The best performance car at this price looks & styling, performance, servicing
Reliability and longevity. None of these ever caused me major repairs. Camry to 297000 miles, Corolla to 317,000 miles, Lexus to 250,000, 2nd Lexus to 239,000 miles. The engines, transmissions, and interior on all of them, were good until I either sold them or gave them to a relative. No major repairs, other than the occasional worn item, such as a seal or a radiator eventually leaking (which happened to only one Lexus).
I've also previously owned a Datsun (300z), Infiniti, and Honda. Honda would be the next one on the list as far as trouble-free reliability. The Infiniti cost considerably more in service.
One rule, I always change the oil every 3000 to 4000 miles, even if the manual says that I could wait longer. Fresh oil reduces friction exposure and the engine will last longer, no matter which brand of car you buy.