Car Ideas for Mid-20s Guy

I am moving to a city where you need a car and could use some advice. This forum seems to have tons of car people so figured there might be someone who could help me make a decision.


I basically want something that hits the below criteria:

  • Practically priced ($20k-40k), new or lightly used
  • Style that fits a 20 something guy (eg no minivan, station wagon, Mom cars)
  • Good acceleration / peppy (this is optional)

Ideas I have had:

  • Jeep Grand Cherokee
  • Volkswagen Jetta or Tiguan (very reasonably priced options new or used)
  • Infiniti Q50 (new)
  • Entry Level Audi, A3 / A4?

Feel free to shit on my car ideas because I am not a car person at all. I literally had to google "[car brand] sedan" and figure out what the names are

 

Some great ideas above! Would say that if you want something peppy and a sedan, definitely go with Audi A4, much stronger engine than Grand Cherokee (which isn't terrible either). Not quite the A6 in terms of size, but very solid. 

Grand Cherokee is also pretty good if you want something that isn't too small. If you want a peppy engine and decent interior, you're going to need to do go with at least the Limited, which if new falls slightly out of your price range at $41k. 

Previously have driven a Ford Explorer (not as peppy but still nice, very cheap), and Range Rover (peppier but not as peppy as one might expect considering initial price point). Both were pretty used and super reasonably priced. I'd recommend Range Rover Sport for an SUV, but if you want something in your price range, you're going to need to buy one that's pretty used, say at least 2014 model year.

 

Depends on your comp

i always recommend the 20-25k range. Kia has some modern looking cars, also Mazda 6

 

I actually got rid of my A4 for a 2020 Grand Cheorkee Limited (v8), best decision I ever made. Perfect road trip vehicle. Vehicle cost me $40k but that was before taxes and getting a used one really isn't much cheaper considering Grand Cherokees have great resale value and used car prices are at an all time high right now. v6 would be under $40k but not really worth getting one then in my opinion.

 

Mazda 6 is great. Phenomenal quality for the price and beats every other competitor in a similar category. Can’t go wrong with a K5 or Stinger either.

 

I got a Jeep Grand Cherokee in February of this year and absolutely love it. Cannot recommend it more. Perfect amount of space and great in all types of weather. Really pumped to drive it up to the mountains to ski this winter.  

 

I bought a 440i (340i is the sedan) MSport package this summer and love it. It’s everything you outlined above. Turbo charged inline 6cyl with 320hp. But it’s definitely underrated from BMW and I’d say is quicker. Super nice inside but you have to find one with the real leather interior, their fake leather is shit. Looks great, is fast out the box and should be able to find one for round 30k miles under $40k in a couple months If you’re not super picky. Also, if your into it they are real easy to squeeze more power out of. Downpipe and tune will get you to about 400hp for $800. A4 interior and exterior is done up real well (especially if you get an S line) and you can pick one up for a relatively good price. Problem is it’s a 4cyl. If that doesn’t bother you that’s what I’d go for it’s still pretty quick with like 240hp I think. Will be cheaper than the BMW. Probably by 8-10k

 

As a car guy who lives in NYC and wants more than anything to have a car for myself, I've found that joining Motorclubs which offer supercar / exotics / classic cars for daily or weekend drive are the most ideal. Obviously this is probably irrelevant to you given you're in a car-driven city and don't care about cars given you're looking at Jeeps and Jettas but just keep in mind if you're an enthusiast and that's an option then consider it. I won't buy or lease a car until it's what I want exactly (ie. AM Vantage or Ferrari F430/458)

 

Dumb question, that's still the old gen with the 4.0 I6, right?  Those are balller.

Edit, my NA could still fit in the spots you can't though.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 

Acura - new front grille design is much better 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
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+1 on Lexus. Parents recently bought an RX350 and I took it on a road trip halfway across the US. Great car and fun to drive. As for Benzes and BMWs, there is a reason their prices drop off a cliff after a few years. Maintenance will really set you back. I'd recommend you get a low mileage IS or something similar.

 

I’d get the grand Cherokee. Don’t underestimate the value of an SUV, and also the maintenance costs on an Audi suck. Especially if you’re not a huge car person, the Audi isn’t worth the money your going to dump into it for maintenance. I started driving a jeep, got an entry level BMW sedan for my graduation, and ended up trading it in for a new grand Cherokee. I didn’t love having a sedan (hard if you’re trying to do a road trip with a group) and the maintenance costs were substantially higher.

