Cheaper Alternative: Hyundai Tiburon (Coupe)

With the advent of games like Gran Turismo, Project Gotham, and Forza Motorsport wherein a gamer was allowed to drive realistically rendered versions of real life cars, many, it seems, have been spoiled.

A lot of the younger generation have now been exposed to countless of exotic sports cars only the super rich could buy. But because of such games, more people have been treated by the aesthetic qualities of an F430 or a DB9 and the raw power of cars like the F40 on a regular basis.

Brands like Ferrari, Pagani, Aston Martin and Lotus are now so reachable.

Unfortunately, real life dictates that exotic cars are still for those with seemingly unlimited supplies of cash.

After years of growing up accustomed to the likes of cars worthy of appearing in Bond films, shopping for cars for real becomes quite dissappointing. Now, I have to settle for the normal everyday cars. A lot of them are practical, which is great, but they lack the passion exuded by high end sports cars.

There is a decent compromise however. There are still some cars that look like a high end sports car with a very reachable price tag.

One good example would be the Hyundai Tiburon (Coupe). The price for the 2008 model ranges from $17,025 up to $22,525 depending on the trim.

Mind you, the car looks too good for such a price range. Its price tag rivals that of a regular family compact car and yet, the Tiburon looks special, the way a true sports car should feel. The profile of the car looks especially good.

The basic trim would provide a 2.0L 121HP engine. For a sports car, it is under powered. The lowest trim basically gives you the look and nothing else which kinda defeats the purpose of having a sports car in the first place. Fortunately there is a V6 2.7L version that offers a more decent 161HP. It may not seem like much, but for the car's size, it can hold its own pretty much. And if you're willing to get the highest trim that comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, the cars power would definitely be good enough.

It's no F430 thats for sure. Don't expect 0-60mh in 4.0s. The Tiburon however does deliver a better than average performance going from 0-60mph in 8.6s.

For what you have shell out, the Tiburon could be a bargain. After all, it looks good enough to make you look good.