Most car enthusiasts can’t resist getting behind the wheel of a performance vehicle. Whether you’re a young modification car fanatic, a golden oldie that loves the classic cars, or someone who simply enjoys racing on four wheels, you’ll be keen to have a sports car gracing your garage. New models such as the C8 Chevrolet Corvette, BMW Z4, or the Lexus LC 500 are undoubtedly great sports cars, but all cost well north of $50,000. Some of the best of 2023 come with a price tag closer to $100,000.
Sadly, that makes many of the recent releases unattainable for most gearheads. Financial constraints mean lovers of sports cars must delve into the past to satisfy their passion. There are plenty of American-made cheap sports cars, and even more from Japan, that are well worth considering. But if you are in the market for an older sports car, don’t forget to check out what European manufacturers have to offer. There is an array of affordable sports cars from Italy, France, Germany, and the UK that represent class, quality, reliability, and value for money.
Savvy car buyers can pick up fairly recent premium-level European sports cars for under $50,000. And if you’re strapped for cash, there are some models that can be found for well under $10,000 that will satisfy your need for speed. Using values from Classic.com and Edmunds, and Bring a Trailer, we will be presenting a range of European sports cars for drivers with varying budgets. Regardless of the asking prices, all of these powerhouses are worth a spin. Let’s get into this.
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10 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman – $44,500
Our first car on the list is by no means cheap, but it is certainly value for money if you can find one. A 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman can go for as little as $44,500 these days, and they are worth every last cent. As with almost all Porsche models, this sports car oozes sophistication and quality, and will still turn heads as it powers along the roads. Yes, you will be buying a great performance car, but you’re also acquiring a status symbol that most drivers recognize.
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The 718 Cayman’s performance is outstanding. It comes with a four-cylinder, turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, and as stock boasts 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. It has the power to thrill, but its handling is also worthy of note. If you’re shopping for a car for under $50,000, you will struggle to find any better than the Porsche 718 Cayman.
9 2014 Jaguar F-Type S V6 Roadster – $28,000
Travel nine years into the past, and a Jaguar F-Type S Roadster would have cost a pretty penny. The awesome V8 version was over $90,000, and the lesser V6 was just north of $80,000. These were the epitome of luxury sports cars back then, and remain exceptional vehicles today. The 2014 model of the V6 F-type S Roadster have sold for as little as $28,000 at auction in the United States, which makes them great value for money.
Not only do they look magnificent, but the F-Type V6 also came with genuine power thanks to its supercharged DOHC 3.0-liter V6 engine. It cranked out 380 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, and could reportedly achieve 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds. It’s a whole lot of car for the price of a 2023 Toyota Prius.
8 2013 Audi TT RS – $24,000
While not quite as powerful as the Jaguar F-Type V6, the Audi TT RS is another fine option from that particular era. Even though this model is now 10 years old, it’s a sports car option to carefully consider. This model year only came available with a manual transmission and had a solid reputation. It’s very much a driver’s car with its tight interior and aerodynamic styling.
Another aspect that sports car fans liked about the Audi TT RS was its powertrain. It came with a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five engine that churned out 360 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque. It had spectacular acceleration, with Edmunds stating that it could hit 60 mph from a dead stop in under 4.3 seconds.
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A 2013 Audi TT RS can be got for as little as $24,000. One sold in Texas this year for that amount with 100,000 miles on the clock, which is a very healthy number for a 10-year-old sports car like this.
7 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce – $23,000
This entry on our list might not look as exciting as the others. Despite its rather bland sedan appearance, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce from 2018 is a viable option for sports car fans. After all, “Veloce” is Italian for fast! The speed of this Italian sports car comes from its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Officially, the Giulia Veloce packs 276 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and has a top speed of 149 mph.
If you’re in the market for a cheap sports car that has reasonable power, reliable handling, but also has a practical side for daily driving, then this is a model to take a close look at.
6 1997 Aston Martin DB7 – $14,850
The Aston Martin DB7 is a great option if you’re hunting for elegance and performance for under $20,000. As with the previous Porsche entry on the list, this car is as much a status symbol as it is a sports car.
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The DB7 came with a supercharged 3.2-liter straight-six and could produce 335 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. Those are some serious stats for a car from the '90s. This model is showing its age, especially in comparison to newer Aston Martins, but it represents a lot of bang for your buck. One sold in L.A. last year for under $15,000!
