What sports car should I buy for under $50k

Ben is after a daily driver that delivers big driving rewards but isn't sure just how far to take things. He's tempted by the near-new BMW 228i Coupes kicking around the $50,000 mark, but that wouldn't leave much money in the bank for rainy days. Would he really be missing out if he lowered his sights to $35k-$40k and a near-new VW Golf GTI?

The budget

$35,000 to $50,000

The shortlist

The 228i and GTI are perfect yardsticks for a bang-for-your-bucks exercise like this but picking a third contender to keep these two class acts honest is tough.

Ben could have a Ford Focus ST, Holden Astra VXR or Subaru WRX. An Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio, BMW 125i hatch, Peugeot 308 GT or Volvo V40 T5 are alternatives too.

None of those cars, however, offer a truly compelling reason to choose them over the well-rounded BMW and VW. Our pick, contrastingly, skewers the Germans with a uniquely single-minded brand of driving appeal.

2014-on BMW 228i Coupe, from $44,000*

This BMW's 180kW 2.0-litre turbo engine has serious thrust and its poised rear-wheel-drive chassis serves up rich rewards on twisting tarmac.

The drivetrain's easygoing flexibility, impressive thrift (6.3L/100km) and slick auto option mean the 228i settles beautifully into the daily grind. Its decent-sized boot and split-fold back seat make it respectably practical for a two-door.

But Ben shouldn't expect the same kind of back-seat space or versatility as a good hatch. Or, despite costing more than its rivals here, a significantly higher level of standard kit.

If he's seeking the peace-of-mind of fixed-price servicing he'll need to bank on the previous owner having ticked the box for one of BMW's pre-paid 'Service Inclusive' packages. They're transferable but you can't sign up for them in the used-car realm.

Read Drive's BMW 2 Series reviews:

BMW 220d Coupe road test

BMW 228i Convertible she says he says

2014-on Renault Megane RS275, from $34,400*

This Renault's head-banging 201kW 2.0-litre turbo engine and hyper-incisive handling make for an intoxicating experience on the right road (or track).

More intoxicating, even, than the BMW but it's cheaper to buy and its hatchback body is more versatile. It has a longer warranty (five years versus three) and near-new examples in this price range will have most of Renault's three-year capped-price servicing program left to run.

But the RS is also noisy, hard-riding, hard to see out of and no economy benchmark (7.5L/100km). An auto transmission isn't offered and some of the cabin's switchgear isn't easy to get your head around.

While Ben would need to bank on an optioned-up BMW to get driver aids like autonomous emergency braking, they're not even part of the Megane's repertoire.

Read Drive's Renault Megane reviews:

Renault Megane RS275 Cup Premium car pool

Hot hatch road-test comparison

2013-on VW Golf GTI, from $28,200*

This VW has this group's least power (162kW) and DSG auto models can be less than butter-smooth in stop-start driving. Its five-door body lacks the sense of occasion of its two-door rivals.

But light weight and boisterous low-rev response mean the GTI's power deficit isn't felt on the road. If not as sharp as the Renault, it still delivers big smiles through the bends.

The Golf backs up its driving nous with good economy (6.2L/100km) and its switchable suspension means it's capable of soaking up bad surfaces with decent grace. It has this group's biggest back seat and its 380-litre boot and hatch body make it the most practical, too.

Its three-year warranty pales alongside the Renault's but VW fixes service costs for the first six years/90,000km. Like the BMW, Ben might just blag one with optional driver aids like autonomous emergency braking.

Read Drive's VW Golf reviews:

VW Golf GTI road test 

Hot hatch road-test comparison

Drive recommends

Only one car here deserves an unequivocal recommendation and it's not the BMW. It's a great thing but rational justifications for its premium over its rivals aren't easy to find, all the more so if you're already second-guessing the spend.

It isn't the Renault, either. We wouldn't argue with anyone who absolutely had to have this firecracker ? it's one of the great driver's cars of all time ? but its everyday shortcomings mean it's a decision that needs to be mulled over seriously.

The Golf requires no such mental to-ing and fro-ing. It won't ask Ben to stretch the budget like the BMW, is easier to live with than both its rivals and a blast to drive. What more could he want?

* Values are estimates provided by Redbook based on an example averaging up to 20,000km per annum and in a well-maintained condition relevant to its age.