Also, I think the big reason people like Audi A4s or a BMW 3 series is they think it’s cool to have a luxury German car, but most people aren’t impressed with the entry level versions and jeeps have a solid brand.

Summary - Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most practical vehicle

 
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How much are you going to be driving?  If you don't drive that much (sub 10K miles annually) it might be better to lease.  Very little maintenance issues as the car is new and if you end up liking the car you can buy it when the lease is over if not turn it back in and get something new.  I'd recommend the Infiniti Q50, everyone I know who has had an Infiniti has loved it and had almost zero issues with it.           

 

I have been an infiniti fanboy since I was a toddler, but Ill say that their quality has gone way down. The new q50's have turbo issues, an outdated transmission, and outdated interior. 

 

Honestly, go for the M2, M3, or M4. Those cars just look fun. Live it up.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

bmw m340i. tune that fucker and enjoy near supercar level power. 

 

Barry Ridholtz just bought his son a Bronco, although He likes his Jeep a lot.  I'm on Dave Nadig's team and will just say Miata though.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 
C.R.E. Shervin

If Ford had any balls, they would only release the Bronco in white

The average age around here is 20.  Your reference just went over 90% of people's heads.  I will say that the Juice is Loose.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 
vanilajoshy

Audi A4 most def, peppy and reliable. Interior is classy and surprisingly roomy. 

The baller move is to get a Passat. Same car minus the badge.  I think you can still get it as a manual too.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 

C.R.E. Shervin

Porsche 911(996), you can get a Turbo(albeit in automatic) for that price.  Girls don't care about if you drive manual or automatic, and its a porsche 911

I guess they do not care about the repair bills either 😆

SafariJoe, wins again!
 

If you like trucks I'd recommend a nice four-door Toyota Tacoma.  You can spend $40'ish on a used one and get many bells and whistles.  Extremely well built, hold value incredibly, can look pretty sporty if you get the right package, trims, etc.  I'd say 4runner but that might push you closer to $50k 

 
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Lots of good options. Going Eastern will you get you a bargain and/or reliability. Think Lexus IS/GS/RC, Kia Stinger, Genesis G80/G90, or Acura TLX. All can be had with 6/8 cylinders, look good, and won't break the bank or break that much in general. I would stay away from anything Nissan (Infiniti) post 2015, as they're quality has honestly gone down. That's coming from a G37 owner. Older BMW M/M-Sport, Audi S/RS, and Merc AMG are options but should be evaluated on a case by case basis. Audi A3/4/5/6 will not satisfy the performance itch imo. The smaller BMWs with the 3.0L turbo will, but come with some tradeoffs. I've never been a big Merc guy (Look up "Mercedes creak") and think their interior quality is behind BMW and reliability is behind Audi. Speaking of Audi, VW Passat with the V6 of Jetta GLI could be worth looking at. Lastly, I wouldn't even look American. Personal preference. If you are inclined to do so, generic Mustang/Camaro/Challenger would all be options.

 

As a huge car enthusiast who hasn't yet started making the big bucks, I wanted to ask this at the risk of receiving lots of MS. You make 250k and are looking at buying a 20-40k car. WHY??? I know people who make 1/4 of that and spend double that on a vehicle. Obviously that's the wrong answer but as someone who obviously cares what he drives (else you wouldn't be asking on here) I wonder why there's such a large discrepancy between vehicle budget and your TC. Is it a prioritization thing, trying to build up savings, or what? I'm looking to buy a B8 Audi RS5 here upon graduation ($40-$50k) and seeing that you and others on here who make multiples of what I will at that time spend comparable/less on a car has always confused me.

 

Eh I think it's more of an age thing. He said he's mid-20s no real reason to flex that young and every dollar he invests today will be worth so many more multiples than if he were to aggressively save and invest once he's in his 30s. A really nice car would just be a rounding error in 10 years if one chooses to invest when young instead. At least that's how I'd think about it. I personally feel like flexing anything before at least late 20s is a bit silly. Being very young is the only time you can really get away with driving a piece of shit without any judgement or care and take high investment risks without care

 

Basically answered it for me. Would rather be rich and drive a wrangler than be poor and drive an AMG. Live off your base, invest your bonus, and then worry about getting a $60-$80k car when you’re making serious money & have 7 fig net worth (it’s really not that lofty of a goal in this industry).


