We Discovered That The Best BMW Will Cost You Less Than $40,000

BMW wasn't always a true luxury brand. Premium, yes. Luxury, not so much. But a decision was made in the early 1980s to begin pursuing the likes of Mercedes-Benz. But through it all, BMW has consistently built a car that's remained true to the "Ultimate Driving Machine" mantra. Its name has changed over the years, but today's it's called the 2 Series, specifically the coupe. Front-engined, rear-wheel-drive and a manual transmission are all there, with a starting price of just under $33,000.

Our time with the 2017 BMW 230i Coupe was, sadly, not long enough but we still can't get that car out of our minds. Sure, you could spend more on the M240i or M2, but not everyone has that kind of dough available. The 230i and its 2.0-liter turbo inline-four with 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of twist will suffice just fine.