What is the Best Car under 50K?
01-26-07, 01:32 PM
#17
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: California
Posts: 2,085
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
01-26-07, 10:24 PM
#20
01-27-07, 03:16 PM
#23
Lexus Fanatic
Hard to pick ONE Best car for 50K or under....it depends on your driving wants and needs. Anyhow, if 50K was the limit, I would drive a new Acura RL.
The build quality of this car, the SH AWD, the superb hardware, jewel-quality fit-and-finish, good power for a V6 despite the AWD, and many other things about it are just intoxicating. I have never been as impressed with any new car I've ever reviewed as this one, with one exception, the new Lexus LS 460....and the LS 460 doesn't have the RL's foul-weather traction.
However, other vehicles are also an excellent value for 50K or less. The AWD Lexus GS was almost as intoxicating as the Acura RL....the difference is very close.
Here are some others which I feel give you your money's worth, ( all U.S.-market 2007 models ) though some list for far under 50K:
Chevrolet Corvette
All Subaru products
Lexus RX350
Toyota Avalon
All Hyundai products
All Kia products
Infiniti M35X/45
Mazda Miata
Mazda3
Toyota Prius ( if you can put up with its geeky dash and controls )
Honda S2000
Suzuki SX4
Honda Accord ( non-hybrid)
Toyota Camry (non-hybrid)
While European manufacturers do produce some outstanding features ( like Audi's Quattro system, VW/Audi's DSG transmission, entry-level Porsches, and BMW's steering/chassis dynamics ), I did not list any of them because I feel that most European U.S.-market vehicles are overpriced for what you actually get...and many are unreliable.
The build quality of this car, the SH AWD, the superb hardware, jewel-quality fit-and-finish, good power for a V6 despite the AWD, and many other things about it are just intoxicating. I have never been as impressed with any new car I've ever reviewed as this one, with one exception, the new Lexus LS 460....and the LS 460 doesn't have the RL's foul-weather traction.
However, other vehicles are also an excellent value for 50K or less. The AWD Lexus GS was almost as intoxicating as the Acura RL....the difference is very close.
Here are some others which I feel give you your money's worth, ( all U.S.-market 2007 models ) though some list for far under 50K:
Chevrolet Corvette
All Subaru products
Lexus RX350
Toyota Avalon
All Hyundai products
All Kia products
Infiniti M35X/45
Mazda Miata
Mazda3
Toyota Prius ( if you can put up with its geeky dash and controls )
Honda S2000
Suzuki SX4
Honda Accord ( non-hybrid)
Toyota Camry (non-hybrid)
While European manufacturers do produce some outstanding features ( like Audi's Quattro system, VW/Audi's DSG transmission, entry-level Porsches, and BMW's steering/chassis dynamics ), I did not list any of them because I feel that most European U.S.-market vehicles are overpriced for what you actually get...and many are unreliable.
Last edited by mmarshall; 01-27-07 at 03:38 PM.
01-27-07, 05:32 PM
#25
Lexus Fanatic
01-27-07, 11:32 PM
#27
Lexus Fanatic
Brand new I would have to say the Acura RL as the best overall car under 50K. It has one of the nicest interiors I have ever experienced plus it is built like a tank, has the most advanced awd drives system out there, everything is standard, and just offers so much car for the money. I came very close to buying one but knew it was just too much too spend on a car at my age.
Other all around new cars on my list
Acura TL
Lexus GS350
Infiniti G35 coupe
Infiniti M35 or M45
maybe a Mercedes E350 if you can get one under 50K. Could be a reliability nightmare though
Good cars with some drawbacks
Lexus IS350 nice quick car if you can deal with that pathetic rear seat
Honda S2000 no rear seat, not alot of power down low, and a convertable
E46 M3 if they are still on the lots, not very reliable and expensive to own
BMW 335i if you can get one under 50K but you still have to deal with the plain dissapointing interior and questionable reliability
Corvette cheap interior, no rear seat, and some image problems
If you wanted a decent amount left over then I would say an Acura TSX or Honda Accord coupe v-6 especially with a six speed offer alot for the money.
As for used their are too many possibilities to list.
Other all around new cars on my list
Acura TL
Lexus GS350
Infiniti G35 coupe
Infiniti M35 or M45
maybe a Mercedes E350 if you can get one under 50K. Could be a reliability nightmare though
Good cars with some drawbacks
Lexus IS350 nice quick car if you can deal with that pathetic rear seat
Honda S2000 no rear seat, not alot of power down low, and a convertable
E46 M3 if they are still on the lots, not very reliable and expensive to own
BMW 335i if you can get one under 50K but you still have to deal with the plain dissapointing interior and questionable reliability
Corvette cheap interior, no rear seat, and some image problems
If you wanted a decent amount left over then I would say an Acura TSX or Honda Accord coupe v-6 especially with a six speed offer alot for the money.
As for used their are too many possibilities to list.
01-28-07, 02:46 PM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
Come on.....do we try and guess YOUR age by the cars YOU like and dislike? That is nonsense. Our ages have nothing to do with it. The RL and GS are BOTH great cars...whether you are 7 or 70.
I just happen to prefer the RL, by a small margin, over the GS, because of its SH AWD, hardware quality, solid doors, and the way they did the interior trim. The GS, granted, also has an AWD version, but it is not as sophisticated as the RL's, the V6 doesn't have as much power as the RL's, and the interior hardware, though excellent, is not quite as solid. Both cars are very reliable and have superb paint jobs.
I just happen to prefer the RL, by a small margin, over the GS, because of its SH AWD, hardware quality, solid doors, and the way they did the interior trim. The GS, granted, also has an AWD version, but it is not as sophisticated as the RL's, the V6 doesn't have as much power as the RL's, and the interior hardware, though excellent, is not quite as solid. Both cars are very reliable and have superb paint jobs.
Last edited by mmarshall; 01-28-07 at 02:51 PM.