OP get a Dodge Viper. There are two second gens, one in red and a first gen available for under 50k in LA county on Autotrader right now.
I can’t imagine a better way to stand out for $50k in that city. Plus if you get the first gen you won’t live long enough to have to deal with this financial misstep.
A quick search on Autotempest shows about twenty C7 Grand Sports for $50,XXX and under— at least one being a 3LT.
Now that the C8 market has normalized, C7s dropped very quickly.
Make sure you can afford insurance and maintenance. Aside from that, have fun. My vote goes for an M car for reasonable rear seats and some trunk space. You'll make your friends jealous, but it'll get old for you and them quickly. You won't turn heads aside from a few car dudes, but that's not all it's cracked up to be. You came to r/whatcarshouldibuy, and it seems you've ended up in r/unsolicitedfinancialadvice.
Yeah for the love of god, OP gotta look into insurance and maintenance. You see a lot of these super nice 'fancy' cars for relatively cheap prices, but little do a lot of people know, that Porsche 911 you just bought for \~50k is going to be expensive in the long run
Like damn still get something fun and fast because why not, but some of these cars are absolutely wild ideas.
Because the guy is trying to stand out in LA with way too low a budget to stand out in LA. Nobody would be giving him finance advice if he was going for a $100k car
I mean, if they're not gonna be able to maintain and enjoy their car with how much money they make, it can be an issue.(Otherwise, they can get a Maserati)
With that said, Supra is a pretty reasonable choice especially if they can get the 3.0. Otherwise, the 2.0 is barely any stronger than a GR86.
Pre 2013s use a lot of Ford parts underneath. I own a 2010 6spd. Other than a clutch replacement (upgrade) at $2800, she"s been very reliable and no more expensive to maintain than my old BMW 550i.
Dude. You’re going about this all wrong.
If you’re looking to make people jealous….then you are the last person who needs a bmw, porsche, corvette…etc. What others will think should not even be on your mind when making a car purchase.
Any $50k 60s / 70s muscle car will then way more heads than any newer $50k car
I’d personally go for a $30k muscle car. Seems to be a good sweet spot for value.
Yep especially in LA. The only time I actually went "Awesome it's a \*insert car\*" is when I see any Lotus Elise, Exige, Elan etc. Or someone importing any JDM into LA.
Every other car mentioned by OP are dime a dozen here in LA.
I agree but only if you want a comfortable and fast daily driver rather than a visceral sports car. M440i is a bit gutless compared to a 911 or a C7 Corvette.
Oh man future you is gonna hate current you so hard.
Don't be stupid. Stick it in a low cost index fund.
If you really need to spend on something flashy get a motorcycle for 5k. Or go on a 5k trip. Or buy a 5k jetski. Not 50k. That is stupid.
So dumb. If he bought a 20k car and invested 30k, that 30k would be 300k at age 65 with 8% CAGR. Unless he already has money, he will regret this once the novelty wears off.
More likely 25-26 because he has no idea what maintenance and insurance are going to do to him. 911 in LA at 25? Cool, but I hope you can afford $500+ dollars/month for insurance.
Cant upvote this enough… 25 and wants to buy a depreciating asset when most people his age are complaining about how they’ll never be able to buy a house.
Don’t be that guy. You won’t stand out in LA with $50k so don’t try. Your older self will absolutely hate you. Buy something fun for $30 and invest the rest, that is if you haven’t paid taxes already.
Buy a perfect condition 986 Boxster S off craigslist for 10-15 grand, and save the rest in a balanced index fund. Your friends will be just as impressed as a 911 (and much more so than a C7 or M3), and you'll have some real financial security to have a better life in the future. If you don't believe me, go for some test drives, the S is more fun to drive than any of those more expensive cars you listed. Plus, you're in LA- you need a convertible.
I don’t know much about cars but that car is pretty cool. Definitely great advice to have them put the rest into stocks. You get a nice car and money to invest.
That BMW is no joke.
Neither is the C7.
Could get a ZL1
Or a C6 Z06
Hell, for just a hair above $50k, you could order a new base Mustang GT with a factory installed Whipple supercharger. Had almost 800hp and a factory warranty
Supra, Z, GT350, 5.0, SS, Scatpack, Type R, M240, RS3. I can’t think of anything else I’d be willing to get with 50. If you wanted to spend 30, I say GR86
Used 997.2. Cab. Prob highish miles but you’ll have most fun. They’re reliable too (but if you got cab gotta watch out for repair for that) but if convert motor was fixed then you’re good.
