Jennifer lives in Massachusetts and is a recent empty nester. She wants to trade her sensible sedan for something smaller and zippier for around-town driving. With a budget of up to $25,000, what car should she buy?
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Here is the scenario.
We are very recent empty nesters and want to get rid of our sensible sedan. My husband has a truck he loves and uses daily. I want something smaller, sportier and maybe a little unusual. I don’t drive a lot. So, this would be mostly a weekend and date night running around car. But it shouldn’t turn into a sled in the snow, either.
We have a $25,000 budget for something smaller, nimble, reliable. With some bells and whistles (I like a back-up camera). I like having AWD for New England winters. I used to drive an A3 so something like that would be great.
Quick Facts:
Budget: up to $25,000
Location: Ipswich, Massachusetts
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Small, reliable, ideally all-wheel drive
Doesn’t want: A big crossover or SUV
Expert 1: Tom McParland - Zippy And Reliable
It’s a nice feeling to shed the practical car for something that you can enjoy while you are driving around town. While plenty of small hatchbacks and other compact offerings are in that sub $25,000 price point, not many offer AWD. But buried in the sea of Subarus, you will find a more fun alternative with the Mazda3.
Offered in either a sedan or hatchback with both front and all-wheel-drive versions, the Mazda3 offers a great blend of Japanese build quality, excellent features, and that extra zip you are looking for. Some folks find the visibility in the sedans a bit better than the more stylish five-door. While the front-drive versions are more plentiful, AWD options are available if you dig for them.
The standard motor is a punchy 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a respectable 190 horsepower which is plenty for moving in and out of traffic. However, if you really want to zoom, find the turbo versions that pump out 250 horsepower, and over 300 lb-ft of torque. You will take a hit on the MPGs, but if you don’t drive a ton that’s a fair tradeoff for the extra boost. Here is a Turbo hatchback in your area with only 45,000 miles for under $21,000.
Expert 2: Owen Bellwood - Bells And Whistles?
Jennifer, congratulations on your newfound freedom! What an exciting time for your household, are you going to take up any outlandish hobbies as well? Whatever you take up, I’m sure you’ll be covered for gear hauling with the truck, so I’ve thought exclusively about great weekend and date night cars.
To me, nothing screams weekend driver quite like a European convertible and nothing says bells and whistles quite like a BMW. Fun fact, BMW actually stands for Bells Mit Whistles (it doesn’t). Anyway, this means that the perfect new car for you is a 2018 BMW 4 Series that’s got AWD from the tough MA winters, has a hard folding roof for the days when the sun comes out and will be plenty nimble and zippy enough for your weekend adventures.
This particular example comes with the extra comfy non-sport seats, a crisp black interior, a whole heap of advanced driver aids and the rear parking camera that you’re hankering for. What’s more, it’s even got the classic BMW understated looks at the front end, so you won’t be embarrassed to climb out of it at your next date spot.
Expert 3: Bradley Brownell - Totally Transportation
You want small, zippy, and all-wheel drive, and you say you liked your Audi A3? Well, there’s only one choice, the venerable Audi TT. This little runabout is based on the same chassis as your former A3 but shrinks the body down into a sports car. It’s the best of all worlds. And it has some pretty cool bells and whistles. This 2019 model with 34,000 miles on the clock is listed at a little over your budget, $28,500, but they’ve already dropped the price three grand this month, so haggle your ass off and it’ll fit.
If you already have one practical car in your stable, and this is a vehicle you only need for weekends and date nights, then you absolutely owe it to yourself to have a little fun. The TT is the epitome of little fun and looks cool as hell doing it. Treat yourself. Just make sure you put winter tires on it when the white stuff flies.
Expert 4: Collin Woodard - I’ll Show You Zippy
Well, Jennifer, I appreciate the effort my esteemed colleagues put into finding cars that meet your requirements, but unfortunately for you, they are all wrong. A complete waste of your time. Lucky for you, I’m here to save the day and suggest the correct car, which I’m sure you will immediately agree is, in fact, far and away the best choice for you as a small, nimble weekend or date night car for a newly child-free mom.
We’re talking 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque from an inline-six-cylinder engine. Not too much but plenty. Total length? Just under 175 inches. A rear-wheel-drive platform with all-wheel drive for enjoying those Massachusetts winters. A convertible top for enjoying all six days of spring and early summer before it gets unbearably hot. German engineering. I’m talking, of course, about the BMW 235i xDrive convertible.
I wish I could have found one for you in an actual color, but here’s a 2016 BMW 235i xDrive convertible with 67,000 miles for just under $23,000. It’s smaller than the 4 Series Owen tried to talk you into. It’s also zippier and has more power than, well, every car on this list. It’s also in your budget, and it’s a convertible. I don’t know what else you could possibly want from a car. Buy the BMW, Jennifer. Enjoy your 40s. Just be careful driving down to the Cape with the top down the whole time. I got a nasty sunburn doing that one summer in a very similar 2 Series convertible and do not recommend it.