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If life is a highway, then you should have fun driving it. And the best way to do that as a 50 plus adult is in a sports car that makes every curve a delight and makes you feel comfortable

and secure while you're behind the wheel. "It’s worth thinking about a few practicalities when you’re shopping for a sports car," advises _Edmunds_ news editor Will Kaufman

when asked what 50-plus drivers in the market should pay attention to. Traditionally, sports cars were Spartan affairs, more focused on road feel and performance than on heated seats and air

conditioning. Fortunately, today's sports cars are more attuned to the needs of drivers who are accustomed to advanced features. Based on over 30 years test driving and reviewing

vehicles for publications including _The New York Times_ and _Car & Driver_, here’s my rundown of what’s important to consider when buying a sports car as an older adult, and a list of

six cars that are a pleasure to drive and won't break your retirement budget. FEATURES TO CONSIDER AS AN OLDER DRIVER … WHO WANTS A GREAT SPORTS CAR CONTROLS. Touch screens rather than

mechanical buttons are the norm today, which can be distracting because you can't feel a button on an LCD screen, points out Kaufman. So check out the location of all the controls when

you're behind the wheel and make sure they are easy for you to reach and use. Look for regular dials and buttons that you can feel without taking your eyes off the road, and see if the

voice control system can also adjust the cabin temperature (it usually can). VISIBILITY. Kaufman points out that visibility — especially out the back window — in a lot of modern sports cars

is basically nonexistent. That creates blind spots for drivers, young and old, so by law all models now come with a backup camera for reversing so you won't hit anyone or anything. But

because of the limited visibility, you might want to ask if the vehicle has 360-degree view mode to help with parking in tight spaces.  ACCESSIBILITY. If you find yourself, like I did, doing

the old-guy grunt getting in and out of some models of sports cars, it may mean that it's too uncomfortable for daily use. Many models are just inches above the pavement, meaning

you'll really have to get down to get in. Not everyone can fold themselves into a tight seat, so make sure the car you choose suits your mobility abilities. STANDARD OR AUTOMATIC.

Unlike choosing an SUV or minivan, you may actually want a traditional stick shift in a sports car. Why? It makes you feel more involved in the driving and can be an intrinsic part of the

experience (read: more fun). However, if you're more likely to be doing a lot of stop-and-go driving in traffic where working the clutch every few seconds can get exhausting, an

automatic may be more practical (most sports models offer an automatic option). HARD TOP OR CONVERTIBLE. The open air may seem like the sports car ideal, but there are practical

considerations here as well if you’re 50 plus. It's true that today's soft tops are more weatherproof than the ones you knew years ago, but when the roof is down, you'll have

to make sure you're lathered up with sunscreen. When shopping for a Porsche, businessman Steve Leon raised another issue: "They pulled out a Boxster. I said I can’t buy this

because I wear hearing aids and the wind noise would cripple me." He chose a hard-top Cayman. GAS OR ELECTRIC. And finally, if what you desire is neck-snapping acceleration, consider an

electric vehicle (EV). Nothing can beat the straight-line performance of torque-y EVs today — especially for the price if you're on a budget. With these criteria in mind for the

over-50 crowd, here are my picks.  TOP SIX SPORTS CARS FOR THOSE OF US ON A BUDGET  FLAWLESS HANDLING: PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN STARTING AT: $72,800 If you want to feel like you're the

smoothest driver in the world, the Porsche Cayman is the model for you. Just think about where you want to turn, and the Cayman is already there, carving up rural hairpins with assurance and

aplomb. Powered by a flat six mid-engine, the coupe is a joy to drive.