Thought exercise: Best sporty 4-door for under $50k new or used

[FC]

By "best" I mean, good feel, handling, etc.

A few basic parameters:

1) Manual transmission
2) Not too old. Let's keep it at 10 years max MY2007+
3) Minimum of E46 level of rear passenger leg room/space
4) RWD>AWD>>FWD
5) Can tolerate reasonably high upkeep costs but no Maseratis or similar.
6) Min performance of 0-60 in ~6 seconds.

Bonus points for
- LSD
- NA motor
- being "special" i.e. ///M, AMG, low production, etc.
- sounding awesome
- being a wagon
- the more low end torque, the better.

Haven't thought about it much, but that's what I got so far. I think you get the picture

[Theo]

Originally Posted by FC

By "best" I mean, good feel, handling, etc.

A few basic parameters:

1) Manual transmission
2) Not too old. Let's keep it at 10 years max MY2007+
3) Minimum of E46 level of rear passenger leg room/space
4) RWD>AWD>>FWD
5) Can tolerate reasonably high upkeep costs but no Maseratis or similar.
6) Min performance of 0-60 in ~6 seconds.

Bonus points for
- LSD
- NA motor
- being "special" i.e. ///M, AMG, low production, etc.
- sounding awesome
- being a wagon
- the more low end torque, the better.

Haven't thought about it much, but that's what I got so far. I think you get the picture

I was going to say DUH E90 M3 until I saw the "- the more low end torque, the better."

Is the first year of the F10 M5 that low yet?

Opppps then I saw - - NA motor

The above does not exist.

But if non NA is ok:

https://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...47272&zc=94903

[JST]

Chevy SS.

End thread.

http://www.chevrolet.com/locate-a-ve...modelyear=2017

[wdc330i]

For the low-end torque thing, I guess I'd move over to turbo and just wait a bit longer for these to depreciate more, or extend my budget a tad to get it sooner.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...ting=168555351

[Theo]

Originally Posted by JST

Chevy SS.

End thread.

http://www.chevrolet.com/locate-a-ve...modelyear=2017

Yet you still don't own one JST or Anyone on this board.

[Theo]

This one has a cool interior.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...9673/overview/

[JST]

Originally Posted by Theo

Yet you still don't own one JST or Anyone on this board.

Yes, but my criteria are slightly different than those listed above. I prefer AWD or FWD for my second car, and would rather have something slightly smaller and more fuel efficient.

At the end of the day, the position I was trying to fill had "Golf" written all over it. The position that FC is trying to fill is one the SS is made for.

[FC]

Let me point out that the some elements are preferable though not deal breakers. The E90 M3, for example, has appeal and should be in the conversation, but it's certainly hurt by having so little of its performance envelope available at normal speeds without driving like an a-hole. That and range.

Interesting that the F10 M5 is that low already. I dunno, our CEO has one and it's nice but I don't love it and it looks big.

The main reason for this was a conversation with a co-worker about basically my previous thread on F80 M3 vs. New GTI. My argument was that there just isn't a lot out there, and for over 50K for a vanilla 3er, I might as well got for 65k and get a custom-ordered M3. Under 50k, I feel nothing touches the value of a GTI. This thread, I guess, is about what's in between that's worthwhile.

[FC]

Originally Posted by JST

Chevy SS.

End thread.

http://www.chevrolet.com/locate-a-ve...modelyear=2017

This is a good point. I mean, really, I have a big issue with just how pedestrian it looks, but it does check an awful lot of boxes. Trouble is, when I look, I can never find a local one to drive.

[FC]

Originally Posted by Theo

This one has a cool interior.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...9673/overview/

Do like that interior (boring exterior though). Is the MT on the F10 any good or is it as bad as the E60 MT?