10 Overlooked Sports Cars Every Enthusiast Should Appreciate
Not every sports car gets the recognition it deserves. Some fly under the radar despite having incredible performance, unique styling, or a thrilling driving experience. In 2025, there are several hidden gems that serious car enthusiasts should know about vehicles that combine fun, style, and engineering excellence, but don’t always get the spotlight. These are 10 overlooked sports cars that every enthusiast should appreciate.
Alfa Romeo 4C
Oh man, the 4C. This thing is like… a piece of art. It’s got a carbon fiber tub, which is just bonkers for a car you could actually buy. No power steering, so it’s super raw and connected. And it’s tiny! Like, a go-kart. But uhm, it’s also kinda impractical and the interior is… sparse. But that’s not the point! The point is the feeling. It’s a pure driving experience. You can find used ones now for, I dunno, around $50,000? Maybe a bit less? For a carbon fiber Italian mid-engine car? That’s insane.
Lotus Evora
People sleep on the Evora so hard. It’s a proper Lotus, so it handles like a dream—better than pretty much anything else on the road. And it’s got a Toyota V6, so it’s actually reliable, which is wild for a British sports car. It’s comfortable-ish, you can kinda use it every day. But it just never got the love of a Porsche Cayman. A used one is an absolute steal now, like in the $60,000 to $70,000 range for what is basically a supercar chassis.
Nissan 370Z Nismo
Okay, I know the Z is getting old, but the Nismo version? It’s so underrated. It’s just a raw, analog sports car. No turbo lag, just a big NA V6 that screams, and it looks so aggressive. In a world of everything being turbocharged and electric, this thing is a relic and I mean that in the best way. You can pick up a later model one for, what, maybe $35,000? For that much character? It’s a bargain.
Porsche 968
Everyone obsesses over the 911, but the front-engine Porsches are so cool. The 968 is the last of the line. It’s got this weird, kind of beautiful 90s design, and that 3.0L four-cylinder is actually really smooth and revvy. It’s a total time capsule and it drives brilliantly. They’re not even that expensive! You can find a good one for like, $20,000. That’s, like, used Corolla money for a classic Porsche. It’s nuts.
BMW 1M
Okay, not totally overlooked, but compared to its bigger brother the M3, it kinda is. The 1M is a legend. It’s short, wide, and angry. It’s one of the last truly analog M cars. They only made a few, so prices are high, but for a while, it was just this weird little coupe nobody got. Now they’re, like, $70,000-plus, but they’re worth every penny. It’s a masterpiece.
Toyota MR2 Spyder (Mk3)
The third-gen MR2! People hated it at first because it didn’t have the crazy looks of the old ones. But it’s a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive roadster that weighs nothing. It’s literally a baby Lotus Elise. The steering is perfect. It’s just pure, unadulterated fun. And you can get one all day long for under $10,000. It’s probably the best fun-per-dollar car ever made, and most enthusiasts just walk right past it.
Fiat 124 Spider
Everyone buys the Miata. Which is great! But the Fiat 124 is basically a Miata in a prettier Italian suit with a turbocharged engine. It’s got more torque, it sounds different, it looks gorgeous. But because it’s a Fiat, people are scared of the reliability, so they just get the Mazda. But honestly, it’s a fantastic car. A used one is maybe $22,000? It’s a great alternative if you want to be a little different.
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Wait, hear me out! The Cobalt SS Turbo. This was a front-wheel-drive econobox that GM turned into a monster. It had more grip than a supercar at the time, and the turbocharged engine was tunable as heck. It was a giant-slayer. But because it’s a Chevy Cobalt, it gets zero respect. You can find a clean one for, like, $15,000 now. It’s a piece of American hot rod history that nobody talks about.
Honda S2000
Okay, I know, S2000 fans are cult-like. But in the mainstream sports car conversation, it’s often overlooked for something more comfortable. That VTEC engine, the 9,000-rpm redline… it’s an engine you have to work to get the power out of, and that’s the whole joy of it. It’s a demanding, rewarding car. Prices are climbing now, but you can still find them for around $30,000. It’s a future classic, for sure.
Lexus LC 500
This one gets lost because it’s a GT car, not a hardcore sports car. But oh my god. That 5.0L naturally aspirated V8. The sound it makes is just… glorious. It’s one of the best-sounding cars ever made. And it’s stunningly beautiful. It’s a car you drive for the drama and the sensation. A used one is still up there, maybe $75,000, but for that V8 symphony and that presence? It’s a work of art that people just don’t appreciate enough.