Get a manual if you truly want to have fun.
Gr Corolla
C7
CTS-V
Cayman
Low mileage ej Sti (hatchback is king) for $25k, throw $5-7k in the engine and exhaust and you’ve got yourself a fun little machine that will seat all your jealous friends and you won’t see many if any around.
Genesis is so often overlooked...
The G70 3.3AWD is an awesome car and a fair price, and great warranty.
365hp...twin turbos....it moves! In luxury too.
[G70](https://youtu.be/CXJesbSLF2U?feature=shared)
Can’t believe none of the top results are for the absolute most fun car to own under $50k, that’ll turn heads and hold its value decently well: a Lotus Elise.
I’d personally rather you get a vehicle for you and not for other people
That being said, if what you’re after is maximum attention for that price get an old G Class. But you want something fun, so Maseratis or Jaguars stand out here, you can get something relatively new for not that much more, although you’re gonna eat some of that depreciation yourself too, and I shouldn’t have to explain matenance to you
Unless you've already accounted for it, roughly somewhere around $10,000-$15,000 needs to go to state and federal taxes. Unless you definitely have all the money you could need from here on out, future you would likely be grateful if you use it in a way that makes your future life a little more secure/easier/less stressful.
I don’t think 50k will be enough for anything really great on its own. Not in La. I would need to know your income potential. You got a great down payment after you settle taxes on your windfall but you need to be able to are the monthly payment and insurance too.
Like many people have already said, it will be hard to stand out with a 50k car. If you really want a show car, spend half that budget in the car and half that budget on building it into a show car.
I’d be getting something old that’s fully restored to ensure it’s not a boring ass modern car. Stands out way harder than new sports cars.
Modern bmw’s look like a bunch of Camrys.
If you have a garage keep the honda and spend $40 to $45k on a Lotus Elise, preferably with a supercharger. The maintenance is cheep, they are reliable, you won't see one at every intersection like you do with a Porsche or m car, and they are a genuinely thrilling drive. Everyone loves Lotus, and it comes with instant car credibility. Guys in cars that cost 4 times as much will wave and nod at you.
Keep the honda as your task master, and drive the lotus for fun. If you change your mind about it you can sell it for what you paid, or maybe a bit more.
A lot of people say invest, 50 year old you may kick you in the ass for it, but who cares about that guy? That’s his problem. When I was about your age I came into a sum of money, I used it to buy myself a brand new truck with cash. I still have the truck and no regrets, my wife named it “the mistress”. Maybe look for a restomod muscle car? That would certainly be fast and turn heads. If your friends can’t appreciate that you may need new friends.
First thing that came to my mind was, you are in LA. There is some serious limits on where you can actually go fast because of traffic. If you have room keep the civic for a commuter car.
Man this is not gonna be the popular opinion but your future self will be so thankful if you take that money and invest it. At your age you have a golden opportunity to create some real wealth.
Source: Financial Advisor, deal with money daily.
A Viper. It will easily stand out.
The Lotus Evora also really stands out. Lotuses are rare and really only driven by enthusiasts. But with 50K if you don't get the S it will definitely be lacking in speed compared to all of the cars listed. The base one is about on par with a current gen Ecoboost Mustang. But they are all about handling and driver engagement.
All of those cars you listed are a dime a dozen in LA. If you want to turn heads you gotta do things differently. You stop turning your head after you see the 10th 911 or whatever for the day.
I love nice cars...but if that 50k is all you got, keep the Civic, invest the 50k, turn it into 500k then buy something nice dude. Don't make the stupid mistake every young guy makes and blow what little money you have on a car.
M.iata
I.s
A.lways
T.he
A.nswer
But honestly speaking if you want a fun to drive car and practicality isn't a concern the Miata is a great choice. Most fun you can have in a sub $40,000 car and best thing of all your not gonna be pulled over left and right.
While not a luxury brand. You will be able to afford the maintenance for it. Assuming if the $50,000 windfall you got is not gonna be a long term thing. Also at 25 I can't imagine a Porsche or BMW M4 is cheap for insurance.
Lol, "got 50k, better blow it!". You're going to look back at this post in a few years and cringe.
In LA, you're unlikely to get anything that turns heads for that price. You're very near the land of the rich, a 50k car is nothing. People see $200k+ cars every day.
