Photography by John Whitney Jr. and Saam Gabbay
Coined in the 1930s, and gaining more popularity during the 1960s and onwards, the term “sports sedan” has come to define cars with adequate power and performance, paired with everyday practicality and usability; a wolf disguised in sheep’s clothing, if you will. The sports sedan is perfect for an enthusiast who wishes to go out and spiritedly enjoy their favorite road, but who might also have to pick up his/her kids, or perhaps some groceries on the way home.
German manufacturers including BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz have churned out many of the most notable sporty four-doors, packed with the style and performance you’d expect from the more expensive sports car models of their line ups. By the late ‘80s, a myriad of German sports sedans had been produced and refined, yet some clearly outshined others. Was the 5-speed gearbox and rear-wheel drive combination the defining element for the more successful or enjoyable cars? Did drivers prefer the sedans with four or six cylinders? If you had $25k (or less) to spend on a classic German sports sedan, which model would you choose? Please keep the selections to cars with four doors produced before 1990.
