In the automotive world, the most expensive cars are usually the most fun to drive. This statement is accurate in most cases, as expensive sports cars typically have the best designs, the most powerful engines, advanced technologies, and generally more time taken in their development and construction.
However, as is the case with every general rule, there are exceptions. There are multiple awesome sports cars that cost a tiny fraction of what the Koenigseggs and Bugattis of this world cost, but are still incredibly fun to drive. We did some research and found ten of them.
10 Chevrolet Corvette C6 - $23,000
The Corvette is undoubtedly among the greatest American cars ever made. The Corvette has been in continuous production since 1953 and is now in its eighth generation. If you want a good Corvette under $25,000, you'll have to settle for a C6.
The sixth-generation Corvette debuted in 2005 with a fresh design, with the most significant change being the exposed headlights instead of pop-up headlights, the base C6 Corvette was powered by a 6.0-liter V8 producing 400 hp.
9 Porsche 944 Turbo - $22,000
In the '70s, Porsche introduced a new series of front-engined entry-level sports cars in an attempt to boost sales. It all started with the 924, but since Porsche fans didn't like its Volkswagen-sourced engine, Porsche introduced the 944 to replace it.
The 944 was an instant hit, loved for its sleek design, attractive design, and power, particularly the turbocharged version. With over 160,000 produced, the 944 is still affordable today.
8 Mazda Miata - $27,650
The Miata is Mazda's pride and joy. Ever since its introduction in the '80s, the Miata has been one of the most popular sports cars thanks to its stylish design, lightweight construction, excellent driving feel, and affordability.
Unsurprisingly, the Miata is still in production today and is as popular as ever. New Miata prices start from just under $30,000, but you can buy older models for as low as $5,000.
7 Nissan 370Z - $25,000
After the massive success of the 350Z, Nissan knew it had to build a worthy competitor, so it unveiled the 370Z in the late 2000s. Looking at the 370Z's design, it was hard to tell that it was a new generation of the Z-car, as it almost looked identical to the 350Z.
The 370Z also used an upgraded version of the 350Z's engine — a 3.7-liter V6 generating 350 horses and 275 lb-ft of torque. This is a lot of power to work with, but should you need more, the 370Z is one of the best Japanese project cars.
6 2010 Audi TT RS - $29,000
The Audi TT impressed everyone when it debuted in the late '90s. It had an eye-catching design, fantastic build quality, various engine options with bulletproof reliability, and a lower price tag than most German sports cars.
However, many complained that the TT was underpowered, so Audi's performance division built their own version in the late 2000s — the TT RS. Equipped with a new 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five engine belting out 330 hp, the TT RS was a lot quicker than the base TT.
5 2004 Porsche Boxster - $15,000
The '90s decade was tough for Porsche, largely because of poor sales of the 911. Cheap Japanese sports cars had taken over the sports car market, forcing Porsche to develop their own 'cheap' sports car — the Boxster.
The Boxster was a huge hit. It had a superb design that resembled the 911, lots of power to play with, and a more affordable price tag than the 911. Best of all, the Boxster had a mid-engined layout that made it a joy to drive.
4 2008 Maserati GranTurismo - $28,000
In the late 2000s, Maserati rolled up its sleeves and developed a new sports car in a record nine months — the GranTurismo. Although it took a short time to develop, the GranTurismo turned out to be awesome, as it had a gorgeous Pininfarina-penned design and a Ferrari-sourced V8 engine under the hood.
As you'd expect from a Maserati, prices have plummeted since the GranTurismo's introduction, and you can now buy early models for less than $30,000. You may face a few reliability issues with this car, but you'll own a real thoroughbred Italian sports car.
3 Honda S2000 - $25,000
The '90s decade will always be remembered for giving us some of the greatest Honda models ever. These include the iconic NSX, the Civic Type-R EK9, and this beauty — the S2000.
The S2000 had a lot going for it. For one, it was among the most beautiful convertibles you could buy at the time. It also had the power to match, coming from one of the best four-cylinder engines ever made — a high-revving 2.2-liter naturally aspirated unit with 237 hp on tap.
2 Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ - $27,700
About a decade ago, Toyota and Subaru joined forces to create a new entry-level sports car to compete against the likes of the Mazda Miata MX-5. The result was the Toyota GT86 and its identical twin — the Subaru BRZ.
Although the cars didn't have as much power as many would have wanted, they looked great and were very affordable, which is why they're still in production. A new GT86 costs around $28,000, but you can find an older one for half of that.
1 Mercedes-Benz SL500 (R129) - $25,000
The R129 generation of the SL class is among Mercedes-Benz's greatest models of all time. This car shows why Mercedes-Benz is widely considered to be the king of engineering, as it was perfect.
We love everything about the R129, starting with its design and luxurious interior. We also love the fact that it had some of the most advanced technologies of the '90s, including seat-integrated seat belts and electronically controlled damping. The R129 was also available with various super-reliable engine options, including a mighty V12.