m48xhp

Time has come for me to get a new daily driver. If I didn't have kids, I'd trade the C6 and my truck in for a C7 Z06. No question. However, now with 1 child and maybe another in the coming year or two...I am considering the unfortunate thought of trading in those two for a car with a back seat.

I would need to buy something that can give me the same thrill of a Corvette, but have 4 seats and decent gas mileage (75 miles per day commuting).

I ask the forum for suggestions. New or used but no more than a couple of years old. Price range is +/- $50k

So far leading the pack is the 2016 Shelby GT350 (I know the MPG sucks). But are there other cars with that level of performance for a similar price?

beamg5

If you can "up the ante" a bit, a Dodge Hellcat could hardly be a better choice -or- you can find a real nice Dodge Charger/Challenger SRT (6.4L/470 HP) very nearly new for $50K !!

Pardon my bias...........but In addition to the Corvette, I have a healthy respect for a number of the Mopar products that have been built throughout the years, as well !!

Edit: I did, however, overlook your desire for good gas mileage - sorry !!

Gary

m48xhp

I'd rather have a GT350 a thousand times over than a Hellcat.

94ltz

Newer CTS-V

m48xhp

thought about it. I can get a low mileage 2014 in the 40s. And even though I like the car, it is still a car designed in and with technology from 2009. I may have to test drive one and see.

I love the new ones, but they are over my price range.

94ltz

Have you thought about a new Evo?

68ragtop69

I loved my 2009 CTS-V Sedan; I wasn't expecting it to replace my Z06 but it did! Great room for kids and a hell of a lot of fun to drive!! You can get into a nice 2nd Gen V for a decent price!! I also loved the 2nd Gen V-Wagons as well!

Callsign_Vega

If I needed a back seat, instead of the Viper I would have most likely gone with the Ford GT350R and just bought rear seats and install them.

E in Phila

You can get a nice 997S (last body style) 911 for about $50k. You will be hard pressed to find a closer replacement for a Corvette - with a back seat - than that.

Get one with a sport exhaust. You may never look back.

E in Phila

Last generation M3 (high revving v8) is another option. Gas mileage probably sucks though.

patriotpa

CTS-V hands down. Or, if you're OK with a smaller seat, one of the quicker Camaros would fill the bill, especially since the engine came from the 'Vette in the 1st place.

Zee0hSix

WRX sti, it is good in bad weather and has four doors which makes life a hell of a lot easier when dealing with car seats.

E in Phila

Good point, and you can get a lot of Camaro for $50k.

E in Phila

Another good point... car seats can be done with a coupe... but it sucks.

beamg5

________________________________________ ____________________

I think if you ever actually drove a Hellcat, you'd soil yourself !!

zipity

I am sort of in the same boat as you, at least looking for a performance minded daily driver with decent fuel mileage. But I added one must have, a manual transmission which limits my pool to shop from.

In the past my daily's have been a manual shift G8 GXP, which had an LS3 V8, great car bad mileage. The same can then be said for the current Chevy SS sedan and CTS-V, great cars not so much great mileage.

PreOwned S4, decent option.
BMW 335xi or M sedan
Golf R
STi

My current daily driver is blast, and might sound funny to most. It's a 2014 Ford Focus ST with the Ford tune. It makes 250hp but 360lf/ft of torque, which is 8.9TQ/Pound. It's a blast to drive. Good on gas and cheap to own. The ST is on most of the "fun to drive" lists that are put out by various car magazines.

On Monday I am headed to my Ford dealer to spec out the 2016 Ford Focus RS. Which will be built in Germany, come with all wheel drive and 350 horsepower right out of the box, for roughly $40 grand.

Good Luck in your search and the search is half the fun.

MVR 155

Not sure if some of the people here making suggestions have ever tried fitting a car seat (especially a rear facing infant carrier) into a coupe with a tiny backseat but there is no way that you are going to fit the rear facing carrier behind one of the front seats and have any room in that seat for someone to sit...... it would likely be so far forward there would be zero room (unless your wife is 3 feet tall???). Forward facing seats could work but it will be tight.

Your best bet is going to be a fast sedan like a CTS-V, Audi S4/S6, BMW M3/M5, MB C63/E63 or something of the sort. Likely going to have to go used for any of the bigger body germans (S6/5 series/E class). I currently own a 2013 S4 and it's actually a bit tight with the car seat in it (rear facing infant carrier). I will be getting into an S6 in the next 18 months. We have a full size SUV (2015 Denali) that does the bulk of the family stuff but having a second vehicle that can handle baby/family duty is nice...... Obviously my Z06 is quite impractical for family use.

LOL at the person who suggested a 911..... the backseats are non existent in that car

E in Phila

I totally forgot about car seats.

That said, the 911 is actually a great second car when the kids are beyond car seats. My 8 and 11 yo daughters fit fine in back. They beg to go in my car most of the time, because it's fun and "cool".


For car seats though... no question... fast sedan. There are a ton of great options these days.

White Out

996/997.1 turbo.

*edit*
I've fit 4 adults in one of my 996's.
There's a thread on rennlist (996 section) about car seats.
991 interior is massive compared to 996/997, might be a better fit. 991S has 400hp, nice interior, fun to drive and sounds good.

White Out

Also,

M3/M4/M6
E55/E63 wagon
E63 black (it's coupe)
GTR
RS5