13 Best Sports Cars Under $20,000

Words like cheap and sports cars don’t generally go together. Words like expensive, fast, and fun, do go together. For both enthusiasts and those who are just tempted to try one, there is nothing like driving a sports car on the road, on a track, or through twisting mountain roads. Sitting low to the road, fun to drive, sleek looking, and a certain something that makes you forget about everything else. Driving a sports car is an awesome way to spend a day! Sounds great right? Something you would like to do?

Like many, the word sports car conjures up the thought of huge price tags that are unfortunately out of reach. But, for those who want to buy a sports car but are on a more conservative budget, don’t fear, as there are sports cars on the market that are cheap and deliver the thrill that you would expect but, also won’t force you to sell all your other possessions or remortgage the house!

UPDATE: 2024/10/24

The used car market is stacked with sports car bargains. Therefore, we have refreshed this piece with updated prices and added three new models.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including classic.com. Models are arranged according to average used price, from the cheapest to the priciest.

13

Mazda MX-5 Miata NA

Average Used Price: $10,840

You may have guessed… the legendary Mazda MX-5 Miata NA. No list of sports cars that can be bought for under $20,000 would be complete without it. It is truly a driver’s car. Originally launched by Mazda in 1989, the Miata is everything that an affordable sports car should be. It is great looking, it is low, it can be driven quickly through corners, it is a dream to handle, it is quick enough where it matters and, it has a status within the sports car segment that we think is hard to shake.

Specifications

For years since the Miata was released, it has been hailed by driving enthusiasts for how well it performs on the road and the track. The MK1 is no exception. Instantly recognizable with its pop-up frog headlamps and round nose, the MK1 Miata features a front-engine layout and rear-wheel drive which made it a very drivable roadster that introduced so many people to the thrill of driving a sports car. The Miata still excites drivers today.

12

Toyota Celica

Average Used Price: $11,600

The Toyota Celica is a car that had been on the market from the early 1970s until the early 2000s. Originally developed to rival the American Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds, and Challengers, the original Celica was not only a huge success in the U.S. but, many blame its sales for the downturn in the US automotive market.

So, sorry to those enthusiasts of ’70s American muscle cars. Also, before anyone gets their hopes up that one of these original Celicas will be on the list of sports cars that can be bought for under $20,000, again, we are afraid that is not going to happen.

Performance Specifications

The later generations of the Celica do make it though, especially the last generation of the Celica, the 2005 model. With a low stance, aerodynamic lines, and, a good zippy engine, the Celica makes a fantastic roadster, maybe a little lacking in straight-line power but certainly a beast in the corners. Razor-sharp steering helps the Celica become a great country road buddy.

The GT base model boasts a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder dual-overhead camshaft engine that kicks out 140 horsepower whilst the GT-S features a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that produces 180 horsepower for that little extra burst of speed. Overall, an awesome little sports car that doesn’t leave drivers wanting when hitting the winding roads.

11

2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder

Average Used Price: $12,578

This is not the last Japanese sports car on the list we are afraid; they are just very, very good for what you pay for them. The 2000 Toyota MR2 is certainly no exception. The Toyota MR2 Spyder is an eye-catcher, boasting a sleek and sporty appearance that even in a world of modern, sleek, and beautiful sports cars, still can compete with its looks alone.

With its low-slung body and curvy rear, it’s got a classic sports car look, even better looking with the roof down. But it’s not just about the sporty looks though; the MR2 is a driving lover’s best friend.

Performance Specifications

Its mid-engine layout and rear-wheel drive setup give it superb handling which means it can be driven with confidence. Under the hood is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, packing a decent 138 horsepower. It’s not a speed demon, but it’s zippy enough for fun, especially in the corners. So, not perfect for straight-line power but fun and fantastic on a windy road.

10

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Average Used Price: $13,000

Sleek, low, great looking, comfortable and, fun to drive. Perfect for any sports car enthusiast. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is another example of a sports car that can be used for the more mundane, everyday tasks like going to the shops. It features a pretty good trunk space and, even has four seats. You can make your sporty ambitions a family hobby too!

Performance Specifications

With a few configurations (well, six configurations that feature either manual or automatic transmissions) that drivers can choose from, the Genesis Coupe has something for everyone. There are plenty of trims to choose from that are good for zipping around in the corners or are good for shear, brute-forward speed.

