Can't afford a Hellcat or a Z06, or a Z/28 or a Shelby......Check these late-model bargains out....

There's a lot of people that would love to have a modern musclecar but simply can't afford it. The Hellcat Challenger, the Shelby GT500 Mustang, the ZL1 and Z/28 Camaros are all awesome with their 600+hp engines and suspensions to handle all that power. But not many people can afford $70,000 for a car!! Even the mid-level models-the Challenger R/T, the Mustang GT, the Camaro SS-with "only" 400+ hp still cost $40,000. That's too much for many people's budget-especially for something that's maybe a 2nd or 3rd car- a "toy"-not the person or family's primary mode of transportation. But here's a solution-a lot of high-performance cars were built in the last 10-15 years and most of these are under $20,000 now, and many are under $10,000.  Here's my personal favorites. # 1. 2005-2010 Hemi Charger / Chrysler 300C Hemi. These have between 340 and 425 hp depending on whether you get the 5.7 or the 6.1 Hemi. I have seen these cars at auctions for as low as $8,000. These were built during the merger with Daimler-Benz. You have a Mercedes E55 chassis with a Chrysler Hemi stuffed in it. The best of both worlds. There is a ton of speed equipment available for these cars. # 2. 2008 "Bullitt" Mustang; 2009-10 GT. The Bullitt edition had a special suspension, 3.73:1 gears,a short-throw Hurst shifter, a special exhaust and 320 hp- ( 20 more hp than the GT). Ford incorporated those changes into the GT package in the ensuing years.  #3. 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO. The best car nobody bought. Car and Driver said it best- "It runs like a Corvette, handles like a BMW and looks like a rental car. You got a 350hp 5.7 liter V8 in the '04 models and a 6.0 liter 400 hp V8 in the '05-06s, backed by a six-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. Off the showroom floor they ran 0-60 in the 5-second range and the 1/4 mile in the 13s. The bland styling may keep the men in blue off your back as well. I have seen these cars for sale as low as $6,500. Dynamite if you can find one.  # 4. 2003-04 Mercury Marauder. Designed to compete with Impala SS these cars took the Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor package and took it further. The 239 hp 4.6 liter V8 was replaced by a snarling 302 hp version pirated directly from the Mustang Cobra. The 4-speed automatic was fitted with a high-stall speed converter and a special shift kit. Wrist-thick front and rear stabilizer bars and fat 18" low-profile tires put all that power to the ground. Inside you got special seats and Auto Meter guages. For some reason, Ford never promoted this car or advertized it or asked the buff magazines to test one. And then wondered why they didn't sell. Jennifer Garner drove one on "Alias" for a while. # 5. 1998-2002 Pontiac Trans-Am / Camaro SS. These cars have the LS1 5.7 V8 out of the same-year Corvettes. 320 hp stock and you can increase that by 100 easily and stay smog-legal. There is a ton of speed equipment available for these cars. And $7,000 will buy you one in any state in the union. Food for thought if you want some later model muscle....But don't have an extra 50K!!!  Mastermind