10 Cheap Used Sports Cars

If you're looking to have a good time behind the wheel on a budget, a cheap used sports car is a good bet. Every time a new sports car is introduced, the models that came before it fall a little bit farther down the depreciation spiral, which is great news for anyone seeking a fun to drive cheap used sports car to park in their garage. Whether you're seeking something nimble and fun with a top that goes down, or a higher horsepower vehicle that offers exceptional acceleration to go with its affordable pricing, you might be surprised by the number of options that are out there to satisfy your performance car jones.

Let's take a quick look at 10 cheap used sports cars you can buy right now.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has become for many the default answer when pondering the cheap used sports car question. The latest generation MX-5 Miata features a 167 horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can be mated to a six-speed manual (highly recommended) or six-speed automatic (not quite as fun) transmission. Throw in the availability of a power retractable hardtop and the Club trim (which installs stickier rubber, an aero package, a stiffer suspension system, and 17-inch rims), and you've got an appealing open-air roadster for very little money on the used market.

2. Pontiac Solstice

The Pontiac Solstice may have lived too short a season before the automaker was closed due to GM's bankruptcy back in 2009, but for four glorious model years this two-seat roadster (and very rare coupe model) provided an intriguing sports car option. Base Solstices were motivated by a 177 horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, but savvy shoppers should seek out the Solstice GXP with its 260 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that's also good for 260 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices for the Solstice include a five-speed manual and a five-speed automatic, and the GXP's Club Sport package adds a stiffer suspension system for better roadholding.

3. Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang has long been known for its muscle car reputation, but modern versions - especially those built after 2005 - provide more than their share of sporty driving thanks to improved chassis design and a renewed focus on drivetrain development. Special Ford Mustang models abound, but to keep things cheap enough for this list you'll want to look for a Mustang GT from 2011-2014 that offers optional equipment such as Brembo brakes, an aggressive rear end gearing ratio, and upgraded suspension. The GT also features a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that grinds out 412 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, shifted through either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

4. Honda S2000

The Honda S2000 is another discontinued vehicle, but that hasn't cooled the interest of enthusiasts seeking a cheap used sports car. In many ways a 'weaponized' take on the Miata concept, the Honda S200 offers two seats, an open top, and more powerful engine than its Japanese competitor (although it's saddled with a heavier curb weight, too). Early cars - those built from 2000 to 2003 - offer a peaky 2,0-liter four-cylinder engine that made 240 horsepower at 9,000 rpm. while 2004-2009 editions of the Honda stepped up to a 2.2-liter four-cylinder that didn't rev quite as high but improved daily drivability (and produced the same output). A six-speed manual gearbox comes with every used Honda S2000.

5. Mazda RX-8

The Mazda RX-8 is an unusual cheap used sports car in more ways that one. The Mazda RX-8's rear half-doors complement its front pair of entry points to make it that much easier to access the back seat, giving the car a certain day-to-day practicality not typically found in coupes. The RX-8 also features a 1.3-liter rotary engine good for 232 horsepower when equipped with its six-speed manual transmission (and somewhat less in six-speed automatic trim). Like the S2000, the manual RX-8 spins up to 9,000 rpm, but unlike its Honda rival it doesn't have the same reputation for reliability. Buyer beware, but there's affordable fun to be had if you can locate a well-maintained example of this Mazda.

Photo by Mazda

6.  Chevrolet Corvette

You'll have to go back to the early 2000s to find a cheap used Chevrolet Corvette, but the C5 edition of America's longest-running sports car perfectly marries modern appeal with affordable pricing. Look for 2000 to 2004 editions of the Chevrolet Corvette to maximize bang for the buck, as these vehicles featured the choice between six-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions, coupe and convertible body styles, and a standard 5.7-liter, 345 horsepower V-8 engine. If you've got a bit more money to spend, there's also the Corvette Z06 that dropped in a 405 horsepower, 5.7-liter LS6 V-8 from 2002-2004 (with 2001's Z06 featuring 385 horsepower) along with an aluminum chassis for weight savings.

7.  Toyota MR-S

The Toyota MR-S (or MR Spyder) was a short-lived attempt at recapturing the performance spirits of the 90s-era MR2 that ended in 2005. Convertible-only, this diminutive roadster is certainly chuckable through the corners, and it also offers a mid-mounted, four-cylinder engine that makes for interesting driving dynamics. Power is modest, with its 1.8-liter mill limited to 138 ponies, but an available five-speed manual gearbox makes the most of what's there. The biggest knock against the Toyota MR-S has always been its plain styling, although if your driving it, you don't have to look at it.

8. Nissan 350Z

The Nissan 350Z marked the return of the performance-friendly brand to the sports car space in the United States after a few years hiatus, and it was an auspicious homecoming to say the least. The Nissan 350Z's standard 3.5-liter V-6 is good for between 287 and 300 horsepower, depending on model year and options, and it can be found yoked to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. Performance upgrades abounded for the 350Z, which means you can find versions of the car equipped with Brembo brakes and a stiffer chassis (in the NISMO edition), but if you prefer more relaxed sports car motoring then a roadster edition of the Nissan was offered until 2009 (one year longer than the 2003-2008 coupe).

9. BMW M3

The BMW M3 has typically been the province of well-to-do sports car fans, but the E46 generation of this used two-door coupe has fallen in price to the point where almost any enthusiast can afford to park one in the driveway. Available between 2001 and 2006, and also sold in convertible form, the E46 BMW M3 comes out of the gate with a 3.2-liter, inline six-cylinder engine that produces 333 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, which in a perfect world is corralled by a six-speed manual transmission. BMW also sold this version of the M3 with a sequential automated manual gearbox called SMG, but it's not know for being particularly reliable or smooth to drive unless you are pushing the car hard on a track.

10. Porsche Boxster

The Porsche Boxster is another luxury icon that has dipped into the cheap used sports car segment thanks to the march of time. Our recommendation is to pick up a 2005 or newer used Boxster, as these models avoid the IMS bearing issue that plagues some of the older Porsches. We'd also opt for the Boxster S due to its 258 horsepower, 3.2 liter flat-six engine (a unit that was upgraded to 295 horses and 3.4 liters in 2007), which is a worthwhile boost over the base 2.7-liter version of the car. A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the Porsche, but the vehicle's available six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox is even quicker at swapping cogs.