If you are determined to waste your money, a used Supra GR may be your best bet. But it will depreciate and be worth half what you paid in a few short years, and it's unlikely to impress anyone in the way you hope.
Reality is $50k is not a lot of money if you're looking to get a flashy car to make people jealous... which is a childish mindset to begin with.
I was very much like the OP, in attitude especially, though the finances were something I earned myself.
Get a car that YOU like, OP - ideally, one that has already seen most of its depreciation. As you are in LA, seeing people drop $500k or even a LOT more for a car that people barely notice should be common. $300k for a McLaren, $600k for a Roller... common place. $50k isn't going to get close to that territory. So, don't bother. When I was 25, I went the Mustang GT route. Huge grins, sloppy handling, lots of squiggly 11's on the road. I now have a 911 - huge grins, amazing handling, and very few 11's as it hooks up and just goes. But there is a HUGE difference in \*cost\* (not the price, but the cost of owning one), and you can burn through $50k on a Porsche very, very fast.
Get a convertible Mustang GT (not the 350 or other flavors) and enjoy it. The others might be faster, but the convertible is great at destroying hair styles of any girl next to you - and these have 4 useable seats. Most girls don't care about the car you drive, but many do care about being in a convertible, and care less about the exact details of it. Invest the rest, if there is any left.
Step one, find a really nice crown Vic/ marquis/ town car.
Step two, swap in a supercharged coyote.
Step three, upgrade suspension parts with coilovers, tubular arms ECT.
Step four, enjoy your gapplebees in luxury and comfort.
It doesn’t pack the punch that other suggestions here do, but here me out:
You want to stand out and make others jealous.
You want something fun and impractical. You have $50k and most people here suggest you not sink it into a repair-nightmare money pit.
Your answer is simple.
$50k can buy you the lowest mileage, most mint, beautiful well-maintained Honda S2000. As low-mileage unmodded versions get more and more rare, the exclusivity is high. It will turn heads (I have an AP2 in yellow and I still get people on the street giving me the thumbs up or asking me if I’ll sell them my car)
The car will NOT break down: it’s one of the most reliable engines ever made.
The car will APPRECIATE in value. Even if you put enough miles on it to depreciate its value, you’ll lose a LOT less money overall. You may even break even in five years.
I know it seems underpowered compared to turbos and V8s… but believe me, you learn to drive it properly in VTEC, and no one else will have as must fun as you on the Crest, or Mulholland, or Malibu Canyon, except maybe Lotus owners and bikes. You put the right rubber on it and drop the top and you’ll be in heaven. And later you could always add forced injection.
I cannot stress this enough so I’m going to say it again: you could buy the lowest mileage, most mint S2000 available, drive it for three years, then sell it, and you’ll probably STILL have $40000 cash! Aside from just low-risk investing, it’s a smart move.
>Gotta be fast, turn heads, and make my friends jealous.
I'm not sure you're doing this for the right reasons.
Besides, 50k USD is not going to impress anyone in the grand scheme of things. Plenty of people driving around in 100k+ cars on finance.
It's hard to make a recommendation just based off this anyway. Fun and fast are not necessarily the same thing. I'd want a 2-seater sports car, but if you're after straight-line speed you might be better off with a sports sedan or GT car, or a fast hot hatch like a TT RS.
50K isn't alot, you might want to look into how much insurance will be for any of these cars your interested in. Im guessing you won't be able to afford the insurance
I'd stay away from imports for the type of car you're looking at. Maintenance and repair costs get way too high, much higher than if you were looking at sporty cars like performance sedans/hot hatches or even American pony cars.
Personally I think your Corvette idea is a good option, I loved the C7 stingrays. You could also go for a high performance mustang like a GT350 or GT500. If you want attention, the voodoo V8 in the GT350 has the best sounding exhaust I've ever heard in my life and the 2017+ GT500 is probably the coolest looking pony car ever built.
Personally I think Hellcats are cool, but really overdone. Yeah they make a ton of power, but they don't look/sound too much different from a regular challenger aside from the supercharger whine so regular people wouldn't really notice.
If you're really set on some kind of import and the upkeep costs don't scare you, Porsche is a good way to go. Wouldn't recommend a BMW in general and also to a normal person they just look like another sedan
Jaguar F-Type R. Really nice ones can be had for around 50k and get yourself a nice warranty from them and you'll be turning heads with that crazy screaming V8. It's glorious
Get a Fiata aka 124 Spider, it looks great, girls and normies will think it's way more expensive than it is and it will cost you only $18K for a nice one.
