Cars have always been a symbol of money and status since the 1900s. When automobiles became available to the general public, they were so rare and expensive that only the rich and powerful owned them. Fast forward to today, and almost everyone can afford a car, even if it means buying the worst one in the used car market.
However, even if cars are more affordable than ever, there's still a sense of wealth and status tied to certain vehicles. The luxury car market has grown significantly, leaving us with cars that are way better than the rest in terms of looks, performance, and technology. Luxury cars typically have six or even seven-figure price tags, but not all the time. Let's explore ten awesome cars that look expensive but are surprisingly affordable.
10 2000 Aston Martin DB7
Aston Martin doesn't make cheap cars, but it attempted to do so in the early '90s when it introduced the DB7 - and successfully so. The DB7 was the entry-level Aston at its introduction, and it soon overtook all its predecessors to become the highest-produced Aston ever, with over 7,000 examples produced over a 10-year production run.
Despite being 'cheap,' the DB7 was one of the most powerful cars of the '90s, especially the version with a 5.9-liter V12 cranking out 414 hp. Buyers can get a good-condition DB7 for under $30,000, which is extremely cheap for an Aston.
9 BMW Z4
The BMW Z4 is an awesome two-door roadster that's incredibly fun, despite being quite underpowered compared to other European sports cars. Available in coupe and convertible body styles, the Z4 offers tons of fun for a lot less than one would expect to pay for a BMW, especially the earlier E85 and E89 generations.
The latest generation of the Z4 comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Although 0-60 takes more than 5 seconds, the Z4's sharp steering and tight body control are enough to leave a fat smile across a gearhead's face.
8 Ferrari Mondial
The Mondial is one of the worst Ferraris ever made, which explains why it is much cheaper than the rest. Developed as an entry-level car, the Mondial was large, heavy, and had an awkward design that not many liked.
Ferrari equipped the Ferrari with the smallest engine they had - a mid-mounted V8 producing just 214 horsepower. The Mondial needed almost 10 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is extremely slow for a Ferrari. However, despite all its flaws, the Mondial is still a Ferrari and will always command respect wherever it goes.
7 Porsche Boxster 986
In the early 90s, Porsche had lost favor with buyers. To earn back its fans, the German marque developed a new entry-level sports car called the Boxster, and it worked like a charm.
The Boxster did not have the performance of the iconic 911, as it was powered by a 2.7-liter V6. However, it has the gorgeous Porsche looks that gearheads love and, since it's mid-engined, it's arguably the best-handling Porsche one can buy. A well-maintained 2000s Boxster can be less than $20,000, which is a bargain for a Porsche.
6 Mazda MX-5 Miata ND
The Mazda Miata is the best-selling two-seat sports car of all time, and it's easy to see why. Since its introduction in 1989, the Miata has provided gearheads with the best of both worlds — excellent handling and balance packaged in an inexpensive, sporty convertible.
The latest generation of the Miata was introduced in 2015, but it still has the elements that made the original one of the greatest Japanese cars of all time. It's still cheap compared to other sports cars and so much fun to drive, even when equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
5 Maserati Quattroporte V
Before the Levante SUV, the Quattroporte was Maserati's largest, most luxurious vehicle. There are six generations of the Quattroporte to choose from, but the fifth offers the best value for money. This is because it was built on a new platform and had a beautiful design penned by Pininfarina.
On top of that, the fifth-gen Quattroporte had a Ferrari-sourced V8 engine that gave it supercar-worthy performance and a fantastic exhaust tune. With an output of up to 424 hp, the Quattroporte takes 5.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is impressive for such a heavy sedan.
4 2008 Jaguar XK
Although it's well past its prime, the 2008 Jaguar XK has a lot going for it. On top of being a lovely head-turner, the XK comes with a brawny 4.0-liter Jaguar AJ-V8 engine that ensures sports car fans never get bored when they're behind the wheel. The wood interior and stitched leather upholstery also ooze elegance and make it feel more expensive than it really is.
Despite being more than a decade old, the XK8 still has some modern technologies like adaptive cruise control. Buyers can expect to pay between $10,000 and $20,000 for one, depending on the condition.
3 2017 Fiat 124 Spider
Fiat has a long history of making sports cars that look too good for their prices, and the 2017 124 Spider is a perfect example of that. This little sports car is the modern version of the iconic 1979 124 Spider that earned Fiat so many fans back then. The 2017 124 Spider has many similarities with its predecessor, especially the sporty design.
Interestingly, the 2017 124 Spider is largely based on the fourth-gen Mazda MX-5 and was even manufactured in Mazda's Hiroshima factory. However, it uses a different engine - a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four with up to 168 hp on tap.
2 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
Rolls-Royce doesn't build cheap cars, as their prices are typically in the $300,000 range. However, gearheads on a budget can still own one of Rolls-Royce's elegant creations, but they have to settle for one built four decades ago - the Silver Spirit.
Despite being four decades old, the Silver Spirit still has the styling cues that gearheads instantly recognize as Rolls-Royce, especially the disappearing Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. Power comes from a 6.75-liter aluminum V8 with around 220 hp. This is incredibly low, but who's buying a Rolls-Royce to go fast?
1 2005 Maserati Spyder
The Maserati Spyder is a superb convertible grand tourer produced from 2001 to 2007. The Spyder marked Maserati's return to the American market after an 11-year hiatus, and barely a year after its introduction, Forbes named it the best GT for 2001.
The Spyder was designed by the renowned Giorgetto Giugiaro, which is why it was so highly sought after in the early 2000s. It had a 4.2-liter V8 under the hood with 385 hp, enough to make it super fast. Looking at all its cool features, it's hard to believe that people can buy the Spyder for less than $20,000 today.