5 2004 BMW 6 Series E63 – $10,000
No list of European cars would be complete without a BMW. The German manufacturer has produced a long line of outstanding sports cars over the years, and is still making some of the best in 2023. If you have less than $10,000 to spend on a sports car, then a 6 Series might be the option for you.
BMW released the second generation 6 Series back in mid-2003, and it was an instant hit thanks to its large engine size and beautiful external styling. Appropriately, there were six variants of the E63, ranging from the 630Ci base model up to the awesome M6. There are plenty of these cars available on the market, and prices vary depending on both the condition and edition. You can expect to part with approximately $10,000 for one in a reasonable state.
4 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth – $8,200
Many of the cars on this list are true road monsters. This one, though, is probably the smallest sports car you will ever find. Back in 2008, the performance variant of the cute and cuddly Fiat 500 had its unveiling. Abarth gave this pint-sized rocket a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine that had 133 hp. Not bad considering the size of this car.
While not to everyone’s taste, this affordable sports car won’t break the bank. A 2012 model averages out at approximately $16,000, but one recently sold for just over $8,000.
3 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class – $7,000
We’re headed back to the heartland of Europe for our next entry. One of Europe’s greatest car manufacturers is Mercedes-Benz in Germany. There have been many sporty Mercs over the years and this one is worthy of your attention. It’s the SLK-Class. The second generation of this roadster started out in 2004, and production ran for seven years.
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There were numerous editions of the SLK-Class over the years. One of the best is the SLK 350, which can be got for as little as $7,000. This car came with a 3.5-liter M272 engine and had respectable figures of 268 hp and 258 lb-ft, with a top speed of 155 mph.
2 1997 Porsche Boxster 986 – $6,000
We’ve already had a Porsche on the list that was relatively expensive. If you’re operating on a much tighter budget but still want a Porsche, a sensible option is the first-generation Boxster. This cheap sports car has the unmistakable Porsche styling, and despite its bargain-basement price tag, can still perform reasonably well. Its 2.5-liter engine has an output of 201 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque.
The manual will do 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which doesn’t make it an elite performance car, but is acceptable for a price below $10,000. A base model convertible Boxster from 1997 will set you back in the region of $6,000.
1 2007 – Volkswagen Golf GTI – $5,000
One of the best foreign sports cars and the cheapest to maintain is none other than the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The German auto manufacturer has been producing the GTI since 1976, so there are a wide variety of these models available on the used market. One of the best versions of this iconic European sports car, in terms of value, is the fifth generation.
A 2007 model Volkswagen Golf GTI will fetch on average $11,500 according to Classic.com. But if you’re a patient buyer, you could find one of these awesome hatchbacks for as little as $5,000.
FAQs
What is the most reliable sports car brand? ›
The Porsche 911 stands tall as the most reliable sports car you can buy. According to the insurance rating agency Get Jerry, it has the best reliability score of any sports car with a rating of 4.9. That rating, combined with the Porsche 911's legendary handling and overall goodness, make it seem like a bargain.
Why are less people buying sports cars? ›1 They're Too Expensive
Unsurprisingly, the biggest reason people opt to not buy one because there is better value for money in cheaper cars. Unless you have a lot of surplus cash, picking up a sports car is something that just isn't feasible, with this being a luxury that most people simply cannot afford.
Canada gets ranked the cheapest country to buy a supercar.
In which country supercars are cheapest? ›- Canada. £136,703. The cheapest place in the world to buy a new Porsche 911 Turbo S is Canada, with a price tag of C$231,700, which is the equivalent of £136,703. ...
- Mexico. £139,930. ...
- United Kingdom. £155,970.
Reliability ratings for sports cars are calculated based on analyzing over 12 million vehicles to assess a model's long term durability. The most reliable sports car is the Ford Mustang with a 8.6 out of 10 reliability score.
Which American muscle car is most reliable? ›Reliable classic muscle cars
Pontiac GTO: Produced for 11 model years, 1964-1974. The first-generation GTO, released from 1964-1967, is often credited as the car that popularized the concept of muscle cars. Chevy Camaro: Produced in four generations from 1967-2002 and restarted in 2010.
Here are the brand rankings based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles, according to J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. vehicle dependability study. The industry average is 186. The highest-ranking premium brand was Lexus, and Kia was the highest-ranking mass market brand.
What is the disadvantage of a sports car? ›Expensive Maintenance
These beautiful rides are high-maintenance. From insurance to repairs, the high price tag of a sports car also comes with a high maintenance cost. Even getting the oil changed for a sports car takes more time than a regular sports car.