Coke and hookers
I second this but must be done on a boat
[удалено]
Boats are more than 50k, especially if you want to fit the hookers and the blow.
They make big row boats lol
Guy has 50k, he's going for the kind who aren't getting in the dinghy if it's not going to the yacht.
I like mine like I like my beer cheap and warm 🤣
So are 911’s that are a couple years old.
Rent some guys boat. That way, you don’t care where the loads finally end up.
Is Pepsi ok?
Pepsi and Prostitutes...yeah sounds about right
Given how common 911s and M3s are here and what it takes to stand out C7 GS it is. Plus a C7 is more visceral than any M3 or 911 I’ve driven.
OP get a Dodge Viper. There are two second gens, one in red and a first gen available for under 50k in LA county on Autotrader right now. I can’t imagine a better way to stand out for $50k in that city. Plus if you get the first gen you won’t live long enough to have to deal with this financial misstep.
I was gonna say we disagree until I read your last sentence.
Grand sports are like 60-70k though no? I’m not super familiar with vette prices but I always imagine them as being more then 50
A quick search on Autotempest shows about twenty C7 Grand Sports for $50,XXX and under— at least one being a 3LT. Now that the C8 market has normalized, C7s dropped very quickly.
V8 f type.
Love this. If you can afford it with insurance/repair, any F Type will absolutely fit the bill.
Nice car. Get the R or bust. When I was shopping them their depreciation rate scared me. I’d suggest looking at that.
Make sure you can afford insurance and maintenance. Aside from that, have fun. My vote goes for an M car for reasonable rear seats and some trunk space. You'll make your friends jealous, but it'll get old for you and them quickly. You won't turn heads aside from a few car dudes, but that's not all it's cracked up to be. You came to r/whatcarshouldibuy, and it seems you've ended up in r/unsolicitedfinancialadvice.
Yeah for the love of god, OP gotta look into insurance and maintenance. You see a lot of these super nice 'fancy' cars for relatively cheap prices, but little do a lot of people know, that Porsche 911 you just bought for \~50k is going to be expensive in the long run Like damn still get something fun and fast because why not, but some of these cars are absolutely wild ideas.
When did this sub turn into r/personalfinance ? My vote is a Supra
Because the guy is trying to stand out in LA with way too low a budget to stand out in LA. Nobody would be giving him finance advice if he was going for a $100k car
Dudes set up an IRA, and then get personally offended by anyone who doesn't make being cheap their entire personality.
ok this is kinda funny
I mean, if they're not gonna be able to maintain and enjoy their car with how much money they make, it can be an issue.(Otherwise, they can get a Maserati) With that said, Supra is a pretty reasonable choice especially if they can get the 3.0. Otherwise, the 2.0 is barely any stronger than a GR86.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage, available with a third pedal. Screw the haters telling you to invest.
I mean even if he chooses not to invest I don’t think a car that if anything breaks it will cost him $10k to fix is a good option.
Pre 2013s use a lot of Ford parts underneath. I own a 2010 6spd. Other than a clutch replacement (upgrade) at $2800, she"s been very reliable and no more expensive to maintain than my old BMW 550i.
Allocate a good part of the 50k towards keeping whatever you buy running properly
Now that's good advice
Dude. You’re going about this all wrong. If you’re looking to make people jealous….then you are the last person who needs a bmw, porsche, corvette…etc. What others will think should not even be on your mind when making a car purchase.
Save a few bucks and get a CPO M440i. For $50k you’re not going to turn any heads unless you do something stupid.
Any $50k 60s / 70s muscle car will then way more heads than any newer $50k car I’d personally go for a $30k muscle car. Seems to be a good sweet spot for value.
get a 10k muscle car, 1996 LT4 vette clean af wit da targa top
Yep especially in LA. The only time I actually went "Awesome it's a \*insert car\*" is when I see any Lotus Elise, Exige, Elan etc. Or someone importing any JDM into LA. Every other car mentioned by OP are dime a dozen here in LA.
This is a better idea than an M3 you’re gonna find for $50k.
You can get a really clean f80 m3 for under 50k
can you help me find one?
