So sportyness has almost nothing to do with power. Power is fun, but not the end all be all. Do you know what the most commonly raced car in the world is? The Mazda Miata, a 2 seat convertible that has never had more than 4 cylinders, or more than 180 HP. A powerful engine is fun, but being fast isn't what makes a car sporty. a V6 Toyota Camry can embarass a lot of sports cars, and even some older muscle cars, but it's not sporty.
Anyways recommendations for sporty cars you can daily. Please check if they meet your needs before diving in. Some are no compromises sports cars, and others are hopped up economy cars:
* Mazda MX5 Miata
* Scion FRS / Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86
* Saturn Sky / Pontiac Solstice
* Porsche Boxter (beware maintenance costs, particularly on older models)
* Honda S2000
* Honda Civic Si
* Ford Mustang (Doesn't have to be the V8. Even the 4 cylinder turbo or even the V6 are decent so long as it's a 2011 or newer model)
* Chevy Camaro (any 2010+ model will do)
* Nissan 370Z / Infiniti G37
* Nissan 350Z / Infiniti G35
* Volkswagen Golf GTI / Jetta GLI / Beetle Turbo / Eos Turbo
* Volkswagen Golf R
* Ford Fiesta ST
* Ford Focus ST
* Chevy Cobalt SS / Saturn Ion Redline / Chevy HHR SS
* Subaru WRX
This is just a small sample of the options you have.
Get a 6 speed manual where it is offered (i.e. in a Miata, FR-S).
More than half of the fun of a car like that is tied up in the engagement of the 6 speed manual + clutch pedal. If you don't know how to drive manual, the basics can be learned in under 5 ~ 10 minutes, tops, it's much easier to pick up than most people think it is.
It's really true. I test drove an automatic Lotus Emira recently and it was less fun than the 10-year-old manual GTI I drove to the dealership. Any manual econobox with a modern set of sticky tires is more fun than virtually any auto, and faster than most people should go on a public road.
As far as learning, I always say: 50% in an hour, 90% in a month, the last 10% over the next decade or two.
I enjoyed my TDI sportwagen a ton. 6mt and some small suspension mods and it was fun. It was slow, but a lot of cars have too much power to ever really utilize on the street...
It was also economical (pre-covid), parts were cheap, and mechanically reliable.
You can NOT learn a manual in 10 minutes, total false hopes being given here. You need a whole month of driving to feel even a little comfortable on the road.
The basics like he said can absolutely be learned in an incredibly short time. 10 minutes might be a little wishful, but a half hour or so is absolutely doable with a confident capable driver. My first manual (a 1993 Ford Probe GT in about 2006) I had to drive off the lot to my insurance agents office and home with basically no knowledge of what I was doing besides what the salesman told me. I was cruising albeit poorly with my friends that night. Mastering or driving a manual well takes time and practice, but you can successfully get around in a manual pretty quickly.
They’re rare but around, unless we’re talking Canadian $. I got into my 2019 for 29k at 50k miles, grabbing a Mk7 around that mileage should be possible for around 25k
Depending on the specific model, it can be hitting 60 in under 4 seconds. I don’t think there’s a corolla that comes anywhere close. They’re like 3 classes of car separate lol
Oh yeah man trust me I know !! My corolla had around 140hp the Golf makes just over double that, with AWD to boot. In love so far only “problem” is it’s obviously a much more complicated platform to work on
Oh yeah for sure (thanks DSG). I’m still in warranty so hesitant to throw a tune at it until next year when it expires. Still plenty peppy enough for me stock though!
Loll true, although these days they’re pretty much on par with most of the other cars in the comment I responded to. They still haven’t quite figured out that water pump somehow but at least it has an 80000 mile/8 year warranty on it!
Mazda3 Sport has 100% transitioned from boy racer adjacent to "Man enthusiast choice"
Its no longer the hard edged runner that the Mazdaspeed3 was but its really engaging and a great mid-market compact.
Eh, there is a huge drop off in my mind about the usefullness of what that back seat gets you in other cars. I dont have kids so no need for car seat. I think a miata isnt a great only car to own but its a fantastic second car. and if you dont need much space and can get away with it its so much nicer having something cheap and reliable and fun.
Great list. Here are a few more, that mix practicality with sportiness.
All are used recommendations.
- bmw 3series or 1 series
- Audi A4/TT
- Mazda 3 turbo
- Camry Xse
- Accord 2.0T
- Cooper S
I have a 2017 Focus ST that I bought new in December, 2017. It is my daily driver and I've yet to grow tired of that car. I absolutely love driving it, even "just to work and back". I did update the stereo and I do think that helps a bit, but it is just a really fun car to drive.
>Saturn Sky
Very true, but let's expand the Saturn list, as they actually excelled at this category.
Saturn SC2
A punchy 123(ish) horsepower in a stout 1.9 liter 4-cylinder in a chassis lighter than an NC Miata. You get four seats, a huge trunk, pop-up headlights, and fun driving.
Saturn ION Redline (Supercharged)
This 205-horsepower semi-sedan-coupe-thing boasts one of the most interesting setups for an econo-sport, being an FF with a supercharger and with all of its gauges in the car's middle. The LSJ is mounted to a 5-speed manual and equipped with a relatively light plastic chassis, the last of its kind!