These Sports Cars Died To Save The Environment
The decline in purchasing power couples up with the current trend toward EVs. This year this will kill the Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro, and Audi R8. Dinosaurs of a bygone era, these high-performance, high-polluting cars aren't long for the world.
Muscle cars have more powerful engines and also feature larger and boxier designs. They reach their best speeds when driving in relatively straight lines. Sports cars are small and sleek and hug the road while driving — giving an extra feeling of control, especially when making tight turns at high speeds.
Where is the cheapest cars in Europe? ›
Poland has emerged as the cheapest EU country to buy cars so it will be no surprise if more and more Germans cross the country's eastern borders to buy cars."
Why are supercars cheap in Dubai? ›Low-Cost Gasoline
The most expensive component of driving in other countries is the car's fueling. Because Dubai does not face a similar dilemma as a result of extraordinarily low fuel prices, driving these cars has become less expensive, and drivers do not have to prefer fuel-efficient cars as frequently.
London is the supercar capital of the world, leading with 6,146,924 supercars.
Where is the best place to own a supercar? ›- California. California is no surprise to have heaps of nice cars driving around. ...
- Florida. Florida is quite smaller than California, but also has an amazingly high number of exotic and luxury cars thanks to cities like Miami that are an international hot spot. ...
- Texas. ...
- New York. ...
- Nevada.
- Denmark. All three of the most expensive countries in this ranking are European, and Denmark takes pole position as the most expensive of all countries in our index. ...
- Germany. ...
- Finland.
1. Toyota Sequoia. In a separate study, iSeeCars.com analyzed over 260 million cars sold between 2012 and 2022 to find the probability that a vehicle would make it more than 250,000 miles.
What is the longest-lasting car in history? ›The highest mileage car on record is Irv Gordon's 1966 Volvo P1800S, with over 3 million miles. There were even two electric cars in the study. The Tesla Model S has a potential lifespan of 133,998 miles and the Nissan Leaf 98,081.
What is the most loved muscle car? ›Ford Mustang pulls ahead of Dodge Challenger
The 2022 American muscle car sales race is six months in, and it's shaping up to be a tight race. The Dodge Challenger was the champion last year, but Ford has put the spurs to the Mustang and pulled out in front.
- 8 Cadillac.
- 7 Ford.
- 6 Tesla.
- 5 Chevrolet.
- 4 GMC.
- 3 Volkswagen.
- 2 Jeep.
- 1 Mercedes-Benz.
According to the CR survey, electric vehicles and full-size pickups had the lowest average reliability scores. Full-size pickup trucks are the least reliable vehicle category, receiving an average score of 30.
What is the best car brand according to mechanics? ›
The top choices for auto brands that are the most dependable, according to mechanics, are Honda and Toyota. Thanks to excellent engineering and quality design, these brands suffer the fewest breakdowns as do the luxury brands associated with these manufacturers, Acura and Lexus, respectively.
What are the two most reliable cars? ›- Honda CR-Z. ...
- Toyota Camry. ...
- Toyota Corolla. ...
- Lexus CT 200h. ...
- Toyota Yaris. RepairPal Reliability Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. ...
- Toyota Yaris iA. RepairPal Reliability Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. ...
- Toyota Prius c. RepairPal Reliability Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. ...
- Lexus ES350. RepairPal Reliability Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Corvettes were referred to as the poor man's sports car because they were placed in a category alongside exotics such as Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche but didn't cost nearly as much to buy or maintain.
What is the point of buying a sports car? ›2. Speed and Horsepower. Performance is probably one of the main reasons you're buying a sports car. Look at those all-important performance specs like horsepower and torque, and don't forget to consider the power-to-weight ratio.
Are sports cars a good investment? ›Appreciation in value
In fact, racecars are far less likely to lose notable value over time, and can even retain their value throughout a recession. This makes them quite a smart investment that's well worth the money. What's more, certain models can also become collectors' items over time, such as Jaguar's E-type.
- 8 2023 Maserati MC20 Cielo.
- 7 2024 Ford Mustang.
- 6 2023 Dodge Challenger/Charger Hellcat.
- 5 2023 Honda Civic Type-R.
- 4 2023 Nissan Z.
- 3 2023 Maserati GranTurismo.
- 2 2023 Acura NSX Type-S.
- 1 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL.
2022 Lamborghini Aventador
Of all the cars being discontinued in 2023, the Aventador's death is one of the starkest reminders of changing times.
Farewell Acura NSX, Nissan Rogue Sport, Lamborghini Aventador, and Toyota Avalon.
