Sports cars will always have a following, especially in popular culture in the United States. Younger drivers desire the excitement and sensation of a fast automobile. While older drivers want to relive their childhood, which is why domestically built muscle cars such as Mustangs are so widely popular. Simply put, there's an enduring yearning for power, speed, and that pleasing growl.

The Ford Mustang is one of the most popular automobiles in the performance coupe genre. While it appears to be a reliable vehicle, it still has to compete with a few other best-selling sports cars, such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Toyotas. The Mustang GT has always been a car designed solely for fans of American muscle, but Ford has recently invested in making it more nimble and enjoyable to drive. Therefore, it is not just one of the best muscle cars available worldwide, but also one of the best sports cars. It is, nonetheless, not the greatest car to drive around the crowd.

Used car costs have risen over the previous year because Covid-19 influenced the automotive supply chain. But buying a used automobile is now easier and less hazardous than ever before. Even when all the risks and drawbacks of buying a used automobile are considered, a few sports cars emerge as possibly better ways to spend money than a new Mustang.

10 2020 Dodge Challenger

2020 Dodge Challenger Promotional Shot In Orange
via Dodge

Personal preference has always been the deciding factor between the Challenger and the Mustang. The Dodge Charger wasn't the only moniker that Dodge brought back from the grave; the Dodge Challenger did the same just two years later. They based the Dodge Challenger on a smaller version of the architecture that underlies the Charger.

Yellow and Black 2020 Dodge Challenger 50th Anniversary Edition Car
Via: Dodge

The two charming muscle cars share many of the same components, including the 3.6-liter V6 engine that sits up front and produces a solid 303 hp. Even with a standard six-cylinder engine, it's still a lot of power.

Related: Here's What Makes The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye One Of The Best Muscle Cars Of 2020

9 2003 BMW M3 (E46)

2003-bmw-m3-e46
Flickr

Some believe that the BMW M3 of the E46 generation is the best M vehicle ever made. Its sleek, subtle appearance, paired with a world-class straight-six powertrain and meticulously calibrated chassis qualities, makes it a great joy to drive.

BMW M3 E46
Via Bring a Trailer

The S54, one of BMW's most recognizable engines, is housed under the hood. It has 3.2 liters and produces 333 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, and is based on the S50B32 straight-six seen in the Euro-model E36 M3. Drop-top E46 M3s are also less expensive than coupes on the used market, which is something to think about if you're looking to cut expenditures.

8 2000 Porsche 911 (996)

Via: bringatrailer.com

Porsche has classified the original Carrera 996 as a vintage car because it is over 20 years old. The early Porsche 996s are currently very affordable and a lot of fun to drive. The overblown technical issues put many consumers off, therefore prices are modest, even for good instances. It's a sports car bargain if you can get past the 996's headlamps.

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 996 Silver Rear

Many times, the Porsche 996 has been driven, battled, wrecked, disassembled, and reassembled. As a result, there is a wealth of information about the most typical mechanical issues that these vehicles encounter. As a result, sorting the good used 996 from the terrible should be possible.

7 2002 Nissan 350Z

2002-Nissan-350Z-001-1440
Via: wsupercars

It's difficult to go wrong with the 350Z if you're looking for a robust, two-seat, front-engine, reliable sports vehicle. They left Nissan fans with no options for a 2+2 sports car model after they discontinued the Z32 in 1996, especially in the United States.

stanced 2002 Nissan 350Z
Via fastlanecars.com

After several years of anticipation, Nissan revealed the swoopy 350Z in 2002, powered by a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 with 276 hp and a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.9 seconds. Later models had a jump to 307 hp, but they were all fantastic value for money. The Nissan society praised the award-winning design, and the aesthetic is still present in the 370Z today.

Related: Looking Back At The Nissan 350Z

6 2020 Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370z
Via Nissan USA

There's no denying that as vehicles become more technologically advanced, even the most simple vehicles become more complicated. The Nissan 370Z is a unique sports car that defies the trend. It has a direct-acting six-speed manual transmission and produces 332 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque.

2020-nissan-370z-in-red
via: Nissan

On the other hand, cars such as the Ford Mustang, which has a back seat and contemporary technology, operate like sports cars. The 2020 model of the 370Z is severely underrated due to the heavily crowded market competition from all over the world.

5 2020 Toyota Camry TRD

The New Toyota Camry TRD with white exterior and high performance.
Via: Toyota Press Kit

The 2020 Camry TRD, on the other contrary, is the first of Toyota's long-running mid-size sedans to be considered "sporty." The normal six-cylinder Camry XSE and XLE variants have the same 301-hp 3.5-liter V6 as the TRD.

A 2020 Toyota Camry TRD on the racetrack.
Via: Toyota Press Kit

You might even attract a few jealous stares at the drive-thru or supermarket parking lot because you're driving a TRD variant. Not to mention, this is now the cheapest way to get 300 hp in a new four-door sedan in the United States.

Related: Throttle House Races Japanese Economy Sedans: Camry TRD Vs Accord Vs Mazda6

4 2020 Chevrolet Camaro LS Coupe

2020 Chevrolet Camaro 1LS front
Via: youtube.com

Entry-level Chevy Camaros, like their pony car cousin, the Ford Mustang, now comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder motor. You'll pay several thousand dollars more than a regular Mustang, but you'll get a little more power and, perhaps, a more exciting thunderous tone in return.

2020 Chevrolet Camaro 1LS
Via: Chevrolet

The standard six-speed manual transmission is teamed with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that produces 335 horsepower. It is a true competitor to the Mustang GT.

3 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4

1994-Mitsubishi-3000GT-VR-4
via wikipedia

The Mitsubishi 3000GT's V6 is a fantastic engine that has been used in a variety of vehicles, including the Dodge Caravan and the Hyundai Sonata. The 6G7 was twin-turbocharged and produced 300 hp in the 3000GT VR-4.

1994-Mitsubishi-3000GT-VR-4
via bringatrailer

If you're hunting for one, keep in mind that the engine was available in two configurations: single overhead cam and dual overhead cam. Power is better with the DOHC, while reliability is better with the SOHC. Either way, the 3000GT was surely ahead of its time.

2 2017 Lexus IS 350

2017 Lexus IS350 F-Sport - Front Quarter
Lexus

While the IS has the appearance of a premium sports sedan thanks to muscular exterior design, its ride quality falls short in a segment that is currently, more than ever, dominated by fun-to-drive vehicles. It's safer, smarter, and more attractive to the eye while being reasonably priced and equipped.

2017 Lexus IS 350 rear
via Edmunds

The 3.5-liter V6 in the IS350 delivers 306 hp and 277 lb-ft. It has an automatic transmission with eight gears. The automatic transmission is quite ingenious, and there is plenty of drawing power.

1 1991 Nissan 300ZX

White 1991 Nissan 300ZX front
Via: Mecum

The aerodynamic gun turret on wheels of the 1990 "Z32" 300ZX was an aesthetic marvel. In the classic Nissan portfolio, we often ignore the 300ZX. It was recognized as the fast car that buried the Z badge until Nissan restored it with the 350Z. The Skyline GT-R outclassed it in its day. The Nissan 300ZX, on the other hand, had enormous power figures, matching the GT-R on paper with 276 hp, and it sent it all to the rear axle.

Related: Here's What We Love About The Nissan 300ZX

1991 Nissan 300ZX
via: Mecum

The 300ZX was harsh yet graceful, with the Skyline's Super HICAS active rear-wheel steering as standard, and its rejection at the time makes it a superb value buy now. The twin-turbo edition was lightning quick.'