The CoPilot’s Return to Normal Index Report for July 2022 showed that used cars are fetching $10,046 or 43% more than their projected normal levels. That means that the average used car listing is now $33,341, a new all-time high for the index and 43% higher than before the COVID pandemic. It indicates that dealers are holding out for record profits from high prices driven by economic headwinds like inflation, fuel prices, and higher interest rates. The continued inventory shortage in the new car market isn’t helping either.
But if you know where to look, you can land a favorable deal and drive home in a bargain used car. You have to put in the work. Forget the comfort of your local dealership because they are out to squeeze high profits from you and plunge into the unpredictable arena that is the internet. Maybe start with Craigslist, where you get to connect directly with the car owners. Alternatively, you can scour through eBay and scout for bargains, and you will find everything from project car shells to those in perfect running condition. Here are the most powerful cars you can buy on eBay for less than $10,000.
10 Toyota MR2
Toyota’s only mid-engined offering is one of the most underrated sports cars you can buy on the used car market. It isn’t the most gorgeous choice, but it is a surprisingly good buy—a two-door, two-seater Spyder with a classic mid-engine layout giving an excellent driving experience. Toyota produced the MR2 from 1986 to 2007, and today, you can find drivable examples on eBay for less than $10,000.
The 200-hp Turbo option might be outside the budget, but there was a supercharged version making 145 hp. It doesn’t sound much, but considering the lightweight package, the MR2 can sprint to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds.
9 Subaru WRX
New Subaru WRX cars might not be full-blown rally cars, but the original WRX and WRX STI made a name for themselves in the World Rally Championship, the pinnacle of rallying. It all started when Subaru took the Impreza racing and gave it the World Rally eXperimental nameplate. Thanks to Homologation regulations, regular drivers could buy a road-going car that was practically a race car.
Sadly, Subaru hasn’t featured in the WRX since 2008. But WRX cars are still running around and are dirt cheap, with plenty of examples fetching less than $10k on eBay. The cars produce over 300 hp from a tiny 2.5-liter boxer-four engine.
8 Audi S4
The 2022 Audi S4 has a turbocharged V6 engine that provides 349 ponies for brisk acceleration. A few models ago, the S4 came with a bigger 4.2-liter V8 in a package that could quickly move along with a four-cylinder engine. It delivered 340 ponies of naturally aspirated power and could launch to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds.
You can buy a used 2005 Audi S4 Quattro Convertible and enjoy the power of that V8 and Audi's trusted AWD system for as little as $9,000.
7 Chevrolet Suburban
The Suburban nameplate is a mainstay in the General Motors stable, dating back to the 1935 Chevrolet Carryall Suburban. It is the longest continuously used nameplate still in production. Ninth and tenth-generation models in the 2000s featured massive V8 engines ranging from 5.2-liter to 6.2-liter. Also, they are very cheap on eBay; you can own one with a budget under $10,000.
If you are looking for a powerful 4WD SUV with seating for eight and towing ability all for a song, then the Chevy Suburban is a safe bet. A 2006 example with 181,000 miles on the odometer sold for $5,000.
6 Pontiac Trans Am
Pontiac used to flex their muscle with the GTO before new emission regulations came into play and the oil crisis killed the performance cars of the '60s. The Trans Am was their answer to the Ford and Dodge cars, and today it is a true American icon producing many memorable models between 1969 and 2002. The best performing version came in the last and 2002 as the Trans AM WS6, which pushes 325 hp from the 5.7-liter LS1 V8.
These cars are cheap despite their iconic status, and you can find examples whose bids open at $5,000 on eBay.
5 2004 Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG
In 2005, you needed to fork out about $111,000 to drive away in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG before adding options. Chances are, you wouldn’t be cursing at the Germans for conning you while cruising in top-class comfort and propelled by 493 hp from the AMG-tuned 5.4-liter V8 mill under the hood.
Undoubtedly, this high-performance car with more dramatic styling than its regular siblings was a car for deep-pocket individuals. But, today, you can have a used example for the price of a used Toyota Prius. Clean 2002-2005 models go for as little as $8,900 on eBay.
4 1990 Ford Mustang LX
Third Generation Ford Mustang cars came with the Fox Body platform earning them the famous name. Ford produced these cars between 1979 and 1993, and they were the cheapest V8-powered Mustang cars money could buy. They’ve just started gaining value with more and more people willing to pay significant amounts, for example, in good condition.
But, some are still cheap, like the 1990 Ford Mustang LX or this clean 1988 Mustang GT convertible which you can reserve for less than $10,000 on eBay.
3 Mercedes-Benz S600
The S-Class is Mercedes-Benz’s top-of-the-line model, first introduced in 1972 as the W116. Since then, it has defined expressive design, first-class comfort, and innovative safety technology from the German automaker. But, while buying these cars while brand-new demands six figures, they depreciate fast because they are luxury cars, costly to maintain, and owners lease them out a lot. So when they hit the used car market, the sellers are eager to get any price just to get them off their hands.
Our search on eBay led us to several models asking for less than $10,000, which is a bargain for a 5.5-liter V12 car pushing 510 hp.
2 Cadillac CTS
The last generation Cadillac CTS-V cars were serious American sleeper cars featuring Corvette Z06-derived supercharged V8 engines plundering over 600 ponies. For a while, the CTS name was General Motors’ standard featuring crisp, sharp lines and an aggressive stance. Even the lower-tier CTS cars produced up to 304 hp from the 3.6-liter V6 motor, which offered a good balance of refinement and performance.
Early 2000s cars are dirt cheap on eBay, going for less than $5,000. Early 2010s models are also available for under $10,000, which is excellent value per pony.
1 BMW M3 E46
The BMW M3 was born out of a great desire to obliterate rivals on the racetrack and became the most remarkable German car featured in motorsport. It defines the essence of BMW as a performance brand. Many gearheads revere the inaugural model, the E30, although it is the least powerful and smallest.
But with an open mind, there are other generations worth a look at. There are running examples of the E36 built between 96 and 99 and the E46 model of the early 2000s listed below $10,000 on eBay.