My Corvette has worked fairly well as an only car for the last 3 years, but I think it's time to finally relegate it to track duty and fun/weekends. Not only does this give me more leeway to run more aggressive tires and potentially modify it further, but it adds a "safety margin" should anything ever happen at the track. Maybe a better way of putting it is that having a second car gives me more flexibility with what I do on and off the track. Plus, the deals on cars and financing right now are absolutely crazy with lots of 0 or 0.9% APRs available.
I'm still an enthusiast at the core so I would like something sensible that isn't totally numb. I drive boring rental cars almost every week with my travels for work so I'm trying to avoid buying a rental car, if that makes any sense.
Must haves are a sporting nature, comfortable, enough room for four adults, usable trunk space, reasonable running costs. Trying to keep price at $40k or less. I'm fine with something a year or two old as long as the equipment list is good. I have not driven anything, but I did walk some lots yesterday to see things up close. Hoping to visit some lots later this week and do some test drives. Let me know about the list below, and if I'm forgetting any others. Apologies for the lengthy post, this is a bit of a stream-of-consciousness because I'm bored and stuck inside with the gross weather today.
My short list:
Accord 2.0T Touring
Likes: very handsome, surprisingly fast, tons of equipment, will probably run forever, large back seat and trunk
Dislikes: dime-a-dozen, FWD, not terribly sporty
Genesis G70 3.3T Sport
Likes: great chassis & dynamics, RWD or AWD, near-luxury, very well liked by automotive press
Dislikes: a bit over-styled, Hyundai interior bits break the illusion of luxury, trunk and rear seat not huge
Mercedes AMG C43
Likes: fast without being crazy, sleeper, very well equipped, great interior
Dislikes: expensive (lease instead of buy?), design getting long in the tooth, small backseat
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Likes: practical cargo capacity, peppy engine & gearbox, perennial award winner
Dislikes: passenger room no better than above vehicles, no upscale/luxury equipment, questionable reliability
I'm still an enthusiast at the core so I would like something sensible that isn't totally numb. I drive boring rental cars almost every week with my travels for work so I'm trying to avoid buying a rental car, if that makes any sense.
Must haves are a sporting nature, comfortable, enough room for four adults, usable trunk space, reasonable running costs. Trying to keep price at $40k or less. I'm fine with something a year or two old as long as the equipment list is good. I have not driven anything, but I did walk some lots yesterday to see things up close. Hoping to visit some lots later this week and do some test drives. Let me know about the list below, and if I'm forgetting any others. Apologies for the lengthy post, this is a bit of a stream-of-consciousness because I'm bored and stuck inside with the gross weather today.
My short list:
Accord 2.0T Touring
Likes: very handsome, surprisingly fast, tons of equipment, will probably run forever, large back seat and trunk
Dislikes: dime-a-dozen, FWD, not terribly sporty
Genesis G70 3.3T Sport
Likes: great chassis & dynamics, RWD or AWD, near-luxury, very well liked by automotive press
Dislikes: a bit over-styled, Hyundai interior bits break the illusion of luxury, trunk and rear seat not huge
Mercedes AMG C43
Likes: fast without being crazy, sleeper, very well equipped, great interior
Dislikes: expensive (lease instead of buy?), design getting long in the tooth, small backseat
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Likes: practical cargo capacity, peppy engine & gearbox, perennial award winner
Dislikes: passenger room no better than above vehicles, no upscale/luxury equipment, questionable reliability