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Car Buying Guide: What Kind of Sports Car Should You Get for $50,000?

When you're buying a car, having a bigger budget available does not necessarily mean the whole process is going to be any easier. At any given time, you might be tempted to look over at cheaper options, or you might be annoyed by the fact that you're just short of that dream car you were thinking about for some time.
Toyota GR Supra 15 photos
Photo: Toyota
Toyota GR SupraMercedes AMG CLA45Lamborghini GallardoHonda Civic Type RFord BullitFerrari 360 ModenaChevrolet Camaro SSBMW M4Audi TTS CoupeAudi TTS CoupeDodge Challenger Scat PackToyota SupraBMW M240I
The last time we considered purchasing a sports car, we had a budget of $30,000. Let's increase that to $50,000 and follow a similar scenario. Which means we've still got an extra $5,000 to play with should we require to. Also, the car will still mostly be used on public roads, with occasional track use in mind. Perhaps we'll dive into some special track options in the future.

To further narrow down the list, we'll mostly be looking at coupes, ideally with RWD, because that sounds like the most fun for a car of this type; still, we won't totally ignore the FWD and AWD options. As before, we'll start off by looking at the new cars market, and then get a glimpse of the used cars one as well.

What kind of brand new vehicles can I get ?

For starters, this budget can make things a bit more interesting, as it opens up choices in places we couldn't access before. We are still far away from the top-end options, but still not half bad. The Japanese offerings now include the Toyota GR Supra, the top of the line Nismo 370Z, the Limited Edition of the Honda Civic Type R, the Subaru WRX STI Limited Edition, and the more lavish Lexus RC 350 F-Sport.

Honda Civic Type R
Photo: Honda
The European horizon has now been expanded as well, as we can look at cars from a more premium segment. Both the Audi TTS Coupe and Audi S5 Coupe are within range, while the Audi RS3 is just over the budget. BMW has got the M240i Coupe, while Mercedes-AMG can deliver either the CLA 35, which would make more sense for the given budget, or the AMG 45, which would be stretching the situation a bit.

An entry-level Lotus Elise 220 could also just barely make the list, but that just makes more sense as a track weapon rather than a daily. The top of the line Kia Stinger GT could also be taken in consideration, but that seems kind of big for a sports car to say the least. All of the North American options are now available with V8 engines, and the choice between the Ford Mustang GT Premium, the Challenger R/T, and Camaro 2SS is not an easy one.

Of course, there can be many interpretations as to which of these cars would make the best one given the requirements, and this is also a matter of personal preferences. But if we were to choose just three of the above cars, we would go for either the Dodge Challenger R/T, the Toyota Supra, or the BMW 240i Coupe.

Dodge Challenger Scat Pack
Photo: Dodge

Dodge Challenger R/T

You can get a V8-powered Challenger for as low as $34,995, but given our budget, let's look at some of the more special options out there. The most exclusive option seems to be the R/T Scat Pack Widebody 50th Anniversary, which starts at $51,490 but doesn't leave much room for added features. So the standard, non 50th Anniversary Scat Pack might just be the right choice.

Starting at around $45,000, you're given a choice of 13 different colors, and we do like the Hellraisin option. You get a 6.4-liter SRT HEMI V8 engine that puts out a whopping 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft (644 Nm) of torque, and if the standard 6-Speed Manual Gearbox doesn't cut it for you, the TorqueFlite 8-Speed Automatic is going to set you back another $1,595. At the end of the day, you'll still have some savings for an upgraded exhaust to really let that V8 roar!

Toyota GR Supra

Although your wallet would certainly be more relaxed if you went for the newer powertrain, which features a 2.0-liter turbo, it would be a shame really not to aim as high as possible. MSRP for the 3.0-liter GR Supra is $50,990, which means you'd have to settle for a base version with not so many options. Well, at least you're starting off strong with 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft (498 Nm) of torque.

Toyota Supra
Photo: Toyota
An 8-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters comes as standard and you've got six different colors to choose from, Nitro Yellow being the most exciting option of course. The Safety and Technology package which includes Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor, a 12 Speaker JBL Audio system, and 50-state emissions, among others, will set you back an extra $3,155. That's money you could use to improve the overall performance instead.

BMW M240i Coupe

Given the current budget, the M2 Competition Coupe is inaccessible, as it starts at $58,900. But the M240i Coupe isn't a bad choice either, as it has been proven before that this engine still holds enough potential to go upwards to 500+ horsepower given the appropriate upgrades. The AWD version is $2,000 more expensive, in case you need a bit more stability in your life.