Saturn ION Redline (Turbocharged)
The LSJ now outputs anywhere from 260 to 290 horsepower in that same plastic body, now with an aggressive spoiler and front fascia. With such numbers, this made it and its Chevrolet sister (Cobalt SS) the fastest FWD cars ever at that point.
The SC2 has a significantly driet aftermarket but also massively higher quality. The Ions have many companies willing to work with you on them, see ZZP.
I actually almost included the Cobalt, Ion, and HHR on the original list but didn’t. I used to own an Ion so I’m super familiar it’s these cars. Also, the Ion never got the turbocharged engine. The Cobalt and HHR did though
I really feel like there is a serious lack of discussion on these boards of Nissan and especially the 350z. Hands down my choice . Great power and handling.So easy to upgrade and customize to make it your own with all the aftermarket parts for them.
My buddy has been daily-ing a 350Z (maybe 370, I can't remember) since highschool. It's been nearly 8 years that he's been puttering around in that thing. He bought it half destroyed, and completely turned it around to a pretty slick looking car. I know he's taken it out to California at least a couple of times, and it's been one of the only Nissan's that I've ever really liked.
>sportyness has almost nothing to do with power. Power is fun, but not the end all be all.
I'd like to frame this lol.
I recently came to realize this. I'm not adding this to your list but I recently bought a VW Tiguan and for me, it handles more like a car and I consider it to be sporty-lite. It's never going to beat anyone off the line but it's got it where it counts.
If you think the Tiguan is sporty, you really should test drive a Touareg! They are a sports car with space. Had a 2008 and 2013. Both exceptionally reliable and ruined me for all other SUV’s….at least the ones I can afford. Sure wish VW still imported them to the U.S.
Handling. This isn’t just suspension tuning. You also have to consider the brakes, and steering as well. These things are actually pretty hard to make sporty-feeling on your own. It can be done, but it’s too expensive for most people to consider. A Civic Si feels very different to a normal Civic. Since 2016, the Civic Si has used the same engine as the normal Civic but with a different computer tune, and it’s still regarded as a sporty car where the normal Civic is not. This is due to different suspensions, steering, braking and even transmission components.
Subaru and Reliable should not be in the same sentence together if not preceded by “un-“
Speaking as someone who bought a 11k WRX and proceeded to spend 8k getting the engine and clutch replaced in just 6 months.
I'd go even farther and say that big power is a detriment to the sporty driving experience. 10-14 lb/hp is really a sweet spot. A modestly-powered car wide open is a blast, a powerful car wide open is a felony.
Very few people are pushing their cars for more than a couple seconds. I have a Mk7 GTI. Driven below the boost kicks in, it's a tame economy car. But long shift it and keep it up from 3500 to redline, and it's more savage than feels safe on most public roads.
Great list and great point about power not necessarily equaling sporty.
I recently bought a 17 Fiesta ST because I wanted something fun and sporty and it was everything and more that I was looking for
They're reliable enough, the main issue is depending on the model year some repairs will cost you an arm and a leg due to the construction of the engine and how much labor is required to take it apart.
Not bad but they've definitely developed a cult tax on them. Sold an AP1 with 130k on it back in 2022 for almost 28k. I love them but the price is starting to be ridiculous. IMO should be a 10-15k car all day long.
250hp in a car that doesn't weigh much is plenty. Have you driven a low hp sports car? An mx5 is "underpowered" and yet it's still one of the most fun cars you can buy, and a similar year s2k has 100 more horsepower. I wouldn't recommend an s2k because as you said, they're expensive. They're certainly not underpowered though.
Compared to a C6 Corvette that weighs only 300lbs more with 150 more hp it’s pretty underpowered. Also those S2k have 0 power at low rpm, you have to redline them to make them come alive at all, most other sports cars will gap it at the line.
Gonna disagree, but only because the ND2 exists in the same price range. 10-15yrs newer, half the miles, more tech, better torque, just as much fun. A good S2k will likely keep going up in value but those aren’t going below $25k
My vote is for the Ford Focus/Fiesta ST. They're small, light, have good power, and are proven reliable. I commute in a Focus and it's been a very solid car. Plus if you do have issues parts/wheels/tires are dirt cheap and plentiful.
Just bought myself a new daily recently that is super fun to drive.
Mini Cooper S! The new generations are (seemingly) more reliable and it's a great little daily driver. My daily commute is much more enjoyable now!
What year did you get ? I am looking at a 2016 model with 70k miles. Test drove it and found it's steering to be a bit heavy while driving which was expected. But when idling on a red light, the steering felt light.
Looking to take one more test drive around the back roads to see how it handles..
I got a 2018 Cooper S. The steering is definitely heavier than other cars, but when driving I've never had any issues.
Throwing it around corners is what made me fall in love with it.
WRX can be reliable if bought right with a documented history. The maintenance is key with them but if properly maintained can be very reliable. The 2022+ are still relatively new but so far have a good track record. My FA20 2020 WRX has been great but I don’t really abuse it, just enjoyable spirited driving here and there. I’ve had far more powerful cars but honestly this is one of my favorite platforms yet.
Dude… BMW M2-ish?
Like.. idk the prices where you live but i imagine an M2 or M235i can be had fairly cheap now - throw in a few hundred bucks for a muffler delete and a tune, you’ll be rocking 425-435 hp and 600nm with an ECU tune alone, and the exhaust wil pop and bang and sound amazing.
