If you're looking for a car based on performance for a specific price (levels of handling, acceleration, off-road ability and stability, based on whatever your needs are) many times options seem to be either get a higher level trim of a standard tier car or get a base model of a more performance oriented car. This is a broad question, and going to be dependent on specific cars and people's needs. But do people have a general pick/see trends for one better option over the other?
Higher trims seem to come with nicer materials and high tech extras that may not be important especially if you just want a different engine or an off-road suspension. Also in econo cars it seems to mean a turbo rather than a bigger NA.
Base model performance cars often don't have a lot of extra frills but seem to sacrifice every day driving (fuel economy/tires that announce every bump), and as a specific example I believe Scotty mentioned the mustang's base eco boost has reliability issues. Plus, the endless badmouthing from people saying you should have gotten the V8.
As a specific example: Base 2020 Subaru BRZ 2.0L NA without any options costs roughly 29k, 0-60 in 6.3, quarter mile in 13.6 sec and 33/24 mpg ( or can use lowest trim Camaro offering an NA engine, the 1LT for pretty much the same stats and price if you'd rather)
Take that VS the Kia K5 GT with a 2.5 turbo and nicer mandatory inside trim & tech which is just over 30k, 0-60 in 5.3, quarter mile in 13.7 and 32/24 mpg
If those metrics at that price point are all you really care about, these two options are pretty much equal. And if they are equal does the fact that one is a base level performance car and one is a higher trim economy car add weight to one over the other?
Let’s take the mustang for example. In the 90’s the GT and the LX were both available with the 5.0 engine. And it was the same exact engine. The LX weighed about 500 lbs less without all the ground effects package etc... so guys who just wanted to go fast bought the LX. Usually 2-3K cheaper. And on some models I see that today. Manufacturers though are tuning the higher trim models better as to avoid the lower trim models out performance nowadays. What’s really bad today IMO is manufacturers cranking same horsepower out of a four cylinder, the engines are run harder, are under much higher pressures and just don’t hold up long term. Even a regular 4 cyl is harder and dirties up oil quicker than an 8. Even under regular driving. And now the public is being told, 10-20k mile oil changes. Lifetime transmission fluid. Cars being sold today are disposable, but the prices are not.
If you like paying a higher price for cars with genuine simulated wood vinyl dashboards and electronic crap that you'll never use and won't work when you want to, get the higher trim car. If you get the base model, you can add exactly what you want at half the price the dealer charges and is not part of some useless "Package."
