??? for the gearheads what's the best $50-100k sporty car out there

[FSUTribe76]

I'm way overdue for a new car as I'm still driving the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon I had when I was a state worker. It's still running great and looks fine other than some paint fading but it's about to hit 200k miles soon so I'm way overdue for an upgrade. I drive my car hard as I do lots of travel for work and pleasure so I need something relatively reliable but I like a small zippy car not a typical luxury car.

I was thinking something like the Lexus RC 350, Jaguar F-Type, maybe a fully tricked out Hyundai Genesis, or a Porsche Cayman.

Truthfully, I'd like something that mixes reliability, decent gas mileage so I'm not constantly stopping, decent pickup and speed with a nice luxurious ride. I don't need super high end muscle car speed p, just something that looks and acts sporty.

 

[OrlandNole]

Truthfully, I'd like something that mixes reliability, decent gas mileage so I'm not constantly stopping, decent pickup and speed with a nice luxurious ride. I don't need super high end muscle car speed p, just something that looks and acts sporty.

Lexus, Acura or Infiniti.

 

[West Duval Nole]

I would get the Nissan GT-R if you like imports. If you want American get the Corvette Z06.

 

[CC0492]

The new look Miata.

 

[West Duval Nole]

Or you could go with a BMW M3 or M5. The GTR is one of my dream cars that isn't super expensive exotic, so I would probably go with that. The handling on either of these BMWs and the GTR is amazing.

 

[F4Gary]

Do you want a back seat or not? If not, go with a C7 Corvette. The convertibles are pretty quiet inside if you are thinking drop top.

 

[F4Gary]

Just reread your post and maybe the Jag would be more your style.
Here's a nice list from Car & Driver

http://www.caranddriver.com/jaguar/f-type

 

[FSUTribe76]

Do you want a back seat or not? If not, go with a C7 Corvette. The convertibles are pretty quiet inside if you are thinking drop top.

I'm indifferent to back seats. My Tiburon is technically five seats but normal sized adults only fit in the front two seats. Only tiny Asians and Latinos would fit in the back as adults. But I'd probably not want a convertible. Maybe in the future when I personally have more than one car, right now I'd want an "all weather" car.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Just reread your post and maybe the Jag would be more your style.
Here's a nice list from Car & Driver

http://www.caranddriver.com/jaguar/f-type

Yeah, that's definitely been on my list along with the Lexus RC 350 for awhile. But I haven't started seriously looking as of yet. I might even consider a 2 year old car that normally sells new in the $150k range but I can get used for under $100k.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Lexus, Acura or Infiniti.

The new Acura NSX looks amazing but it's more than I want to spend, I think it's $150k base $170 loaded.

 

[hatsbo]

I'm indifferent to back seats. My Tiburon is technically five seats but normal sized adults only fit in the front two seats. Only tiny Asians and Latinos would fit in the back as adults. But I'd probably not want a convertible. Maybe in the future when I personally have more than one car, right now I'd want an "all weather" car.

You voting for Donald Trump? Lol
I'd buy a used Carrera for play, AND a used Ford Explorer Limited for camping, traveling, carrying people or hauling big things to your house.

 

[F4Gary]

I'd rather have a BMW 4 series. But hey, go all out and get a Hellcat or a ZL1 Camaro or a Shelby Mustang.

Seriously though, look at a slightly used 2014 or 15 C7 Corvette. You can always trade out in a couple of years.

 

[FSUTribe76]

The new look Miata.

I'll definitely test drive it as I saw an article raving about its gas mileage to power ratio, but it's a little on the cheap side. I'm not personally into conspicuous consumption but in my new role I'm supposed to project success. So I'm conflicted to an extent, I don't want a douchey Lambo or but I may not want a Mazda or a Hyundai either (I say as I'm perfectly happy with my current Tiburon and like the looks of its successor the Genesis). So if there's such a thing as sporty but understated sophistication that's what I want.

 

[FSUTribe76]

You voting for Donald Trump? Lol
I'd buy a used Carrera for play, AND a used Ford Explorer Limited for camping, traveling, carrying people or hauling big things to your house.

Nah, while I LOVE my current Tiburon it was designed by Koreans for Koreans and had to be shipped from Korea. Even me at 5'11" has the top of my hair hitting the roof in the drivers seat. In the back...no one is comfortable. You'd need to be under 5'4" or the hatchback would chop off your head.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I'd rather have a BMW 4 series. But hey, go all out and get a Hellcat or a ZL1 Camaro or a Shelby Mustang.

Seriously though, look at a slightly used 2014 or 15 C7 Corvette. You can always trade out in a couple of years.

I will probably look to test drive the BMW 4 series. It looks very staid and plain, but if it's got some decent power and agility I might get it.

I probably want a more "comfortable" or luxurious cat than a Charger, Mustang or Corvette but I say that only from my initial stereotyping it as American Muscle cars versus luxury sports/sporty cars. I haven't test driven any of them (although I've driven standard Charger, Challengers and Mustangs as rentals on vacations) so maybe my perception is wrong.