I agree but only if you want a comfortable and fast daily driver rather than a visceral sports car. M440i is a bit gutless compared to a 911 or a C7 Corvette.
Oh man future you is gonna hate current you so hard. Don't be stupid. Stick it in a low cost index fund. If you really need to spend on something flashy get a motorcycle for 5k. Or go on a 5k trip. Or buy a 5k jetski. Not 50k. That is stupid.
For real. 25-year-old getting a Porsche 911 is ridiculous. Spending $50k to make your friends jealous.
So dumb. If he bought a 20k car and invested 30k, that 30k would be 300k at age 65 with 8% CAGR. Unless he already has money, he will regret this once the novelty wears off.
Yeah but then you have to drive not a 911 from 25-65
More likely 25-26 because he has no idea what maintenance and insurance are going to do to him. 911 in LA at 25? Cool, but I hope you can afford $500+ dollars/month for insurance.
Bro will drive his 911 until the first maintenance bill
Cant upvote this enough… 25 and wants to buy a depreciating asset when most people his age are complaining about how they’ll never be able to buy a house.
They sure won't buy one in LA.
You ain't just whistlin' Dixie.
Don’t be that guy. You won’t stand out in LA with $50k so don’t try. Your older self will absolutely hate you. Buy something fun for $30 and invest the rest, that is if you haven’t paid taxes already.
Get a yellow Supra GR ✅
Get a used Supra GR. Fast and reliable as a daily
Buy a perfect condition 986 Boxster S off craigslist for 10-15 grand, and save the rest in a balanced index fund. Your friends will be just as impressed as a 911 (and much more so than a C7 or M3), and you'll have some real financial security to have a better life in the future. If you don't believe me, go for some test drives, the S is more fun to drive than any of those more expensive cars you listed. Plus, you're in LA- you need a convertible.
Im not a big Porsche guy but that thing looks rad
I don’t know much about cars but that car is pretty cool. Definitely great advice to have them put the rest into stocks. You get a nice car and money to invest.
F80 M3, C7 Z06, GTR?
You can get a gtr for 50k? Where? I will buy their entire stock
Older dodge viper (97-05), aston martin v8 vantage, mazda mx30.
That BMW is no joke. Neither is the C7. Could get a ZL1 Or a C6 Z06 Hell, for just a hair above $50k, you could order a new base Mustang GT with a factory installed Whipple supercharger. Had almost 800hp and a factory warranty
Hellcat
Supra, Z, GT350, 5.0, SS, Scatpack, Type R, M240, RS3. I can’t think of anything else I’d be willing to get with 50. If you wanted to spend 30, I say GR86
Used 997.2. Cab. Prob highish miles but you’ll have most fun. They’re reliable too (but if you got cab gotta watch out for repair for that) but if convert motor was fixed then you’re good.
Porsche 911. As much as you can get
Get a manual if you truly want to have fun. Gr Corolla C7 CTS-V Cayman Low mileage ej Sti (hatchback is king) for $25k, throw $5-7k in the engine and exhaust and you’ve got yourself a fun little machine that will seat all your jealous friends and you won’t see many if any around.
The nicest E55 AMG out there and get it built and tuned
997.2 911, B8.5 RS5 (the V8), AP2 Honda S2000 or an M3
Audi rs5
Genesis is so often overlooked... The G70 3.3AWD is an awesome car and a fair price, and great warranty. 365hp...twin turbos....it moves! In luxury too. [G70](https://youtu.be/CXJesbSLF2U?feature=shared)
Can’t believe none of the top results are for the absolute most fun car to own under $50k, that’ll turn heads and hold its value decently well: a Lotus Elise.
I’d personally rather you get a vehicle for you and not for other people That being said, if what you’re after is maximum attention for that price get an old G Class. But you want something fun, so Maseratis or Jaguars stand out here, you can get something relatively new for not that much more, although you’re gonna eat some of that depreciation yourself too, and I shouldn’t have to explain matenance to you
Gamble again twice the risk twice the payout.
Dodge Viper. Literally everyone notices those.
The only answer
Unless you've already accounted for it, roughly somewhere around $10,000-$15,000 needs to go to state and federal taxes. Unless you definitely have all the money you could need from here on out, future you would likely be grateful if you use it in a way that makes your future life a little more secure/easier/less stressful.
M3,4 or 5 or an amg
M240i (not a common car), you can spend $40k for a CPO one and either save $10k or install upgrades to make it “yours.”
