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The 20 Best Sports (and Sporty) Cars You Can Buy for under $50,000
Why suffer in efficient blandness when you can actually have fun for your 50 large?By Mark VaughnPublished: Jun 17, 2020
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Autoweek
Last week esteemed Editor Raynal did a list celebrating the fact that the average car sold in America goes for something like $37,000. Yay, Raynal. But frankly, an awful lot of $37,000 cars (not the ones on his list, not most of them, anyway) are boring as hell. You are an Autoweek reader, a racing sophisticate who appreciates a good apex far better than the average knucklehead out on the road today. So while your income may fall into the average category, your choice of car will not.
Behold, therefore, this list of cars under 50 grand that will Make Driving Fun Again (MDFA, a platform we can all get on). I made a noble effort to list them all alphabetically, but gave up after a while. In any case, we will not play favorites. Now read on, starting with Alfa Romeo, a company whose presence here will lead it to keep building the 4C, even though it’s so painful to drive.
1
Alfa Romeo Giulia: $40,850
Originally I was going to list the 4C, but it’s over $50K. So the next-best Alfa is the Giulia sedan. Last year I flew to Italy to drive the 2020 model through Italian streets and I loved it. The base car has a 2.0-liter 280-hp four, but if you want to break out of this list-imposed $50K limit, go for the 505-hp V6-powered Quadrifoglio—it’s only $74,500.
2
Audi S4: $49,900
This is another one that squeaks under the limit only when you don’t include its destination charge. Look at what you’re getting here: a twin-scroll turbocharged V6 sending 349 hp to all four wheels so efficiently that it’ll get you to 60 in just 4.4 seconds. Plus, it’s wrapped in a subtle exterior package that might not get you arrested … right away. And it seats five.
3
BMW M240i coupe: $45,800
If you long for the first M3, try driving the M240i coupe. The 3.0-liter straight-six drives the rear wheels with 335 hp to get the M240i to 60 in 4.4 seconds. But the best part is the superb sense of balance you get behind the wheel. I got to lap Laguna Seca in this, and they had to pry the wheel from my warm, sweaty fingers. The M240i might be the most fun car on this list!
4
BMW 330i sedan: $40,750
Read full articleFabian Kirchbauer
Yes, you can move up to a 3-Series for under 50 large. That’s nice to know, in a first-world-problems kind of way. But this cat’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder puts out 255 hp and gets you to 60 in an efficient 5.6 seconds. So while it’s no M, it is still lively enough. And you can get the M Sport treatment of cosmetic touches for $5,200. So there’s that.
5
Cadillac CT5-V: $48,690
Cadillac introduced this model on a racetrack after letting us take it up some very spicy mountain roads. This model is powered by a 360-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. The coming V8 will surely sail right past our $50,000 limit. In the meantime you will be happy in this model, on the road or on the track.
6
Chevrolet Camaro 2SS: $43,995
Yes, granted, the ZL1 is better, and the ZL1 1LE is even better than that, but our ceiling is 50 grand, remember? A little juggling of the option packages and I got a Camaro 2SS with the 1LE suspension package for which the online configurator listed $43,995. Not bad for a 6.2-liter V8-powered Camaro that is ready for the racetrack.
7
Ford Mustang GT: $37,320
You can get a Mustang for as low as $26,670 or as high as $72,900 for a Shelby GT500. But for just $37,320 you can get this GT in optional twister orange ($495) with a direct-injection, 460-hp, 5.0-liter, 302-cubic-inch V8 attached to a six-speed manual, limited-slip diff and six-piston Brembos. That’s a lot of performance in a nice-looking package.
8
Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody: $45,995
Since we have 50 grand, we can go straight up to the Scat Pack Widebody with the 392 Hemi V8 making 485 hp, six-piston Brembos and Bilstein adaptive damping suspension. Upmarket from this configuration are Hellcats and Redeyes, but those are all over the 50-grand limit. Having driven one of these on the drag strip and on mountain roads, this Challenger is plenty fun for the money.
9
Tesla Model 3 Performance: $48,690
Read full articleLarry Houghton
Yes, I cheated to get the Model 3 under 50 grand by using the price Tesla lists “after potential savings.” That’s gas savings, a substance you won’t need in this electric car. By clicking the Performance option you get a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 162 mph, all while maintaining a 299-mile range. Hit the right buttons and you can do donuts. I even autocrossed one last year.