I also think you’re underestimating how nice a $40k car is. I will have a nicer / newer car than almost everyone I know if I buy a $40k car

 
Most Helpful

I drive a Porsche that I bought when I was 27. Still love driving it to this day— the joy it brings me has decreased only marginally. Love the look, feel, and performance of the car. 
 

Having a sleek car as a bachelor in a big city has its perks. I get looks from women, guys always smile/nod, and some people are just plain haters (lol). My confidence has become rock solid.

I financed the car, so my investments weren’t impacted. Payments are affordable given my income and low interest rates. Other than the car, I live a pretty modest lifestyle, I just happen to love cars. Planning to keep my Porsche for at least a few more years. Porsche’s are surprisingly durable/reliable and hold resell values well. They are expensive to own and maintain however. 
 

Be careful about waiting too long to buy your dream car, otherwise you’ll be that guy going through a “mid-life crisis” stereotype. Much more fun and beneficial when you’re younger, provided that you can comfortably afford.

When I’m older, settled down, and married/father, is when I’ll likely trade the Porsche for something a bit more practical, low-key, and “safe”.

 

Anonymous Monkey

I drive a Porsche that I bought when I was 27. Still love driving it to this day- the joy it brings me has decreased only marginally. Love the look, feel, and performance of the car. 

 

Having a sleek car as a bachelor in a big city has its perks. I get looks from women, guys always smile/nod, and some people are just plain haters (lol). My confidence has become rock solid.

I financed the car, so my investments weren't impacted. Payments are affordable given my income and low interest rates. Other than the car, I live a pretty modest lifestyle, I just happen to love cars. Planning to keep my Porsche for at least a few more years. Porsche's are surprisingly durable/reliable and hold resell values well. They are expensive to own and maintain however. 

 

Be careful about waiting too long to buy your dream car, otherwise you'll be that guy going through a "mid-life crisis" stereotype. Much more fun and beneficial when you're younger, provided that you can comfortably afford.

When I'm older, settled down, and married/father, is when I'll likely trade the Porsche for something a bit more practical, low-key, and "safe".

Sir, specifics of the porsche please.

SafariJoe, wins again!
 

Man, thanks for this comment. Was about to write a similar one. Haven’t even started college yet but am dreaming about splurging on an e36/e46 m3 if I succeed in getting a banking offer. Was wondering why someone making so much more than I would be in banking is looking at cheaper cars, but I guess it comes down to preference. We’re car fanatics, whereas OP is just looking for something nice to have. Just comes down to how much you’re willing to spend on a hobby.

 

I'm big into cars and have spent way more time than I should probably admit looking into this (call it a hobby). Also in the same spot professionally as you with similar criteria for my car. Personal preference is mid-sized SUV, so if you want something sporty but sleek I'd recommend: Audi Q3/Q5, BMW X3/X5, Mercedes GLC/GLE.

Also, if I could impart one piece of advice about car buying - used cars are a lot higher-quality than they used to be, and you can find tremendous value if you take the time to look. Especially across the European brands I mentioned above, depreciation is crazy and you can grab a nice car for well under $40k that can still take another 100k+ miles without significant maintenance issues. My two cents.

 

whatever you get keep in mind the BMWs, Audis, some Acuras, etc of the world require premium gas. If you drive 15K miles per year, that's net $500-1000k expense just for premium gas.

 

Probably a bit of a lowball there. 15k miles at 25mpg average is 600 gallons per year. 600 gallons x say $4.00 a gallon is $2400 a year in gas. That said, don't think OP needs to worry about that. Pretty minor expense all things considered.

 

Think Toyota would pop up more if this was asked on an accounting forum, but the salaries here are large enough that a Lexus / Jeep / BMW are more acceptable answers.

For getting a cheap reliable car it's true that others have popped up - but a Camry or Corolla will last you 20 years if you take care of it

 

For a mid-20s guy, you can’t go wrong with American muscle. Considering the criteria you mentioned, a new Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger would fit the bill and will not have as expensive repairs as those BMW’s or Audi’s. Plus, their looks hold up over time.

