I took the op's post to be rather open on purpose. That way they might get ideas they hadn't considered. Just how I took it.

 

M235i aside, I think i might also purchase a CPO IS350 F-Sport.

 

New Camaro 1SS: Performance for a great price.
https://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...28880&zc=94608

Used ISF: Performance and Lexus reliability.

https://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...sedcc&zc=94608

 

i have the camaro right now. It is not nearly as much fun to drive as the BMW. It feels like a lumbering elephant comparatively speaking. My wife and I are both ready to get back into the BMW.
Just waiting till fall. As we will pay less for the convertible then.

 

For my own definition of a weekend car around that budget I'd likely look at a few years old Boxster. Great car with either the MT or the PDK.

My "weekend car" is one of my cars that aren't in my sig, I have a reasonably heavily modified 2013 Miata Club with a full custom Fat Cat Motorsport suspension, lightweight wheels, sport exhaust and other mods. It has just under 11K on the odometer. The guy I bought it from had over 10k in modifications into the car and I didn't pay above the market price for a completely stock Miata Club with the same condition and mileage. The MT and the mods made it a little hard for the prior owner to sell, but it was perfect for me and it's a superb little car to drive. Doesn't have much in the way of power, but it can carry a ton of speed into a corner and it's fantastically agile.

 

I'll chime in with some very different options.

1) Audi S5 - thinking you could get a 2013 or maybe 2014 for $35k. I just sold my 2010 (completely loaded with every option) with 50k miles for $25k. Very fun car to drive, classic styling.
2) Used BMW 6 series
3) Classic coupes: Late 80's Mercedes SL- you can buy one of these for $20k or less and have some extra cash set aside for repairs if needed. BMW 850.
4) Classic restored truck- International Scout, old Ford Bronco, 1970's Land Cruiser.

Edit: You could get a Tesla 3 for $35k but it would be bare bones and I don't really know what that means. If you could stretch the budget a bit and add some goodies to it, that may be pretty appealing to some..!

I've been eyeing more things in the "classic" category lately, but I will say there are times I really miss having that S5 to drive.

 

I'd go smaller than my current IS350 and go Miata. But if this was my primary car, Civic Type R.

 

If buying new and buying a weekend car, I would buy an MX-5 Miata and decide between the soft top or the RF.

 

'weekend car' can mean a lot of things... examples:

1. nice cruise to nice place or getaway...

or

2. need to haul furniture or lumber from home depot for 'projects'...

or

3. just a car to enjoy for driving it with no real utility needed

also depends if you're hauling just you, you and 1 other, or 3 or more...

if you need BOTH 1 and 2 you're looking at a truck or suv.

for 3, hmm... for $35k, a recent Q60, caymen (probably more $), or maybe a GTI.

but i still like an suv because i value ROOM for luggage, toys, even if i'm going for an overnight trip. yes a sedan would do it, but not a tiny car like a miata. been there, done that.

 

RX7
S2000
13-15 Lexus GS with the extra for mods :P
13-14 RX F-sport (maybe)

 

Why not a 08/09/10 IS-F

 

For me I would get a IS-F or a Golf R (I love these). For a more impractical weekend car a Corvette or Gen 2 Viper.

 

Surely a pre-owned Porsche Boxster, BMW M3, or Z3M.

Once I get those out of my system...a classic '60s Mustang or '60s Caddy Eldorado. One of my buddies had an '80s 560SL Merc, that's be on my shopping list too.

 

3rd gen IS is a superior car in all other facets. 2nd gen has mediocre build quality and some cheaper interior materials, I know cause I have one.

 

he was referencing the IS-F, not an IS F-Sport.