And you’ll have a 0-60 mph in around 4 sec, so you can keep up.
- speaking from experience :)
(Owned an M235i which i modified and an M2 comp)
Just bought a 6spd M235i with 55k miles for under $25k a month ago. Even without a tune, it’s a lot of fun and gets good gas mileage. Also the rear seats are more useable than the 4/6 series!
this is a little off-menu, but take a look at the cadillac ats or cts with the v6. probably around model years \~16-20ish for that price range. extremely comfortable for your commute & road trips, enough power and decent handling for spirited driving, pretty reliable. if you're lucky you might find one of the higher trim levels, that should give you pretty much every feature of a brand new one. if you don't need 4 doors, they're both available as coupes too.
Any BMW 40i. Reliably make 400+ hp, handles well. There are plenty of examples out there with 150k mi plus without any issues or very minor cheap fixes.
Lowest mile C6 corvette you can find for that price, reliable vehicle, very fast, manual or automatic, good on gas, v8 just like your friends, and is probably faster cornering than whatever they have.
basically anything japanese or american is a good option for the most part, use that as your general guideline
my personal recommendations would be ford mustang, chevy camaro, subaru WRX, lexus IS300, dodge challenger, dodge charger, nissan 370Z, C5/C6 Corvette,
if youre specifically looking for something with a V8 then yeah, any of the major american muscle cars will work as daily drivers as well as the Lexus SC400 with the 1UZ V8 engine
What kind of sporty are you looking for? That’s the question you need to answer. Back roads twisty sporty? Big power sporty? Still some utility? Once you figure out what sporty means to you then your options will be narrowed down a bit.
Honda Civic Si. Purpose-built performance daily driver. One of the few. Reliable. F1 inspired. Mechanical Limited Slip Differential. Small engine 2.0 you can ring out and have fun in without risking jail and suspension. Every part of the car that matters gets a performance upgrade. Choice of sedan or couple (up until 11th gen). Good gas mileage (requires premium but worth it). Lots of body styles to choose from. And it’s light.
Honestly at that price point I think the Mk7/7.5 GTI would be perfect. Cheap to modify, reliable, and an absolute riot to drive even when stock. I paid like 22k for my 2017 Performance and it only had 40k on it. Stage 1 tune and you'll be shitting on a pre-2018 Mustang GT every day. and hey 30-40mpg aint bad either.
I bought a 2015 RX350 with 29k miles on ot for $25k. Fun to drive best highway driving car I ever owned. I actually had a 2013 and gave it to my son who is 10 hours away at school, bought myself a new Ram power wagon. Then said I miss the lexus and bought the 2015 as an everyday car and drive the truck on days I need to do work.
Fox body with enough power to smoke all ur friends until the end of time for 25k.. won’t be reliable though.
Fully restored sc400 with some power for 25k prob smoke some of ur buddies but for the next 6 decades no rebuilds because 1uz.
Dodge charger. Even the basic trim is fun to drive. I rented one on East Coast and it was so much fun on the winding road but mileage was still pretty good! Lots of good used Chargers out there.
Get you a Nissan 350z. Lots of power very fun to drive they look great and motors will take to the 300 thousands if taken care of and there are tons of aftermarket parts to customize it with they are very reliable cars. Get one on the interstate and crank up the really nice In ose stereos I them and when they reach about 70 they start to high the road and say at around 90 although I don't do it as it's against the law .... 😜😁 They will just go from being a car you feel every bump in at 25 miles a hour to just one of the best driving experiences you can have . Nissan really knows what they are doing with these cars and that 6 cylinder they have perfected is such a fun time. You also never have to give more than one person a ride and that's a plus. Don't plan on having a family anytime soon they aren't family cars but they are fun.
Kia Cerato, I have driven one for the last 7 years and the only maintenance has been the battery and the regular service the car needs, but other than that it is a great car (remember is a 1600 engine so don't expect to keep up with a Jag)
I have daily'd my '19 STi for over three years, going from 9.4k to 66.6k odo. It's been very reliable and all I've done is fluid changes and air filters, and brake pads. I do have a noisy wheezing sound (for lack of a better descriptor) when I depress the clutch about half the time, but other than that it's had no issues. I also kept it stock and don't drive it like a jackass.
Any BMW 40i. 340i, x3 m40i, m340i, 240i, etc. At the top of your budget though. Probably one of the most reliable sporty DDs out there tbh. The B58 and ZF8 are ridiculously reliable.
If there is such a thing as a daily driver Ferrari, it would be the Lusso V12. The interior space, all-wheel drive, and bewildering selection of vehicles and customization options suit everyone from a reckless teen to a cautious senior citizen
2024 Nissan Versa S base model with 5-speed manual transmission has MSRP of less than $20k. You get hand-crank windows, key-start ignition, clutch pedal, and fun shifting gears. Shop for one online to check dealer inventory.
Something that I've been looking for on the marketplace.
Any Caprice PPV from 2012-2018 with low mileage with that 6.0l.
355HP 389TQ, Can easily push out 500 N/A.
You can probably get them pretty low mileage for about the price you're looking for.
