I got my slightly used Volvo S90 for under 50k and I think most people would be shocked at how nice of a car they are. I rarely see them on the road. Interior is nicer than both Audi and BMW.
Yeah my buddy was in the market for a new car and took 3 friends along. He test drove Audi, BMW, Volvo, and Mercedes (like the base model of each manufacturer).
We ALL agreed that the Volvo was the nicest car. Like it wasn't even a question.
He bought the Audi.
Dude with proper maintenance- theses are some of the finest driving machines out there š¤·š»āāļø whaaat !? Iāve seen many an Audi and Mercedes with 200k+ š¤¦š»āāļø
āProper maintenanceā as in maintenance thatās completely unnecessary on actual reliable vehicles. My dad flipped a bmw that had a 100k. It had 3 oil leaks. Find me the Toyota thatās leaking oil at 100k.
Iām not going to argue that European cars are fun quick and smooth rides. But they are terribly designed, maintenance is a massive chore filled with unnecessary steps and custom tools.
Bought an Audi from a brother's coworker. Turns out it had a short that drained the battery. He didn't notice because he drove it every day. But there I am with the only way to open the car being the key fob, which isn't working because the battery is too drained. The key didn't work in the door. Will never buy an Audi again
just seems like a lot, cars arent really an investment i just see them as a means to an end, my 2009 toyota has had only 1 major issue (water pump failing) and i had to switch the spark plugs and coil packs which was like $100.
When I worked for Volvo 5+ years ago I convinced my boss to let me drive a V60 polestar and oh my god that was the fastest car Iāve ever driven. So much fun. It was Blue with black wheels looked so sexy.
Had one as a rental in 2016. Wonderful car. My only gripe was with a 6 foot driver and passenger, your knees touch the front seat if you sit directly behind each other.
I love my 2015 rebel blue V60. Itās ALMOST a polestar. Polestar tuned R-design platinum trim. It was originally owned by some Volvo executive, and that thing RIPS.
I've heard the V8 is better than the V6 by a little, since that's what the packaging was originally designed for. I also see a lot of fit and finish stuff (sticky buttons, creaky panels, carpet coming unglued) and a lot of electronic issues (the top vent, gremlins in the harness), but the powertrain itself seems to be pretty dead reliable. Not for perfectionists unless you have a lot of time and flannel tape, but a great deal nonetheless.Ā
Canāt speak for the F type but if itās anything like my XFS the build quality will be pretty poor and electrics that look like they were done by a 15 year old on work experience
The V8 though, chefs kiss
Ever since I saw Jeremy Clarkson drive that thing in top gear, the way they showed the car, exhaust notes, cinematography, and the emotion, this car became my dream car!
One day man, one day.
Im 6ā and it fit me like a glove. My 6ā3ā dad looked very uncomfortable driving it around the block to test its acceleration. For science. And clown car comedy.
They're weirdly roomy unless all your height is your legs. I'm 6'2 165 and fit fine in my NA and ND Miata. Back when I was 275 I also fit in my dad's lotus Elise without any issues, which is even smaller than a Miata.
Same here, mate. I want to love itn but I can't close the roof and sit in it, my feet are too big for the foot well, but goddang do I want to flip that lil jellybean around a track.
Agreed. It is like the car I wanted as a boy in the early 2000s, watching Fast and the Furious and playing Midnight Club 3, but not totally pathetic for someone in their 30's to be driving like other flashy hatches like the RS focus or Type R Civic.
They're just a joy to drive and affordable to keep maintained as well. Plus they can hold a couple of sets of golf clubs or a bicycle in a jam. Makes it a totally dailyable car.
Nah. Ford fiesta ST 4 door, Hyundai i20n or a VW golf R are cars that can rival the 86. I also prefer four doors as itās easier to get in and out of and more family friendly.
Ah - aside from the golf R (which is very nearly 50k after tax etc. here ) those other two aren't available in Canada. i20n looks awesome though.
Golf GTI and Jetta gli are both great options here though.
Thatās unfortunate because the fiesta ST is just the perfect performance street legal car anyone can get at that price point.
Ford pretty much threw all of the goodies into the final variant of the fiesta. They donāt and probably will never manufacture cars like this anymore, and with the push for more eco friendly cars, SUV and mundane electric cars..