There are seven different colors to choose from on the outside, and six different styles of upholstery available as well. The Harman Kardon surround system also makes sense, for just $875 extra, and in case you'd rather change gears yourself, you can opt for a manual transmission. That still leaves you with a bit of budget for upgrading the power from 335 to at least 380, given the right choices.

BMW M240I
Photo: BMW
It's quite important that you have a picture in mind of what the final outcome for this project is going to be. The BMW might be the better choice if you're looking for a bit more comfort and luxury, while the Challenger is definitely the most imposing option out of the three. It also packs the strongest punch, but it does weigh a lot more than it's competitors.

The Toyota Supra is the newest model out of the three, and the tuning potential is huge, with so many visual and performance upgrades already available from a wide selection of companies. This also seems to be the most balanced of the three cars, and it should provide the best results around the track, given its Gazoo Racing DNA.

If we were to look at three other cars than those that we looked at above, the Ford Mustang Bullit would probably make it to the list, which would really make sense if you're a Steve McQueen fan. The Nismo 370Z could also be a good choice, if the Honda Civic Type R's FWD seems off-putting to you. The Audi TTS seems like the other obvious choice, but if the small engine displacement is a no-no, then the S5 should be good enough for you.

Ford Bullit
Photo: Ford

What about used cars, what are my options?

Once again, the used car market is going to provide a much wider range of choices, but it does come with a list of warnings. How many miles is too much? If it's not going to be a daily, and reliability is not that important, you could go as far back as the '70s looking for the right sports car for you, but you should also consider the kind of creature comforts you are not willing to give up on.

Anything manufactured in the past ten years should still make for a decent vehicle. All of a sudden, you are now looking at any of the top range Camaros, Mustangs, and Challengers. The Corvette market is now open, too, and you can get a 2016 Stingray with just 15,000 miles (24,140 km) for under $50,000.

The BMW M4 is also in the $50,000 range, and if you're not worried about the extra 1,000 lbs (453 kg) or so, the larger BMW M6 would also make for an interesting choice. With any luck, you should be able to source a C-Class 63 AMG as well in the given budget, albeit this new generation is fitted with a 4.0-liter V8 instead of the classic 6.2-liter one.

BMW M4
Photo: BMW
Things get heated up over in the Audi camp, where you can even start looking at R8s with more miles on them, but keep in mind that the V8 version is probably the one you can access at this level. So if you don't care much for looks or the idea of owning an exotic, the TT-RS with some power upgrades might just make for a faster vehicle.

The given budget is just good enough to also unlock the spectacular Lexus RC-F, and you can get one with less than 10,000 miles (16,000 km) and get both the comfort and the sportiness that comes with the package. If you're looking for more power and less comfort, but with a lot of extra miles, the Nissan GT-R also comes into play.

If maintenance fees are not something you plan on worrying about too much, there are some Porsche offerings that could fit your agenda, and you get to choose between an entry-level 911 with more miles on it, or a slightly newer Cayman 718. And if we're talking exotics, a 2010 California might just make it to the list, although it's not the most desirable Ferrari out there.

Ferrari 360 Modena
Photo: Ferrari
If you go back another ten years into the past, you might be interested to know that you've got a real chance at buying a Ferrari 360 for around $50,000. Sure, maintenance is going to be a real headache, but the driving experience should be unique. A 996 Turbo might be an interesting car to look at, but if you prefer Italians, you should be able to find a nice looking Gallardo without too much of a headache.

Some of the earlier model GT-Rs will also become available, but try to watch out for any transmissions issues they might have due to too many wide open throttle launches. Of course, there is always the option of splitting the budget to cover both the purchase and the upgrades you plan on doing, but this obviously depends on what the final purpose of the vehicle will be.

Should you venture back to the '90s, the discussion of personal taste further deepens. Sure, you can spend $55,000 on a rather pristine looking Nissan GT-R R32, which has just been made legal in the United States, or you can opt for a rare BMW Z3M, but you can also further check out the list of exotics made available by going that far back in time.

Our take on the buying process

Once again, before pulling the trigger on any of the above vehicles, be sure you set out a clear map of the purchasing process. What is your starting point, and where do you want to get to in the end? Try to write down as many details as possible about the car you're thinking of.

When you're done, follow those ideas down the road, and narrow down the list of options until you have only three or four cars to choose from. Then go see them and if possible, get a test drive as well! We will go further in-depth on all of the above in a future article, as we try to help you navigate through the complex choices to be made when purchasing a vehicle these days.
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About the author: Dragos Chitulescu
Dragos Chitulescu profile photo

The things Dragos enjoys the most in life are, in no particular order: cars, motorcycles, diecast cars, and drifting. He's seen (and driven) many vehicles since he started his writing career back in 2009, but his garage currently houses a 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II and a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S.
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