When you eventually settle down, you probably would not drive your kids around in this. Additionally, you will have more money and can buy a better luxury car than just the entry levels (C class vs. E class, 3 series vs 5 series, etc.)

Unless, muscle cars aren’t your taste lol

 

It has been said but definitely worth repeating. Porsche Boxster 987 (2005-2012) or 981 (2012-2016). Low maintenance convertible that handles better than a 911!

Prices ranges from $15k to about $40k. As they say, Porsche - There Is No substitute. Reference from the movie Risky Business.

 

Chick here, bought myself a lightly used A4 Audi when I was in high school. Graduated college recently and realized how much it ate up in gas. Test drove the Volkswagen Jetta and am getting that to replace the A4 because since it's under the same company, it felt the most similar performance wise and way better MPG. But since you're a guy I'd recommend you look into the Volkswagen Passat, I test drove that too and it has a bigger engine and accelerates quicker like the Audi A5/A6 feels like. There's a stigma that only chicks drive jettas so the passat would be your best bet 

 

When I moved out of NY to a smaller market where I needed AWD, I got an Audi S4 which was awesome. I kept it for about 10 years. It was too small when we had our second kid so I got an E63 wagon, which is basically a station wagon race car. It makes me happy every time I turn it on…don’t really care that I pay a few hundred bucks a month more than I could with a cheaper car. For me it’s about a joy factor whenever I get in my car. 

 

for an Audi at $30-40K I'd go with a low milage Certified Pre-Owned 2019 or 2020 A5 over the A4.  The 4 door has plenty of space, looks great, and has a lot of pickup.  Certified Pre-Owned from Audi is great in terms of saving money on warranty.  Low mileage CPO cars turn up all the time at dealerships because the sales staff will drive it for a year, put 8-10k miles on it, then trade it in the next year for the newest model and it'll still be just like new.  

Source: Audis are my family's favorite car and we've bought CPO cars the past 3 or 4 times

 

Infiniti q50 for sure. And if you can, go for a red sport because why stop at the base. It's also my next car I'm probably buying next year because the used car market looking ludicrous right now. Good acceleration with 4.5s 0-60 time.

 

I'm more of a car guy than a finance guy...so a bit of a purist.  The Infiniti Q50 has steering by wire which gives it a very odd feel devoid of feedback.  If you can swing a newly released CPO TL type S, they're really really good for the money.  At 40k, you can also buy a used E92/E90 M3.  Maintenance will cost more than a newer car but depreciation will be slim to nil.  They do not make engines like that anymore; a 4.0 litre V8 that revs past 8k.  On the newer end for $40k, the Jaguar XE or even XF are really amazing for their ride and handling and have depreciated like a rock, so are great used purchases.  Golf GTIs or even Rs are a very compelling mix of germanic build quality, reliability, speed / handling, and strong residuals (ie won't depreciate much).    

 

That generation of M3s or its counterparts (Audi RS5, Mercedes C63, Lexus ISF, arguably the Hyundai Genesis 5.0) are insane value for money and have very little depreciation left in them. The result of a world gone turbo/EV.

 

I would go with one of the big three (BMW, Audi, or Mercedes). Simple luxury, offer great technology and have good pep in them. I personally own an Audi A4 and love it, but the repair cost get up there. Lexus is also a good option but not as enjoyable to drive. I’ve always been a big hater of Infiniti. Would rather get something with a better brand name.

 

Jeep Grand Cherokee = I used to drive a nissan murano but I finally made enough to lease a jeep grand cherokee. Don't get it unless you're getting the SRT or the Trackhawk, at least that one looks and sounds cool. Does NOT fit a mid 20s guy if that's something you're concerned about.

Infiniti Q50 = I haven't driven a brand new one (doubt they've made many updates) but the drive-by-wire steering sucks, so numb you have no idea what the front wheels are doing and it looks dated. Lexus GS 350 F sport is better in every way. I used to have a g35 so I got q50 and q50s loaners here and there.

Jetta GLI is a cool car, the styling on the new ones is awesome.

Edit: I think the A3/S3 is a car that also fits what you're looking for. The engine is essentially from the golf gti so it's pretty durable/reliable compared to strictly audi engines.

 

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