These AWD sports cars are super cool, without the hefty price tag sometimes added to brilliant sports cars. More recent AWD sports cars, like the Jaguar F-Type and Audi RS5 are great, but they come with a massive price tag to match.
There are plenty of cheap AWD sports cars that are good value and are either able to use as soon as they are purchased, or can be great little sports cars for projects and for restorations. The list below will explore the cars which are perfect examples to fit this remit.
10 Subaru Impreza Turbo ($15,000)
The turbocharged Subaru Impreza WRX you see here marked the third generation of the Impreza. Launched in the early '90s, Subaru's turbocharged WRX was AWD were famous for their superb handling and acceleration.
The car is fast and enjoyed by enthusiasts. Prospective buyers should look out for high running costs for the vehicle though, as parts can be expensive and hard to source. Still, Subaru's AWD Impreza is worth its current low value due to its stability and road traction that many continue to enjoy.
9 Mitsubishi Galant ($14,000)
Mitsubishi's sixth generation of the Galant was released in 1987. The sixth-generation won Car of the Year in Japan in 1987. Being AWD, many applauded the Galant for its handling and steering capabilities. This generation also introduced the VR-4 variant which was used by Mitsubishi in the 1988-1990 World Rally Championships.
Also important alongside its AWD successes is the 4G63 2-liter engine that was turbocharged. The engine made the car powerful but the AWD stopped the car from running away with itself. Prices as of recent are great, considering the successes of the car despite there being less available as the Galant became too expensive to manufacture. The Galant's sixth generation is great for any enthusiast interested in AWD cars.
8 Audi S2 Coupe ($20,000)
The Audi S2 Coupe was released in 1991 and was the first car in the S range by Audi. Equipped with a five-cylinder turbo-engine, the car is highly powerful. The AWD Coupe replaced the Quattro, and also achieved 217bhp, with the updated version achieving 230bhp.
Despite its cheap prices nowadays, the parts are expensive to buy and they aren't easy to find either, so prospective buyers should watch out for this. Sadly, the S2 Coupe also didn't fully live up to the Quattro. However, the performance of the car can't be knocked and the S2 is truly a good AWD to buy for cheap today.
7 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Turbo ($18,000)
Following the 930 generation 911, there was some negative perception thanks to dangerous lift-off oversteer. Porsche rectified this by offering AWD on the fastest models (e.g. Turbo). With the 996 generation, the AWD option was extended to the more standard Carrera models.
The 996 was introduced in 1997, with precise driving being at the core of this Porsche. The AWD definitely enhances the precision of the vehicle, showing off its engineering feats. Brilliant build quality still comes through nowadays, despite some issues with the iron discs rusting frequently. Cheap because of the IMS bearing issue, leading to engine rebuilds, but if an enthusiast can get one with a good IMS, the vehicle is still a brilliant 911.
6 Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) ($25,000)
Nissan's Skyline GT-R R33 was the fourth generation in the Skyline family. The vehicle was almost exactly the same as the R32, with both vehicles sharing the same turbocharger. The R33 improved on the R32 however, with the oil pump issues being resolved.
The AWD was also used to add stability when driving, which was needed with its high-speed capability. Enthusiasts can tune the vehicles easily too, which is a great bonus point for those who enjoy modified vehicles. Also used on the track, the Skyline R33 is a great car to buy for cheap, especially when it has such great history attached to it.
5 Golf R32 ($14,000)
The Volkswagen Golf R32 (Mk4) was launched in 2003 and was very popular, much to the surprise of VW. Featuring brilliant performance levels and was built to be very safe. Deemed very powerful and sporty, the R32 was a genuine success in the early 2000s, especially with its V6 engines.
The AWD system in the car is great when the R32 is going at high speeds, even though there is a tiny bit of understeer that the driver can actually work well with. The car is available for a good price nowadays and is still just as good on the roads as it was almost 20-years ago.
4 Toyota Celica ST185 ($15,000)
The Toyota Celica ST185 was launched in 1988. The vehicle was held very highly among car enthusiasts. The ST185's mechanics have been praised, despite them being simply set up and engineered. Its AWD system offers a balanced power output, that helps the car remain stable.
The Celica was also homologated for racing, named the GT Four-RC. Still, the vehicle was suitable for everyday use when homologated. The AWD system really levels out the car and makes it a worthwhile purchase for enthusiasts looking for a cheaper car that still performs well.
3 Nissan Pulsar GTi-R ($12,000)
The Nissan Pulsar was launched in 1978, but the GTi-R version was launched in 1990. This version of the Pulsar was homologated for racing in Group A vehicles. The engine was a 2.0-liter turbo and was very powerful. The vehicle was AWD and was great when used for racing, but it wasn't very popular with consumers.
The vehicle, despite being unpopular, was able to make a strong statement on the market, especially with it rivaling vehicles like the Celica GT4. Despite not as powerful, the GTi-R is a great vehicle to buy for cheap nowadays with its stability and handling capabilities enhanced by the AWD system.
2 Mitsubishi Evo 6 ($12,000)
The Evo 6 was released in 1999. The vehicle had great steering capabilities despite some minor errors. The AWD system makes sure that the vehicle remains stable during driving around corners. A special edition Evo 6 was released called the 'Tommi Mäkinen Edition' that was used in racing. Named after Tommi Mäkinen himself, the car went on to win the World Rally Championship.
The car looks good too, with many praising its appearance. The car was very advanced for its time too, even despite some problems with the steering at the front every now and then. Buying one for cheap is great for a project, or for use if buyers can purchase a great one today.
1 Audi TT 225 Quattro (Mk1) ($8,000)
First revealed as a concept car in 1995, the Audi TT 225 Quattro (MK1) was launched in 1998. The vehicle had little changes added to it bu the time of launch, with enthusiasts loving it. Despite some safety problems, and they were bad safety problems - as Evo highlights problems of stability on the Autobahn, many still loved the car.
Purchases have always been good of the 225 Quattro, with its AWD system working alongside over 200bhp, there are plenty of reasons to buy this car... even more if a prospective buyer likes the vehicle's appearance. There are plenty of these available today, as sales remained large into the late 2000s. The only reason it's cheap is that the vehicle is fairly old and isn't hugely desirable yet, but it will be in the future.