12 Fast Yet Budget-Friendly Sports Cars You Actually Know

Okay, so… you know when people start talking about sports cars and suddenly it’s like Lamborghini-this, Ferrari-that, and you’re just sitting there thinking, “Bro, I don’t have a million dollars lying around”? Yeah. Same. But here’s the thing: there are actually a bunch of cars you already know that are, like, surprisingly quick and still… you know… affordable. Not dirt cheap, but not “sell a kidney” expensive either. So yeah, let’s just dive into it before I start rambling too much.

Mazda Miata (MX-5)

Okay, so first up, the Miata. Like, duh. It’s the most obvious answer for a reason. It’s not about raw, straight-line speed—it’s about the feeling. You feel like you’re going a million miles an hour when you’re just, like, doing the speed limit on a twisty road. It’s so light, rear-wheel drive, the shifter is perfect… it’s just pure fun. And they are so cheap to own and run. You can grab a really clean older one, a “NA” or “NB” generation, for well under ten grand, maybe $7,000$7,000 for a decent one. Or you can get a newer “NC” or even an early “ND” for closer to $15,000$15,000 to $20,000$20,000. It’s the go-to for a reason, you know? Can’t go wrong.

Ford Mustang GT

You just can’t talk about cheap speed in America without talking about the Mustang GT. I mean, come on. The V8 rumble! For the money, it’s kinda insane how much power you get. I’m thinking specifically of the S197 generation, that’s the one from like 2005 to 2014. The early ones are dirt cheap now, but the later ones with the 5.0 “Coyote” V8… man, that’s the sweet spot. You can find a solid one for like, $15,000$15,000 to $20,000$20,000. It’s a bit heavy, yeah, and not as nimble as a Miata, but who cares when you can do a big smoky burnout? It’s just a classic, feel-good car.

Nissan 370Z

Ah, the Z cars. They just have this… this thing about them. The 350Z is super affordable now, but honestly, I’d stretch for the 370Z. It just looks a bit more modern and has a better interior. That VQ V6 engine sounds so unique, almost like a trumpet. It’s proper old-school—naturally aspirated V6, rear-wheel drive, kind of a heavy steering feel. It’s a real muscle car, but Japanese style. You can find them all day long for under $20,000$20,000, maybe even closer to $15,000$15,000 if you look hard. Not gonna lie, I’ve spent way too much time looking at these online.

Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86

So this one is kinda like the modern Miata, but a coupe. The BRZ, the Toyota 86, the Scion FR-S… they’re all basically the same car. And it’s brilliant. It’s not super powerful, everyone complains about that, but that’s the whole point! You can drive it flat out everywhere and you’re not, like, breaking a dozen laws. It’s all about momentum and handling. It’s so balanced and communicative. It teaches you how to be a better driver, for real. And since the new one came out, the first-gen models are a total bargain. You can snag a great one for $16,000$16,000 or so. It’s the perfect “I want to learn how to drive fast” car.

Chevrolet Corvette (C5)

Okay, okay, hear me out. A Corvette. Yes, a Corvette. The C5 generation, the one from the late 90s and early 2000s with the pop-up headlights. Not gonna lie, this is probably the best performance deal on the planet. You are getting a legitimate supercar for the price of a used Camry. It has an LS1 V8 that is bulletproof and makes great power, the handling is amazing, and it’s surprisingly practical with that huge rear hatch. You can find these things in great shape for under $20,000$20,000. It’s wild. The interior is… uhm… very 90s GM, but you forget all about that when you press the gas pedal. Seriously, a killer deal.

Porsche Boxster (987)

Yeah, I said Porsche. A mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive Porsche. For cheap! The 987 generation Boxster, from about 2005 to 2012, is just a phenomenal car. The balance is just… perfect. It’s what you expect from a Porsche. Everyone gets scared off by the “IMS bearing” issue, but most of the cars still on the road have either had it fixed or weren’t going to fail in the first place. That fear makes them cheap, though! You can get into a really nice one for like $22,000$22,000. You get to tell people you own a Porsche, and it’s not even a lie! And it’s the real deal, a proper sports car.

Honda S2000

Man, the S2000. What a car. This one is stretching the “budget” idea a bit ’cause the prices have gone totally insane lately, but you can still find them if you’re patient. That engine… it revs to 9,000 RPM! It feels like a race car for the street. The shifter is maybe the best ever made. Period. It’s just such a special, raw experience. You’ll probably be looking at closer to $25,000$25,000 or even $30,000$30,000 for a good one, but it’s an investment at this point, you know? It’s a true modern classic. An icon.

Chevrolet Camaro SS (5th Gen)

The Bumblebee car! Yeah, that one. The 5th generation Camaro SS is the Mustang’s arch-rival, and it’s another V8 bargain. It runs from 2010 to 2015. It feels a bit bigger and heavier than the Mustang, I think? The visibility out of it is kinda like looking through a mailbox slot, not gonna lie. But that 6.2L V8 is a monster and it sounds incredible. It’s got that aggressive, mean look down perfectly. And again, the price is right. You can find early SS models for around $18,000$18,000 pretty easily. It’s a lot of tire-shredding fun for the money.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8

Don’t sleep on this one. Seriously. For a while there, Hyundai was really trying to make a statement, and the Genesis Coupe was it. The 3.8-liter V6 model is the one you want. It’s rear-wheel drive, makes over 300 horsepower, and looks pretty darn good. It’s like a budget 370Z but maybe a bit more practical? The aftermarket support is huge, too. And because it’s a Hyundai, the resale value isn’t as crazy as some of the others, which is great for us! You can find a later model with the V6 for well under $15,000$15,000. It’s a total dark horse.

Subaru WRX

Okay, so not a “sports car” in the traditional sense, but it’s fast, it’s fun, so it counts. The WRX is a legend. That boxer engine rumble is iconic. And the big thing is the all-wheel drive. If you live somewhere that gets, you know, actual weather, this is the car. You can have fun year-round. It’s a rally car for the street. It’s also super practical with four doors and a decent trunk. A slightly older one, maybe from the 2011-2014 era, is a fantastic buy, often for around $14,000$14,000 to $18,000$18,000. It’s the responsible choice that isn’t actually responsible at all.

Ford Focus ST

Another one that’s not a coupe, but man, hot hatches are just so much fun. The Focus ST is a blast. It’s a little torque-steering monster. You stomp on the gas and the steering wheel wiggles in your hands as the turbo spools up. It’s hilarious. It handles so well, it’s super practical ’cause it’s a hatchback, and the Recaro seats they put in them are amazing. It’s the car you can use to move a bookshelf on Saturday and then take to a track day on Sunday. You can get a super clean one for like $15,000$15,000. An amazing all-rounder.

BMW Z4 (E85)

Back to the two-seat roadsters. The first-gen Z4, the E85. I just love the way this thing looks. The super long hood, you sit right back by the rear wheels… it’s just got those classic roadster proportions. And it came with BMW’s legendary straight-six engines which are so smooth and sound so good. It feels more like a classic cruiser than a hardcore sports car compared to, say, a Boxster, but it’s still quick and handles great. And they are a bargain! You can get a nice 3.0i model for like $12,000$12,000. It’s a lot of German style and performance for not a lot of money.