9

Acura Integra GS-R

Average Used Price: $14,931

The Acura Integra was a revelation when it hit the market in 1985 and, for a ‘more affordable sports car’, it still is today. Its features combine Japanese engineering prowess with a sleek and smooth ride. Powered by a 1.8-liter inline-four engine in every model of the 1996 range, horsepower ranges from a not-so-exciting 142 horsepower to a more respectable 170 horsepower.

Specifications

For such a good car to drive on twisty roads (thanks to its lightweight, only 2,480 pounds), minus a tiny bit of under-steer, which is okay if you want to make the tires smoke, it features a front-wheel-drive setup.

Yes, we know it isn’t the well-loved rear-wheel drive ‘sports car set up’ but it is up there with the likes of the Alfa Romeo GTV 3.2 and other great front-wheel drive sports cars. Though the Integra may not have the largest engine, the gutsiest production of horsepower, it is still an awesome car that can be bought for ‘not a lot of money’.

8

Infiniti G37 Coupe

Average Used Price: $15,179

Looking more like a sedan but with some sporty features, the Infiniti G37 Coupe is not only a little more luxurious than others on the list but also a good cross-over sports car with convenient little things like having four seats, even if they are a little wedged in.

When rolled out by Infiniti, there weren’t many cars that could work as a sports car and an ‘everyday car’ (if only said very conservatively). Exceptions are the Audi A5, though you do have to pay an Audi price tag for that.

Performance Specifications

It is not quite the hair-raising Nissan 350Z and, not quite a luxury sedan, a more middle-ground option that, depending on the driver’s day, can be driven fast and brashly or used to lounge about on the roads at a sensible pace. Whilst boasting a 3.7 liter V-6 engine, an all-wheel steering setup, a lower body than its predecessor (the G35), and semi-luxurious interior, the Infiniti G37 is a good sports car that can be bought for less than $20,000, especially if the buyer is looking to cross over from something ‘sensible’ to something a little more fun whilst keeping some sort of everyday usefulness.

7

2011 Mazda RX-8

Average Used Price: $16,614

Now we bring you the only car on our list with a Rotary Engine. Some would argue that they are more trouble than they are worth with their woeful economy, regular oil changes and checks… especially the oil checks, as they use more oil than other gasoline-powered cars when they run. But, we think it is worth it. What an engine (for high speed) and what a car!

Performance Specifications

The 2011 Mazda RX-8 is a unique-looking vehicle. Mazda has designed a car that has gradually gotten sleeker but stranger looking (certainly not in a bad way though) throughout the years. The low ride does help this car and gives it something truly positive to mention, the handling. Featuring a high revving, high hammering 1.3-liter rotary engine that can churn out 230 horsepower but only a slightly disappointing 159 pound-feet of torque, the jury is out for the RX-8.

Quite sluggish at low speeds, but when drivers get a chance to let it rip, it is worth the experience of bad low-end power. The power at the top end from a small engine is a real feat of unique engineering that we can all thank Mazda for.

6

Pontiac Solstice

Average Used Price: $16,596

The Pontiac Solstice is a sports car that enthusiasts and sports car lovers have argued about since it made its debut on the market in 2006 and, has unfortunately become largely forgotten. For its looks and its performance. Sporting a unique look – a long hood, curvaceous lines, a low scooped rounded nose, and a separated grille low to the road – the Solstice is certainly a head turner, though some would argue not for the right reasons!

Performance Specifications

With a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter engine sitting under the hood, which produces a modest 177 hp, the Solstice can be driven at a top seed of 155 miles per hour and reach 60 miles per hour in 7.2 seconds. It also features a characteristic sports car rear-wheel drive setup, which means that handling isn’t too shabby either.

So, not the quickest car and, arguably, not the prettiest to some, but, a good canyon companion and very unique. What else could an enthusiast ask from a sports car?

5

Scion FR-S

Average Used Price: $17,324

The Scion FR-S shared plenty with its sibling, the Subaru BRZ, including its high-revving 2.0-liter flat-four. It had all the ingredients of a fun sports car: a peppy engine, a playful chassis, and low weight. On a track, or a winding road, the Scion FR-S was a delight to drive. However, it lacked the practicality of a daily driver, lacking sufficient cargo space and featuring a drab interior.

