Pick up the best used Maverick you can for your $25k budget.  They are great!

When I was 9 years old (1992) I went to play golf with my dad and in the parking lot was a bright red Dodge Viper. Turns out there was an NFL player that was teeing off in front of us and invited my dad and I to golf with him. After the round he asked my dad if he could drive me home in the Viper. Ever since that day…

Since when does a police department actually pay for a “community engagement” vehicle? Around me they’re all either cars seized from drug dealers or free surplus MRAPs.

Or buy a beater truck. i firmly believe everyone should have a beater truck.

You could do what i did when i sold my 2016 2dr GTI. Get an Alltrack (and bonus you can make it a GTI wagon for cheap)
I purchased an alltrack, swapped over plaid interior, GTI brakes, gave it coilovers. And just a tune gets it up to GTI power at about 230hp. Plan to keep my wagon for a while. In the cargo area you can…

Best truck I ever had was a 1995 ex-forrest-service F-250. Forrest Service Green. 300 CID I-6. 5-speed Manual Transmission. Triangle Vent windows. Complete stripper except it had an AM/FM radio.

Honda Beat is the answer. So much so that, with your budget, you can buy TWO of the best ones on the market and fit them both in your garage. One fun car is cool but two would be better (math!)

Nissan Skyline ER34

Oh, I got out of that abusive relationship. I don’t have any RX-8s any more.

1987 Mercedes-Benz AMG Hammer

I will probably get some flak here, but it most likely was an insurance-based denial. Any of these contests that you see to win prizes (hole in one, kick a fg, make free throws, etc.), the sponsor company will get insurance for them. And it is really up to the insurance company to pay out the prize if it is won.

Too busy vaping to drive it?

coughcoughForgiatocough

1954 Gregory Roadster 1 of 1. A pioneer of front wheel drive vehicles, Ben Gregory built this with a Porsche 356 engine in the front powering the front wheels. It’s a beautiful car, I saw it this summer at the Lame motor Museum.  Only one that ever made it into production.

How about the 2009 Kia Borrego. One year only, body on frame SUV, with a 4.6 V8 from KIA!!!  Never actually seen one in person, who knows how many are still on the road at this point.

they are in a container on their way to Dubai.

OUT! NOW!

A used BMW 1 series could also be a great budget sports car. Huge community of support and lots of upgrades available.

Said no one ever

I’ll throw the Civic Si out there. New is $30k ish and you can get a certifed used one for mid $20k range. Fun, great shifting, 4dr or 2dr options (2dr used only) and cheap to own. I think it’s a great option for a super fun sporty daily driver that won’t break the bank.