So my lady friend is considering a BMW 3 series, probably a 328i. She basically wants a brand new, small, performant 4-door sedan. Her parameters are “driving fun” more than luxery appointments, though obviously creature comforts are in play.
What other options should she be looking at?
Bonus: I’m looking at buying something, too, and hoping to learn things with her. My parameters are quite more restricted: probably close to half that budget, some sort of “Certified, pre-owned” car. I’ve own two BMW 3’s and loved them, my current is 10 years old and ready to be put out to stud.
Ditto the VW GTI, with a $50K budget, upgrade to the Golf R model. You’ll have money left over but won’t be short changed on performance and creature comforts.
For a little more, look at the new Audi A/S3 quattro or A/S4 quattro.
MB CLA/GLA and C300/C400 4matics are also great alternatives for under $50K.
If you’re looking for pre-owned at half the price… I recommend the same cars that are just coming off 3 year leases.
Fun to own, maybe. But fun to drive? Only if you’re a masochist, surely. Anyway, the OP’s wife wants a performance car. You can pick up a two or three year old M3 for under $50K without too much trouble.
BMW 3-Series has my vote. We’re on our third. I find the Audis underpowered. My folks loved their Acura TL, but I never drove it. Might be worth checking out.
Define “driving fun” a little more. To me, that means a RWD sports car with little to no body lean, stiff suspension, both quick off the line and great higher end acceleration, low to the ground, and excellent steering feel. To my wife it means cranks every time, gets her where she is going and requires no thought or input beyond gas, brake and point it where it should go. Oh, and “cute”.
Don’t have to sell me on classics, but many (including my wife) would rightfully observe that they are far less safe than the cheapest modern car. Assume you get into the late 60s such that you have a shoulder belt and headrests, you still have no air bags - not to mention modern brakes and such. And there IS the reliability issue. If you drive a classic, there WILL be some time that you will be inconvenienced when something goes wrong.
All that said, I was going to suggest a Corvair Corsa, which can be had for WELL under $20k. Add a rear engine to go w/ the RWD! But again, not a sedan.
The just slightly over 1 ton elephant in the room in terms of fun cars is of course the Miata. If pure driving fun is the only criteria, I think you’d have a really hard time beating it.
And the winner is: Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Its performing and handling specs are on par with the 911, but it costs less than half as much (and comes in a 4-door). It is not a “pretty” car, but it is one of the funnest to drive, if you like to drive hard.
I find the Audis underpowered. My folks loved their Acura TL, but I never drove it. Might be worth checking out.
But again, not a sedan.