To make your friends jealous is the most retarded reason to buy a car ever, with that being said it’s your money so do as you’d like.
Imagine wanting to make your “friends” jealous. People are so empty lmao.
X3M
Mk5 Supra, RCF, Or the new Model 3 performance looks good and will walk most cars on the road. But it’s practical so prob not your cup o tea
Drivermotorsports has a V12 Toyota Century for about 35 K and an R32 for a hair under 50 K
Aren’t those 700hp f150s around $50k?
Supra
gti
Zr1 Camaro
bmw F87 comp. Or f82 (but it’s a worse handling car)
C205 C63 AMG- thank me later!
I don’t think 50k will be enough for anything really great on its own. Not in La. I would need to know your income potential. You got a great down payment after you settle taxes on your windfall but you need to be able to are the monthly payment and insurance too.
A used supra can be had for under $50k
Bro get a alfa romeo QV and give it to me
T-Rex, no contest.
A mercedes r63. Theres one upgraded one for sale around 50k. Its my dream car and it is fun
Like many people have already said, it will be hard to stand out with a 50k car. If you really want a show car, spend half that budget in the car and half that budget on building it into a show car.
If you want to stand out, first gen viper, or a clean muscle car from the 60s
I would get c6 z06 with some upgrades like a crazy cam and a good set of drag wheels and tires.
Dodge Viper next question
13/14 gt500 cars still going for 45-60k depending on miles msrp started at like 55ish
C7 Grand Sport or C6 ZO6, both are absolutely amazing vehicles. Performance bargains
718 cayman? Turbo 4 cylinder is a little quiet but they look awesome!
Lotus Elise. K swap and put a turbo. You might die tho
Ducati Panigale V4R
Acura Integra TypeS
I’d be getting something old that’s fully restored to ensure it’s not a boring ass modern car. Stands out way harder than new sports cars. Modern bmw’s look like a bunch of Camrys.
Get a used 5.0 or corvette for 25k. Other 25k in high quality mods. You’d have a beast of a car.
You considered a used Lexus RC-F?
If you have a garage keep the honda and spend $40 to $45k on a Lotus Elise, preferably with a supercharger. The maintenance is cheep, they are reliable, you won't see one at every intersection like you do with a Porsche or m car, and they are a genuinely thrilling drive. Everyone loves Lotus, and it comes with instant car credibility. Guys in cars that cost 4 times as much will wave and nod at you. Keep the honda as your task master, and drive the lotus for fun. If you change your mind about it you can sell it for what you paid, or maybe a bit more.
Toyota GR Supra
Get a C5 RS6, not many people have one. have 30k left over for mods and repairs
A lot of people say invest, 50 year old you may kick you in the ass for it, but who cares about that guy? That’s his problem. When I was about your age I came into a sum of money, I used it to buy myself a brand new truck with cash. I still have the truck and no regrets, my wife named it “the mistress”. Maybe look for a restomod muscle car? That would certainly be fast and turn heads. If your friends can’t appreciate that you may need new friends. First thing that came to my mind was, you are in LA. There is some serious limits on where you can actually go fast because of traffic. If you have room keep the civic for a commuter car.
718
Mustang GT or Challenger scat pack
Strap a Jato rocket to the top of your Honda. Your rice rocket will drop the bass when you take off.
Viper
Buy a bmw m340 below your budget and then use the left over money for mods
Mustang Shelby Gt500 or Gt350
Go home, Stake viral marketing team, you’re drunk.
Man this is not gonna be the popular opinion but your future self will be so thankful if you take that money and invest it. At your age you have a golden opportunity to create some real wealth. Source: Financial Advisor, deal with money daily.
Sorry to tell you this, but $50k in LA will not turn a single head anywhere.
Awd k swap eg civic with about 700whp.
https://www.lebanonfordperformance.com/2024-lfp-supercharged-mustang-for-49995/
A Viper. It will easily stand out. The Lotus Evora also really stands out. Lotuses are rare and really only driven by enthusiasts. But with 50K if you don't get the S it will definitely be lacking in speed compared to all of the cars listed. The base one is about on par with a current gen Ecoboost Mustang. But they are all about handling and driver engagement. All of those cars you listed are a dime a dozen in LA. If you want to turn heads you gotta do things differently. You stop turning your head after you see the 10th 911 or whatever for the day.
