When you think about the fastest sports cars, cars like the McLaren F1, Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari F40, Porsche 959, and Jaguar XJ220 come to mind. These cars all have a top speed above 190mph and killer acceleration rates. However, they also cost a fortune. You're unlikely to see some of these cars for sale on used car websites, and even if you did, they'd still have expensive price tags.
Fortunately, you don't have to break the bank to get a fast sports car. What's even better, you can get these sports cars for half the price when buying used ones. If you ever feel like you need more power from your used sports car, there are options you can explore. You can choose to modify the car to increase its performance. Changes that can enhance your sports car include upgrading spark plugs, switching to electric fans, and using a performance exhaust system. Now, get ready because we'll be ranking the fastest used sports cars you can currently buy for $20,000.
10 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo ($11,995)
As usual, you can depend on Hyundai to produce affordable quality cars. The 2013 Hyundai Veloster is a hatchback with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. Naturally, the Veloster Turbo has more power output than the base model. The 2013 Veloster Turbo has 201 horsepower, 195 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 155mph.
Hyundai's Veloster is very safe and reliable. The hatchback comes with electronic brakeforce distribution, four-wheel ABS, traction control, and more. Though the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo has a starting price of $23,100, you can get a used model for $11,995.
9 2018 Fiat 124 Spider ($18,995)
Fiat 124 Spiders are not new and have been around since 1966. After ceasing production in 1985, the Italian manufacturer revived the 124 Spider in 2015. The 2018 Fiat Spider's design is based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Using a 1.4-liter engine, the Spider produces 160 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque, and can accelerate 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds.
Though the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider is not the fastest sports car on our list, you'd get race car vibes once you get into it. The Spider's interior is well crafted with a minimalist design style. Selling for $18,995, the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider could be yours.
8 2012 Nissan 370Z ($19,796)
The 2012 Nissan 370Z is a stylish two-door coupe with sculpted body panels. For the 2012 model year, Nissan upgraded the 370Z powertrain and used a 3.7-liter six-cylinder V6 engine. The result is 332 horsepower, 270 lb-ft of torque, and an acceleration rate of 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds.
Nissan's 370Z is known for its superb handling and grip. The 370Z also has traction control to complement its RWD system, and the manufacturer also included stability control and cruise control for convenience. Nissan's 2012 370Z is currently available for $19,796.
7 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata ($11,995)
Mazda's MX-5 Miata is a small sports car with power to back up. The 2012 model uses a 2.0-liter inline-four engine with 167 horsepower,140 lb-ft of torque, and an acceleration rate of 0-60nph in 7 seconds. No doubt, the Miata's newer models have way more power, but since we're on a budget, we'd have to settle for this.
The 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata has nimble handling and is favored at the tracks. New units of the 2012 MX-5 Miata have a starting price of $31,225, but with $11,995 you can cop a used Miata.
6 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited ($17,999)
Subaru's BRZ is a high-performance version of their Impreza model. The 2013 model is well designed with a sleek exterior and a well-appointed interior. Under the sports car's hood, Subaru fitted a 2.0-l DOHC flat-four engine that delivers 200 horsepower @7000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque @6400 rpm.
For infotainment, the Subaru BRZ Limited has a 6.1" LCD touchscreen. Also, the front seats are reclining sports bucket seats, while there is a bench seat at the rear. Cool right? The 2013 Subaru BRZ accelerates 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds and sells for $17,999.
5 1995 Nissan 300ZX ($9,899)
The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car from the manufacturer's Z-car family. Nissan began making the 300ZX in 1983, and in 2000, they retired the model. Now, the 300ZX is considered a classic car. The 1995 Nissan 300ZX has a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission system.
With its powertrain, the 1995 300ZX produces 223 horsepower, 198 lb-ft of torque, and can accelerate 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. The JDM also has a top speed of 155mph. Though the 300ZX is no longer in production, you can cop the 1995 model for merely $9,899.
4 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK ($19,950)
You don't see a Mercedes-Benz selling this cheap often, so you might want to check this out. The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK is a good-looking convertible sports car. Under its hood, the SLK has a 1.8-liter engine with 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque.
The convertible has many standard features like an emergency braking assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, speed-proportional power steering, and a post-collision safety system. Instead of Mercedes-Benz's $42,900 starting price for the SLK, you can get a used SLK for $19,950.
3 2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe ($18,490)
Hyundai's 2016 Genesis Coupe features an aggressive exterior design. The Coupe's hood is sculpted and has lines running through its sides. For the interior, Hyundai went with a precise and neat design. The seats are covered with fabric, and there are minimal controls on the dashboard.
To power the 2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the Korean manufacturer used a V6 engine with 348 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Coupe is fast and fun to drive. In 6 seconds, the Coupe can accelerate from 0-60mph. You can get the 2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe for $16,000 or less.
2 2007 Ford Mustang GT Deluxe ($18,900)
Only second to the GT Premium trim, the Mustang GT Deluxe trim level has almost all available features and different performance levels. The 2007 Ford Mustang GT Deluxe has a rugged appearance with fog lights in its grille.
There's an exclusive spoiler at the GT's rear. To power this muscle car, Ford employed a 4.6-liter SOHC V8 engine with 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. The 2007 Ford Mustang GT Deluxe accelerates 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds, and it's available for $18,900.
1 2003 Chevrolet Corvette ($18,999)
The Chevrolet Corvette is a popular sports car with over six decades in production. Chevrolet still makes Corvettes, and the sports car is currently in its eighth generation. Our interest is the 2003 Corvette from the fifth generation. Designed by John Cafaro, the Chevrolet Corvette C5 features a timeless exterior design with a sloping hood.
Right beneath the hood, the 2003 Corvette is fitted with a 5.7-liter V8 engine with 350 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. The Corvette has a top speed of 170mph and can accelerate 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds. Selling for $18,999, the 2003 Corvette could be yours.