5 Used Sports Cars That Make Great Daily Drivers and Cost Less Than $15,000
Driving a sports car on a daily basis may sound like a dream, but it can easily be a reality with the right budget. No, that doesn’t mean you need to spend $50,000 on a Toyota Supra. Instead, you can spend less than $15,000 and buy one of these five used examples. Check them out.
1. 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe – Average price: $9,735
Before the Genesis brand was spawned, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe existed. The Genesis Coupe was a four-seat, rear-drive sports car that came with either a turbocharged four-banger or a 3.8-liter V6. The four-cylinder engine put out a stout 274 hp while the V6 generated 348. As you can imagine, the V6 model was the one to get, but it was better with the automatic transmission. Hyundai’s manual transmission was not very refined.
2. 2009 Pontiac Solstice – Average price: $11,985
The Pontiac Solstice was a two-seat, rear-drive roadster that was the corporate cousin to the Saturn Sky. The Solstice had a weak base-model engine, and its interior wasn’t super comfortable. There were a lot of hard plastics, and the layout was rather basic.
That being said, if you can find the up-level Solstice GXP, which was powered by a 260-hp four-cylinder engine, you’ll have a lot of fun. In addition to the potent engine, the Solstice GXP was also available with a five-speed manual transmission and a sport suspension.
3. 2013 Scion FR-S – Average price: $14,238
Before the Toyota GR86, there was the Scion FR-S. Well, they’re still technically the same car. But the original FR-S is what essentially paved the way for the BR-Z/86/GR86 with its rear-drive layout. Under the hood was a 2.0-liter flat-four engine that sent 200 hp to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
However, straight-line acceleration isn’t this car’s strong suit. Instead, it’s a beast on the canyon, thanks to its road-hugging abilities and excellent handling dynamics.
4. 2011 Dodge Challenger – Average price: $14,944
If you’re looking for a muscle car with a little practicality, then the Dodge Challenger will provide that for you. Under the hood, you’ll find either a 3.5-liter V6 or a larger 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Both of which offer plenty of power for the daily drive. In terms of practicality, the Challenger has a large back seat and an extra-large trunk that rivals some sedans. The only issue is that its rearward visibility isn’t that great, but the room and power make up for it.
5. 2010 Nissan 370Z – Average price: $13,194
According to U.S. News, “the Nissan 370Z is a nimble, athletic sports car and it available as a coupe or convertible, which was introduced for the 2010 model year.” In addition to its athletic prowess, the 370Z has a potent 3.7-liter V6 that makes 332 hp that can be mated to either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. What makes it an even better value proposition is that a used 370Z can also be found with certain luxuries like heated and ventilated seats, leather upholstery, and a Bose premium audio system.
Used sports cars under $15,000
Although used car prices are still high, you can find some good used sports cars for under $15,000. The best part is that the ones on this list make great daily drivers, so you can eventually save up for that $50,000 Supra.
