My MIL is I guess looking for a 3/4 life crisis car. What are y'alls Recs for an affordable sports sedan that is "sporty" in her words but also has a usable back seat and can be had for under 35k for one only a few years old. I'm planning on having her look at at the Acura Integra and Cadillac CTS, Benz's seem a little out of budget. Not sure in BMW 5 series. What else would you recommend?
Recs for used sports sedan
3,197 Views |
41 Replies |
Last: 1 mo ago by Guitarsoup
Genesis G70, Kia Stinger, Lexus IS.
“You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.” -Abraham Lincoln
“Veganism is like communism. They’re both fine… unless you like food.”
“Veganism is like communism. They’re both fine… unless you like food.”
BMW 6 series
2012-2015 C63. One of the best feeling and sounding V8s ever.
What's her maintenance budget? That figure could eliminate everything European.1939 said:
My MIL is I guess looking for a 3/4 life crisis car. What are y'alls Recs for an affordable sports sedan that is "sporty" in her words but also has a usable back seat and can be had for under 35k for one only a few years old. I'm planning on having her look at at the Acura Integra and Cadillac CTS, Benz's seem a little out of budget. Not sure in BMW 5 series. What else would you recommend?
Q50 red sport. Think it might be the best bang for the buck sports sedan. Really the regular sport level is fine. Just a hotter time on the red sport with mostly the same components. Stopped making them last year, but lots of pre owned around.
2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S - in Tiger Eye Pearl
Less Evil Hank Scorpio
Joined:
Oct 29, 2005
Posts:
20,510
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
This may be a relevant watch
Charismatic Megafauna
Joined:
May 22, 2017
Posts:
8,945
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
What does "sporty" mean to this person? Red? Stick shift? Is she tracking it or does she want it to look cool in the parking lot at brunch?
I second the TSX over the integra. She probably doesn't want the type s, but there is the a spec and other models that will probably be "sporty" enough and can be had in her price range and not have to worry about German maintenance costs.
The Nissan Maxima has been discontinued but can get a lightly-used one for well under 35K.
Charismatic Megafauna said:
What does "sporty" mean to this person? Red? Stick shift? Is she tracking it or does she want it to look cool in the parking lot at brunch?
Really need this answer to weigh in
Tracking it and looking cool in the parking lot are not mutually exclusive, though.@NFLPlayerProps said:Charismatic Megafauna said:
What does "sporty" mean to this person? Red? Stick shift? Is she tracking it or does she want it to look cool in the parking lot at brunch?
Really need this answer to weigh in
Doubt a 60-something life crisis mother-in-law is tracking a stick shift, drift monster. This isn't Ken Block we're talking about, people.
We have all seen Tokyo Drift... parking garages are in play.
aTm_bomb said:
Doubt a 60-something life crisis mother-in-law is tracking a stick shift, drift monster. This isn't Ken Block we're talking about, people.
Right, that or a Lexus with some body kit and bigger wheels aren't really the only two options though. Wide range in there. My ~70 year old dad decided he wanted something sporty on a whim and now drives the piss out of an Audi RS6.
Ha. Sporty just means it has good acceleration and has a smooth transmission. Definitely not taking it to a track or needing the performance model.
Charismatic Megafauna
Joined:
May 22, 2017
Posts:
8,945
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
So just any car that's not a cheap pos?
In that case Accord and Camry should definitely be considered. Reliable and lots of used inventory to choose from.
Hellcat....
The Honda Accord Touring trim with the 2.0L (2018-2022) is a great all around car and a bit of a sleeper acceleration wise. Handles well. Huge back seat and trunk.
If she wants more of a premium badge then a Lexus IS 350 F-sport.
If she wants more of a premium badge then a Lexus IS 350 F-sport.
1939 said:
Ha. Sporty just means it has good acceleration and has a smooth transmission. Definitely not taking it to a track or needing the performance model.
Would she consider a Tesla Model 3 Performance.? This would blow anything on this list away on performance and has a lot of things going for it for a 60yo. I reluctantly traded in my TLX Type S for a Model S last week and wouldn't go back. Full self driving + never getting into a hot car in the summer has been life changing. I've used dog mode as well to take the pups on errands when I would have otherwise left them at home.
GAC06
Joined:
Jan 27, 2006
Posts:
32,244
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Unfortunately the sport sedan market has never been worse IMO. There are a few true sport sedans out there but their cost has skyrocketed. In 2016 I bought a Chevy SS sedan with a V8 and a stick for $37,500. Best purchase of my life and I sold it for a profit 4 years later.
Now to get something even remotely similar, like the Lexus IS500 the buy in is like 70K. Somehow Cadillac is moving CTS-V Blackwings to idiot boomers for 125K.
Some of the vehicles posted in here are ok... but a turbo 6 and red painted calipers does not make a sport sedan in my book. Like most things, we can thank our asinine politicians for killing off true sport sedans for the working class man with their insane EPA guidelines.
Now to get something even remotely similar, like the Lexus IS500 the buy in is like 70K. Somehow Cadillac is moving CTS-V Blackwings to idiot boomers for 125K.
Some of the vehicles posted in here are ok... but a turbo 6 and red painted calipers does not make a sport sedan in my book. Like most things, we can thank our asinine politicians for killing off true sport sedans for the working class man with their insane EPA guidelines.
$37k in 2016 money is about $61k today. Crazy, but it is what it is. You can get a new 340i that is better in every performance metric than the SS. That is the sport sedan standard. You can probably find a good deal on a c43 in that same price range. A ct4-blackwing with 470hp is $62k. Genesis g70 is $10k cheaper and is a great sport sedan too. All of those have better performance and much nicer interiors.