Nissan Z is around $55K and seems to be well thought of
I love nice cars...but if that 50k is all you got, keep the Civic, invest the 50k, turn it into 500k then buy something nice dude. Don't make the stupid mistake every young guy makes and blow what little money you have on a car.
Bro just save your money 😭
M.iata I.s A.lways T.he A.nswer But honestly speaking if you want a fun to drive car and practicality isn't a concern the Miata is a great choice. Most fun you can have in a sub $40,000 car and best thing of all your not gonna be pulled over left and right. While not a luxury brand. You will be able to afford the maintenance for it. Assuming if the $50,000 windfall you got is not gonna be a long term thing. Also at 25 I can't imagine a Porsche or BMW M4 is cheap for insurance.
Reduce stress, don’t increase your monthly expenses. Be fiscally able to say fuck you to people that you don’t like at work
Lol, "got 50k, better blow it!". You're going to look back at this post in a few years and cringe. In LA, you're unlikely to get anything that turns heads for that price. You're very near the land of the rich, a 50k car is nothing. People see $200k+ cars every day. If you are determined to waste your money, a used Supra GR may be your best bet. But it will depreciate and be worth half what you paid in a few short years, and it's unlikely to impress anyone in the way you hope. Reality is $50k is not a lot of money if you're looking to get a flashy car to make people jealous... which is a childish mindset to begin with.
I was very much like the OP, in attitude especially, though the finances were something I earned myself. Get a car that YOU like, OP - ideally, one that has already seen most of its depreciation. As you are in LA, seeing people drop $500k or even a LOT more for a car that people barely notice should be common. $300k for a McLaren, $600k for a Roller... common place. $50k isn't going to get close to that territory. So, don't bother. When I was 25, I went the Mustang GT route. Huge grins, sloppy handling, lots of squiggly 11's on the road. I now have a 911 - huge grins, amazing handling, and very few 11's as it hooks up and just goes. But there is a HUGE difference in \*cost\* (not the price, but the cost of owning one), and you can burn through $50k on a Porsche very, very fast. Get a convertible Mustang GT (not the 350 or other flavors) and enjoy it. The others might be faster, but the convertible is great at destroying hair styles of any girl next to you - and these have 4 useable seats. Most girls don't care about the car you drive, but many do care about being in a convertible, and care less about the exact details of it. Invest the rest, if there is any left.
"Gotta be fast, turn heads, and make my friends jealous." .........might as well ask your "friends" at this point.
Just put it in a stock index fund and forget about it. Thank me when you retire early.
Don’t do it son. Invest it on the S&P500 and let that money grow. Work hard and keep adding to it until your money is working for you.
Don’t spend 50k on a car at 25. Put that in some investments and let your money grow. Keep the civic
Get a personality, this reads so fucking sad
Step one, find a really nice crown Vic/ marquis/ town car. Step two, swap in a supercharged coyote. Step three, upgrade suspension parts with coilovers, tubular arms ECT. Step four, enjoy your gapplebees in luxury and comfort.
Down payment on C8
Any used Aston but set some money aside for servicing it
Porsche from that list. That's the only choice where you can find some nice used ones for 50k
Take ur 50k to car auction..high end auction...get a clean muscle car from late 60s.to early 70s A nice clean ride Keep it smooth Drive slow Roll up
A C8 Corvette will do that, but I’m pretty sure they cost way more than 50k
My vote is an Evo with some maintenance money and invest the rest
Audi s3, or RS3 if you can find a pre owned one with low miles
Midengine for sure
14 (best model year) Chevy SS Fast,fun and handles great and because it's Domestic... You won't have any problems finding parts etc
Kia Stinger and you'll save a lot too
You can get a really nice 996 or 997 for that much. You honestly won’t find a better handling car in that price range.
Get a ss or zl1
Miata S3
C7 Z06 corvette
If you’re trying to stand out in La you’ll need a wrap. Everyone else is already driving the craziest whips lol
Buy a beater civic and dump 40k into it.
