Used car shopping on a budget is always an interesting experience. However, the fact remains that a lower budget incites more compromises. A car budget of $10,000 won’t buy any new RWD sedan, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some exciting options. Thankfully, wading through a sea of BMWs, Lincolns, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguars yields some results worth considering. Here are some of the most interesting used RWD sedans you can buy right now for $10,000.

2003 Infiniti G35: reliable and quick RWD sedan

Several Infiniti G35 sedans show up on car classified websites, and it’s definitely a used RWD sedan worth considering. The G35 is basically a 350z with two extra doors. It carries over the same 3.5-liter V6, which means it’s reliable, albeit with a few easily-resolvable cooling issues. The G35 gets stellar reviews from just about every car review website, thanks to outstanding aerodynamic performance. It manages to keep respectable fuel efficiency while being comfortable and quiet—a must-consider option.

2008 Cadillac STS 1SE: comfortable and familiar

The STS was a mid-size luxury sedan from Cadillac. It went through some styling revisions in 2008 and received above-average scores from review sites. The 1SE trim meant you could get a 4.6-liter V8 that produced 320 horsepower, while all powerplants were mated to automatic transmissions. Slipping into an STS feels like sinking into a leather chair next to the fireplace on Christmas morning. It’s warm and inviting. The STS provides a soft ride with independent air suspension on all four corners, and even if you opt for the V6, you won’t be disappointed, so says Car and Driver.

2003 BMW 745LI: executive performance that matches its size

If the BMW 3-Series is the quippy younger sibling, then the 7-series is the stoic big brother we all aspire to be. BMW 7-series is medieval, a great battle ax swinging into lesser luxury executive sedans. Although the 2003 model lacked the twin-turbo V12 from its 760 jocular variant, it still landed a right cross that sent the driver to 60 mph in just six seconds. 

The “LI” denotes a longer wheelbase, increasing legroom and instigating a limousine attitude. It tries to be advanced and is for the time but lacks the intuitive user interface that exists in more modern executive sedans. For all of its subtlety, the 745LI makes an interesting head-turning used RWD sedan.

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG: cosmically powerful used rwd sedan

One of the greatest things about Mercedes-Benz is its depreciation, and that brings us to the 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG. What started as a $96,300 performance sedan now only costs $10,000 with 120,000 miles. The CLS 63 AMG uses a 500-hp 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed gearbox. Don’t let its size fool you. The CLS 63 AMG is well-equipped to handle winding roads with its Airmatic suspension and massive front brakes. It’s a monster of a used RWD sedan.

While each of these cars offers something different to one another, bear in mind most of them are almost 20 years old. Each one is classified as a luxury vehicle, which means repairs could get expensive. Each powertrain and drivetrain is reliable and robust; it’s the peripherals that will start to break, like power seats and A/C systems. If you can stomach problems like that, owning any of these used RWD sedans shouldn’t be too daunting.