As today's third-largest manufacturer of mass-produced vehicles, one would never have thought that the humble beginnings of Japan's automotive industry would someday make it top the charts. Today, people are seeing more and more Japanese cars roaming American streets with brands like Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi leading the game. Its increase in popularity is thanks to numerous owners' positive experiences with Japanese-brand cars and how they're reliable, cheap to maintain, and fun to own.

One of the Japanese car brands that have these qualities is Mitsubishi. From being a young worker in 1835, the company that Iwasaki Yataro started in 1870 has built millions of vehicles and sports cars that are still reliable even after 2 or 3 owners. Though newer sports cars are undoubtedly better, you can always go for these super affordable but badass Mitsubishi sports cars that cost less than $10,000!

10 1987 Mitsubishi Starion

via 95Octane

The 1987 Mitsubishi Starion is a forgotten classic car that was actually good. It came with an original price tag of over $15,000 but these can be sold for a little over $9,000 today. Though it may be hard to get your hands on a good working unit due to rarity and old age.

via CarGurus

But if you do find one, the good looks are more than enough to make you spend that 10k. Owners swear by the Starion's great driving experience and decent power and handling.

9 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse

1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse
via Super Street

If you're looking for an affordable sports car that carries full Japanese DNA, look no further than the 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse. This sports car was manufactured from 1989 to 2011 and used to have an MSRP ranging from $11,000 to over $16,000. Online, these vehicles can go for prices starting from over $1,000 to less than $7,000.

via YouTube

Owners of used units from Edmunds.com say that the car is not only fun to drive, it's also got a decent amount of power. Though most used models might require you to spend a few more bucks for maintenance, the dependability and performance is something that any car enthusiasts will surely love.

8 1996 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4

1996 Mitsubishi 3000GTR VR4
via Pinterest

The 1996 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 is for those on the hunt for a sports car with balanced aesthetics and performance features. The 3000GT is not only one of the most beautiful Japanese cars ever made, it also has decent power. These bad boys used to go for $36,000 and upwards, depending on the variant. But you can find decent ones on CarGurus.com for less than $9,000.

via Car Throttle

Like most old cars, the 1996 Mitsubishi 3000GTR VR4 requires a little maintenance here and there. But aside from that, there aren't any major issues. In fact, some of the reasons why users love this car so much are because of the overall build quality and decent steering and handling.

RELATED: What's In A Name? The Meaning Behind Mitsubishi's 'Red Demon'

7 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse

A silver 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse parked
via Wikimedia Commons

$10,000 may be a tight budget for a sports car, but if you're aiming at something like the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse, it might just be your best spend yet. This may have been a ridiculously slow sports car but it was fun to drive and lovely to look at. From over $20,000, Edmunds suggests that its dealership price can vary from over $700 to over $1600, depending on the condition.

via Anuncious no Distrito Federal

The 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that helps the Eclipse reach a 130 mph top speed. Decades after its first release, this sports car still managed to rake in high ratings from user reviews posted in car sites like Kelley Blue Book and Cars.com

6 1998 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4

via Autotrader

When it comes to sports cars, people would often rule out Japanese brands and go for Camaros, Mustangs or even Porsches. But if you don't have enough money, the 1998 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4 is a severely underrated sports car that might just hit your sweet spot.

via RK Motors

Being born in the 1990s, the 3000 GT VR4 wasn't really blessed with swiftness even though it has over 300 hp. However, that didn't stop even today's buyers from loving this roadster for its good looks, performance, and below $10k market price.

5 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

via Top Speed

If you loved the Mitsubishi Eclipse, then you're most likely rooting when the Eclipse Spyder came out. The 2007 model in particular was the eleventh update and had an original price amounting to $26,014. If you missed out on this attractive convertible, it's not too late to check out the affordable online listings.

via Motor1.com

This model comes in two engine options but we highly recommend the 3.8-liter V6 power mill. It's capable of 260 hp and has 258 lb-ft of torque. If you're looking for a more recent model, the 2008 Eclipse Spyder is a great convertible that you can also buy for less than $10,000.

RELATED: 10 Cheap Cars From The 1990s That Will Skyrocket In Value

4 2000 Mitsubishi Galant

via carspecs.us

The Mitsubishi Galant was first produced in 1969. But while some see this as a disappointment from Mitsubishi, the 2000 model is actually quite decent and packs a punch for its time. From an original MSRP of $18,257, 2000 Mitsubishi Galant units are up for sale at CarGurus for less than $5,000.

via RightDrive

The 2010 Mitsubishi Galant was available with two engine options with the 3.0-liter V6 as the better choice. It had 205 lb-ft of torque and 195 hp under the hood. If that's still not enough, there's the super fast and cheap, but rare Mitsubishi cars that people always forget, the Galant GTO.

3 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV
Via: Garage Defend

The Lancer nameplate is one of the most famous lineups among Mitsubishi's vehicles. The very first model was released way back in 1973 with many of the succeeding generations exported to various parts of the world. But if you're looking to buy one now with $10,000, there's a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV up for sale for the exact amount.

via Right Hand Drive Vehicles for Sale

This comes with a 1,997 cc 2.0-liter inline-four power mill that powers the Evo with 276 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. According to Fastestlaps, the 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has a top speed of 155 mph.

RELATED: 2 Fast 2 Furious: Here's How Much The Lancer Evolution Is Worth Today

2 1989 Mitsubishi Starion

via Topclassicarsforsale.com

The 1989 Mitsubishi Starion is an underrated classic Japanese sports car that every gearhead should own. It has strange but appealing looks and was first released in 1982. Production went on for quite some time but the 1989 Mitsubishi Starion was its last year. It's also the best model you can buy used from this lineup.

1989 Mitsubishi Starion
via Hagerty

A 1989 Mitsubishi Starion used to cost around $19,000 but you can buy this awesome Japanese car for less than $10,000 today. Other car enthusiasts who own a used 1989 Mitsubishi Starion say they love the wide, aggressive body and reliable performance.

1 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse

via Pinterest

The Mitsubishi Eclipse has had many great years and this update is a great representation of that. The 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine partnered with a five-speed manual transmission. These used to go for over $20,000 fresh off the racks but these days, a good used unit won't go over $5,000.

via Bring a Trailer

The 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse was reportedly capable of 167 mph in terms of top speed and takes only 6.3 seconds to reach 60 mph. Today, these digits will vary depending on the condition of the used unit though most owners still find this old Eclipse snappy.

NEXT: 10 Glaring Problems With Mitsubishi Everyone Ignores