10
Volkswagen Golf R: $42,390
While you can debate the product planning that went into making a $42,000 Volkswagen, you can’t deny that this Golf R is incredibly fun to drive. With 288 hp going to all four wheels it’ll grab enough asphalt to hit 60 in under five seconds. It’s nicely balanced and fun to drive, of course, but it’s also a very practical five-door hatchback that is easy to park and even a little inconspicuous.
11
Subaru WRX STI: $36,995
You might have just as much fun, and attract less law enforcement attention, in the plain-wrapper WRX for $27,495. You’d have to do with only 2.0 liters of turbocharged displacement and 268 hp instead of 2.5 and 310, but it’d still be a good time. But for max performance you’ll want the full STI treatment. Either way, you will have fun on tarmac or gravel at a reasonable price.
12
Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86: $28,845/$28,015
Manufacturers
This collaboration between Subaru and Toyota has resulted in one of the simplest, least expensive and ultimately best performance buys in decades. Subaru made the chassis (with unique tuning done for 86) and most of the flat-four engine, while Toyota added the intake, fuel delivery system and the manual and automatic transmissions. The result is a sporty car bargain.
13
Toyota Supra/BMW Z4: $49,990/$49,700
Yes, those sticker prices are without destination charge. With it, we’re over 50 grand. The Supra and Z4 are based largely on the BMW. The pair allows German car customers a fun alternative and Toyota buyers a step up from the 86, and a chance to get into a sporty two-seater before they get bogged down in Siennas when they have to make sensible, practical choices.
14
Nissan 370Z NISMO: $48,965
The Z just celebrated its 50th birthday, and it has surely grown in the ensuing five decades, from a 2.4-liter six to a 332-hp 3.7-liter V6 mated to a six-speed manual in this configuration. While the entry Z starts at $30,090, this NISMO model with a sport-tuned suspension, aero body and 350-hp output puts the sticker just under $50K. Certainly worth it in this configuration.
15
Jaguar XE R-Dynamic S (P300) AWD: $46,295
Significantly updated last year, the XE sedan starts at a low $39,900. But why go low when you have $50,000? So let’s jump directly into the R-Dynamic model, which bumps power from the 2.0-liter turbo-four from 247 up to 296 hp while acceleration to 60 takes a relatively quick 5.4 seconds. There are faster and better-looking Jags further up the price scale, but a Jag for under $50K is kind of cool.
16
Lexus IS 350 F Sport RWD: $46,400
There’s a new Lexus IS coming out any minute now. Yes, this one IS is getting a little long in the tooth, but at least it still has teeth. Not as many as the long-gone IS-F with its 5.0 V8, but this is still fun to drive, especially for a Lexus. There is also an IS 350 F Sport AWD, but RWD is a little more fun so the RWD model is the one picked here.
17
Genesis G70: $38,475
The G70 rides on a shortened sedan version of the larger, heavier Kia Stinger’s hatchback configuration, so pick the G70. And take the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 instead of the 2.0 turbo-four. The G70 competes with BMW 3 and Lexus IS sedans, and does a good job of it.
18
Volvo S60: $36,050
The S60 was new just last year, and it’s actually pretty fun to drive, while being moderately competent in corners. Get the Momentum trim level, it’ll keep you going. You can also get a “Polestar Engineered” model but that starts at over 65 grand. In the base model you get that super- and turbocharged engine, which is worth it just to imagine what it’s doing at any given moment.
19
Infiniti Q60: $41,350
Now I’ll admit my first choice here would have been the 400-hp Q60 Red Sport 400, with its added dual-intercooler water pumps. But that would have pushed the sticker over the $50K mark. So let’s go with the Q60 3.0t PURE and its still-good 300 hp. Also, I’m going with RWD to save weight and complexity—plus I like doing donuts.
20
Porsche 718 Boxster: $59,600
OK, so it’s 10 grand over the list number. What’s a list, anyway? Who said this list has to be $50K and under? I guess I did, didn’t I? What the heck, a 718 Boxster is only $59,600 so I say that’s reason to celebrate, even though it totally blows it on sticker. The base model still has 300 hp and gets to 60 in 4.9 seconds. Top speed is 170 mph. I say, go for it.