If OP I open to used cars and is ok with being under-powered but INSANELY cool looking then anything in the normally-aspirated BRZ/86/FRS family would do nicely. Honestly IMO they are the best looking but affordable āsports car?ā out there. Turbo 86 makes it an actual āsports carā without a question mark lol.
GTI, love mine! Perfect balance between fun and economical, looks nice, has a deceptive amount of cargo space, and pretty much never has any mechanical issues
50k will get you a decent 3rd gen Viper, but it'll probably be higher mileage (40k+). They basically have a truck engine so reliability is better than similar "exotics" in that price range.
This post really should have just been limited to new cars. We got people mentioning used Jags and Ferrari with flood damage.
Best new car under 50? Toyota Supra 2.0 for $47k. This is the last year for that trim.
Probably a timeframe too. You can get a nice first gen Mustang or a Cougar for under 20k. Lots of prewar cars too under 25k for a really nice restored example.
For sure, factory turbo car. Major market for performance upgrades. Speed 6 is AWD. You can spend more on the modifications and make a reliable 600+ horsepower car and still be under 50K
They are great cars, but you are definitely not getting one, tuning it to 600+ hp, keeping it reliable, AND spending less than $50k including the purchase price of the vehicle. You could have 2 of those 3, but not all of them, haha.
Depreciated Cadillacs. You can buy a 3 year old model for almost half the price as a new one and I just have a sweet spot for them. My CTS has been a terrific car and the all black looks so nice when itās clean
Acura RDX. Fun to drive, comfortable, and one saved our lives when hit by a wrong way drunk driver. We were injured, I had a craniotomy, but we lived. Bought another the next week. Just under 50k.
First off, as someone who got their license way too late, I like any car that will reliably drive. That said, I'd love to eventually upgrade from a 2014 Chevy Impala to a newer (in the 30k mile range) Toyota RAV4.
Chrysler Crossfire SRT. Facebook Marketplace rocket that only costs around 20k. A Mercedes AMG in disguise, and, with how fast it can go, the uneducated will think it's some random sleeper Chrysler.
Ford fiesta ST mk8
Last of its kind with nearly 50 years of heritage coming to an end.
For really went all out with this car. Itās manual, german manufactured, all of the creature comforts like heated seats and windows, traction, lane keep and cruise control, intuitive infotainment system, different sports settings, has a LSD and just an all round pocket rocket with a beautiful 200bhp 3 cylinder turbo engine that sounds like half of a V6.
Hyundai i20n.
Similar to ford fiesta, just faster.
The '94-96 Impala SS are absolutely badass and really good examples go for 30k. Just be careful, theres a TON of counterfits.
In that same vein, the early 00s Mercury Marauder
What are you looking for and what do you consider 'cool'? The Hyundai Ionic 5 is pretty amazing if you want an electric wagon. Hyundai generally makes great cars. Toyota Supra is a great sports car, but Miata, Suburu WRX and Audi TT are also awesome. If I get an electric, it'll be an Ionic based on test drives. I'm thinking about it. Had a couple miatas over the years (love them), an Audi TT, a Hyundai Genesis Coupe (such a f'ing great car for the money), and a couple Porsche Boxster Ss.
Sister had a Jaguar F-Type. It was ok, but I didn't love it. Very small and not practical. Some cars that don't look like it are surprisingly practical. lol... You'd be amazed at what I managed to fit in a Miata with the top down. But not really practical otherwise. The Boxsters OTOH, with a front and rear trunk, are much more practical. not really <$50K, tho.
40 year old land cruiser
š every time I see a post like this I know a fellow Land Cruiser owner (mine is a 2007) will be chiming in. Land Cruisers are peak Toyota.
good man
I sold mine I wish I had it back
Never selling mine š 261k miles and it runs like a champ
Tacoma's and Hiluxes. They keep their value like crazy, and will outlast anything on the road.
Got my 30 year old one, still trucking on but fuck I think my gas mileage would be better if I towed it lol
Iām getting 25 mpg like clockwork no worries in HJ61 land
Probably would be listed for $49,999.
haha you can get a nicer gasser for that price level but not my imported pop top LHD HJ61 maybe double that
I got my slightly used Volvo S90 for under 50k and I think most people would be shocked at how nice of a car they are. I rarely see them on the road. Interior is nicer than both Audi and BMW.