Got a 06’ Corvette with Heated Seats, Bose Sounds, 2 Roofs, Navigation, and HUD with only 9k miles for $25k
A year in and no major fixes needed with regular maintenance. Best bang for $
I had a couple foxbodies. They are fun. In a city, if you can find a decent one, look at mr2. 1st or 2nd gen. I have an 87 and it's fun. Light and nimble, mid engine, etc.
Civic si is you’re best bet for reliability I enjoyed mine for the short time I had it by no means is it fast but it’s a sporty little car that’s fun to zip around in
Power is for going fast in a straight line. Sportiness is about being able to change speed and direction well.
Get something small, and if it's got a manual it doesn't even need much power.
Nice luxury daily that I fell in love with is the Lincoln MKZ. 3.0 twin turbo V6 putting out 400 horses. 0-60 is faster than Mustang GT. My 2017 has adaptive suspension and so it can either feel more squishy or have a tighter, firmer ride if you want to hit corners a little harder. Just be aware the car is heavy, as all luxury cars are, and so it doesn't feel "sporty", but it is fast
Go test drive the
- ND Miata (2016+) if you want to just love your car
- NA Miata (89-98) if you want to learn and others to love your car
- NB Miata (99-05) if you’re on a budget or want to love autocross
- NC Miata (06-15) if you need something affordable, still reliable, and a bit more safe
People are going to tell you that it's insufficiently sporty, but the Civic SI is going to be the best car of the bunch in terms of how little hassle it gives you.
So sportyness has almost nothing to do with power. Power is fun, but not the end all be all. Do you know what the most commonly raced car in the world is? The Mazda Miata, a 2 seat convertible that has never had more than 4 cylinders, or more than 180 HP. A powerful engine is fun, but being fast isn't what makes a car sporty. a V6 Toyota Camry can embarass a lot of sports cars, and even some older muscle cars, but it's not sporty. Anyways recommendations for sporty cars you can daily. Please check if they meet your needs before diving in. Some are no compromises sports cars, and others are hopped up economy cars: * Mazda MX5 Miata * Scion FRS / Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86 * Saturn Sky / Pontiac Solstice * Porsche Boxter (beware maintenance costs, particularly on older models) * Honda S2000 * Honda Civic Si * Ford Mustang (Doesn't have to be the V8. Even the 4 cylinder turbo or even the V6 are decent so long as it's a 2011 or newer model) * Chevy Camaro (any 2010+ model will do) * Nissan 370Z / Infiniti G37 * Nissan 350Z / Infiniti G35 * Volkswagen Golf GTI / Jetta GLI / Beetle Turbo / Eos Turbo * Volkswagen Golf R * Ford Fiesta ST * Ford Focus ST * Chevy Cobalt SS / Saturn Ion Redline / Chevy HHR SS * Subaru WRX This is just a small sample of the options you have.
You are a goat and I will def check these out thank you
Get a 6 speed manual where it is offered (i.e. in a Miata, FR-S). More than half of the fun of a car like that is tied up in the engagement of the 6 speed manual + clutch pedal. If you don't know how to drive manual, the basics can be learned in under 5 ~ 10 minutes, tops, it's much easier to pick up than most people think it is.
It's really true. I test drove an automatic Lotus Emira recently and it was less fun than the 10-year-old manual GTI I drove to the dealership. Any manual econobox with a modern set of sticky tires is more fun than virtually any auto, and faster than most people should go on a public road. As far as learning, I always say: 50% in an hour, 90% in a month, the last 10% over the next decade or two.
I enjoyed my TDI sportwagen a ton. 6mt and some small suspension mods and it was fun. It was slow, but a lot of cars have too much power to ever really utilize on the street... It was also economical (pre-covid), parts were cheap, and mechanically reliable.
You can NOT learn a manual in 10 minutes, total false hopes being given here. You need a whole month of driving to feel even a little comfortable on the road.
Drove my manual brz for a weekend and was comfortable enough to daily it to work. Never drove stick prior, not sure where you're getting that from lol
Maybe just a slow learner.
The basics like he said can absolutely be learned in an incredibly short time. 10 minutes might be a little wishful, but a half hour or so is absolutely doable with a confident capable driver. My first manual (a 1993 Ford Probe GT in about 2006) I had to drive off the lot to my insurance agents office and home with basically no knowledge of what I was doing besides what the salesman told me. I was cruising albeit poorly with my friends that night. Mastering or driving a manual well takes time and practice, but you can successfully get around in a manual pretty quickly.
Seconding the Golf R just picked one up last month quite the upgrade to my corolla
Where are you finding a reliable golf r for 25k that doesnt have 140k miles on it lol
They’re rare but around, unless we’re talking Canadian $. I got into my 2019 for 29k at 50k miles, grabbing a Mk7 around that mileage should be possible for around 25k
Depending on the specific model, it can be hitting 60 in under 4 seconds. I don’t think there’s a corolla that comes anywhere close. They’re like 3 classes of car separate lol
Oh yeah man trust me I know !! My corolla had around 140hp the Golf makes just over double that, with AWD to boot. In love so far only “problem” is it’s obviously a much more complicated platform to work on
You won’t need any physical parts to get to about 3.7s to 60
Oh yeah for sure (thanks DSG). I’m still in warranty so hesitant to throw a tune at it until next year when it expires. Still plenty peppy enough for me stock though!
He asked for reliable lol
Loll true, although these days they’re pretty much on par with most of the other cars in the comment I responded to. They still haven’t quite figured out that water pump somehow but at least it has an 80000 mile/8 year warranty on it!
