Car Buying Guide: What Kind of Sports Car Should You Get For $100,000?

The last time we had a look at the market, we started off with a budget of $70,000 - with an additional $10,000 available, just in case. Let's up the ante and enter the area between sports cars and supercars while we fiddle around with a budget of $100,000. For the purpose of this exercise, let's say that we've got an additional $20,000 to spare.

This time we'll be looking only at brand new vehicles so that we may get a more in-depth look at the options. Don't worry; we'll check back with the used cars market some other time. While $120,000 might sound like much, this does bring you in a kind of a grey area, where there aren't that many sports cars still available and where the supercar level is just beginning.

Most of the options available for this kind of budget come from European manufacturers, while just two of them are from Land of the Rising Sun. Out of the two Japanese variants, the Nissan GT-R stands out as the sportiest one, while the Lexus LC500 tends to appeal to a different category of people; it's a very interesting machine nonetheless.

There are eight European vehicles we've included in our list. We're looking at two Audis (both the RS6 and the RS7), two BMWs (the M5 and the M850i), two Porsches (the Cayman GT4 and the Carrera S), the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe and, last but not least, the Jaguar F-Type R.

Nissan GT-R

There is a lot of hype going around the Nissan GT-R, that's for sure. It has been referred to as a Supercar Killer, or even Godzilla. Sure, it has achieved many milestones over the past decade, and it continues to astonish the younger generation with its capabilities and looks. The tuning potential is immense, and achieving 700 horsepower is something that can be done relatively easily, without spending a huge budget.

If you're not already familiar with the model - which we tend to believe is highly unlikely - you might be surprised that this Nissan has got a $113,540 price tag attached to it. And if that sounds like much, the Nismo version starts at $210,740. For this kind of money, you get a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine under the hood and a trick AWD system.

The engine outputs 565 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, and has got a maximum torque of 467 lb-ft (633 Nm), which is available in between 3,300 and 5,800 rpm. The gearbox is a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic with three driver-selectable modes. The curb weight is 3,935 lbs (1,793 kg), which means the GT-R is far from being light, but we all know what this thing can really do with the correct driving skills.

Lexus LC500

The other Japanese car in the equation is more of a luxury, comfort-oriented vehicle rather than a full-on track weapon. Still, its different kind of sportiness might still appeal to your taste, especially if the plan is to stick mainly to driving on public roads, as opposed to going to the track every other weekend.

The LC500 comes with a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine that develops 471 horsepower, and a maximum torque of 398 lb-ft (539 Nm) at 4,800 rpm. All that power is sent to the rear wheels via a 10-speed electronically controlled Direct-Shift automatic transmission. With less torque and less horsepower than the GT-R, the LC500 is also some 400 lbs (181) heavier.

Starting MSRP for the Lexus is $92,950, and you might want to spend an extra $9,570 for the Dynamic Handling Package to get the best possible driving experience. At the end of the day, you can choose to keep the extra cash you had available, or go really nuts with the whole thing and apply a Liberty Walk widebody kit and a set of very special wheels to go with it, if you can still afford those.

Audi RS6 Avant

For years and years, petrolheads in the United States have asked Audi to bring over their RS station wagons, and the chiefs over in Ingoldstadt have finally listened and delivered. For the first time since the inception of the Audi Sport division (formerly known as quattro GmbH), a station wagon bearing the magical RS moniker will be available on U.S. soil. MSRP for the RS6 Avant starts at $109,000.

Under the hood, there's a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 capable of 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque, enough to propel the 4,960 lbs (2,249 kg) Audi to 60 mph (96 kph) in just 3.5 seconds! Of course, with this being a turbocharged vehicle, massive horsepower gains can become available after a short visit to a specialized tuner.

This car makes use of Audi's legendary quattro AWD system, and given the extra weight, we would surely add the Red Ceramic Brake Package, which will set you back an additional $9,000. Selecting this package also means that the top speed is now increased to 190 mph (305 kph), which you can easily test if you happen to live near the German Autobahn.

Audi RS7 Sportback

Somehow, it might not really make sense to choose the RS7 over the RS6, especially after so many years of waiting for that car in the United States. But, if station wagons aren't really your cup of tea, the RS7 does look phenomenally good too. MSRP is slightly higher though, at $114,000. Otherwise, these two are pretty equally matched as they feature the same powertrain and deliver similar performance.

BMW M5

At first glance, most people might not even notice the sporty character of the BMW M5. It's definitely not as flashy as the GT-R, and it does look tame even compared to the RS6. But that does not mean it should be underestimated in any way.

