How many sub-$80K coupes are left?

The passenger car market has been declining for years now but coupes have stood somewhat defiantly, refusing to go quietly…

But they are going. According to the latest round of VFACTS data, only the Ford Mustang has posted positive year-on-year growth this side of the $200,000 barrier, and much of that was because of the torturously long transition between the S550 and S650 generations.

But, while sales might be down, most of the major players have publicly committed to offering drivers’ and enthusiasts’ cars for the foreseeable future. And so, on that note, here are the coupes you can still buy new for less than $80,000 plus on-road costs (ORCs).

Surprise, surprise – the original people’s coupe (of the modern era) is still the most affordable at $43,940 plus ORCs for the entry-level GT, and that’s regardless of if you want a manual or automatic transmission.

Those wanting a few more toys will need to front up another two grand for the GTS, but all core GR86s share the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that buzzes out 174kW and 250Nm, via six-speed transmissions and a limited-slip rear differential.

Not keen on driving something with a Toyota badge or simply don’t like the GR86’s design? Well, the good news is its twin, the Subaru BRZ, starts from $44,290 plus costs, though you will have to pay $1000 extra for an automatic.

Identical in every way beyond the friendlier exterior design and supposedly a few key suspension metrics, the BRZ is just as capable and engaging as the GR86 when referring to the base and mid-range versions, but the flagship tS ups the ante with STI-tuned dampers and a Brembo brake package.

Arguably the daddy and people’s hero of this line-up, the Ford Mustang is one of the last two sub-$100,000 V8s left on the Australian market – alongside the Nissan Patrol – and the only sub-$100,000 V8 passenger vehicle.

The range opens from $66,990 plus ORCs for the four-cylinder Ecoboost (232kW/475Nm) and lifts to $78,990 plus ORC for the V8-powered GT manual (347kW/550Nm).

Want a GT automatic? Yours for $81,890 plus ORCs. Dark Horse, perhaps? That’s knocking on the door of $100,000…

Sharing its heritage-rich icon status with the Mustang, the latest-generation Nissan Z sticks with a tried-and-true recipe: a hot six-cylinder engine, delicate body lines and rear-wheel drive.

The standard model costs $76,160 plus ORCs regardless of if you want the six-speed manual or the nine-speed automatic, and both feature a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine good for 298kW and 475Nm.

There is a hotter Nismo version but, like the Mustang Dark Horse, it starts well above $90,000.

The 2 Series has long been BMW’s littlest rear-drive offering – taking over from the 1 Series two generations ago – and most-affordable coupe, though only one variant of the current line-up creeps under our $80,000 ceiling.

Packing a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, the 190kW/400Nm BMW 230i is the most affordable Bavarian sports car you can buy right now at $78,500 plus ORCs, undercutting the hot M240i xDrive by a heady $23,000.

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