

Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter featuring the very latest from Petrolicious. Don’t be left out—join the ranks of those who Drive Tastefully.
Already a member? Log in
We're glad you're back.
Not a member yet? Sign up
We'll get you back on track.
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.
Funny you ask… my next build upon completion of my 71 Plymouth Duster is going to be any Mercedes sedan from the 70’s. just gonna buy the cleanest pants object benz I can find. Was gonna drop a Chevy LS in it, until I discovered how inexpensive Mercedes V8’s are from the 90’s. so it will be a slightly lowered and raked, manually shifted, Mercedes powered businessmans hot rod! I’m not picky, it can be any 70’s 4 door. I may even gently flare the wheel arches just to make purists sick! Hey it will still be Mercedes powered!
AUDI S4. I just bought a ’95 (S6)–pretty much the same as an S4 (92-94). Great Driver! Pretty fast with tons of power potential and a rich aftermarket. 5-sp only. Basic car will drive well into the 200K miles range, while nicking you regularly with smaller items on the way. Buy in is modest. Best car ever in slippery conditions! Experience Turbo Lag! Smooth revs to 7K, Very comfortable with great seats.
I also had a ’91 200 20V (only model year for that) & a 90 Audi V8–both very nice drivers.
This certainly isn’t an easy question. I’ve decided to disregard the Alpinas, Hartges, AMG Hammer and only stick to manufacturers that produced the body etc. on their own. However, there are still a lot to choose from.
Although the Audi 90 2.3E 20V, the 200 2.2 Turbo Quattro and Opel Omega 3000 just barely makes it, I wouldn’t be able to choose any of them with my conscious intact (given you’d even be able to find one). Therefore, I guess the battle would be between Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Mercedes have done quite a few “sporty” sedans I considered, including the W109 300SEL 6.3, W116 450SEL 6.9, W126 500SE, W123 280E, W124 300E and obviously the legendary W201 190E Cosworths (of which, I actually prefer the non-EVO models).
However, I think I’m going to side with BMW on this one. There’s just something special about driving a BMW (granted, I haven’t driven any of the previously mentioned Benzes or the following BMWs).
The strongest candidates would be the BMW E30 320iS, as mentioned by Hock, and obviously the E12 M535i and E28 M5. Also, you can’t go wrong with the turbocharged E23 745i (or N/A 735i) or it’s predecessor, the E3 (3.0Si please). However, I’ve always had a soft spot for the E34 and since you’re able to sneak in a first model year E34 M5 within the constraints, I’d want one of those please.
Simple question, prior to 1990, BMW! Although, I should extend a “Thank You” to Mercedes, if it wasn’t for that brand in particular, paying for my flight training would have been more difficult. One after the other would enter our shop with a myriad of issues. My boss paid time and a half, and it was nothing but the three pointed stars lined up, one more screwed than the next. Anyway, my pick would be a first generation M5.
A W108/109 (S-Class pictured above or any S-Class really) was never and will never be a ‘sports sedan’. No, not even in 6.9 form. It just didn’t have the chassis to start with. Apart from one exception: the beautifully brutal AMG 300SEL 6.8 race (!) car (http://www.oocities.org/motorcity/downs/Downs/9323/w109amg.htm)
And a Ford Scorpio can not possibly be on a list with ‘sporty sedans’, can it? Come on it’s all sorts of things but not sporty.
[u]But in order to answer the question: [/u]
BMW E30 320is (Italy- and Portugal-only version of the E30 M3 with a lower capacity M3 engine (to fit under the 2 litre tax limit) available in a four-door body -> very stealthy, very rare, all the M3 qualities!
Also-ran: Euro-spec M3 E36 in four-door guise (may not be a classic yet, but will be and combines M3 traits with inline six sound and four doors), Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16V (IMHO only sporty mercedes sedan apart from recent C63), E30 325i, E28 M5, E34 M5 (1st turbine wheel model) and indeed Audis are a difficult one but the RS2 build by Porsche should qualify even if it’s an estate. Alpinas yes please! Older BMWs always welcome, 1800 TISA would be the obvious choice but probably way beyond 25k.
The 2002 is not a sedan. It is a fun little coupe but not a sedan. I have modified everything I have owned, from MGs to trucks. If I were to buy something with a $25k budget, I would probably pick up a W201 190 Merc. One of the last to be built to spec, not to budget by the company and a great car to drive. They are cheap and easy to find and have all sorts of bits available to build anything from comfy cruiser to track monster.
Guest(Guest ) But … perhaps what you meant to type in was the Merkur Scorpio ( Ford Granada Scorpio in Germany ) … not the Taurus ?
Now that ( the Scorpio ).. was a German sedan . Ford of Germany … but German never the less .
And if thats what you meant to say … well now …. that is a worthy consideration for this list
Hmmn … errr .. Guest(Guest) … Ahhh … errr … not to be pedantic or anything … but ahhh .. how does one say this tactfully … especially when tact is not one of my strong suits . Hmmn … lets try this ;
The original Ford Taurus SHO is an American Car … with a Japanese derived motor [ Yamaha ] under the hood … thats not even sold in Germany .. nor has ever been sold in Germany … never mind any solitary aspect of it having been made there
Making the classic SHO in fact ….. anything BUT .. German
Phew ! Y’all have no idea how much effort that takes on my part ..
OK … right out of the gate .. lets eliminate any and all VW’s tarted up in Audi party dresses . Fact is … there’s nothing in the slightest that can be considered ‘ Classic ‘ about any of them
So that leaves us with BMW and Mercedes . Which of those two depending on whether your main objective is ‘ comfort ‘ or ‘ sport ‘ BMW’s being ‘ sport ‘ with comfort . Mercedes being comfort with ‘ sport ‘
So then to narrow it down to a model or two each . Hmmmmn . If .. it was a Bimmer I was wanting … it’d have to be one of the many M5’s .. or perhaps if Mid Life crisis were to take over … an Alpina M5 . Mercedes ? Sanity and reason dictates either … a 190E … or say one of the mid 70’s S-Class . Insanity and lack of reason pushing me towards an AMG ‘ Hammer ‘ … assuming I can find one … perhaps a 190E 16V … or one of the classic 6.9 Sedans
My choice brand wise ? Mercedes . Hands down . Love BMW’s but prefer to drive a Mercedes . Model wise … that’d depend on my state of mind at the time as well as what was available .