Starting MSRP is $103,500, and BMW refers to it as "the ultimate M-tuned sedan, a quintessential performer on road and track." The twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 is capable of 591 horsepower and 553 lb-ft (749 Nm) of torque in between 1,800 rpm and 5,690 rpm. The car comes with AWD as standard, but has the option of sending all the power to the rear wheels, making for a more traditional M experience.

BMW claims that it will only take the car 3.2 seconds to hit 60 mph (96 kph) from a standstill, which is still quite impressive considering it weighs around 4,200 lbs (1,905 kg). You can still also spend another $7,600 for the Competition Package, that brings along 17 more horsepower and 20-inch rims among other things, and another $8,500 for the M Carbon Ceramic Brakes.

BMW M850i

Now, working with the current budget puts the BMW M8 out of range, as that starts at $133,000. But there's a cheaper option if you really want a coupe and not a sedan in your garage. The M850i is just slightly less capable, with 523 horsepower available at your right foot, but design-wise it does look spectacular.

Porsche Cayman GT4

Now this is a difficult one. Should you get the top of the range Cayman, or should you settle for a relatively entry-level 911 Carrera? The Cayman GT4 is a pretty special car in itself, but at the end of the day, it's not a 911 is it? MSRP starts at $100,200, but you can quickly spend an extra $5,900 on a pair of bucket seats.

We're torn between the standard 6-speed manual and the 7-speed PDK, which is very capable in itself. We would add the Ceramic Composite Brakes though, and that will cost an additional $8,000. All in all, you get a sleek looking sports car, with a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated boxer engine that puts out 414 horsepower at 7,600 RPM.

Maximum torque is 309 lb-ft (419 Nm), available between 5,000 rpm and 6,800 rpm, and with a curb weight of only 3,208 lbs (1,455 kg), the GT4 can hit 60 mph (96 kph) in just 4.2 seconds. Mind you, its true colours can be seen on the race track, and not at the drag strip.

Porsche 911 Carrera S

The starting price for the Carrera S is $115,100, which does make it a more expensive option to start with. This means that you've still, albeit barely, got some cash left for a pair of sport seats, not bucket seats, and an upgraded exhaust system. You've got an extra 29 horsepower to play with and some extra 80 lb-ft (108 Nm) of torque, but we're not sure this will keep up with the GT4 on the track.

Mercedes-AMG GT

The entry level Mercedes-AMG GT is available starting at $115,900. The GT C will require an additional $35,000, while the GT R will need an additional $47,000. We would most likely add the AMG Ride Control Sport Suspension, which sounds like a no brainer considering it's only $1,500. The AMG Aerodynamics Package might also come in handy for $2,850.

Mercedes has opted to install a twin-turbocharged, dry sump 4.0-liter V8 under the hood of the AMG GT, and the result is 469 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of torque from at 1,700 rpm. With the power sent to the rear wheels and a curb weight of just 3,472 lbs (1,574 kg), this car can go from 0 to 60 mph (96 kph) in 3.9 seconds.

Sure, it's not quite as interesting as the GT R version, but it's still an introduction to the supercar level, so to speak. It can, without doubt, be labelled as an exotic, if that's the kind of thing that makes a difference in your agenda at least.

Jaguar F-Type R

The last option we're looking at today is the British-built Jaguar, which starts at $103,200 and comes with AWD as standard. Under the hood, you'll find a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, which has a total output of 575 horsepower and more than 500 lb-ft (677 Nm) of torque. That is somewhat impressive, but then again, the car weighs almost 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg).

Our take on the buying process

After all, it does seem like there are quite a few interesting options given a maximum budget of $120,000. Once again, the choice comes down to several factors. How much time will you be spending at the racetrack and how long will you driving on public roads? Do you plan on tuning the car, or is it going to stay stock? Do you want that wow factor when you're driving down the road, or do you prefer stealth mode?

Looking over the options, we could make some suggestions. Obviously, for those of you inclined towards tuning, the Nissan GT-R is definitely going to be right option. If you've already got a track weapon, and are just looking for a fast car to drive your family around in, then the Audi RS6 Avant might make an excellent choice.

If you fancy an introduction into the world of motorsports, perhaps with plans of advancing in the future, then, by all means, go for the Porsche Cayman GT4! Then there's the AMG GT versus Carrera S dilemma. We guess this would ultimately be down to personal taste, but we tend to incline towards the Porsche on this one.