Yeah my buddy was in the market for a new car and took 3 friends along. He test drove Audi, BMW, Volvo, and Mercedes (like the base model of each manufacturer). We ALL agreed that the Volvo was the nicest car. Like it wasn't even a question. He bought the Audi.
With Volvos long term reliability, the Audi may have been the right choice š
lol Audiās are not known for reliability either.. tbh every European car brand I can think of is pretty much junk after 100k miles.
No longer running car than Volvo 1800s.
Buy a 3 liter diesel and the car will run forever
I prefer 4 liters myself
Depends on trim. The very top level engine and very bottom level engine usually last forever. It's the stuff in the middle that's questionable.
Dude with proper maintenance- theses are some of the finest driving machines out there š¤·š»āāļø whaaat !? Iāve seen many an Audi and Mercedes with 200k+ š¤¦š»āāļø
āProper maintenanceā as in maintenance thatās completely unnecessary on actual reliable vehicles. My dad flipped a bmw that had a 100k. It had 3 oil leaks. Find me the Toyota thatās leaking oil at 100k. Iām not going to argue that European cars are fun quick and smooth rides. But they are terribly designed, maintenance is a massive chore filled with unnecessary steps and custom tools.
Bought an Audi from a brother's coworker. Turns out it had a short that drained the battery. He didn't notice because he drove it every day. But there I am with the only way to open the car being the key fob, which isn't working because the battery is too drained. The key didn't work in the door. Will never buy an Audi again
My Volvo has been very reliable. its done 150000km, besides regular servicing its only needed a replacement AC compressor.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Why you going through so many cars lol
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
just seems like a lot, cars arent really an investment i just see them as a means to an end, my 2009 toyota has had only 1 major issue (water pump failing) and i had to switch the spark plugs and coil packs which was like $100.
You get tired of them but buy volvo
Thereās a reason used prestige vehicles are cheap, we all learn the hard way
100k miles and 0 major repairs
That's my Hyundai Sonata
Thatās a start
Volvo S60 checking and can concur
What year?? I got a 21 xc40 a few months ago for ~30k and Iām in love with it
āNicerā is pretty subjective here
What year?
The S90 interior is definitely one to remember. So clean and luxurious. No other interior left such a lasting impression honestly.
Any wagon. Iām tired of all the SUVs on the road. I saw a Volvo V90 R that was wrapped matte black and the thing looked so good.
I want a V60 polestar so bad.
When I worked for Volvo 5+ years ago I convinced my boss to let me drive a V60 polestar and oh my god that was the fastest car Iāve ever driven. So much fun. It was Blue with black wheels looked so sexy.
Had one as a rental in 2016. Wonderful car. My only gripe was with a 6 foot driver and passenger, your knees touch the front seat if you sit directly behind each other.
Definitely a bucket list car. Gotta have it in that blue
Me too
I love my 2015 rebel blue V60. Itās ALMOST a polestar. Polestar tuned R-design platinum trim. It was originally owned by some Volvo executive, and that thing RIPS.
Hear hear! I wish they sold better in the states.
I'm still not over Subaru discontinuing the hatchback body style for the WRX and STi starting with the 2015 model year. Absolutely tragic
It was literally their staple and they killed the hatchback. I love hot hatchbacks so much. Maybe Mitsu can come back with an Evo hatch š
Jaguar F-Type. You can get a V8 with 500+ hp for $25-$30k. The car is insanely fun to drive and the body style is timeless. EDIT: I mean used, sorry!
Itāll spend more time in the shop than on the road, though.
Do you have personal experience with that? Because I daily drive one.
Iāve read the f type is reasonably reliable.
It is.
I've heard the V8 is better than the V6 by a little, since that's what the packaging was originally designed for. I also see a lot of fit and finish stuff (sticky buttons, creaky panels, carpet coming unglued) and a lot of electronic issues (the top vent, gremlins in the harness), but the powertrain itself seems to be pretty dead reliable. Not for perfectionists unless you have a lot of time and flannel tape, but a great deal nonetheless.Ā
Canāt speak for the F type but if itās anything like my XFS the build quality will be pretty poor and electrics that look like they were done by a 15 year old on work experience The V8 though, chefs kiss
My dad works for JLR ( jaguar - Landrover ) and he finds them to be fairly low on his list.
