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

FC · 04-11-2017, 03:57 PM

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

04-11-2017, 03:57 PM	#1
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,266	Thought exercise: Best sporty 4-door for under $50k new or used 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