The truth about many of the supercars that we talk about here is that they're so wildly overpriced that literally less than 1% of are going to own some of them. That shouldn't stop you from trying though, because as the saying goes, shoot for the moon and you'll land among the stars. Despite the lack of astrological knowledge demonstrated by the originator of that saying, the spirit of it holds true.
Today we look at 15 cars you can buy right now for less than $30,000. I promise you that a few of these will completely shock you. I know that I've had to resist shopping so that I can finish this article. These are cars that will almost all appreciate in value, or at least that's what you can tell your significant other.
15 Porsche 911
You want reliable? How about classy? Instantly recognizable? The 911 is all of those things wrapped up into one. When you roll up anywhere in a clean and well cared for 911, others will think you're worth far more than you really need to keep one of these in your stable. For this price, all kinds are available too.
14 Aston Martin DB7
The DB7 was one of the last Astons made while they were owned by Ford. That's not a bad thing really, though. The engines are highly reliable and the looks are still all Aston. Yes, you won't get the same attention as some of the newer cars but they're inexpensive in comparison and truly special.
13 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Yes, you can really find these for under $30,000. I didn't believe it either. The V12 will cost you more than that usually, but the V8 is still outstanding - and there's no doubt that it's a gorgeous car in every way. As Doug Demuro can tell you, they're reliable too!
12 Aston Martin Vanquish
Well, the one in the photo won't be available for $30k but the V12 Vanquish is found under $25k. This is the James Bond car guys. It's a proper V12 and it looks absolutely dynamite. There's no denying that for the money it's a special car.
11 Morgan Roadster
The Roadster is a proper old-school cool car. You won't find a newer one under our budget but older ones are available all over the place and there's nothing like it out there. Made in part with wood and all by hand, the Morgan is a car for a connoisseur.
10 TVR Chimaera
Every time I see a TVR I'm just chuffed. The Chimaera is the best TVR available to us in America today. They're V8, incredibly rare and unique. They're stunning too. They led to the Cerbera that will be legal in just a couple years and they look nearly as good. I live near a guy with one and I'm always trying to get him to let me borrow it.
9 Toyota Supra
Finding a turbo model might be a bit touchy but the NA variant is easy for this money. No matter what is under the hood there's no question about what a delightful thing this is to look at. To this day time kind of stops when we see these in traffic doesn't it.
8 Lancia Fulvia
Who doesn't love a good Lancia? The Fulvia shown here is demonstrating its rally pedigree. The streetcars you can buy today are so very fetching. They're classic and cool too. Anyone rolling up in one is a star.
7 Toyota Celica
I would imagine that most modern enthusiasts don't know much if anything about this old Celica. In 67' Toyota knew that they could eat up some sales from Ford if they'd bring a similar-looking car to market. So if you're thinking that you see some Mustang here you're right. It's rarer than the Mustang though and far more pretty where the pony is just a big brute. Not that either is bad.
6 Jaguar F-Type
Probably the sexiest car Jaguar has made in the last 40 years, the F-Type sounds amazing. It handles exceptionally well too. This is the modern date night car for someone who doesn't want to be taking their car to the shop constantly.
5 Maserati Gran Turismo
Maserati isn't wildly known for reliability but just behold what a devilishly arresting car. If you haven't heard one then you're in for a treat too. They sound as good as they look. They're comfortable going across the country too. It's from the country of passion to boot.
4 Mazda RX-7
Japan really knew how to make timeless cars in the '90s didn't they? The FD RX-7 is particularly breathtaking. Every line flows beautifully. The front end looks like nothing else on the road. The back end has a lightbar that is recognizable even today.
3 1969 Corvette
Corvettes have been bland and beautiful but to find a lovely one under our budget, this is the one. The 69 car had such unique styling. The gills, the huge fender arches, and the short wheelbase was a combination that didn't last for long. If you want American, this is the one for you.
2 Sunbeam Tiger
The Tiger is an unsung hero. It's smashingly beautiful and the project that led to the Shelby Cobra too. Shelby, who was a major part of the development of this car actually once said: "Why buy a Cobra when you can afford a Tiger?" I quite agree, Carroll, and I bet our readers do too.
1 Volvo P1800
If your parents showed you the old show "The Saint", then this car will be familiar to you. The P1800 is a niche car that very few people seem to know about today but just look at the bloody thing. It's a vixen, isn't it? A Vixen in a red dress in this case.