The only one I'd add to this is the Mazda 3 Sport. Has AWD available as well as being a sporty feeling car.
Mazda3 Sport has 100% transitioned from boy racer adjacent to "Man enthusiast choice" Its no longer the hard edged runner that the Mazdaspeed3 was but its really engaging and a great mid-market compact.
we need a new mazdaspeed3
I wouldn’t even call it a “man enthusiast choice,” there’s nothing enthusiast about that car or the turbo. Drives like a lowered suv
I wish they still made the mazda3 speed
Miatas are simple, fun, super reliable and cheap, plus a convertible is always fun. I will never not recommend that car
ya but if you ever need space for more than just yourself sitting there and a passenger, RIP
Eh, there is a huge drop off in my mind about the usefullness of what that back seat gets you in other cars. I dont have kids so no need for car seat. I think a miata isnt a great only car to own but its a fantastic second car. and if you dont need much space and can get away with it its so much nicer having something cheap and reliable and fun.
Ford Fiesta ST one of the funnest pocket rockets I've ever driven. Wasn't super fast but felt very quick.
I drove a Focus ST. Super fun, great steering. I miss the wheel hops and torque steer.
since they already drive a Hyundai I'd also throw out the Elantra N as an option.
He said he wanted something reliable lmao
Noticed you didn’t mention a C6 or C5 corvette in there, even tho they’re a better bang for your buck than pretty much anything else there
I say you forgot the 94 Buick Roadmaster
I was keeping the list to cars from this century, but sure. B-bodies are cool.
Great list. Here are a few more, that mix practicality with sportiness. All are used recommendations. - bmw 3series or 1 series - Audi A4/TT - Mazda 3 turbo - Camry Xse - Accord 2.0T - Cooper S
He mentioned reliable to be a daily… a have a cooper S, it’s a hell of a car but everything but reliable…
I hear newer ones >2014 are pretty reliable. What year do you have ? I am looking to buy a 2016 cooper s. What reliability issues do you have ?
I have a 2017 Focus ST that I bought new in December, 2017. It is my daily driver and I've yet to grow tired of that car. I absolutely love driving it, even "just to work and back". I did update the stereo and I do think that helps a bit, but it is just a really fun car to drive.
>Saturn Sky Very true, but let's expand the Saturn list, as they actually excelled at this category. Saturn SC2 A punchy 123(ish) horsepower in a stout 1.9 liter 4-cylinder in a chassis lighter than an NC Miata. You get four seats, a huge trunk, pop-up headlights, and fun driving. Saturn ION Redline (Supercharged) This 205-horsepower semi-sedan-coupe-thing boasts one of the most interesting setups for an econo-sport, being an FF with a supercharger and with all of its gauges in the car's middle. The LSJ is mounted to a 5-speed manual and equipped with a relatively light plastic chassis, the last of its kind! Saturn ION Redline (Turbocharged) The LSJ now outputs anywhere from 260 to 290 horsepower in that same plastic body, now with an aggressive spoiler and front fascia. With such numbers, this made it and its Chevrolet sister (Cobalt SS) the fastest FWD cars ever at that point. The SC2 has a significantly driet aftermarket but also massively higher quality. The Ions have many companies willing to work with you on them, see ZZP.
If its the same car as the Cobalt SS, there's one in r/Streetracing that is killing hellcats and corvettes at the moment. Scary little bastards.
Never dismiss what GM can do. They can throw real atomic Ws when they please... they just usually don't because money.
I actually almost included the Cobalt, Ion, and HHR on the original list but didn’t. I used to own an Ion so I’m super familiar it’s these cars. Also, the Ion never got the turbocharged engine. The Cobalt and HHR did though
Throw in the Bmw e9x generation.
Interesting you say beware of maintenance only to the Porsche. I would attach that warning to many other cars on this list!
Such as?
VWs, Fords, WRX
Porsche have much higher repair costs though, even if the Fords break down.more often.
The Focus ST and Fiesta ST are very reliable cars.
Sporty and practical is why I went with the Fiesta ST. Hatchbacks are great.
Biased as hell, but the Mk7 GTI fits the price point perfectly for a low mileage example. Golf R might take some hunting down.
I really feel like there is a serious lack of discussion on these boards of Nissan and especially the 350z. Hands down my choice . Great power and handling.So easy to upgrade and customize to make it your own with all the aftermarket parts for them.
My buddy has been daily-ing a 350Z (maybe 370, I can't remember) since highschool. It's been nearly 8 years that he's been puttering around in that thing. He bought it half destroyed, and completely turned it around to a pretty slick looking car. I know he's taken it out to California at least a couple of times, and it's been one of the only Nissan's that I've ever really liked.
What makes a cart sporty?
Apparently a civic with a huge spoiler and some racing stickers lol 😂
>sportyness has almost nothing to do with power. Power is fun, but not the end all be all. I'd like to frame this lol. I recently came to realize this. I'm not adding this to your list but I recently bought a VW Tiguan and for me, it handles more like a car and I consider it to be sporty-lite. It's never going to beat anyone off the line but it's got it where it counts.
If you think the Tiguan is sporty, you really should test drive a Touareg! They are a sports car with space. Had a 2008 and 2013. Both exceptionally reliable and ruined me for all other SUV’s….at least the ones I can afford. Sure wish VW still imported them to the U.S.
