8 Great Car Values for a Midlife Crisis

Let's say you've hit a certain age -- after the kids have flown the nest and there's no longer a need for that child-friendly minivan -- when you might start itching for a little more excitement in your daily ride.

Let's say you've hit a certain age -- after the kids have flown the nest and there's no longer a need for that child-friendly minivan -- when you might start itching for a little more excitement in your daily ride.

Some seasoned car buyers might want to relive their youth and hark back to what was cool in the days of convertibles and drive-in movies; others might decide to keep things a bit more modern with hipper, greener vehicles.

You don't have to spend a fortune to get a midlife pick-me-up. We took the hottest vehicles ranging from $16,589 to $62,750 and ran them through Kiplinger's rankings -- which reward gas mileage, resale value and safety as well as performance -- to find the best values. There's something for everyone on this list, whether you want a superfast roadster or you want to feel younger (and cooler) -- as responsibly as possible, of course.

Take a look at our top picks, and tell us which is your favorite by leaving a comment below.

Mark Solheim
Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Mark became editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine in July 2017. Prior to becoming editor, he was the Money and Living sections editor and, before that, the automotive writer. He has also been editor of Kiplinger.com as well as the magazine's managing editor, assistant managing editor and chief copy editor. Mark has also served as president of the Washington Automotive Press Association. In 1990 he was nominated for a National Magazine Award. Mark earned a B.A. from University of Virginia and an M.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Mark lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, and they spend as much time as possible in their Glen Arbor, Mich., vacation home.