These benevolent four-door sedans can knock the socks of some modern sports cars.
Automakers have oversaturated the market with sports sedans over the past few decades, and by the looks of things, they won't stop anytime soon. This rule of thumb applies to EVs as well, hence the popularity of Tesla. There is one problem, however, and that's the price tag that comes along with obtaining a fast, family-friendly vehicle.
That doesn't have to be the case though. As we've stated, sports sedans have been thriving for many years now, and the used car market is flooded with them. But which of them will give you the best bang for your buck? To answer that question, we've compiled a list today that showcases exactly that. The sports sedans on today's list won't just be fast, but they'll be affordable too, with none exceeding the $30,000 mark. For a point of reference, new cars that cost around the $30,000 mark include the Toyota GR86, Ford Mustang EcoBoost, and the Subaru WRX.
In 1998 the Volkswagen Group seized ownership of Lamborghini. So not only did this mean VW is responsible for the Murcielago and saving Lamborghini as a brand, but it also allowed them access to some mighty engines. Why are we telling you this? Well, the Volkswagen Group also owns Audi, and once they had their hands on the Gallardo's V10, they shared it with the family.
One of the cars that ended up receiving that V10 engine was the C6 Audi RS6. The 5.2-liter Lamborghini-derived V10 generated 429 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque. As a result of Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive, 0-60 took place in just 4.3 seconds. These Audis aren't the most reliable cars ever built, but their $16,000 price tag makes them worth it.
AMG is notorious for creating over-the-top sports sedans, and the W211 E 55 AMG is no exception. A massive 5.2-liter supercharged V8 motor nested underneath the hood of the E 55, and it put out 469 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.
The W211's design is nowhere near as exciting as the modern E63, but that's exactly what makes it such a great sleeper car. These cost around $20,000 nowadays and are bound to rise in value over the years.
The M3 name is seen as the benchmark for all other sports sedans and is highly praised in the automotive community. The E90 M3 was however not your ordinary M3. Instead of being powered by a traditional straight-six engine like the E46 M3, it inhabited a high-revving 414-hp 4.0-liter V8.
To this day, the E90 M3 is considered one of the greatest-sounding cars of all time – alongside our next entry. So, for just over $20,000, you can pick up a piece of history.
The W204 C 63 AMG and the aforementioned E90 M3 bumped heads with each other constantly throughout the 2000s. Both were rear-wheel-drive, both were German brutes, and they both accommodated naturally-aspirated V8s. Whereas the M3 was a more precise machine aimed towards going around a track, the Mercedes focussed purely on power.
Underneath the hood of the C 63 laid a 6.2-liter V8 that puffed out 450 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The only downside to the W204 is that it costs $1,000 more than the M3.
We have to give credit where credit is due. Amid the 2000s, BMW was experimenting with… well we don't know. They stretched their creative legs and built pieces of machinery no one thought was possible. So, on top of adding two cylinders to the M3's power plant, they did the same to the M5. Subsequently, the E60 M5 was born, and it had a V10 powering the rear wheels.
The V10 in particular had a displacement of 5.0-liter and a power output of 507 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. Sure, it might not have been the most pleasing thing to look at back in the day, but we think it aged gracefully, and its age made it more affordable than ever. The E60 M5 cost $80,000 in 2004, but you can pick up one like this for just $24,000. Do make your move fast, these are bound to skyrocket in price!
The Mercedes-Benz CLA is much smaller, compact, and nimble than all the aforementioned sedans. It was based on the A-Class hence its small size, but it adopted a more attractive design language.
For $25,000 on CarGurus, you can buy one of these fun pocket rockets. The C117 CLA 45 AMG featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter banger than emitted 375 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Since the CLA 45 makes use of Mercedes' brilliant 4MATIC drivetrain, it can reach 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.2 seconds.
The Panamera might not be the most beautiful Porsche ever built, but it is one of the best ways to get a taste of owning a Porsche without having to settle for a Boxster. For $26,000 you won't have to settle for the base model Panamera either, but rather have the chance to own a first-generation Panamera S.
The Panamera S received its power from a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that churned out nearly 400 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Now, the Panamera S isn't all-wheel-drive, so it can only do the 0-60 mph sprint in 5.5 seconds, but it adheres to Porsche's motoring philosophy nonetheless.
The Arteon is the slowest car on our list today, but it's also the newest, and arguably the best-dressed too. We found a 2019 Arteon with around 80,000 miles on the clock that's listed for $26,500 on CarGurus.
This particular model we found sports a 2.0-liter turbo-four that generates 268 hp, but don't let that sub-300 hp figure let you believe that it's slow. 0-60 still takes place in around 6 seconds. It might not be as ludicrous as the Arteon R, but you can have some piece of mind knowing its warranty is still intact.
The B7 Audi RS4 is the third, and most versatile German performance sedan from the 2000s we're going to speak about today. It too hid a glorious-sounding naturally-aspirated V8 under its hood, but this powertrain in particular has a 4.2-liter displacement.
Its power output was very similar to that of the E90 M3, coming in at 414 hp and 316 lb-ft of torque. In contrast to the other 2000s sports sedans, the B7 RS4 showcased Audi's impeccable Quattro all-wheel-drive system that allowed it to launch to 60 mph from a dig in just over 4 seconds. The B7 RS4 costs more than its competitors nowadays, but we'd argue that its $28,000 price tag is well worth the money.
To round off our list today, we have one of the most depreciated cars to ever exist, the F10 BMW M5. When the F10 M5 came out, it had a sticker price of more than $100,000, but as the years went by its price dropped, and can now be had for just $30,000.
In return, you receive a 550-hp, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine. It might not be as radical as the new F90 BMW M5 Competition, but it still packs one hell of a punch and can annihilate most supercars.
Marnus Moolman is a young aspiring automotive writer from South Africa who is making a name for himself, despite his young age. Currently, he is studying to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting to pursue his lifetime dream of running his own automotive detailing establishment.