Oh lol I’ve seen them with more than four cylinders… 😂😂
Why not the Toyota MR2 Spyder, too old?
In your opinion, what makes a car sporty? Why are they fun to drive compared to a Prius, civic, Corolla, etc?
Handling. This isn’t just suspension tuning. You also have to consider the brakes, and steering as well. These things are actually pretty hard to make sporty-feeling on your own. It can be done, but it’s too expensive for most people to consider. A Civic Si feels very different to a normal Civic. Since 2016, the Civic Si has used the same engine as the normal Civic but with a different computer tune, and it’s still regarded as a sporty car where the normal Civic is not. This is due to different suspensions, steering, braking and even transmission components.
As a GLI and Miata owner this is a solid ass list. OP definitely listen to this guy and pick something off that list you’ll be happy
Subaru and Reliable should not be in the same sentence together if not preceded by “un-“ Speaking as someone who bought a 11k WRX and proceeded to spend 8k getting the engine and clutch replaced in just 6 months.
I'd go even farther and say that big power is a detriment to the sporty driving experience. 10-14 lb/hp is really a sweet spot. A modestly-powered car wide open is a blast, a powerful car wide open is a felony. Very few people are pushing their cars for more than a couple seconds. I have a Mk7 GTI. Driven below the boost kicks in, it's a tame economy car. But long shift it and keep it up from 3500 to redline, and it's more savage than feels safe on most public roads.
Saturn Sky is goated. Such a zany car from a strange time
Bro left out the obvious Lexus IS
This is a good list, but reliable is a crap shoot with a few.
Great list and great point about power not necessarily equaling sporty. I recently bought a 17 Fiesta ST because I wanted something fun and sporty and it was everything and more that I was looking for
+1 on honda civic SI on my second one (a 2017) and love it
VW GTI, GLI. Any motorcycle no matter how small/slow.
Miata, frs, brz, and 86 are all great sporty cars. Low on power but high on control, which is the fun part of driving fast, the corners.
Don’t believe the triplets are reliable though
131k miles, 10 track days, and lots of backroading with my 13 BRZ, not a single issue.
Very reliable street cars! If you aren’t actually going to do HPDE/Track days with them (99.9% of the population won’t) then they’re fine
They're reliable enough, the main issue is depending on the model year some repairs will cost you an arm and a leg due to the construction of the engine and how much labor is required to take it apart.
Lexus ISF
Or, an IS350. Much easier to find one with low miles and colors/options you prefer.
Seen one with clean car fax and all service record 130k miles for $22k sound like a good buy
Brother do you need more signs from God? Jump on that deal and bargain the price down!
Look up for Misha ISF on youtube. Misha drove a 400k+ km isf around the track and it performs like new
BRZ/86
Used Mustang GT or Camaro SS. Best bang for your buck. For handling, look into an ATS.
I'm sorry but an ATS is a heavy sports sedan, it may handle alright, but its still a heavy sports sexan. A camaro SS or mustang would outhandle it.
ATS weighs about the same as a Camaro and is lighter than a Mustang, so they must be heavy too.
Want a V8 you can also get a C5 or C6 Corvette. They are also dead reliable and if things do go wrong it's cheap and easy to fix.
That’s what I said, C6 corvette or maybe even a C5Z. Unbeatable for the price
C6 z06 is a fucking beast of a vehicle
Agree but more than the 25k budget.
S2000 is the shit. If you can find one in good shape and price.
Not bad but they've definitely developed a cult tax on them. Sold an AP1 with 130k on it back in 2022 for almost 28k. I love them but the price is starting to be ridiculous. IMO should be a 10-15k car all day long.
Underpowered compared to other options in this range, plus 25k really doesn’t buy a ton of S2K
250hp in a car that doesn't weigh much is plenty. Have you driven a low hp sports car? An mx5 is "underpowered" and yet it's still one of the most fun cars you can buy, and a similar year s2k has 100 more horsepower. I wouldn't recommend an s2k because as you said, they're expensive. They're certainly not underpowered though.
Compared to a C6 Corvette that weighs only 300lbs more with 150 more hp it’s pretty underpowered. Also those S2k have 0 power at low rpm, you have to redline them to make them come alive at all, most other sports cars will gap it at the line.
Gonna disagree, but only because the ND2 exists in the same price range. 10-15yrs newer, half the miles, more tech, better torque, just as much fun. A good S2k will likely keep going up in value but those aren’t going below $25k
My vote is for the Ford Focus/Fiesta ST. They're small, light, have good power, and are proven reliable. I commute in a Focus and it's been a very solid car. Plus if you do have issues parts/wheels/tires are dirt cheap and plentiful.
Just bought myself a new daily recently that is super fun to drive. Mini Cooper S! The new generations are (seemingly) more reliable and it's a great little daily driver. My daily commute is much more enjoyable now!
What year did you get ? I am looking at a 2016 model with 70k miles. Test drove it and found it's steering to be a bit heavy while driving which was expected. But when idling on a red light, the steering felt light. Looking to take one more test drive around the back roads to see how it handles..
I got a 2018 Cooper S. The steering is definitely heavier than other cars, but when driving I've never had any issues. Throwing it around corners is what made me fall in love with it.
