Maybe you've come into a little bit of money – perhaps a raise, or even a good run of luck on the ponies. Or you're at that point in life where you deserve a little luxury. So a replacement for that old jalopy in the driveway is in the near future.
A large, plush yet sporty coupe, something with style that boasts to the world about the type of successful business person you are – or want to be – is the goal. So no Kia or Ford, it has to be a premium brand.
And yet, you're in no position financially to splurge on a brand-new, top-tier car – you want the premium badge for mainstream prices. Not to worry, let's look at luxury coupes for less than $30,000.
Sensible
Any list of luxury two-doors will include the Infiniti G37 Coupe, which can be found up to about 2011 here. An aggressively stylish car, the G37 sports a smooth and torquey 3.7-litre V-6 good for 330 horsepower. It's a sharp-handling, nimble coupe, yet it also has all the nice leather and other amenities of a luxury car inside. All-wheel drive is available with the G37x. It's also rated as a Best Bet with Consumer Reports for reliability, so this is a sensible choice. But is it luxury enough? It's on the small side compared with other cars here, and it lacks some of the more opulent features of more premium cars. Recalls deal with power windows, air bags, leaking fuel filler hose, dim headlights, faulty engine electronics, brake lights and a loose fuel line.
You won't want for options with the BMW 650i, however. The big Bimmer – found up to around 2009 here – is an opulent grand tourer and, despite its portly weight, it gets to 100 km/h in about five seconds thanks to 360 horsepower from its 4.8-litre V-8. Ultimately, this is more of a comfortable cruiser than a sports car, and that weight shows itself in cornering. And while the 650i is big on the outside, the rear passenger compartment is tiny. Plus, there's that ugly "Bangle Butt" trunk design. Recalls include an overheating battery cable, a leaking brake vacuum pump, stalling engine, air bags, a loose rear shock absorber, loose control arms and transmission components that will allow the car to roll while in park.
Indispensable
There's no doubt about the winner: for these prices, you can find a nicely equipped Mercedes-Benz CL550 between 2007 and 2009. We're talking a big, gorgeous coupe that originally cost more than $100,000 with a 5.5-litre, 382-horsepower V-8, and one likely to be found with the optional 4Matic all-wheel drive. It's stonking fast, but the ride is controlled yet coddling. The features list includes systems that are only finding their way onto mainstream cars now, such as Pre-Safe braking and an infrared night vision system. It's loaded with sumptuous leather and real wood inside, but the most important part is found on the hood – that tri-star emblem. Just two recalls involve the Active Body Control sensor and the module that controls the wipers and headlights.
Questionable
For a good luxury coupe with modern features, a powerful engine and a comfortable-yet-spirited drive, stick to the budget and don't cheap out. While Cadillac finally offers a good choice in this segment with the CTS coupe up to around 2011 here, the company doesn't have a history of compelling two-doors, especially from the 1990s and 2000s. You'll find the historic nameplate of Eldorado, for example, with the Caddy logo on the front and a V-8 engine under the hood for less money, but will be sorely disappointed if you're looking to satisfy your thirst for driving. Acceleration is comparatively lethargic, and the handling is like steering the Queen Mary through corners. Plus, its options and features won't be nearly as modern. Spend the money to enjoy what you drive.
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