When you start a family, there are a lot of sacrifices you need to make, your car being one of them. You have to get yourself a reliable car that has space for the kids and gets good mileage, so you can actually afford to do the school run every day. It’s only a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things but it does take the fun out of driving for a lot of people. If you are the kind of person that used to love hitting the open road and going for a drive on a hot Sunday afternoon, you might find yourself a little disappointed. But you can have the best of both worlds if you want to.
You can keep your practical car for family driving and get a second car for leisure as well. You’re probably thinking that buying yourself a flash sports car doesn’t really fit into your budget when you have a family to take care of, but that isn’t always true because there are plenty of cheaper options out there. These are some of the best reasonably priced sports cars for dads that love driving.
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette has been on the road in some form for over 60 years, and it’s still a favorite amongst car enthusiasts that are looking for a reasonably priced sports model. If you go for a used model, like the 2008 Corvette, you’ll get lots of great sport features like a 6.2L engine, a removal top, and a manual transmission. The average price for a used model is under $29,000 and most of them are in great condition. They’re the kind of car that people keep in the garage and take out for weekend drives, so most of them haven’t done that many miles.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
This great little two-seater won’t be any use if you’re taking the family out but it’s ideal if you want to go for a relaxing drive on your own, and the price is amazing as well. It handles beautifully and it’s so much fun to drive. It comes with some great modern features like a touchscreen and keyless entry and it has a nice comfortable leather interior. The only issue that some people find is that some of the factory parts, while very reliable, could do with an upgrade. The exhaust, in particular, doesn’t give you the sound that you want from a powerful sports car but you can easily upgrade it. Check out this list of the best MX5 exhausts for some more advice on picking one. The best thing about the Mazda MX-5 Miata is the price, as it only costs around $19,000, making it the most affordable option on this list.
Volkswagen GTI
Not everybody can afford two cars so if you want a middle ground that gives you plenty of room and good safety features for the family, but also offers a great driving experience, the Volkswagen GTI is the ideal choice. It’s a five-seater so you will have enough space for the family and it even comes with heated seats so everybody will be comfortable. This is a popular choice amongst drivers that want performance but need practicality as well.
Being a dad doesn’t mean that you have to give up your love of driving for good. If you miss the experience of driving, you should definitely consider investing in one of these cars.
