The coupe is one of the more timeless designs in the automotive world. It’s a bit like a three-piece suit–it’s a little impractical, sure, but it will always turn heads. Before you head to your local used car dealer to browse for a used coupe, consider this list of some great used coupes to buy and a few to avoid.
3 Used Coupes to Buy
The BMW 4 Series is based on the super popular 3 Series sedan, so it’s no wonder this car is a great buy as a used coupe. It offers a classy interior, superior road manners, and energetic engine choices. With an elegantly curved roofline and a two-door layout, the 4 Series is nice to look at and even nicer to drive.
The Audi TT is a fun little sports car that offers plenty of speed, agile handling, and an interior packed with the latest tech. The TT comes in a few different versions, including the TT Coupe, the TT Roadster, and the TT RS. In other words, there’s a TT for just about everyone.
The Honda Civic SI is always a good choice on the used market with Honda being one of the most well-known and reliable brands in the world. The Civic SI is a nice entry-level performance coupe with its powerful VTEC four-cylinder engine. Another good reason to consider the Civic SI is that it tends to be very affordable, even with newer models.
3 Used Coupes to Avoid
There are also definitely a few coupes on the used market that might look tempting, but you’ll be better off avoiding them. One of those is the Hyundai Veloster Turbo. This strange-looking hatchback model features one door on the driver’s side and two doors on the passenger side. The Veloster looks sporty on one side, and a bit staid on the other. Unfortunately, it’s underpowered and not terribly reliable.
The Mazda RX-8 is another coupe to avoid. The RX-8 is a newer version of the RX-7 with a rotary engine and extra passenger doors. From the front, it looks quite compact and sporty, but the main problem with this car is its poor reliability. Engine replacements are the norm rather than the exception with this car.
BMW makes a lot of fun cars, but the E36 M3 is one to avoid. The reason is not due to a lack of power or reliability, but the fact that these cars have reached collector car status and tend to have outrageous asking prices.
Honorable Mentions
The coupes on our list are a combination of practicality and reliability, but if you want something less practical, but still fun and reliable, then the honorable mentions go to the Mazda Miata and the Corvette C5. The C5 has become pretty affordable on the used market these days, and it’s hard to beat its distinctive design and powerful engine. However, the Corvette, like the Miata, is far from practical with its two-seat layout and small trunk. On the Miata side of things, Miata models are very affordable used, and they may seem underpowered, but they’re light and agile. Miatas feel like a powerful sports car for a lot less money.
Your local used car dealer is likely to have at least one of these models in stock, but it’s always important to take one for a test drive and see how it fits your needs.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.