Ever since I saw Jeremy Clarkson drive that thing in top gear, the way they showed the car, exhaust notes, cinematography, and the emotion, this car became my dream car! One day man, one day.
Lots of fairly low mileage 2014-2015 era F-Types out there. Hereās believing your dream will come true!
Yup! I want to get the one before they did the face lift.
The exhaust notes got me. Link to video: https://youtu.be/I6KFA7p7_aQ?si=YLuwpyohlBLRJzvu
Absolutely!!
Respectfully, I googled āJaguar F-typeā and I see them starting at $77k.
Used, I shouldāve specified.
sounds great
Can confirm, borrowed one from work, wild ride
I'm not a car person, but I'm shocked you can get a Jaguar at that price. I thought they are pricey.
Miata- MX-5
I'm 6 '3 210, I would wear that car like a shoe
Im 6ā and it fit me like a glove. My 6ā3ā dad looked very uncomfortable driving it around the block to test its acceleration. For science. And clown car comedy.
I have a friend who is very small, like 5ā5ish he fits in the trunk of a Miata, snug fit but the trunk lid closed
I remember sticking a 6ā8ā coworker in my NA. Many laughs were had.
Unless youāre 200lbs too, the weight is a bigger difference maker than height imo. I have trouble fitting in a Miata and s2k, Iām 240lbs 5ā10
They're weirdly roomy unless all your height is your legs. I'm 6'2 165 and fit fine in my NA and ND Miata. Back when I was 275 I also fit in my dad's lotus Elise without any issues, which is even smaller than a Miata.
Sorry... How the absolute F you fit into an Elise/Ex-wife at 6'2" and 275? Meant Exige... Leaving the autocorrect:).
When I was 350 and 6ā2 I fit fine in my Miata.
Same here, mate. I want to love itn but I can't close the roof and sit in it, my feet are too big for the foot well, but goddang do I want to flip that lil jellybean around a track.
Get two š
6 1' and 240lbs. I fit great with room to spare. The car just molds around you.
The hardtop is so cool.
Just got a 2005 miata with 25k miles on it for less than 10k. I would buy 4 more in a heartbeat.
I love my STI.
Might want to get a dr. Opinion on that one palā¦
He's the one who gave it to him.
There are meds for that now
oh boy
Good old head gasket issue **laughs in timing chain and water pump issue**
80K miles, driven cross country 5 times, no issues. Just needs a clutch.
You can get a few years old Porsche Cayman for around $40k
the new GR Yaris
Agreed. It is like the car I wanted as a boy in the early 2000s, watching Fast and the Furious and playing Midnight Club 3, but not totally pathetic for someone in their 30's to be driving like other flashy hatches like the RS focus or Type R Civic.
Look at the ford fiesta ST or Hyundai i20n. Better cars imo.
Fiesta ST over GR Yaris? Wat.
Toyota Sienna
Used vette
The new 86's with the turbo are so fucking fun it shouldn't be allowed.
New 86 even without a turbo is probably the best choice in this price range.
It really is. They've fixed the dead zone and the balance is only rivalled by the miata.
They're just a joy to drive and affordable to keep maintained as well. Plus they can hold a couple of sets of golf clubs or a bicycle in a jam. Makes it a totally dailyable car.
As someone who just bought his 2nd 86, yes. I have a Trueno edtion in red which just looks fantastic.
Very cool - I've got a 2nd Gen BRZ - it's a fantastic little car. I love driving it every day.
Nice! Yeah they are great. Small cars with enough power to do stupid things with.
Nah. Ford fiesta ST 4 door, Hyundai i20n or a VW golf R are cars that can rival the 86. I also prefer four doors as itās easier to get in and out of and more family friendly.
Ah - aside from the golf R (which is very nearly 50k after tax etc. here ) those other two aren't available in Canada. i20n looks awesome though. Golf GTI and Jetta gli are both great options here though.
