Jennifer lives in Massachusetts and is a latest empty nester. She needs to commerce her wise sedan for one thing smaller and zippier for around-town driving. With a price range of as much as $25,000, what automotive ought to she purchase?
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Right here is the situation.
We’re very latest empty nesters and need to do away with our wise sedan. My husband has a truck he loves and makes use of every day. I would like one thing smaller, sportier and possibly a little bit uncommon. I don’t drive quite a bit. So, this might be principally a weekend and date night time operating round automotive. But it surely shouldn’t flip right into a sled within the snow, both.
Now we have a $25,000 price range for one thing smaller, nimble, dependable. With some bells and whistles (I like a back-up digicam). I like having AWD for New England winters. I used to drive an A3 so one thing like that might be nice.
Fast Details:
Price range: as much as $25,000
Location: Ipswich, Massachusetts
Day by day Driver: Sure
Desires: Small, dependable, ideally all-wheel drive
Doesn’t need: A giant crossover or SUV
Knowledgeable 1: Tom McParland – Zippy And Dependable
It’s a pleasant feeling to shed the sensible automotive for one thing that you could take pleasure in while you’re driving round city. Whereas loads of small hatchbacks and different compact choices are in that sub $25,000 value level, not many supply AWD. However buried within the sea of Subarus, you can find a extra enjoyable various with the Mazda3.
Provided in both a sedan or hatchback with each entrance and all-wheel-drive variations, the Mazda3 provides an amazing mix of Japanese construct high quality, glorious options, and that further zip you’re searching for. Some people discover the visibility within the sedans a bit higher than the extra fashionable five-door. Whereas the front-drive variations are extra plentiful, AWD choices can be found if you happen to dig for them.
The usual motor is a punchy 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a decent 190 horsepower which is loads for transferring out and in of visitors. Nonetheless, if you happen to actually need to zoom, discover the turbo variations that pump out 250 horsepower, and over 300 lb-ft of torque. You’ll take successful on the MPGs, however if you happen to don’t drive a ton that’s a good tradeoff for the additional increase. Here’s a Turbo hatchback in your space with solely 45,000 miles for below $21,000.
Knowledgeable 2: Owen Bellwood – Bells And Whistles?
Jennifer, congratulations in your newfound freedom! What an thrilling time to your family, are you going to take up any outlandish hobbies as effectively? No matter you’re taking up, I’m positive you’ll be coated for gear hauling with the truck, so I’ve thought completely about nice weekend and date night time vehicles.
To me, nothing screams weekend driver fairly like a European convertible and nothing says bells and whistles fairly like a BMW. Enjoyable reality, BMW really stands for Bells Mit Whistles (it doesn’t). Anyway, because of this the right new automotive for you is a 2018 BMW 4 Sequence that’s obtained AWD from the powerful MA winters, has a tough folding roof for the times when the solar comes out and will likely be loads nimble and zippy sufficient to your weekend adventures.
This specific instance comes with the additional comfortable non-sport seats, a crisp black inside, a complete heap of superior driver aids and the rear parking digicam that you simply’re hankering for. What’s extra, it’s even obtained the traditional BMW understated appears to be like on the entrance finish, so that you gained’t be embarrassed to climb out of it at your subsequent date spot.
Knowledgeable 3: Bradley Brownell – Completely Transportation
You need small, zippy, and all-wheel drive, and also you say you favored your Audi A3? Properly, there’s just one alternative, the venerable Audi TT. This little runabout relies on the identical chassis as your former A3 however shrinks the physique down right into a sports activities automotive. It’s the very best of all worlds. And it has some fairly cool bells and whistles. This 2019 mannequin with 34,000 miles on the clock is listed at a little bit over your price range, $28,500, however they’ve already dropped the worth three grand this month, so haggle your ass off and it’ll match.
If you have already got one sensible automotive in your secure, and it is a car you solely want for weekends and date nights, then you definitely completely owe it to your self to have a little bit enjoyable. The TT is the epitome of little enjoyable and appears cool as hell doing it. Deal with your self. Simply be sure you put winter tires on it when the white stuff flies.
Knowledgeable 4: Collin Woodard – I’ll Present You Zippy
Properly, Jennifer, I recognize the trouble my esteemed colleagues put into discovering vehicles that meet your necessities, however sadly for you, they’re all fallacious. A whole waste of your time. Fortunate for you, I’m right here to save lots of the day and counsel the proper automotive, which I’m positive you’ll instantly agree is, the truth is, far and away your best option for you as a small, nimble weekend or date night time automotive for a newly child-free mother.
We’re speaking 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque from an inline-six-cylinder engine. Not an excessive amount of however loads. Complete size? Slightly below 175 inches. A rear-wheel-drive platform with all-wheel drive for having fun with these Massachusetts winters. A convertible prime for having fun with all six days of spring and early summer season earlier than it will get unbearably scorching. German engineering. I’m speaking, after all, concerning the BMW 235i xDrive convertible.
I want I might have discovered one for you in an precise coloration, however right here’s a 2016 BMW 235i xDrive convertible with 67,000 miles for just below $23,000. It’s smaller than the 4 Sequence Owen tried to speak you into. It’s additionally zippier and has extra energy than, effectively, each automotive on this checklist. It’s additionally in your price range, and it’s a convertible. I don’t know what else you can probably need from a automotive. Purchase the BMW, Jennifer. Take pleasure in your 40s. Simply watch out driving all the way down to the Cape with the highest down the entire time. I obtained a nasty sunburn doing that one summer season in a really comparable 2 Sequence convertible and don’t suggest it.