Many motoring enthusiasts dream of owning a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, or Maserati. Sadly, this is a dream which probably won’t materialize for 99% of us. Fortunately, there are other cars out there on the second-hand market which cost a fraction of the price of one of our dream cars.
Some cars on the used market are still quite expensive – especially the newer models – but if you look for ten or even twenty-year-old cars, they can be purchased for quite cheap – some falling in below the $10,000 mark. One segment of the market which is popular among enthusiasts is that of the coupe – already built to be sportier than its sedan siblings. There are many models to choose from, starting with pretty horrendous models such as the Ford Focus Coupe and continuing to more luxurious cars like the Cadillac Eldorado and Lexus SC. For $10,000, one could even get an Audi A5 V6, BMW 330Ci, or a Dodge Challenger SE. They are not quite the best versions of their respective models but are still able to put a smile on our faces.
So, while supercars and hypercars are completely out of reach for most enthusiasts, there are much cheaper alternatives to have some fun with while we dream about those exotic vehicles. Here are the top 10 coolest coupes available on the used car market for less than $10,000.
10 2001 BMW 330Ci ($4,500)
The BMW E46 330Ci coupe is one of the best ways to have sports-car fun in a more luxury-orientated sport coupe. The top-spec M3 is a bit on the expensive side, but the 330Ci offers all the luxuries one would need. The 330Ci was fitted with a 3.0-liter straight-6 which produced 225 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. The engine was mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic.
For the North American market (the US and Canada), the 330i sedan and 330Ci coupe could be optioned with the ZHP package, which added sportier camshafts, better-tuned suspension, a heavy-duty steering rack, and a lowered ride height. These modifications boosted power to 235 hp and resulted in a 0-60 mph time of just 5.6 seconds.
9 1994 Lexus SC300 ($4,500)
The first-generation Lexus SC was designed to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CL, Buick Riviera, Cadillac Eldorado, Jaguar XJS, Maserati Shamal, and Ferrari 456. It was available with the great 4.0-liter Toyota 1UZ-FE V8, but the more interesting model was fitted with a non-turbocharged version of the 3.0-liter 2JZ.
The SC 300 produced 225 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque – around 5 hp more than the equivalent Toyota Supra on which the SC was based. While the Supra was the sportier option, the SC was a more luxurious approach to the market. Not to mention reliable.
8 1997 Cadillac Eldorado Touring ($6,000)
The last generation Cadillac Eldorado was produced between 1992 and 2002 and was based on the same platform as the Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. This meant it was front-wheel-drive only, but at least featured a V8 engine.
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The Eldorado was one of the most luxurious American cars on the market, producing either 200 hp from the older V8 or almost 300 hp from the new Northstar V8 – one of the best V8 engines GM ever created.
7 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 ($6,000)
The C209 Mercedes-Benz CLK is one of the best luxurious coupes on the second-hand market. Available with engines as small as a 1.8-liter inline-4, all the way to a massive 6.2-liter V8, and many more in-between, there is a trim level and engine for everyone.
The top specification, before the proper AMG versions, was the CLK500. It was fitted with a smooth 5.0-liter V8 – later upgraded to a 5.5-liter and called the CLK550 in the US – which produced between 302 and 385 hp. It was fitted with a brilliant 5-speed automatic, which was updated to a 7-speed in 2005.
6 2004 Mazda RX-8 ($6,500)
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The Mazda RX-8 was the successor to the legendary RX-7, but with a more practical approach to the sports car. Many fans disliked the shape and the compromises, while others loved it. As is the tradition with Mazda RX cars, the RX-8 is fitted with a twin-rotor Wankel engine, displacing 1.3 liters, and producing 191 hp. Unlike the RX-7, the RX-8 was naturally aspirated, as opposed to twin-turbocharged.
There were many versions of the RX-8, with the R3 version being among the best as Mazda had fixed some of the issues with the engine and improved the styling and suspension. The North American version of the RX-8 produced 232 hp, thanks to some factory tuning and the application of the 6-speed manual transmission.
5 2010 BMW 128i ($10,000)
The BMW 1-Series Coupe E82 was the smallest car BMW produced. It was based on the E81/E87 hatchback, but with a more appealing body and more exciting engines. The base model in the US was the 128i, which was fitted with a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-6, producing 228 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque.
The 128i was available with a 6-speed manual transmission after the model was facelifted in 2011. Surprisingly, the automatic models below the 135i used GM transmissions instead of ZF units, namely the GM 6L45 and GM 6L50. The 1-Series is a great little pocket rocket, either for daily driving, or thrashing around a track.
4 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe ($9,500)
The Infinity G37 Coupe was the more practical and luxurious version of the Nissan 370Z. The Infiniti was fitted with the same 3.7-liter V6, producing 328 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The standard gearbox choice was a 7-speed automatic, however, there was an optional 6-speed manual.
The G37 – along with its cousin, the 370Z – is revered within the automotive community for being reliable, fuel-efficient, durable, and for its tunability. The VQ V6 engines have been brilliant, but they have now officially been replaced by the newer, even better VR range of V6s.
3 2011 Dodge Challenger SE ($10,000)
The current Dodge Challenger was reintroduced in 2008 and had a few trims to choose from. One of them was the Challenger SE – now called the SXT – and was fitted with a 3.5-liter V6, but was almost immediately updated to the current 3.6-liter Pentastar V6.
The Challenger SE produced 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque, going to the rear wheels only via a 5-speed automatic. Luckily, Dodge updated the transmission choices, as the initial option was a 4-speed from 1989. The Challenger is the last of the American muscle cars to still look like a proper muscle car, with its squareness and flat front. Quite reminiscent of the original Challenger.
2 2008 Audi A5 3.2 Quattro ($10,000)
The Audi A5 was the coupe version of the popular A4 sedan – which later got a Sportback 4-door version. The A5 had a range of engine choices, from a 1.8-liter turbo to their mighty 4.2-liter V8. The mid-range version, before the S and RS versions, was the 3.2 Quattro.
The 3.2 Quattro produced 260 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque from its naturally aspirated V6, mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic. The A5 is a fantastic vehicle to enjoy driving along the coast with, especially if one goes for the convertible.
1 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG ($10,000)
This is probably one of the best value-for-money coupes currently on the used car market for around $10,000. It is a bit on the older side, but the trade-off is worth it. The CLK55 AMG was the top-of-the-range trim during the C208’s production run – apart from the CLK GTR supercar of course.
The CLK55 AMG was fitted with a 5.4-liter naturally aspirated V8, which produced 362 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to the rear wheels only via a 5-speed automatic – the same one used in the V12 S-Class. The CLK55 AMG is a fantastic used option, with a durable and reliable V8 – easily capable of keeping up with modern sports cars.