What car...if any?

My '08 328xi 6spd is in need of tires.  It's been my daily for 2 years and currently sits at 297,000 miles.  You'd never know it though, it drives like it's got half the amount of miles.  It's been well cared for.  Before I go and spend $700 on a good set of tires for a $2000 car my wife asked me if I'd want to replace it.  Hmmm... what would I replace it with?  I love the car, but would be lying if I said I was opposed to an "upgrade".  My budget would be $20k.  Would would be out there that's a significant enough upgrade from the E90 to make it worth the cost?  Parameters: must have a back seat big enough for my big dog (BMW seat is currently sufficient), must have some semblance of reliability (no MINI or Alfa), must be engaging to drive.  At least good enough to do one or two HPDE days if I wanted.  Can be any body style that's not SUV or truck.  Automatic preferred but manual acceptable, as we are probably buying a manual Miata as a weekend car.  Should be notably newer than my '08

FoST?  Had one several years ago.  Loved it but maybe too "juvenile" for my taste now

Fusion Sport.  Also had one and really liked it 

Accord Touring?  Audi A4?  MB C class?  GTI?  Maybe nothing?  Obviously it's subjective but is a $20k Civic Si that much better than the E90 to make it worth it?

What say you?

Can you get a palatable CTS-V down in that range? 

Volvo V60. 

Are Explorer STs in that price range yet?  SUV, I know... but dog friendly and quick with a tune.

You should be able to get a s550 mustang gt or Camaro SS. A f30 BMW is going to be a lot similar and even the turbo 4 will feel a lot more powerful and is an easy tune away from significantly more power. I almost bought one of the 4 series grand coupes with the hatch. Super practical car. There is 2017 440i grand coupe near me for $18k. Stick with the 2015+ cars for the b series engines.

The devil you know is better than the devil you don't.  Spring for some nice new tires and drive it.

In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :

You said Fusion Sport and that's not something that I would have suggested but let's play off that...

In one version the Fusion Sport offered the 3.7L, larger than the non Sport 3.5L.  However the 3.7L was always offered in the chassis mates, Lincoln MKZ.  Fast forward to about 2017 when the chassis mate, Lincoln Continental came out, the MKZ was also graced with the option of the Continental engine.  That is 3.0tt making 400hp mated to vectoring awd.    

This is a very capable car that no one knows about!  Depreciation should be your friend in finding one used.  

1988RedT2 said:

The devil you know is better than the devil you don't.  Spring for some nice new tires and drive it.

If the devil you know is a 300k mile modern BMW though.....lol 

Got it's money worth but for an every day driver even running well currently at 300k, I'd be looking to upgrade. 

I bought the car 2 years ago with 271,000 miles and my DD before that was a 128i, so I've been driving some from of E90 platform and I truly enjoy it.  Maybe it's just me being bougie but I wouldn't turn down a newer car.  My car is certainly the devil I know and it's a good devil, does its job very well.  

Yeah John, I had a 2017 Fusion Sport with a tune.  It was a rocket.  A nice used one is around $15k.  I don't know if the F30 BMW platform is too similar to what I already have to justify the money.  CLS550 maybe?  Lexus IS350 Sport?

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

I bought the car 2 years ago with 271,000 miles and my DD before that was a 128i, so I've been driving some from of E90 platform and I truly enjoy it.  Maybe it's just me being bougie but I wouldn't turn down a newer car.  My car is certainly the devil I know and it's a good devil, does its job very well.  

Yeah John, I had a 2017 Fusion Sport with a tune.  It was a rocket.  A nice used one is around $15k.  I don't know if the F30 BMW platform is too similar to what I already have to justify the money.  CLS550 maybe?  Lexus IS350 Sport?

i have a g20 330i and I really like it.  I considered an F series 340i a few years ago but ended up with the Audi S4 due primarily to the dealership being jerks.  The modern BMW 3 series might not be the car the old one was but mine gets 30+ mpg on the highway, is quiet, comfortable, and generally pleasant to be in.  My wife has a g series x3 and we took it on a road trip where we drove it from Chicago to southwest florida in a single day with 3 70 pound dogs in the back and while everybody was tired nobody was worse for wear.  you can probably get an early g20 330 for pretty close to 20k right now if you look hard enough.  

In reply to John Welsh :

I always thought the Continental would be an interesting ride. I don't know how "sporty" it would be, but I imagine it'd be plenty powerful.

As far as suggestions, I'm not too sure I have anything to add on top of what's been mentioned here.

The good news is that I think your criteria fit any number of cars on the market.