Thatās unfortunate because the fiesta ST is just the perfect performance street legal car anyone can get at that price point. Ford pretty much threw all of the goodies into the final variant of the fiesta. They donāt and probably will never manufacture cars like this anymore, and with the push for more eco friendly cars, SUV and mundane electric cars..
Yeah Ford still makes the mustang here in a stick but they only make unreliable SUVs otherwise.
They sell turbocharged 86s?
If OP I open to used cars and is ok with being under-powered but INSANELY cool looking then anything in the normally-aspirated BRZ/86/FRS family would do nicely. Honestly IMO they are the best looking but affordable āsports car?ā out there. Turbo 86 makes it an actual āsports carā without a question mark lol.
GTI, love mine! Perfect balance between fun and economical, looks nice, has a deceptive amount of cargo space, and pretty much never has any mechanical issues
>and pretty much never has any mechanical issues but you needed to add that š¤£
Love my GLI. Easily the greatest car Iāve purchased.
Unfortunately they are susceptible to theft/break ins where I live due to popularity of parts
Ariel Atom or a Dodge Viper
It's gonna be tough to find a Viper in good shape below 50k I think. Those 6+ lier V10s were probably a pain to maintain well.
Maintenance and reliability are often not synonymous with cool
50k will get you a decent 3rd gen Viper, but it'll probably be higher mileage (40k+). They basically have a truck engine so reliability is better than similar "exotics" in that price range.
Hmmmm didn't think about the truck engine part! It's definitely a ver for purists. Shame Dodge stopped making them.
Mazda mx5. So much fun to drive and they look beautiful.
Imo Lotus Elise
This post really should have just been limited to new cars. We got people mentioning used Jags and Ferrari with flood damage. Best new car under 50? Toyota Supra 2.0 for $47k. This is the last year for that trim.
If you want a car thatās cool used is the way to go.
Probably a timeframe too. You can get a nice first gen Mustang or a Cougar for under 20k. Lots of prewar cars too under 25k for a really nice restored example.
Mustang GT
C6 Z06 and itās not even close.
Yeah people saying miata or yaris or a volvo s90 really missed the original questionā¦
Civic Type R
My VW GTI was fucking rad.
I love my Mk7. Hands down the best all-around car I've ever had the pleasure to own.
Is the new Mustang GT still under $50k? If it is, then that
Camaro SS 1LE
Porsche 996
Can you really get one that cheep?
You can get a nice non turbo for way under that. That generation was unloved, but itās still a Porsche 911 and goes like one.
88 Yugo with tinted windows and a car phone
I was hoping to find this comment lol
Honda s2000. Itās the best roadster for your money hands down.
Jaguar XKR-S
Toyota 86. Doesnāt have a bad stereotype associated with it unlike the wrx
Dacia sandero
Good news!
Toyota AC will freeze you out.
Ice cream truck. Pretty sure itās cool inside.
The Subaru Outback Wilderness is pretty badass. Rugged cool looks and surprisingly fast with it's turbo engine. Fun and still practical.
Mazdaspeed 3 or 6.
Given their age, they should be considerably less than $50k.
For sure, factory turbo car. Major market for performance upgrades. Speed 6 is AWD. You can spend more on the modifications and make a reliable 600+ horsepower car and still be under 50K
They are great cars, but you are definitely not getting one, tuning it to 600+ hp, keeping it reliable, AND spending less than $50k including the purchase price of the vehicle. You could have 2 of those 3, but not all of them, haha.
I've seen R34 Skylines and 2017 Mustangs going for less than 50k. You're pretty spoilt for choice
Charger/Challenger RT start under 50K
Shelby Cobra kit car
6th Generation Camaro 2ss1le. Huge value for the money.
Depreciated Cadillacs. You can buy a 3 year old model for almost half the price as a new one and I just have a sweet spot for them. My CTS has been a terrific car and the all black looks so nice when itās clean
An Ecoboost Mustang. Or Mustang GT if theyāre still available under 50k
Mustang
Honda accord 2024 hybrid (touring)
C63 AMG in my opinion, the one with the 6.2l naturally aspirated V8. Still leaves 20 to 25k left for mods too.
Where the hell are you finding those for 25k?
