I'm Buying My First 'Enthusiast Approved' Car! What Should I Buy?

Brad is a recent graduate with a solid job in the medical field and a bunch of savings toward a new ride. He wants to upgrade to something that has three pedals but with a bit more power under the hood. What car should he buy?

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Here is the scenario:

Quick Facts:

I’m a recent college grad. I’ve liked cars all my life and was smart about saving my money and avoiding as much college debt/loans as possible. I have a really good job, some money saved, and am looking to buy my first thrilling, “enthusiast approved” car. I had a 2018 VW GTI with a manual for a while and loved how zippy and engaging it was to drive around town. I’m currently trying to emulate that same feeling while stepping up the power a little bit.

Overall, I really want a manual, more than 200 hp, preferably apple car play (definitely not a deal breaker), fairly reliable, daily driver. There a a lot of good options but I need help focusing on something. I can spend up to $60,000.

Budget: Up to $60,000

Location: Columbus, OH

Daily Driver: Yes

Wants: Manual, horsepower, fun

Doesn’t want: A crossover

Expert 1: Tom McParland- Take This Opportunity

Image: Autotrader.com

Brad, you are young and out of school with currently no major family responsibilities like shuttling around kids in car seats. With a solid budget like that, you should really shoot for something on the less practical side as this opportunity may not arise again for a while. Since you are a fan of German performance cars, the natural step here is to check Porsche ownership off of your bucket list.

Of course, the big question is which Porsche to buy. Some folks will say don’t settle for anything other than a 911 because that is the icon, and they aren’t wrong — but even with a $60k budget, you’re looking at the somewhat risky, and a bit old 997.1 generation cars. You could target a 2014-ish Cayman but that is still a 10-year-old car, though not a bad play if you insist on flat-six power.

However, the value scores fall best in the unloved 718 Cayman models. Sure, they have the turbo-four motors that don’t sound all that great, but the power delivery is excellent, and they’re a bit easier to daily with more modern features. At this price point you are looking at mostly base trim cars that still offer a respectable 300 horsepower.

You can also score a Porsche Certified version with low miles that will keep you protected with a warranty for the next few years. Here is a CPO 2018 model with under 14,000 just under your budget limit.

Expert 2: Steve DaSilva – Great Looks, Great Sound, Great Vibes

Photo: Toyota

Brad, I remember being you. Well, I remember pretending to be you in order to get test drives out of local dealers when I was in college. “Yeah, I’m just about to graduate, and I’ve already got a solid offer lined up as soon as I’m out. I’ve been saving up for a while, and I want to get myself a nice little graduation present.” That phrase was candy to every dealership up and down West Henrietta Road.

Unlike me, though, you can actually buy the stuff you’re looking at. With a budget of $60,000, there’s only one place I’d look: Your local Toyota dealer. That’s just about the new cost of a six-cylinder Supra, and I can’t honestly imagine buying anything else for the money.

The A90 is an absolutely stunning car, even moreso in person than in photos — there’s just nothing else on the road that looks like it. Its sound, too, is totally unique (anyone who says they can’t tell the difference between the Supra and Z4 is lying). It’s comfortable, powerful, sporty, interesting, yet wouldn’t look too out of place in a fancy-pants medical industry parking lot.

The issue here is that Supras seem to be out of season in Ohio. There’s a used one at a Chevy dealer not too far from you, but with your budget you may as well go new. Talk to some dealers, see what’s in inventory that can be swapped around, and get thee a Supra. You won’t regret it.

Expert 3: Rory Carroll — Here’s What I’d (Want To) Do

Photo: Autotrader

Brad, you’re in a great spot, congrats. If I were in such a position, I’d probably listen to the old people around me telling me to invest every penny, then spend the next 20 years regretting it as my responsibilities, financial and otherwise, piled up to suffocate and diminish me. But, what you should do is go by this low-mileage Blackwing, or maybe this one.

I’ve driven literally thousands of cars in my time as an auto journalist and there are probably four or five I still think about. The Blackwings are two of them. There are other good selections on this list, but this one is an all-timer. This is a car you’ll want to be able to say you’ve owned.

Expert 4 – Bradley Brownell – The New Hotness

Image: eBay

When I think about a good enthusiast car to buy, I like to put it in terms of what cars will have a long legacy. What car do you think is available today that you’ll still be able to brag about having owned in thirty years? Right now I think that car is the Corolla GR, and particularly the Circuit edition with the carbon roof. Your grandkids will think you were hot shit in 2024 if you tell them you owned one of these. That’s just a fact.

It’s a lot of money for a Corolla, but you said you liked your GTI, so I’m sticking with it. Plus, you’re in Ohio, so the all-wheel drive will be nice for winter driving (and whippin’ shitties in empty parking lots). It’s a sensible choice with room for four adults and a practical hatchback form factor. Plus it’s as zippy as they come. And you can’t get more reliable than a Toyota, right?

This one on eBay has already been tastefully modified, and comes in a gorgeous color. Plus, at $52,000, it leaves a bunch of room in your budget for track days and driving instruction.

Expert 4 – Lawrence Hodge – Go Purist

Image: Enthusiast Auto Group

Honestly, I think you need something that you can not only enjoy driving, but also keep for years as your car, even after you have a family. And with the price range you have, you can get something really special if you look hard enough. My take: get a low mileage BMW M2.

Not just any M2 either. Specifically the last gen F87 M2 — the current 2/M2’s looks have grown on me, but that still doesn’t make it look good. In my opinion, this generation of M2 is the last pure and proper driving BMW and is as close to the original M3 as you can get in a modern BMW. It’s simple, really: rear wheel drive tossable coupe, six-speed manual paired to a 3.0-liter 365 hp turbocharged I6? I mean, does it get any better than that? In this case it does. The example I found might be a bit old because its a 2017, but it has just 1,998 miles. A mint M2 for $56,990 is a no brainer.