Buying a used sports car is a great way to add a little fun to your life without breaking the budget. While sports cars aren’t the most practical vehicles for anyone who needs to buy a week’s worth of groceries or drop the kids off at school, they are fun to drive. So let’s take a look at the seven best used sports cars and see if one fits your style.

The best used sports cars under $15,000 in 2022

The team at U.S. News combed through their data to determine the best used sports cars valued at under $15,000 in 2022. We’ll look at seven of our favorites. Some of these used sports cars are two-seater roadsters, while others offer seating for five and could pull double duty as a family car in a pinch. But they are all sports cars by design and sure to put a smile on any driving enthusiast’s face. 

2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

The 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata may not win many drag races, but its cornering agility and lightweight make finding a parking spot at the mall just as much fun as taking it to a track day at your local closed-circuit road course. 

If you can drive a manual transmission, you’ll get 167 horsepower from the Miata’s 2.0-liter engine, but the sports car’s automatic transmission version loses nine horsepower. Premium trimmed models have sport-tuned suspensions, heated leather seats, and upgraded stereos. A 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata has an average price of $12,155.

2010 Ford Mustang

The 2010 Ford Mustang carries an average price of $14,059 and features a wide range of variations. The used Ford Mustang comes in a soft-top convertible or hard-top coupe, with either a 210 horsepower 4.0-liter V6 or the GT version’s 315 horsepower 4.6-liter V8. Both models offer a choice between manual and automatic transmissions, but a used Mustang GT will likely push the higher end of the average price. 

2010 Chevrolet Camaro

Like the Mustang, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro comes in a base model and a more performance-oriented version, the Camaro SS. Base 2010 Camaros feature a 304-hp 3.6-liter V6, costing $11,449 on average in 2022. The 2010 Camaro SS will probably carry a higher price but features a 426-hp 6.2-liter V8 that should make driving to work a few extra hours worthwhile. Either model features manual or paddle-shiftable automatic transmissions as options. 

2010 Nissan 370Z

U.S. News calls the 2010 Nissan 370Z “a nimble, athletic sports car.” The 2010 370Z comes as a two-seat coupe or convertible with rear-wheel drive and 332 horsepower from a 3.7-liter V6. It has an average price of $13,194, and premium trim levels feature heated, ventilated leather seats and high-end stereo systems. 

2011 Dodge Challenger

The 2011 Dodge Challenger features several versions with increasing levels of performance. The base Challenger has a $14,944 average price and a 305 horsepower 3.6-liter V6, but diligent shoppers could find a Challenger R/T with a 376 horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 for a few more dollars. The Challenger’s design allows for quick, straight-line sprints, so don’t expect to tear up the local road course. 

2013 Scion FR-S

The 2013 Scion FR-S features a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter flat-four-cylinder engine design that adds to its low center of gravity, increasing its cornering capabilities. In addition, opting for the automatic transmission with “tap-shift mode” allows seamless shifting under power without distraction while choosing your lines through the corners. A used 2013 Scion FR-S carries an average price of $14,238.

2011 Mazda RX-8

The least expensive used sports car on our list is the 2011 Mazda RX-8, with an average price of $10,940, and it’s also kind of a four-door. The RX-8 features rear “half-doors” that hinge to the rear, allowing better access to the small rear seats than a typical two-door coupe. Find an RX-8 in the R3 trim to get the 232 horsepower rotary engine and six-speed manual transmission. The base model features a 212 horsepower 1.3-liter rotary engine with an automatic. 

Which is the best used sports car for you?

If you find yourself in the market for a used sports car, particularly one under $15,000, U.S. News’ list offers plenty of choices. From the used Mazda MX-5 Miata to the 2010 Ford Mustang, each of these vehicles is bound to put a smile on your face.