price differential between a used 2002 X-Type and a used 2002 XJ8 is often under 10% or $3000. You’d have to be an idiot not to go for the XJ, especially since there’s almost no fuel economy difference between the big XJ and the little X-Type!


142 posted on 12/04/2008 10:12:49 AM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Red Badger
On the other hand, here's my favorite "front office" in the whole wide world:

Yes, that's my 87. It's displaying all the signs of a happy Jaguar. :D I've put a lot more miles on it since I took that picture.

143 posted on 12/04/2008 10:22:03 AM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Red Badger

2003 Jaguar XJ8, 59K: $9950:
http://www.texascarsdirect.com/PublicWeb/UI/WebForms2/InventoryDetail.aspx?id=0632

2004 Jaguar X-Type, 51K: $9950:
http://www.texascarsdirect.com/PublicWeb/UI/WebForms2/InventoryDetail.aspx?id=2098

You would have to be some kind of idiot to go for the X-Type at that price.


144 posted on 12/04/2008 10:26:22 AM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Red Badger

Or, if you would prefer a blower and *400* horsepower for your $10K:

http://www.texascarsdirect.com/PublicWeb/UI/WebForms2/InventoryDetail.aspx?id=2098


145 posted on 12/04/2008 10:28:38 AM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Red Badger

Whoops, wrong URL:

http://www.texascarsdirect.com/PublicWeb/UI/WebForms2/InventoryDetail.aspx?id=3621


146 posted on 12/04/2008 10:49:52 AM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Spktyr
No, the 912E did not succeed the 914. The successor to the 914 was the 924.

Sorry, but this is just not the case. The 912E was the one-year stopgap model (actually a 911 body with a VW-914 engine). Many a budding enthusiast has been fooled into thinking he had a 356-engined 912 on the hook. Here is a good synopsis from the 912 Registry (note the Type designation):

The Fuel Injected 912E (AKA Type 923)

The 912E, internally designated at the factory as the Type 923, appeared for one model year only, primarily in the United States, as the companion to the 911S. In 1976 rising fuel prices and lowered U.S. speed limits helped make the 912E a practical model. Production of the 914/4 had just ended, and the water-cooled four-cylinder 924s had not yet arrived. The 912E was powered by the 2.0 liter fuel-injected 914-derived engine, and was offered in the 911 coupe coupe body style.

http://www.912registry.org/history.htm

147 posted on 12/04/2008 1:45:27 PM PST by 10Ring
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To: blackie

Don’t know anyone by the name of Boggess. I’ll keep my eyes peeled.


148 posted on 12/04/2008 5:36:02 PM PST by freebilly
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To: freebilly

Herer is what I got from the white pages:

http://preview.ussearch.com/preview/ala/newsearch?&searchLName=BOGGESS&searchState=CA&searchCity=El%20Cerrito&searchFName=ROYAL&adID=009-0000000025&adsource=9&TID=0&cid=people&searchtab=people

1 Royal T Boggess
Royal Talm Boggess
Royal Talmadge Boggess
Royal T Bogess
Royal Oggess
75
El Cerrito, CA
Clearlake Oaks, CA
Elizabeth A Boggess
Jeffery E Boggess
Liz Ann Boggess
Tina M Boggess


149 posted on 12/05/2008 8:39:41 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: blackie

Thanks!


150 posted on 12/05/2008 10:27:37 AM PST by freebilly
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To: freebilly

Liz is his wife and I know he had kids and probably grandkids.


151 posted on 12/05/2008 10:35:13 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Spktyr

And you’d be surprised at the ability to fit 914/VW components into Corvairs.

I spent high school putting foreign engines into Corvairs.
Even put a Corvette 327/350 into the ass of a Corvair.


152 posted on 12/05/2008 1:28:21 PM PST by SJSAMPLE
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To: MeanWestTexan

YOU get a Ranger Rover Super charged (it’s not liquid cooled?). They sell them for maybe one more year. As for my ‘04 Cayenne Turbo, I love it. Living in Anchorage I really appreciate the traction control, Bose sound, and winter drivability. Abilities change with tire/wheel change.


153 posted on 12/11/2008 2:56:36 PM PST by IDFbunny
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To: freebilly

Hey freebilly, what kinda work do you do that you commute 200 miles @ day? ;)


154 posted on 12/12/2008 8:06:46 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: blackie

Account Executive (salesman) for advertising company.


155 posted on 12/12/2008 3:03:26 PM PST by freebilly
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To: freebilly

I was going to say “Sales”!

Go get ‘em!! ;)


156 posted on 12/12/2008 4:33:18 PM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

157 posted on 03/14/2014 10:30:37 PM PDT by devolve (- Tell VLADIMER after my DEFECTION I have more FLEXIBILITY -- I need more SPACE - BHO Jr -)
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