When it comes to fast cars, designers will typically work hard to make it clearly obvious that it is indeed a performance vehicle. Clues like flashy aerodynamic elements, aggressive styling, and many bits of trim come together to make a car stand out and say "I'm fast," even if it isn't actually all that sporty.
A sleeper is the exact opposite of this, being a normal and rather boring-looking car that seems slow, but packing some serious performance under the hood. Defying expectations set by their outside appearances, or common associations, there's something just hilariously fun about a sleeper that no one sees coming. Even within the world of such cars though, certain models tend to be underrated, and these are eight such slept-on sleepers that you can buy for around $10,000.
8 Saab 9-2X Aero
A half Swedish, half Japanese oddity, the Saab 9-2X Aero is a mostly forgotten footnote from both Saab and Subaru's history. While a sensible Saab from the outside, this wagon packs a rally-bred secret, as underneath it's identical to the well-known Subaru WRX.
Often referred to as the "Saabaru" by both Saab and Subaru enthusiasts, the 9-2X Aero was a performance version of the regular 9-2X - which itself was a rebadged Subaru Impreza sold during 2005 and 2006. Packing the WRX's turbocharged 227 hp boxer-4 motor and AWD system, as well as most other mechanical parts the WRX used, Saab did do some tweaking, but mostly to the exterior looks, and interior design. With prices usually sitting under $10,000, the 9-2X Aero makes for a great subtle, and more luxurious sleeper alternative to the iconic WRX.
7 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Chevy's economy compact for the 2000s, the Cobalt was a decent step forward for GM, but otherwise was a generic and un-exciting car most commonly seen as a fleet vehicle, with few features or aspects that made it anything special.
Debuting in 2004 during the Cobalt's first year though, the Cobalt SS came about as GM's way to compete with the tuned import performance scene. While the early naturally aspirated version was good but not great, the later supercharged and turbo versions were a whole lot more special. With the supercharged Cobalt SS making 205 hp, and the turbocharged version making 260 hp, the Cobalt SS was a shockingly fast compact for the time, running a similar Nürburgring time to the E36 M3. Available in turbo form for under $10,000, the Cobalt SS is a genuinely fast sleeper few know about.
6 Buick Roadmaster (1994-96)
An old school wagon is by no means an exciting car, and that's what makes the later Roadmaster wagons such a good sleeper. Normally a slow barge on wheels, the final years of the Roadmaster included a shocking V8 secret with Corvette origins.
A plush, practical, and comfortable car, the Roadmaster was a relative sales success. Going on sale in 1991, the 170 hp V8 inside certainly wasn't anything exciting, but that would change. Updated for 1994, the Roadmaster now came equipped with a genuinely exciting V8, namely the LT1 taken straight from the Corvette. Now laying down 260 hp through the rear wheels, a 1994-1996 Buick Roadmaster wagon makes for a great practical sleeper with a wide aftermarket selection for more power, and can still be found for around $10,000.
5 Mercury Marauder
When most people think of Ford's Panther platform, they think of thoroughly boring cars like the Grand Marquis or Crown Victoria. While the Crown Vic does have a lot to love with its V8 power, RWD, and rock-solid construction, the Marauder took it to the extreme.
Built from 2003 until 2004 to be the ultimate form the Panther platform took, the Marauder inherited the rather dull looks but flipped the script when it came to performance. Re-introducing the Marauder nameplate of the '60s, this beast used an SVT tuned version of the Modular V8 making 302 hp, as well as performance suspension, bigger brakes, and more tweaks all around. Capable of much more power with some basic modifications, the Marauder is a muscle car that not many people know about and can be found for around $15,000.
4 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT Turbo
A frankly horrible-looking 2000s economy hatchback, the normal PT Cruiser is an ugly, and cheap parts-bin commuter with no real performance. Surprisingly though, it did get a powerful turbo performance option that turned it into a genuinely good sleeper.
Released in 2000 as a retro-inspired economy compact, the PT Cruiser just looked awful, with its out-of-place vintage style grille surrounded by blobby body lines. Normally packing around 140 hp and plenty of Chrysler parts bin plastic, the PT Cruiser GT was first offered in 2003 with the inline-4 engine out of the similarly underrated Neon SRT-4. Also offered with a turbocharger, the PT Cruiser GT Turbo put out 230 hp through the front wheels, turning it into something that packs an actual punch. A performance version few will see coming, a PT Cruiser GT Turbo can be found for under $5,000.
3 Mazda MazdaSpeed6
A comfortable and practical sedan that offers a nice, but rather boring experience, the Mazda 6 is nothing fast or exciting. One of the least known fast Mazda models, the Mazdaspeed6 is a shockingly good performance version that most won't see coming.
Introduced in 2005, and sold until 2007, the Mazdaspeed 6 has no dramatically obvious ways of differentiating it from the normal Mazda 6, making it a perfect sleeper. What hides underneath those bland looks though, is a turbocharged inline-4 engine, sending 274 hp through an AWD system. Several further performance modifications were carried out by Mazdaspeed as well, including stiffening the body by 50% and installing sportier suspension all around. Shockingly fast for how boring it looks, the Mazdaspeed6 is a perfect daily driver sleeper for around $10,000.
2 Toyota Caldina GT-Four
On the JDM side of things, this Toyota really doesn't look like anything special, with a hood scoop being the only indicator that something is up. Especially with the Caldina being unknown in North America, this wagon with rally DNA makes for a great sleeper.
Based on the same platform as the familiar Toyota Matrix, the Caldina in normal form exists as a small family wagon, and really isn't anything exciting. What is exciting, however, would be the Celica GT-Four, a wicked turbocharged 4WD sports car homologated for use in the WRC rally competition. Bestowing the otherwise boring Caldina with the engine and 4WD drivetrain from that Celica, the Caldina GT-Four is a monster few will see coming, and gets even better with the LSD-equipped N-Edition. Available in Japan for under $5,000, you'll need to pay extra fees to import one though.
1 Lexus IS300 (1st Generation)
Lexus' small and nimble luxury sedan of the early 2000s, the IS 300 is still being sold today, but the first generation was something truly special. Not commonly known outside Toyota enthusiast circles, this sedan packs some serious sportiness and a Supra similarity.
In terms of visual appearance, the original IS 300 looks like a slightly cooler Corolla - nothing all that exciting, but solid and refined. Fans of the Supra though will be familiar with a 2JZ engine, and the original IS 300 came from the factory packing that legendary motor - although in non-turbocharged form. Most of the wide assortment of Supra tuning parts will work on the IS300 though, bringing it to insane power levels (think 800 hp+), and with RWD as well as an agile chassis, the 1st gen IS300 is a seriously underrated sports sedan when stock, and a brutal sleeper when souped up - all for around $10,000.