So what's the $30K game in town for '05?

From what I see, it'll be:

GTO 6.0 400hp
Charger SRT 6.1 425hp
and maybe a Mustang Mach1 5.4 ~380hp

By "in town", you mean domestics only? If so, that'd be about it.

Some that are out of town:
*EVO. Rs (27k), GSR (30k) and MR (34k)
*STi
*350z

Will we actually see a Mach 1 in 05?

Im guessing it will be a 06 model with a summer 05 release.

I wasn't sure if the pocket rocket cars would be comparable, but let's go ahead and throw them in.

EVO and the other Lancer models are an awesome deal. High 12s-low 13s for under $30K.

Sti little slower and more expensive($32K) but still a good deal.

350Z getting further outgunned in 2005. Mustang GT does everything as well or better for $5K less. It's funny but to me the 350Z got old and slow pretty quick.

As far as the Mach1, i doubt it'll show up in '05. I just threw it in there as a placeholder for Ford. Hell we can still benchrace it. I'd say it's a lock that it'll be right around $30K.

And given that to choose from I'd have to say the Charger SRT is going to be the winner of bang for the buck if it's anywhere south of $35K.

After that it's a choice of taste whether you get an EVO or a Mach1

even though it's underpowered, the Mazda RX-8 at least deserves mention

Evo 9 gets MIVEC variable timing. That should help low end torque a bit.