If you have $50,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you could be much worse off than buying a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
It’s spacious, comfortable and efficient, and offers the low running costs Toyota is known for. There are two problems, as far as we can see.
The first is the wait. You will wait at least a year for a RAV4 Hybrid based on current information.
Perhaps more importantly, it’s a bit boring.
That’s not an allegation you can make in this next car case. Not only are they currently for sale, they’re a versatile crew with personalities to burn. Reliability? That remains to be seen.
What are these CarExpert group will buy from classifieds sites with $50,000 to burn a hole in their pocket. Viewers should do as they please.
Scott Collie: Maserati Quattroporte 2011
Turns out $50,000 gets you a lot on the used car market.
From a couple of BMW M6 convertibles (yes with V10, no soft top) to the extremely attractive previous generation CHEAP Honda Civicit’s amazing what you can buy for the price of a new RAV4… if you’re willing to take the risk and of course exempt your new car from the warranty.
However, for me, the highlight is Maserati Quattroporte. Our budget just bought you (me) an upgraded base model, complete with power from one of the sweetest-sounding naturally aspirated V8s ever made.
Is it reliable? Not knowing, and ignorance is bliss in this case. Will it be economic? Not a chance, but I don’t really care about 14.7 liters per 100km.
It’s not even that fast, with a 100km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds. You risk being burned by Hyundai i30 FEMALE owners, although they don’t look nearly as eye-catching as you.
This car costs $282,000 before road and options costs in 2011, which means they burned through $21,000 per year (at least!) in depreciation alone. Their loss is my gain.
William Stopford: Jaguar XF-R 2010
Looking right under the $50,000 cut, there’s a huge amount of desirable cars.
Personally, I’m happy with a Kia Stinger GT, the car was out of my budget when I bought the Hyundai Genesis. But that’s a very reasonable answer, isn’t it? More exotic materials abound.
Having a 2007 Toyota Century epitomizes refined Japanese class, so you can look like an official from Tokyo.
A 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am caught my eye, with its iconic black/gold tone – with matching gold wheels – created by Smokey and the Bandit.
-
1968 Oldsmobile Toronado
A first-generation 1968 Oldsmobile Toronado can be found for just under $50,000. Yes, this 5.3m-long coupe, complete with a 7.0-liter or 7.5-liter V8, is front-wheel drive. But while the 1966 original was absolute perfection in design, it was too radical for American buyers and Oldsmobile skipped it for 1968. So thanks but no thanks.
That leads to another choice: a 2010 Jaguar XF-CHEAP. There was a time when you could buy a Jaguar sedan with a supercharged V8.
Like the Toronado, these aren’t ideal specs. While that model didn’t get a facelift, the XF was tweaked with one – anyway, did Jaguar release the XF without the concept’s sleek headlights?
The black-and-black color scheme is also a bit dull, but this particular example has 105,427 km on the odometer. It also has that delicious 375kW/625Nm turbocharged 5.0-litre V8.
Jack Quick: 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG
After accumulating a considerable list of means, I try to reduce it to a 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG listed for exactly $50,000 excluding government fees. Traveled 86,000km.
This particular example was claimed by Bobby to be the best 2006 CLS63 AMG in the country, with the lowest mileage. They even go so far as to call the car a “sound investment and sure to increase in value”.
The CLS has always fascinated me with its swashbuckling, boat-like appearance and overall grandeur.
That’s the kind of car I want when I grow up. The CLS 63 is equipped with a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 378kW of power and 630Nm of torque. All of this is sent only to the rear wheel.
On the outside, this particular CLS 63 is painted silver, adding a quiet element to this V8 monster. Even so, it has a pronounced quad exhaust…
All in all, I don’t know if this car really makes sense in 2022 given current fuel prices, but if you want to go back to the pre-global financial crisis, look no further. than this 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS63.
Mike Costello: Infiniti QX70 S Premium (nee. FX50)
So you are after a hybrid RAV4. That’s why you want something that has room for all families and types, offering solid quality and reliability.
I present to you the Infiniti QX70 S Premium (originally designated as FX50), which went on sale a few years ago when the Nissan-owned luxury brand store closed after years of poor sales.
Think about it: Avant-garde and edgy crossover design a decade ahead of its time, Japanese quality, and a 287kW naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 growling under the bonnet.
Plus, I bet you a million dollars you’ll be the only one with your zip code or LGA.
Paul Maric: Audi S8 V10 2010
You and your friends are invited to sit down.
I would like to introduce to you one of the most interesting cars I have driven as a 19 year old driving journalist. It’s V10 support Audi S8.
It was ahead of its time because it used a Lamborghini-sourced V10 engine, it had a fingerprint scanner for recalling settings and starting the car, and had an $18,000 Bang and Olufsen sound system with Omnidirectional speakers radiate out of the panel for near-uniform sound.
The car that caught my eye is said to be in top mechanical condition (they tend to peak at just over 200,000 km) and looks pretty good.
James Wong: Ford Focus RS 2010
A special challenge requires a special vehicle…
LV . generation Ford Focus RS was a pioneer, a special limited run vehicle based on the track, albeit manual only, and FWD was praised for its out-of-class performance both on and off the track. Also, they have a five-cylinder engine so they’re absolutely SHOW when pushing.
It still looks stodgy despite being over a decade old, and I’ve been craving that heroic green paint since I saw someone’s dad drive one across the school lane.
Brand new, these were $59,990 plus toll (I’m not good at math but that’s probably Audi RS3 money at today’s rates), and 12 years later they’re still listed for $40,000 to 50,000 dollars.
Therefore. Much. Would like.
Alborz Fallah: Suzuki Cappuccino, 2000 Mercedes-Benz S600
I will have my cake and eat it too. I want to buy a Suzuki Cappuccino for about $20,000 so that I have the smallest amount of convertible money I can afford, then I’ll spend the other $30,000 on a 2000 Mercedes-Benz S600 V12 and live happily ever after.
By the way, I have a car that never breaks down but is probably less safe than riding a bicycle, and another that will probably never go more than 100km before it costs $10,000 to fix.
In retrospect, this is exactly why we’ve always said it’s better to buy a new car than a “great” used car that will give you endless headaches.
Sean Lander: 2011 HSV Grange
Sean is a member of our video team and has a great taste in the automotive field – as his answer will demonstrate.
Probably not the most affordable option given current fuel prices, but if you want an affordable option, you’ll go for the RAV4 Hybrid.
If you want something powerful enough to suit the whole family, the HSV Grange is the ultimate choice. In 2011, this was the pinnacle of Australian-made luxury cars and delivered to the Germans at a fraction of the price.
Even today, the 325kW LS3 V8 is still a respectable donk, worthy of the world’s respect. Add to that the fact this particular car in Western Australia has a full exhaust system from head to toe (if needed), a custom tuning and, for second-row consignees, Magnetic Ride Control.
From the factory it puts out 550Nm of torque, although with tuning it could be improved now.
With the Grange’s signature wide body styling, it is an effective presence on the road. Inside, the seats are upholstered in leather and suede, and the second row has a DVD player and wireless headphones – but I think you’d better roll the windows down and enjoy the symphony.
At $48,997 excluding government fees and just 119,000 kilometers (let’s face it, maybe highway kilometers), it’s a car that could even drive this die-hard Ford fan. on the dark side. It could even be an investment, but I’ll let you decide.