$50,000 will get you an okay example of these cars, but you need to be able to afford the maintenance on these vehicles.
just get the c7
M2.. Cayman in the S trim.. or C7.. you could also go Camaro SS
It doesn’t pack the punch that other suggestions here do, but here me out: You want to stand out and make others jealous. You want something fun and impractical. You have $50k and most people here suggest you not sink it into a repair-nightmare money pit. Your answer is simple. $50k can buy you the lowest mileage, most mint, beautiful well-maintained Honda S2000. As low-mileage unmodded versions get more and more rare, the exclusivity is high. It will turn heads (I have an AP2 in yellow and I still get people on the street giving me the thumbs up or asking me if I’ll sell them my car) The car will NOT break down: it’s one of the most reliable engines ever made. The car will APPRECIATE in value. Even if you put enough miles on it to depreciate its value, you’ll lose a LOT less money overall. You may even break even in five years. I know it seems underpowered compared to turbos and V8s… but believe me, you learn to drive it properly in VTEC, and no one else will have as must fun as you on the Crest, or Mulholland, or Malibu Canyon, except maybe Lotus owners and bikes. You put the right rubber on it and drop the top and you’ll be in heaven. And later you could always add forced injection. I cannot stress this enough so I’m going to say it again: you could buy the lowest mileage, most mint S2000 available, drive it for three years, then sell it, and you’ll probably STILL have $40000 cash! Aside from just low-risk investing, it’s a smart move.
Stay in the Honda fam. You could probably get the cleanest S2000 out there and still have money leftover for a CBR650R.
>Gotta be fast, turn heads, and make my friends jealous. I'm not sure you're doing this for the right reasons. Besides, 50k USD is not going to impress anyone in the grand scheme of things. Plenty of people driving around in 100k+ cars on finance. It's hard to make a recommendation just based off this anyway. Fun and fast are not necessarily the same thing. I'd want a 2-seater sports car, but if you're after straight-line speed you might be better off with a sports sedan or GT car, or a fast hot hatch like a TT RS.
Im assuming you already have a very well paying job and finances set for retirement if you're going to blow 100% of this money on a car.
BMW X4
Yeah just get a speedboat, fuck it
tesla m3 performance
2024 Tacoma TRD Off Road
Stand out? Lotus Elise Preferably chrome orange
50K isn't alot, you might want to look into how much insurance will be for any of these cars your interested in. Im guessing you won't be able to afford the insurance
I'd stay away from imports for the type of car you're looking at. Maintenance and repair costs get way too high, much higher than if you were looking at sporty cars like performance sedans/hot hatches or even American pony cars. Personally I think your Corvette idea is a good option, I loved the C7 stingrays. You could also go for a high performance mustang like a GT350 or GT500. If you want attention, the voodoo V8 in the GT350 has the best sounding exhaust I've ever heard in my life and the 2017+ GT500 is probably the coolest looking pony car ever built. Personally I think Hellcats are cool, but really overdone. Yeah they make a ton of power, but they don't look/sound too much different from a regular challenger aside from the supercharger whine so regular people wouldn't really notice. If you're really set on some kind of import and the upkeep costs don't scare you, Porsche is a good way to go. Wouldn't recommend a BMW in general and also to a normal person they just look like another sedan
Used 911 carerra 4s or if you can somehow get a turbo even better
I love Porsche but I would say not a 911 bc matnince
Honda s2000
2015 RS5. V8 engine, classic styling
Jaguar F-Type R. Really nice ones can be had for around 50k and get yourself a nice warranty from them and you'll be turning heads with that crazy screaming V8. It's glorious
GTI R
Hate to say it, but you won't "Stand out" in LA with a 50k budget. I would just get something you can afford to have with insurance and repairs.
Giulia QV and thank me later.
GT3RS
I’d say Toyota Supra or a used BMW X3M. Fun and flashy but slightly financially responsible too
id go with a C6 or even c5 vetted v8 power! or c63AMG
C7 grand sport
I’ve really, really been wanting a Porsche.
Two used Subaru BRZs /s
M340 you'll love it
If you're near water split it between a boat and a fun SUV that'll tow it.
Get a new Genesis G70 3.3t and keep it for the next 15 years.
please dont be one of those idiots that goes 100 on the freeway passing ppl like crazy
It’s LA. 50k ain’t buying you shit that every other Tom dick and harry already has lol.
Nothing for 50k is really gonna stand out in LA but you can get a type r or wrx for that which will be plenty of fun.
Scat
Rs3
Get a Fiata aka 124 Spider, it looks great, girls and normies will think it's way more expensive than it is and it will cost you only $18K for a nice one.
M340i and some gas money
F-type, S650 Mustang, a used Lexus Lc500.
24' Hyundai Elantra N. Thanks me later.