 

[ncnole1975]

Audi A7 or Tesla. The new Jags are very nice as well. American sports cars are for compensating

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I like the Audi A6s and 7s. Don't break the bank either.

 

[RTM58]

Mercedes AMG C 63 S Coupé


Nice but, like the Bacardi's found out, not much you can do with that much sports car (Ferrari) in Tally.

 

[Banditking]

Though a bit outside your price range, I'd take a shot at tracking down a used Aston Martin Rapide. Beautiful car.

Of ones mentioned, the bmw m5 is quite nice.

 

[NOLES WIN]

You could get a really nice Subaru WRX STI and be under budget.

 

[RunRonnieRun]

Quattroporte

But Tiburon? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

 

[SoddyNole]

You really want to spend that kind of money on a car and then put a lot of miles on it traveling for work?

 

[NOLES WIN]

That's why I recommended the Subaru

 

[FSUTribe76]

You really want to spend that kind of money on a car and then put a lot of miles on it traveling for work?

Yeah. Imo Cars are for driving. $50-100k is well under the standard never spend more than 25% or your annual salary on the overall price of a car. I don't want or need anything extravagant like an Aston Martin or Bentley unless I can get one on a steal, but $50-100k is my budget and it's not going to sit in the garage so it needs to be driveable from a reliability and fuel efficiency standpoint not a garage queen.

 

[F4Gary]

Only get a Mercedes if it is under warranty. My son is a Mercedes mechanic and the stories he tells me of what repairs and parts cost is scary.

 

[goldmom]

All repairs these days are scary as to the cost. My Acuras have never been economical in that regard. But since your son is a Mercedes mechanic, he surely understands he's one of the reasons that repairs are costly - he makes a VERY good salary.

 

[QuaZ2002]

Yeah. Imo Cars are for driving. $50-100k is well under the standard never spend more than 25% or your annual salary on the overall price of a car. I don't want or need anything extravagant like an Aston Martin or Bentley unless I can get one on a steal, but $50-100k is my budget and it's not going to sit in the garage so it needs to be driveable from a reliability and fuel efficiency standpoint not a garage queen.

I love how you subtley announce that 50-100k is well under 25% of what you make.

 

[LT4PLY]

Corvette will be the best value. A better overall car you can live with easier is a Certified preowned BMW M3. If you like a drop top then you get the best of both worlds with the hard top convertible. The E93 I have is a supercar in sheep's clothing.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I love how you subtley announce that 50-100k is well under 25% of what you make.

If you think that's bragging that's on you not me. I said that in response to a statement that a $50-100k car should sit in the garage and not be driven which makes as much sense to me as owning a 90 inch tv and refusing to turn it on because you'll burn out the pixels. Either you can afford it or you can't. You should never buy a car that's total value is more than 25% of your annual salary and for me this is well under that. I'm not looking to drop up to six figures for an ego stroke that I drive around town looking for chicks on the weekend, I want a useable car that won't embarass me when I'm meeting with regulators and potential business partners. If that makes you feel bad then you should look inward at why you care what I make. I have two primary business partners one of whom makes ten times what I do and another who probably conservatively is financially worth 1,000 times what I have or more as he's got giant businesses in Australia and the U.S. I've never felt bad about myself when hanging out with him nor should you when talking to me. Frankly there are definitely people with more in the bank than me here as I've only been free of government servitude for the last four years or so.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Corvette will be the best value. A better overall car you can live with easier is a Certified preowned BMW M3. If you like a drop top then you get the best of both worlds with the hard top convertible. The E93 I have is a supercar in sheep's clothing.

I know coming from someone (myself) that used to own a 90's Trans Am in law school it's odd but I've never really liked American muscle cars. So a Corvette is probably out for me, just because (again stereotyping) I always viewed Corvette owners as compensating for something and saw it as more of an ego stroke instead of a real car. A Beamer with some pep is probably more in line with what I'm looking for.

Basically at some point I need to start test driving all of these cars. From outside looks alone I'm still loving the Jag F Type, Lexus RC 352 and Porsche Cayman (which is odd because I don't like most Porsches, just too buglike), but I haven't the faintest idea how they handle and feel the road.

 

[Gonolz]

I haven't been satisfied by any cars made by the big car companies. All of those cars are so generic. I've decided for my next car, I will build my own. I'll post pics and steps on how to do it after I finish.

 

[Gonolz]

Seriously, though, I would pick the Corvette Z06. As you don't seem big on the Corvette, if you want to go something with more space and luxury, with good sporty performance, I'd consider the BMW M5 or an Audi S7.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I haven't been satisfied by any cars made by the big car companies. All of those cars are so generic. I've decided for my next car, I will build my own. I'll post pics and steps on how to do it after I finish.

I hope that it runs on something really exotic, like some unique species of moss that only grows on the rocks that line the Jiuzhaigou lakes in China.

 

[Gonolz]

I hope that it runs on something really exotic, like some unique species of moss that only grows on the rocks that line the Jiuzhaigou lakes in China.

You know how in the move Elf, Santa's sleigh was powered by the excitement and love of kid's belief in Santa Claus? My car will run on the excitement and hope of beautiful gold diggers that one day they will be the ultimate trophy wife.

