These are not the best of times for fans of cheap speed. Here in 2023, cars are more expensive than ever; the pandemic-related supply crunch may have largely passed, but average transaction price for a new vehicle hovers around $48,000. Used car pricing has also softened from its COVID-era insanity, but most desirable models are still trading for more than they were before 2020. Making matters worse, car companies these days are chasing higher margins as they brace themselves