It's a pastime that every gearhead has surely wasted countless hours doing, scouring the classifieds for that elusive sports sedan at a bargain price.
Every gearhead wants the biggest bang for its buck, and as luck would have it, $20,000 gets you a lot of metal for your money on the used car market. American homegrown sedans with V8 power really should clean up here, but you'd be surprised just how many European premium models fall under the same bargain heading.
Craving some German action from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-AMG? No problem, all three carmakers have several models to choose from that boast sports sedan performance. And the Germans are no longer the go-to European uber-sedan makers, Italy and Britain have gotten in on the act too. Further afield, Japan's almost robotic approach to car design and engineering has produced a few tasty sports sedans worthy of some serious attention.
No question about it $20,000 really does buy you a lot of performance. Which is the best? Well, that is another question.
10 2008 BMW M5 (E60)
In a crowded marketplace where every carmaker has at least one "hot" offering, BMW's E60 M5 stands out from the mundane, thanks to what lays under the hood. Where V8s are the accepted norm in premium circles, BMW's E60 M5 turns to a 5-liter naturally aspirated V10 paired with Sauber F1's 7-speed paddle-shift transmission.
Packing a ludicrous 500 hp motor and a host of race-proven technology understandably delivers some serious performance figures, zero to sixty takes 4.7-seconds, flat out with the limiter removed the M5 does 190 mph, all for less than $20,000.
9 2007 Audi S8 (D3/4E)
Slightly less obvious and still packing a V10 motor, Audi's S8 packs a similar level of performance in a more restrained manner. Up front, owners are treated to a 5.2-liter version of the German carmaker's TFSi series with 450 horses driving all four wheels, resulting in a 4.2-second dash to sixty.
At this point you're probably wondering why V10s in German cars are quite so popular, Audi's response is the V12 is too big, and the V8 is not big enough, simple really. In terms of driver appeal, the S8 is slightly handicapped by the placement of the engine, a large proportion of its weight is placed ahead of the front axle.
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8 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged
A big performance Jaguar for peanuts, the XF Supercharged boasts nearly the same tire scorching performance as its bigger more powerful XFR brother, but without compromising Jaguar's legendary ride comfort. Stepping down a level does mean the 5-liter V8 complete with blower set-up only produces 470 hp, but that's still plenty to get under the 5-second barrier to sixty.
Under new ownership, many of the previous model's electrical gremlins have been eliminated, those that remain are generally best accepted as part and parcel of daily life with a big sporty Jaguar parked on your driveway.
7 2005 Cadillac CTS-V
Closer to home, fast sedans are equally accessible. While the Cadillac might not have quite so much prestige badge appeal as the Europeans, it does comes with a potent 400 hp GM 5.7-liter LS6 motor and accompanying V8 soundtrack. The lower power figure shouldn't be a cause for concern, even against the European heavyweights, the CTS-V holds its own, sprinting to sixty in 4.4-seconds.
Some compromises have been made, with weight being the biggest enemy of performance. Also, the Cadillac's interior isn't on the same level of refinement as its European rivals, plastics replacing leather throughout.
6 2008 Chrysler 300 SRT-8
Another homegrown V8-powered sedan guaranteed to leave any gearhead grinning with a combination of brute force and understated styling, resulting in 175 mph top speed in a classy package.
Our budget of $20,000 gets you a lot of high-end kit for the asking price, a 6.1-liter motor pumping out 425 hp whisks occupants towards the horizon at startling speeds. On the inside, sumptuous leather adorns pretty much every soft surface, only the dash and instrument binnacle give any clue of cheaper materials.
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5 2009 Maserati Quattroporte S
If it's Italian style and performance you crave, then look no further than Maserati's Quattroporte. As a used car capable of 177 mph flat-out, you'd be hard pushed to find a better bargain with so much charisma.
Under the hood, 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engines muster an impressive 425 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. As you expect, the co*ckpit is nothing but the finest Italian craftsmanship, trimmed in soft leather and rich wood veneers, which sounds more like a luxury limo than a sports sedan. Maybe it's the unusual mix of the two that impacts prices so badly? Used cars are performance bargains, but as a new purchase, you should walk away very quickly.
4 2006 Mercedes-AMG S65
Sourcing a big V12 powered Benz isn't that difficult, even throwing in some AMG goodies to the mix, the S65 still comes in under budget. Weighing in at over 5,000 lbs does make the Mercedes a bit on the portly side, so it's good that the 6-liter turbocharged V12 under the hood pumps out an incredible 604 hp. The engine powers this monster to sixty in 4.4-seconds, topping out at a limited 155 mph.
Remove the electronic governor, and all hell breaks loose. Put the foot down hard on the gas pedal means it'll crack the double ton, independent testers claiming a true 203 mph maximum.
3 2008 Lexus IS F
Standing apart from the rest of Lexus' IS sports coupe line-up, the F-spec variant sports wider arches over a gorgeous set of BBS alloys, and a bulbous hood signifying this is the range-topper. Tucked away under the hood, Toyota's 2UR-GSE 5-liter V8 pumps out a useful naturally aspirated 416 hp, with drive going to the rear axle via a slick 8-speed transmission.
The only fly in the ointment being those enormous 19-inch wheels wrapped in skinny tires, as they're responsible for the IS-F's harsh ride set-up, a quality Lexus refers to as sports tuned.
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2 2009 Pontiac G8 GT
Badge-engineered Aussie import, Pontiac's G8 GT is very much a case of love it or hate it. Pontiac purists look down on anything not fully home produced with the kind of disdain you expect from someone receiving a pair of cheap $5 sneakers instead of the latest Air Jordans. Instead of looking at where the G8 came from, gearheads should pay more attention to what it can do.
In mid-range GT spec, the G8 packs GMs potent L76 V8 motor in 6-liter guise, churning out 361 hp and good for a zero to sixty time of 5.2-seconds. Badge snobbery might be a sticking point for some buyers, either way, the G8 delivers amazing bang for your buck.
1 2016 Subaru WRX STi
Possibly the best known performance sedan money can buy new or used, Subaru's WRX is one of the fastest point-to-point sports sedans this century and should be on every gearhead's shopping list. Armed with a $20,000 budget just leaves us with one tricky choice, a lower-spec, newer 2017 WRX, or a year older WRX STi? Prices for the two are that closely matched.
Here's the thing, who in their right mind would plump for the WRX despite its 268 hp boxer engine when for similar cash with a few more miles on the clock you can have the STi. The difference? A larger 2.5-liter boxer engine rated at 305 hp, the extra 37 ponies shaving seven tenths off the 0-60 time.
