not to get flamed but there are sum decent aussie cars in that price bracket as well if noones already brought em up. f6 typhoon and hsv clubbies are around that price as well iirc (the ss is $15k less) yet all would hammer the civic in a straight line. the balance and handling of a car only count for so much, at the end of the day u need sum decent power as goin as well...

my 2c neway