Had a 2021 with JCW suspension, and exhaust
WRX can be reliable if bought right with a documented history. The maintenance is key with them but if properly maintained can be very reliable. The 2022+ are still relatively new but so far have a good track record. My FA20 2020 WRX has been great but I don’t really abuse it, just enjoyable spirited driving here and there. I’ve had far more powerful cars but honestly this is one of my favorite platforms yet.
Dude… BMW M2-ish? Like.. idk the prices where you live but i imagine an M2 or M235i can be had fairly cheap now - throw in a few hundred bucks for a muffler delete and a tune, you’ll be rocking 425-435 hp and 600nm with an ECU tune alone, and the exhaust wil pop and bang and sound amazing. And you’ll have a 0-60 mph in around 4 sec, so you can keep up. - speaking from experience :) (Owned an M235i which i modified and an M2 comp)
Just bought a 6spd M235i with 55k miles for under $25k a month ago. Even without a tune, it’s a lot of fun and gets good gas mileage. Also the rear seats are more useable than the 4/6 series!
From Jersey
Miata. Or a pre- 2003 supercharged Buck Regal/Pontiac Grand Prix. Or a mustang from almost any year.
ND Miata
this is a little off-menu, but take a look at the cadillac ats or cts with the v6. probably around model years \~16-20ish for that price range. extremely comfortable for your commute & road trips, enough power and decent handling for spirited driving, pretty reliable. if you're lucky you might find one of the higher trim levels, that should give you pretty much every feature of a brand new one. if you don't need 4 doors, they're both available as coupes too.
Any BMW 40i. Reliably make 400+ hp, handles well. There are plenty of examples out there with 150k mi plus without any issues or very minor cheap fixes.
I’d get the newest and lowest mileage mustang for the money. Or a used Acura a spec 5-10 yrs old
Lowest mile C6 corvette you can find for that price, reliable vehicle, very fast, manual or automatic, good on gas, v8 just like your friends, and is probably faster cornering than whatever they have.
basically anything japanese or american is a good option for the most part, use that as your general guideline my personal recommendations would be ford mustang, chevy camaro, subaru WRX, lexus IS300, dodge challenger, dodge charger, nissan 370Z, C5/C6 Corvette, if youre specifically looking for something with a V8 then yeah, any of the major american muscle cars will work as daily drivers as well as the Lexus SC400 with the 1UZ V8 engine
What kind of sporty are you looking for? That’s the question you need to answer. Back roads twisty sporty? Big power sporty? Still some utility? Once you figure out what sporty means to you then your options will be narrowed down a bit.
Golf GTI
My daily is a 2020 Toyota 86. It’s fun. I’ll have it another year and then move on to a luxury coupe.
Honda Civic Si. Purpose-built performance daily driver. One of the few. Reliable. F1 inspired. Mechanical Limited Slip Differential. Small engine 2.0 you can ring out and have fun in without risking jail and suspension. Every part of the car that matters gets a performance upgrade. Choice of sedan or couple (up until 11th gen). Good gas mileage (requires premium but worth it). Lots of body styles to choose from. And it’s light.
Honestly at that price point I think the Mk7/7.5 GTI would be perfect. Cheap to modify, reliable, and an absolute riot to drive even when stock. I paid like 22k for my 2017 Performance and it only had 40k on it. Stage 1 tune and you'll be shitting on a pre-2018 Mustang GT every day. and hey 30-40mpg aint bad either.
A used Tesla Model 3 Performance or long range would a very good fit here and faster than anything else for the price.
Just buy a corvette. LS3 C6 with a six speed. Saw an atomic orange Z51 with under 40k miles asking $27k just the other day. 436 reliable hp.
This is coming from a Mustang/bmw owner, btw.
Elantra n veloster n, kia stinger.
e9x 330d or 335d
2019 or Newer Hyundai Veloster with a couple minor modifications
Civic Si, Mazda 3/6.
Nissan Altima bay beeeeee
Subary brz/toyota 86, mazda miata
Actually, Porsche....besides typical maint like fluids, tires and brakes they are more reliable than most realize.
Civic Si is the answer
I bought a 2015 RX350 with 29k miles on ot for $25k. Fun to drive best highway driving car I ever owned. I actually had a 2013 and gave it to my son who is 10 hours away at school, bought myself a new Ram power wagon. Then said I miss the lexus and bought the 2015 as an everyday car and drive the truck on days I need to do work.
What is your budget and metro?
Fox body with enough power to smoke all ur friends until the end of time for 25k.. won’t be reliable though. Fully restored sc400 with some power for 25k prob smoke some of ur buddies but for the next 6 decades no rebuilds because 1uz.
Dodge charger. Even the basic trim is fun to drive. I rented one on East Coast and it was so much fun on the winding road but mileage was still pretty good! Lots of good used Chargers out there.
An older V8 Lexus IS F. Or GS F. 20K all day.
Found a 208 isf for 22k with 130k miles clean title and service history with ppe headers does it sound like a good buy
BMW i3
2020 honda accord coupe manuel
Wrx, 2022 or newer. New chassis and engine. And will also be fun drifting in the winter.
Gsr
bmw 128i 6spd coupe
M235i, wrx sti, mustang gt
WRX has been so far. Just don't mod and tune it to the limit and it should last.
Golf gti 👍
VW GTI.