Performance Specifications

However, as a fun sports car, it was all a driver could ask for. Toyota continually upgraded the Scion during its production run, tweaking the car to provide better feedback and handle better around corners. For instance, for 2015, the FS-R had recalibrated rear shocks and a stiffer front suspension designed to reduce body roll and enhance stability. 2016 was the final year for the FS-R, replaced by the Toyota 86 from the 2017 model year.

4

Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4

Average Used Price: $19,376

Featuring a robust but precise, almost futuristic look, sleek and smooth lines, a road-clinging stance, pop-up headlights that, when raised, give other road users the false impression that it is not a beast of a car, and, front and rear spoilers to keep the car stuck to the tarmac at speed, the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 is a driving lover’s sports car.

Performance Specifications

Boasting a 3-liter V-6 engine that can churn out 324 horsepower, the 3000GT is not only quick to reach speeds of 60 miles-per-hour, but features four-wheel steering and adaptive suspension, meaning crisp and precise handling on the track and windy roads. When it was released in 1994, it was way ahead of its time and, though it may seem comparatively a little old hat in the modern era, it is still an absolute gem to drive, look at, and be in.

Of course, other manufacturers caught up with designs, but we like to think of this as a real trailblazer of its day that should still be cherished today. For a sports car that can be purchased for less than $20,000, it is amazing what you get for what you pay!

3

2010 Nissan 370Z

Average Used Price: $19,818

370Z was the moniker given to the sixth generation of Nissan’s Z car. It debuted as a coupe for the 2009 model year; the convertible model was introduced the following year. On paper, the Nissan 370Z had the ingredients to succeed: a 3.7-liter V-6 upfront, low weight, and a nimble chassis all wrapped in gorgeous sheet metal. The engine paired with a standard six-speed stick shift or an available seven-speed slushbox.

Performance Specifications

The V-6 was the 370Z’s not-so-secret weapon. Shared with the Infiniti G37, it produced 332 horsepower, 26 more than the 350Z’s power unit, and sat closer to the ground. The extra grunt provided mighty impressive acceleration times; the affordable 370Z hit 60 MPH from zero a smidge behind the pricier Porsche Cayman S. Thanks to its majestic performance, the drawbacks – a lackluster interior in lower models and considerable road noise – were easy to ignore.

2

Chevrolet Camaro (4th Generation)

Average Used Price: $19,876

We know what you are thinking, a Chevrolet Camaro is a muscle car, not a sports car. But, for the fact that when Chevrolet released the 4th Generation F-body Camaro, they finally upgraded the steering from recirculating ball, sector-gear steering boxes to rack-and-pinion steering (like so many of their competitors had already done). The steering was improved tenfold and gave the Camaro a needed improvement through the corners which still makes it a great, cheaper sports car today.

Performance Specifications

It features the 5.7-liter LT1 V-8 engine which produces, a tame for today’s standard but still fun, 285 horsepower. Drivers who fancy a 1993 4th Gen Camaro can expect to hit 0 – 60 mph times in around 6.5 seconds. Along with the improved steering, the 4th Gen Camaro gives enthusiasts a nice mix of grunting power and something that feels a little sportier around bends. A good mix we’d say!

1

2018 Fiat 124 Spider

Average Used Price: $20,000

The Fiat 124 Spider’s connection to the venerated Mazda MX5 should give you a hint as to its sporty nature. However, the Fiat 124 Spider carves its own identity, featuring unique suspension settings, a turbocharged Fiat mill, and a plusher interior. It is also arguably more handsome than the Miata. Hidden under the 124 Spider’s long hood is a 1.4-liter engine producing 160 or 164 horsepower, depending on the trim.

Performance Specifications

The Fiat 124 is not a one-trick pony, as the convertible’s characteristics change depending on the variant. Classica, the base trim, offers a plush ride, 16-inch wheels, and independent front and rear suspension. Lusso, with its 17-inch premium wheels, is sportier than the Classica, but not as hardcore as the Abarth variant. The Abarth Fiat 124 boasts performance and visual enhancements, including a sport-tuned exhaust, Bilstein shocks, and 17-inch gunmetal wheels.