10 Sports Cars That Hold Their Value

2016 Porsche Panamera hero front angle shot ・ Photo by Porsche

At some point, we all dream of going fast. Few things are as exciting as cars that give you goosebumps with their performance, not to mention those gorgeous looks. But of course, for the good of our credit scores, the sensible sides must be considered as well. One of the ways to determine whether a sports car is a reasonable purchase is to examine its resale value. If you’re able to recoup a significant amount down the line, it’s easier to enjoy sports car thrills while you have it. Some cars struggle with retaining their value, while others have made it a calling card. Find out which may be your next sensible sports car right here.

Audi TTS

There’s a lot lying under the enticing curves of the Audi TTS. For one thing, this higher-performance variant of the TT is the best version yet. For another, its bump up to 292 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft of torque are enough to satisfy a new level of TT buyer. To come back around to the looks, the lovely shape and aggressive add-ons preserve a look unique even among sports cars. It should be no surprise, then, that the TTS is expected to hold its value extremely well down the line. Audi vehicles in general have strong resell value — particularly performance models like the S6 or RS7. Add the TTS to that list.

Photo by Audi

Cadillac ATS-V

Cadillac has struggled with the ATS coupe and sedan, even when it comes to resale value. But hey, slap a turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 with 464 horsepower and 445 lb.-ft of torque in that baby and it’s a different story. The ATS-V holds its value extremely well, considering it’s priced from a rather high $60,000 mark. Strong performance, attention to fit and finish, and the chance to own something new and unique make the ATS-V a hot commodity. This may be the most successful vehicle in Cadillac’s effort to steal attention from its European counterparts. It’s a great car in its own right, boasting that magnificent engine and an innovative 8-speed automatic transmission.

Photo by Cadillac

Chevrolet Camaro SS

Let’s get real: you buy a Chevrolet Camaro SS for one reason and one reason only. Under the hood lies an American-as-apple-pie 6.2-liter V8 engine with 455 horsepower and 455 lb.-ft of torque. The interior may have come a long way in recent years, but people flock to the Camaro for its muscle. Always have, always will, and it drives the Camaro’s impressive resale value. You can have all that thrust starting from about $37,000, which would have been unthinkable even a few years ago. High value off the lot, combined with with demand on the used market, and the Camaro SS is a classic example of sports cars that hold their value.

Photo by Chevrolet

Chevrolet Corvette

Undercutting every single direct competitor with a vengeance, the Chevrolet C7 Corvette comes with an obvious advantage in the resale value category. What has always been a powerful muscle car is now a bona fide track star and borderline luxury car, as well. When you bring that kind of performance to the $60,000 price segment, sometimes one-half or even one-third the price of offerings from Porsche and Ferrari, the used market will be kind. This rings true for the base Corvette Stingray, the sharper Corvette Grand Sport, and the mighty Corvette Z06 alike. Chevrolet struck gold with its newest halo vehicle, and owners can feel confident they’ll do the same.

Photo by Chevrolet

Ford Focus ST

It’s hard to imagine more performance in an affordable package than the Ford Focus ST. The aggressive hatchback stuffs 252 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft of torque into a zippy rally-inspired setup with a 6-speed manual transmission — sounds like the stuff of legend, especially with a price tag barely topping $25,000. It’s no wonder the Focus ST is finding resale value success. In fact, most Ford performance models do, from the smaller Fiesta ST to the indomitable SVT Raptor pickup. The Focus ST is a standout, though, and with a little TLC should hold its value extremely well into the future.

Photo by Ford

Ford Mustang GT

Along with its eternal counterpart, the Chevrolet Camaro SS, the Ford Mustang GT traditionally holds its value very well after leaving the dealer lot. For one thing, it’s an established classic, with inspired styling and the 5.0-liter V8 engine beloved for generations now packing 435 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft of torque. For another, the Mustang now comes fully modernized with a well-appointed cabin and independent rear suspension. All this starting just a touch under $33,000 and, frankly, the price doesn’t have much room to drop on the used market. Mustangs will always be in demand, and in this era of affordable performance, it’s more coveted than ever.

Photo by Ford

Lexus RC

Faced with the tall task of taking on the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Lexus RC has provided a stylish and efficient alternative. Top to bottom, is it as good as the BMW or the Merc? That’s up for debate. But when you wear the Lexus badge, your resale value shoots to the moon (just ask the IS or GS). Whether opting for the 32 MPG RC 200t, the gutsier V6 in the RC 300, or the 306-horsepower RC 350, the price tag is likely to start in the low-to-mid $40,000 range. An attractive sticker for a sultry luxury silhouette, no doubt, which carries over seamlessly to the used market.

Photo by Lexus

Porsche Panamera

Their sticker price and options list may raise some well-coiffed eyebrows, but on the whole, Porsche makes relatively worry-free luxury performance cars. Apply that standard to a vehicle as unique, versatile, and athletic as the Panamera and you have a recipe for resale value success. Base models chime in at just $78,000, which provides an astounding level of comfort and quality for the price. Option your Panamera wisely and you could make a substantial amount of your investment back on the resale market. For 2017, a second-generation Panamera will reach dealer lots, with improvements across the board that not only provide inherent value on each car but strengthen the brand name on the whole, as well.

Photo by Porsche

Subaru WRX

For aggressive styling and performance right out of the box, few sedans can compete with the Subaru WRX. There are strong contenders, from the Toyota 86 to the Honda Civic Si, but only the WRX offers all-wheel drive straight away. Add to that its attractive pricing and the WRX sets a standard that’s extremely difficult to topple. Perhaps that explains why the WRX holds one of the best resale value ratings across the industry, offering impressive returns on its 268-horsepower setup from just under $27,000. Up-level trims are also strong buys, even including the 305-horsepower WRX STi in the $35,000 range. For 4-door performance, the WRX offers low investment and high resale that simply can’t be beat.

Photo by Subaru

Tesla Model S

Despite all of its troubles, foibles, and all-out controversies, people still can’t get enough of the Tesla Model S. It’s easy to see why. Even with one challenge after another, strip away the headlines and the Model S is still a drop-dead gorgeous all-electric sedan with remarkable performance. Four years after its debut, it still has no direct competition, and constant updates keep each model on the cutting edge. Reports indicate that Tesla owners find strong demand on the resale market, and likely will for a long time. Tesla simply has an independent tech spirit associated with it, and the Model S is the manifestation of that image. That’s worth something to the used market, and will keep Tesla value high for the foreseeable future.

Photo by Tesla