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

[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.

[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]

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.

[JST]

Originally Posted by FC

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.

http://www.colonialchevy.com/Vehicle...paign=deeplink

Not clear whether that one is a manual. Might be.

http://www.colonialchevy.com/Vehicle...paign=deeplink

Same with this one.


http://www.doverchevrolet.com/Vehicl...paign=deeplink

This one appears to be.

[bren]

Originally Posted by JST

Chevy SS.

End thread.

Considering the bonus point structure, I think the ctsv wagon is actually the unicorn he's after. Although, we all know he'll never buy an American car.

[3LOU5]

Originally Posted by bren

Considering the bonus point structure, I think the ctsv wagon is actually the unicorn he's after. Although, we all know he'll never buy an American car.

I don't recall him owning one, has he ??

And that's too bad, because I firmly believe American cars are prettttty close in performance when compared to their German counterparts.

But I do understand the whole "status" thing....

[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