Is A Camaro Faster than a Mustang? ›The Ford Mustang goes 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds with its 5.0 liter V8 while the Chevrolet Camaro 6.2L 0 to 60 mph time is 4.3 seconds. This means that with the lighter engine, the Mustang is able to get up to speed faster than the Camaro. The next question is how fast are the supercharged versions of these vehicles?
What is the fastest muscle car? ›Dodge is introducing the quickest, fastest and most powerful muscle car in the world, the 1,025 horsepower 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT® Demon 170.
Are there Japanese muscle cars? ›
The GT-R is possibly the ultimate Japanese muscle car.
Which is the cheapest car in the world? ›The world's cheapest car is the ChangLi Nemica, a Chinese electric car that can be ordered from Alibaba and shipped to the United States. High inflation has caused the price of new cars to skyrocket — putting them financially out of reach for many people.
What's the fastest cheap car in the world? ›Q: What fast cars are cheap in 2022? Models like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Toyota 86, and Subaru BRZ count as fast cheap cars in 2022. Hot hatchbacks like the Ford Focus RS, Volkswagen Golf R, and Honda Civic Type R all qualify as affordable fast cars in our current year.
What is the cheapest Lamborghini? ›The cheapest version of the 2023 Urus S trim rings in at $221,506 and is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that produces 650 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. All that power, combined with a stellar suspension setup and a relatively svelte sub-5,000-pound curb weight, help the Urus hit a top speed of 190 mph.
What is the 2 cheapest car in the world? ›- 8 Changli PK-002 - $2,058.
- 7 R&Z SUV - $1,990.
- 6 Changli 003 - $1,988.
- 5 QK Pickup - $1,859.
- 4 MH S3 - $1,811.
- 3 Haibao Qiao Hu - $1,669.
- 2 Minghong S1-PRO - $1,265.
- 1 Changli Nemica - $1,249 or $975.
In Asia the cheapest cars are all found in China; in North America, they're in Mexico; in South America the cheapest cars are in Chile; between Australia and New Zealand, the cheapest cars are in the latter; and in Europe the cheapest cars are in Russia.
What is the safest car in the world? ›Ans. The safest cars in the world include cars from Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Honda, Subaru, Mazda and Tesla. Volvo has several models that consistently attain high rankings in safety awards due to their innovate technology and safety equipment.
What is the fastest car in the world not street-legal? ›What Is The Fastest Car In The World? The Thrust SSC is the fastest car in the world with a Guinness World Record-breaking top speed of 763 mph (1,227.9 kmh). It is also the first car to ever break the sound barrier. But unlike the other cars on this list, the Thrust SSC is definitely not street-legal.
What is the fastest civilian car? ›SSC North America's 2007 Ultimate Aero TT has a Guinness Book of Records–verified top speed of 256.18 mph. That record has since been broken by others, and now belongs to its successor, the SSC Tuatara.
What is the #1 slowest car in the world? ›The Aixam Coupe is a two-seater quadricycle that's so slow that you don't even need a license to drive one. That's right, the only requirement for driving the Aixam Coupe is that you should be at least 16 years of age and have passed the moped test.
Which is cheapest Ferrari? ›
Ferrari car prices in India: The price of Ferrari cars in India starts from Rs. 3.76 Cr for the Roma while the most expensive Ferrari car in India one is the SF90 Stradale with a price of Rs. 7.50 Cr.
How much is a mini Lamborghini? ›The miniature ride is a 1/8 scale model of its larger sibling, 2011's Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4. Unbelievably, while the real deal will set you back around $400,000, you'll pay $4.8 million for the decidedly less street-ready version — over ten times as much.
What is the cheapest Ferrari vs Lamborghini? ›The Lamborghini brand tends to be more wallet-friendly than the Ferrari. Going by base price, the cheapest Lamborghini tops out at $182K. The cheapest Ferrari, meanwhile, is $230K. If you want to save some money, the Lamborghini is your best bet.
What is the rarest car in the world? ›| Ferrari 250 GTO | 36 Units |
|---|---|
| Ferrari J50 | 10 Units |
| Apollo Intensa Emozione | 10 Units |
| W Motors Lykan HyperSport | 7 Units |
| Bugatti Type 41 La Royale | 6 Units |
1. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta | $38,115,000. Sold by Bonhams in August 2014, at time of writing this stunning Ferrari remains the most expensive second-hand car in the world and reinforces Ferrari's place as one of the most expensive car brands on the planet.
What is the cheapest Tesla? ›The Tesla Model 3 is a battery-powered sedan that's currently the most inexpensive of all Tesla models.