 

[Lemon Thrower]

if you prefer BMWs to Corvettes, test an Infinity G50. Its at the lower end of the price range, has BMW type pep but is a more comfortable yuppie looking car.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Seriously, though, I would pick the Corvette Z06. As you don't seem big on the Corvette, if you want to go something with more space and luxury, with good sporty performance, I'd consider the BMW M5 or an Audi S7.

Well I'm not taking it street racing for pinks, all I want speed wise is a car with zip to get out of the way of an accident and some sleek but luxurious looks, it doesn't need to hit 200.

 

[FSUTribe76]

if you prefer BMWs to Corvettes, test an Infinity G50. Its at the lower end of the price range, has BMW type pep but is a more comfortable yuppie looking car.

Looks-wise that is precisely what I'm looking for. I've never really looked into Infinitis I'll have to give it a test drive.

 

[itsjustme0770]

If you want a sports car, I think your two choices are the Jag Ftype Coupe and the 911. Either can be had within your budget and are going to be reliable and a ton of fun.

If you want something with four doors that handles more or less like a sports car, consider the M5. I love he look of the M6 Gran Coupe, but getting that under 100k right now is a little tough. Might be doable, but its close. Also consider the Panamera Turbo. You can find a year or two old for less than 100k and while the styling is either love it or hate it, the car is an absolute machine.

 

[LT4PLY]

I have had lots of Corvettes and they are what they are... best in class value. Bring a cannon to a knife fight. Dealer network sucks relative to the price of the car... you take it to the same place that services 12 thousand dollar Chevy Sparks so you can imagine. Enthusiast support network is off the charts though... you can post on one of the corvette forums and get more feedback and help than you can imagine.

As to Infiniti... peppy yes. My Wife drives one. I don't recommend. Dealer network is up and down. Some are great, some will screw you. It's still just a nissan with leather. None of the controls are really configured for a left hand drive vehicle, including things like the windshield wipers that stop right in front of the driver's face. It's like they do the conversion from RHD to LHD to the bare minimum. I will give props to the reliability. So far we haven't had any issues. Literally none. Every new car I have ever had has something to get fixed under warranty except this one.

Mercedes is 1st class ride and luxury. Dealers are required to be the best, and in my experience are.

Caddy ATS V or CTS V. Down side is dealer network is like Infiniti... some good, some suck. Plus side is a great support network and american parts network for the long run.

Jag you will likely regret. Best looking of the bunch though. Exhaust sounds great too (like the 'vette) and there aren't many on the roads. Dealer network is practically non existent. Non existent support network over here in the aftermarket. The jag is a lease and turn in car if you have a local dealer that isn't far from your house.

The whole BMW line is about driving... I drove the new 4 series coupe for a couple days and it's nice as heck too. It's performance / driving oriented Vs. the Mercedes luxury oriented. The BMW is a finely tuned machine. Costs more than a Vette, not as fast if you know what you are doing (professional driver or have a TON of experience)... faster if you don't know what you are doing (basically almost everyone). Dealer network is like Mercedes. Best of the best.

My BMW M3 is a 2011 and has about 22k miles. I daily drive a 2013 Chevy Volt which is the best car I have ever owned. It has nearly the same miles on it as the M3 despite being 3.5 years newer (volt was a leftover) If you can find a Caddy ELR to test drive I strongly suggest it. The ELR is a nicer version of the Volt and I recently found one new for 30k off sticker. My Volt has plenty of power, costs practically nothing to operate, ultra quiet, and actually quite fun to drive because the center of gravity and weight. It drives like a really heavy European car. plus that 7500 tax credit was more than welcome.

I agree cars are meant to be driven... I have a Corvette with 100k on the clock. But when you drive a car like these (M3, CTS V, Vette, etc.) daily you can expect to not be happy 100 percent of the time. That's why I drive the BMW sometimes and the Volt most of the time (and at this point the 'vette is at my wife's parents and they are driving it for now... I clearly have too many cars). Took the Bimmer to work today, taking the Volt after work down to Disney with the family.

 

[Lemon Thrower]

Looks-wise that is precisely what I'm looking for. I've never really looked into Infinitis I'll have to give it a test drive.

I used to have a bmw. they are good, but have a very taut suspension. you feel every bump. some people like that.

infinity G series is somewhere between a luxury car and a bmw. to me, its the best of both worlds. engine/performance-wise, its the equal or better than a 3-series bmw. at least it feels that way driving it. its worth a test drive to see if you like it. the road handling/acceleration comparison is particularly good if you are comparing the 4 door versus say a bmw 5 series or a mercedes E class sedan, and it costs somewhere in between a 3 series and a 5 series (when I bought mine).

downsides are they don't carry the status that some of the other cars carry, performance is less than a vette, etc., and gas milage is about 16-18 mpg. But the upfront cost, repairs, etc. are about half of some of the cars you are considering.

Also, as a business owner, its not always wise to be driving around in a conspicuous car like a Bentley or even a vetter, and even a mercedes or some other imports are conspicuous in smaller towns.