Now, if you mean, has a v8 and makes a bunch of noise, sure, you can't buy many of those any more.
Now, if you mean, has a v8 and makes a bunch of noise, sure, you can't buy many of those any more.
SteveA said:
$37k in 2016 money is about $61k today. Crazy, but it is what it is. You can get a new 340i that is better in every performance metric than the SS. That is the sport sedan standard.
m340i is a hell of a car. However, it is not better in every performance metric than the SS - per Car and Driver testing. It is decimals faster in the quarter mile but a couple decimals worse in the skidpad g's. Braking from 70-0 mph took 159 feet in the SS vs 157 in the m340i. Acceleration, handling, braking - the performance metrics - are basically a wash. For the subjective sports sedan topics, both can be had in RWD but only the SS had a manual transmission. Some say RWD is a "sports sedan", others say AWD - which could not be had in the SS - is more sporty to them. Some say it CAN'T be a sports sedan without a manual transmission, obviously others disagree with that. Manual transmission hurts acceleration in modern cars, but can minimally improve handling due to less weight. As far as price, the base m340i in 2026 is right at the inflationary number you shared at $62K. But you can option those up to $75K to get the best performance which is what Car and Driver had on the m340i they tested and was a wash with the $61K equivalent SS.
*former owner of an SS and while defensive of it's credentials only tried to stick to 3rd party reported facts here
aTm_bomb said:
2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S - in Tiger Eye Pearl
/thread
Quote:
m340i is a hell of a car. However, it is not better in every performance metric than the SS - per Car and Driver testing. It is decimals faster in the quarter mile but a couple decimals worse in the skidpad g's. Braking from 70-0 mph took 159 feet in the SS vs 157 in the m340i. Acceleration, handling, braking - the performance metrics - are basically a wash. For the subjective sports sedan topics, both can be had in RWD but only the SS had a manual transmission. Some say RWD is a "sports sedan", others say AWD - which could not be had in the SS - is more sporty to them. Some say it CAN'T be a sports sedan without a manual transmission, obviously others disagree with that. Manual transmission hurts acceleration in modern cars, but can minimally improve handling due to less weight. As far as price, the base m340i in 2026 is right at the inflationary number you shared at $62K. But you can option those up to $75K to get the best performance which is what Car and Driver had on the m340i they tested and was a wash with the $61K equivalent SS.
*former owner of an SS and while defensive of it's credentials only tried to stick to 3rd party reported facts here
I don't disagree. I love the SS. I'm not attached to a manual anymore if I am driving the car every day, which is kind of what a sport sedan is supposed to do. But there are several good choices out there. and I think all of the cars we are talking about aren't what OP is looking for
Porsche, always go with a Porsche when the fear of being too old settles in
"I don't care about your feelings OP. I'm not going to let fandom replace reason, thought, and history"
FIDO*98* said:1939 said:
Ha. Sporty just means it has good acceleration and has a smooth transmission. Definitely not taking it to a track or needing the performance model.
Would she consider a Tesla Model 3 Performance.? This would blow anything on this list away on performance and has a lot of things going for it for a 60yo. I reluctantly traded in my TLX Type S for a Model S last week and wouldn't go back. Full self driving + never getting into a hot car in the summer has been life changing. I've used dog mode as well to take the pups on errands when I would have otherwise left them at home.
HOLD the **** on just a minute. Arent you the one that was bashing the **** out of Teslas a couple years ago? Regenerative braking being so fatiguing? Not quicker than your Acura?
I tried to steer her away from it, but she bought a 2022 Cadillac CT4. I think it was mainly because of the price, which I admit was a good deal considering the car is in great condition, but it's obviously not a sports sedan. She drove and A5 and Genesis G70, something was wrong with the A5's transmission so any Audi was immediately out and she claimed the G70 was nothing but a Camry. Never drove a BMW. I guess this should not be a surprising take from a 65 year old woman.
We can argue the economics ad nauseum but the bottom line is that the buying power of the typical customer has not kept up with the surge in vehicle prices.
Of course we could all take out 8 year notes on cars... and bury our heads in the sand I guess. But my point, which you confirmed in a way is that the buy in for a true sport sedan is now 60k-70k on the low end.
Also, yes a V8 and loud noises are important
Of course we could all take out 8 year notes on cars... and bury our heads in the sand I guess. But my point, which you confirmed in a way is that the buy in for a true sport sedan is now 60k-70k on the low end.
Also, yes a V8 and loud noises are important
The OP's MIL was wanting a 60K car on a 35K budget. This is where the Tesla shines. FSD is an absolute game changer and that wasn't available to us in a fleet car. I also bought a Model S which is a significant step up from the Model 3
Everything I said outside of that still stands up. My Acura TLX was a much better built car. It was more comfortable than the Tesla, better quality materials, felt much more premium, steered and handled better, and was more fun to drive. There is no way I would've traded the TLX in for a Model 3. The CT4 the OPs MIL chose is a different story.
Everything I said outside of that still stands up. My Acura TLX was a much better built car. It was more comfortable than the Tesla, better quality materials, felt much more premium, steered and handled better, and was more fun to drive. There is no way I would've traded the TLX in for a Model 3. The CT4 the OPs MIL chose is a different story.
Hopefully the accelerator on the S doesn't hurt your leg
Featured Stories
See All
B-Team Watch Along: No. 8 Texas A&M vs. Missouri State
by Ryan Brauninger
A&M's process of maintaining excellence begins vs. Missouri State
by Olin Buchanan
21:20
1d ago
5.6k
Presenting Texas Aggies United's Texas A&M vs. Kentucky Sweepstakes!
by Texas Aggies United
AggieCenturyTree
This part of College Football I love - hope never changes
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
66