19 Great Driver's Sedans You Totally Forgot About
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Performance sedans are kind of a secret weapon in the car world. You get huge driving enjoyment without the negative attention that comes with a traditional sports car. Some of them were instant legends, but a lot of them have been overlooked. Here are some great driver's sedans that people always seem to forget about.
Ford Fusion Sport
Ford recently killed off all of its sedans in the U.S., including the Fusion. The Sport is actually pretty fun to drive, with good looks and a 325-horsepower twin-turbo engine. It's a shame it's gone the way of the Dodo. This one's brand-new, and you can own it right now.
Lexus IS F
The IS F was never as popular as the M3 or C63 of its time, but considering it had a naturally aspirated V-8 under the hood and bulletproof reliability, it shouldn't be forgotten.
Subaru Legacy GT
Subaru's performance world has always focused around the Impreza, but its bigger sibling, the Legacy, has received go-fast upgrades from the factory, too. If you want the capability of a WRX in a bigger, more comfortable package, it's a no-brainer. Here's one up for sale on eBay right now.
Acura Integra
People idolize the Integra coupe from the 1990s, but often forget that Acura offered a four-door version as well. It doesn't look as sporty, but it provides the same fun factor you get from the two-door.
Volkswagen Passat W8
Back in the early 2000s, Volkswagen thought it would be a good idea to stuff eight cylinders under the hood of its Passat mid-size sedan. Enter the W8. With an engine born from two V-4s spliced together, it's fun to drive, but a nightmare to keep running. But if you have the means, we'd say go for it. Here's a wagon version for sale on eBay right now.
Ford Taurus SHO
The original SHO was actually really cool. Though it didn't look like much from the outside, it packed a Yamaha-designed V-6 connected to a five-speed manual transmission. It was pretty quick for the period, making it a wonderful sleeper. Here's a '15 model you can own today for under $14,000.
Honda Accord V-6
We here at Road & Track have a fondness for the V-6 Accord. It's unassuming yet surprisingly capable and direct. Plus, there's no beating that Honda reliability. Our tip? Go for a 2007, the final year you could pair the V-6 sedan with a manual gearbox.
Alfa Romeo 164
Sure, it was front-wheel drive, but the 164 still came with a fantastic-sounding V-6, a sweet interior, and some seriously cool Nineties looks. This one's in good condition, and you can own it today.
Lexus IS300
People often forget you could spec the IS300 with a manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Combine those with the car's standard 2JZ straight-six, and you've got yourself a bulletproof four-door fun machine. Here's one listed on eBay right now.
Nissan Altima SE-R
Yep, Nissan made a performance Altima in 2005. Not many were sold, but it has a stiffened suspension, 10 more horsepower, and forged wheels. Worth a look.
Ford SVT Contour
The SVT Contour combines the unassuming looks of the Ford Contour with serious power and handling chops. A fun sleeper that didn't get its due.
Mazda Millennia S
The Millennia S is never mentioned, but it's a comfortable, fast car for people that wanted a BMW but couldn't quite swing the payments.
Acura TSX
Great handling, fun car, and as reliable as a Honda. No matter what you think of Acura, the TSX is worth considering if just for the six speed manual transmission. Here's one you can own today for $10,000.
BMW 330i ZHP
It's like an E46 M3, just with a little less power and two more doors. It's also one of the most-sought after performance sedans on the used market.
Mazdaspeed Protege
Mazdaspeed usually fettles a car in the last year or two of its production cycle. That's the case here: Mazda took the already great handling Protege MP3 and added some actual power.
Mitsubishi Galant VR4
A little bit on the older side, but the Galant VR4 is a rally machine in street clothes. Look how cool it is. Here's one up for sale on eBay right now for $10,000.
Saab 9-3 Turbo X
Before Saab disappeared, it was making some really cool cars. The all-wheel drive Turbo X made 280 horsepower from its turbo V-6 and had a manual transmission. Awesome. The only one up for bidding on eBay right now has a rebuilt title, and looks to be in need of attention.
Volvo 850 T5 R
The 850 T5 R came in a sedan and a wagon. We chose to show you the wagon because that's like a sedan, but better.
Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
Yes, it's powered by a diesel engine, but this is basically a homologation special for the TDI Cup race series. And it's all sorts of cool.
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