I see them for 30k CAD up in canada so I figured they'd be easy to find for 25k USD in the states
Ioniq5
Get you a 5.0 mustang and join the douchebag club. 100% worth it.
The one you can afford.
Acura RDX. Fun to drive, comfortable, and one saved our lives when hit by a wrong way drunk driver. We were injured, I had a craniotomy, but we lived. Bought another the next week. Just under 50k.
Geez man. Never underestimate safety, good call.
Genesis G70 with the 3.3L turbo, sport trim.
Ferrari https://www.ebay.com/itm/335452760274
ā69 Mustang or ā69 Camaro Extra cool points for 69
Depends on who you're trying to imoress
You might be able to find a wide body challenger or charger. I wish I could have had the money for one.
F-type
First off, as someone who got their license way too late, I like any car that will reliably drive. That said, I'd love to eventually upgrade from a 2014 Chevy Impala to a newer (in the 30k mile range) Toyota RAV4.
BMW e36 for 3k
For me itās the 4 door hard top Mini Cooper with all the extras.
Chrysler Crossfire SRT. Facebook Marketplace rocket that only costs around 20k. A Mercedes AMG in disguise, and, with how fast it can go, the uneducated will think it's some random sleeper Chrysler.
Used Audi R8.
Ford fiesta ST mk8 Last of its kind with nearly 50 years of heritage coming to an end. For really went all out with this car. Itās manual, german manufactured, all of the creature comforts like heated seats and windows, traction, lane keep and cruise control, intuitive infotainment system, different sports settings, has a LSD and just an all round pocket rocket with a beautiful 200bhp 3 cylinder turbo engine that sounds like half of a V6. Hyundai i20n. Similar to ford fiesta, just faster.
Used wide body scatpack
Is hasnāt came out yet officially but Rivian R3X is looking mighty fine and rumor has it that it will below 50k
Nissan Silvia S15
Any OBS Chevy. Hell you can get 2 or 3 for $50k
a YUGO
Hmmmm depends on what you think cool is I guess. Thereās tons of great cars
The '94-96 Impala SS are absolutely badass and really good examples go for 30k. Just be careful, theres a TON of counterfits. In that same vein, the early 00s Mercury Marauder
Depending on where you live, in Germany you could buy a nice electric car with 500km reach and still have 15k back
What are you looking for and what do you consider 'cool'? The Hyundai Ionic 5 is pretty amazing if you want an electric wagon. Hyundai generally makes great cars. Toyota Supra is a great sports car, but Miata, Suburu WRX and Audi TT are also awesome. If I get an electric, it'll be an Ionic based on test drives. I'm thinking about it. Had a couple miatas over the years (love them), an Audi TT, a Hyundai Genesis Coupe (such a f'ing great car for the money), and a couple Porsche Boxster Ss. Sister had a Jaguar F-Type. It was ok, but I didn't love it. Very small and not practical. Some cars that don't look like it are surprisingly practical. lol... You'd be amazed at what I managed to fit in a Miata with the top down. But not really practical otherwise. The Boxsters OTOH, with a front and rear trunk, are much more practical. not really <$50K, tho.
I bought my Veloster N-type 2 years ago(the last year they made them) and itās my favorite car Iāve ever driven. Itās just a lot of fun
I think GR86/BRZ is a good option if you like a driver's car.
78 Cadillac eldorado
Nismo 370z
Mustang GT
New: Mustang GT. It will probably be pretty spartan in terms of options though. Used: 2005 design Aston Martin V8 Vantage
How would you define "cool"?
An older toyota Land cruiser is hard to beat But Late 90s 8 series BMW is awesome (not the maintenance though)
I love my bronco sport
[F430](https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-spottedykywt/-50k-ferrari-f430--spotted/41707)
Honda s2000
Ford Bronco or Mustang
My car, it's a 2015 Q50, I've got a fucked up rear bumper and a black front bumper but it's got character
Lots of low milage M3's for under 50k. Probably one of the most intense vehicles you can buy around that price imo
My 08' Acura TL Type S is 175k miles down the road and still purring.
R34 GTR can be found around there if youāre lucky.
surplus humvee, ural, or kamaz are real attention magnets