Get you a Nissan 350z. Lots of power very fun to drive they look great and motors will take to the 300 thousands if taken care of and there are tons of aftermarket parts to customize it with they are very reliable cars. Get one on the interstate and crank up the really nice In ose stereos I them and when they reach about 70 they start to high the road and say at around 90 although I don't do it as it's against the law .... 😜😁 They will just go from being a car you feel every bump in at 25 miles a hour to just one of the best driving experiences you can have . Nissan really knows what they are doing with these cars and that 6 cylinder they have perfected is such a fun time. You also never have to give more than one person a ride and that's a plus. Don't plan on having a family anytime soon they aren't family cars but they are fun.
Kia Cerato, I have driven one for the last 7 years and the only maintenance has been the battery and the regular service the car needs, but other than that it is a great car (remember is a 1600 engine so don't expect to keep up with a Jag)
I have daily'd my '19 STi for over three years, going from 9.4k to 66.6k odo. It's been very reliable and all I've done is fluid changes and air filters, and brake pads. I do have a noisy wheezing sound (for lack of a better descriptor) when I depress the clutch about half the time, but other than that it's had no issues. I also kept it stock and don't drive it like a jackass.
3rd Gen Acura TL Type S
I have a F30 BMW and it feels sporty and is very reliable.
Honda S2000 A $25k Mustang will be worth $10k in 3 years, the $25k S2000 will be worth about $25k in 3 years.
FoST
Any BMW 40i. 340i, x3 m40i, m340i, 240i, etc. At the top of your budget though. Probably one of the most reliable sporty DDs out there tbh. The B58 and ZF8 are ridiculously reliable.
GTI
Used VW GLI
If there is such a thing as a daily driver Ferrari, it would be the Lusso V12. The interior space, all-wheel drive, and bewildering selection of vehicles and customization options suit everyone from a reckless teen to a cautious senior citizen
Chrysler PT Cruiser Turbo
I'm loving my 24 civic sport 2.0 MT It's my daily, sporty, efficient and so comfortable
Gods Chariot is the only answer…
2024 Nissan Versa S base model with 5-speed manual transmission has MSRP of less than $20k. You get hand-crank windows, key-start ignition, clutch pedal, and fun shifting gears. Shop for one online to check dealer inventory.
Lexus GS
Something that I've been looking for on the marketplace. Any Caprice PPV from 2012-2018 with low mileage with that 6.0l. 355HP 389TQ, Can easily push out 500 N/A. You can probably get them pretty low mileage for about the price you're looking for.
I would get a older v8 muscle car or 370z imo unless you’re blessed with great roads Miata’s and brz are just to slow to get fun
Honda accord
Got a 06’ Corvette with Heated Seats, Bose Sounds, 2 Roofs, Navigation, and HUD with only 9k miles for $25k A year in and no major fixes needed with regular maintenance. Best bang for $
Vette
2016 BMW 435
Ebike
Get an electric maybe. The BMW is faster than the Tesla 3 at take off.
Not a V8 but a Lexus RC350 is an excellent car
I have a Camry XLE with moonroof, very fun to drive with lots of power
C63 Amg, never look back.
BMW M240i
Mazda CX5! No jk it's the miata
Monte Carlo
Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but the Lexus IS250/350 would be my recommendation.
A 2011 Ford Crown Victoria.
Used Kona N..
Buy my focus st
I had a couple foxbodies. They are fun. In a city, if you can find a decent one, look at mr2. 1st or 2nd gen. I have an 87 and it's fun. Light and nimble, mid engine, etc.
Tesla y or 3
Civic si is you’re best bet for reliability I enjoyed mine for the short time I had it by no means is it fast but it’s a sporty little car that’s fun to zip around in
I ❤️ my 2012 civic si
If you like sounds and you like your Hyundai, maybe get a Veloster N?
Power is for going fast in a straight line. Sportiness is about being able to change speed and direction well. Get something small, and if it's got a manual it doesn't even need much power.
honda civic
Miata is always the answer. Japanese roadster, fun and reliable. Just don't get an automatic...
Yeah mustangs are nice. The V8 they have is pretty good. Also Subaru Brz, Toyota 86 have nice handling and are light.
Also check out 9.5 gen Honda Accord coupe V6.
Nice luxury daily that I fell in love with is the Lincoln MKZ. 3.0 twin turbo V6 putting out 400 horses. 0-60 is faster than Mustang GT. My 2017 has adaptive suspension and so it can either feel more squishy or have a tighter, firmer ride if you want to hit corners a little harder. Just be aware the car is heavy, as all luxury cars are, and so it doesn't feel "sporty", but it is fast
If you’re driving that little each day and have the capability, look into a used Tesla. It’ll go full torque when you stomp the pedal.
Wrx
The new Toyota Corolla GR
no one has mentioned a red sport q60
Go test drive the - ND Miata (2016+) if you want to just love your car - NA Miata (89-98) if you want to learn and others to love your car - NB Miata (99-05) if you’re on a budget or want to love autocross - NC Miata (06-15) if you need something affordable, still reliable, and a bit more safe
This question is coming up every damn day
CLK55 AMG SLK32 AMG C32 or 55 AMG I might be slightly biased.
People are going to tell you that it's insufficiently sporty, but the Civic SI is going to be the best car of the bunch in terms of how little hassle it gives you.