Ronnie just got divorced and with a new chapter in his life he wants to upgrade his old Camry to something a little sportier while still getting decent gas mileage. With a budget of about $30,000, what car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario.
Quick Facts:
I’m 30 years old and recently divorced. I have a 2011 GMC Sierra and 2004 Tahoe I drive occasionally and I daily an old Camry. Now that I am divorced I have found myself with a little extra cash and I am wanting a nicer gas saver. My budget is $30k. I would like a sedan but I am not completely against a coupe. I don’t want a pony car because I feel like I’m too young to have a midlife crisis and I don’t have much experience plowing through crowds of spectators. The only car I have looked at so far is an IS350. I have driven large SUV’s and trucks my entire life so I am wanting something nice that I can drive daily.
Overall I am looking for – Fast and decent highway MPG. Preferably 25+
Budget: $30,000
Location: North Alabama
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Sporty, upscale, at least 25 mpg
Doesn’t want: A two seater
Expert 1: Tom McParland – Just Enough, But Not Too Much
That’s too bad about the divorce, but sometimes relationships don’t pan out. Naturally, the best way to move on, is to buy yourself another car. Given that you have a Camry and are considering the Lexus, I will bet you may be a bit risk-averse to some of the European offerings. Also, if you are trying to upgrade to those more powerful six-cylinder engines achieving that 25 mpg or better in the real world is going to be a challenge.
A good sweet spot for you could be the Genesis G70. It’s just the right amount of sporty and fun to drive without being over the top. While you can score one with the 3.3-liter turbo V6, there aren’t a lot of examples in that sub $30,000 price point, and I would argue that the turbo-four option will give you plenty of punch for highway passing while achieving up to 31 mpg. Genesis offers a ton of standard features, and many of these cars are well-equipped with additional packages. Here is a 2023 model with only 22,000 miles just under your budget cap.
Expert 2: Collin Woodard – Two Wheels Good
Well, Ronnie, I’m not sure if this is a congratulations divorce or an I’m sorry divorce, but either way, you’ve come to the right place. I, too, found myself divorced in my early 30s. And in my professional opinion, you’re going about this all wrong. Stop looking at cars and start looking at motorcycles.
Is it a little cliche? Sure. But you know what? I don’t care. Motorcycles kick ass. I mean, you’ve already got the Sierra and the Tahoe, so you’ve covered if a date doesn’t feel comfortable riding on the back, if it rains or when it’s hotter than Satan’s asshole, and you just want some A/C. Since you live in Alabama, it can easily be a three or four-season vehicle depending on just how committed you are.
More importantly, motorcycles offer an unparalleled level of fun for your dollar. Buy a cheap, used bike like this Honda Rebel after you finish your MSF class, get the hang of things, and then buy something you’ll really enjoy. There are so many types of bikes out there, and there really are no wrong choices (unless your choice is to get a liter bike right after getting your license). They also get outstanding gas mileage. I’m currently riding a Honda Transalp 750 that regularly gets more than 60 mpg on the highway.
Don’t overthink this. It’s completely normal for a guy with two other vehicles to own a motorcycle. Your ex might roll their eyes, but forget them. Enjoy your bike and the thrill of being a new motorcyclist. Your life will be better for it.
Expert 3: Owen Bellwood – Embrace The Change, But Not That Much
Ronnie, now is definitely the time for you to branch out and move away from the trucks and SUVs that you’re used to. Change is afoot and that should be reflected in your daily driver… just not so much that you buy a bike instead of another car.
So for you, I’m suggesting a sharp contrast from the multi-ton American wheels you’ve been stuck with for years in favor of a switch to a spicy Korean sedan – with a few different options on spice level depending on what you’re after. The safe bet would be a new Kia K5 GT-Line. The car looks great, is pretty fun to drive and comes with a well-equipped interior for the money. Plus it’ll be new so you won’t have as much to worry about.
But if you like a few worries and are happy to throw in a couple of hundred bucks extra, then you should definitely get a Hyundai Elantra N. Specifically, this wonderful blue Hyundai Elantra N. It’ll hit your mpg targets, comes with a dash of practicality thanks to its cargo pack and is pure joy in car form. Plus, the finish on this one is great and the dash of red trim you get on Hyundai’s N cars will really make you pop out from the crowd. Ronnie, this should be your next car.
Expert 4: Lawrence Hodge – Go Nuts
I don’t know you’re situation of course but anyone who has just gone through a divorce deserves to have a bit of fun. And life is short, so why not? Because of that, I’m going to suggest something that some might fight a bit bonkers: an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
You might be asking why I would be suggesting something like this given the price range. Well, Giulia Quadrifoglios are old enough now that if you look hard enough, they’re starting to show up for cheap. Granted you might have to contend with things like higher miles, but a true enthusiast would be scared off by something like that. Well, maybe. The specs of the Quadrifoglio would change your mind though: 2.9-liter, 510 hp twin-turbo V6, fantastic driving dynamics and a handsome Italian-designed body. Best of all I found one in your price range; A 2018 Quadrifoglio, the dealer is asking just $27,871 for this example. The downside is that it has 92,381 miles on it. It’s hard to pass up at that price.