Here’s How Much Supercar You Can Actually Get for $100K
Are you dreaming of driving your own supercar but don’t have $3 million to blow on a Bugatti Chiron? Many exotic fans settle for more budget-friendly sports cars such as McLarens or the Audi R8. But even million-dollar supercars naturally depreciate over time. These three models have depreciated but aren’t yet collectors’ items, and can be had for under $100k.
- Aston Martin DB9
- Lamborghini Gallardo
- Ferrari California
Because $100k supercar examples will probably be over a decade old, you’ll have to upgrade to an Apple CarPlay/Android Auto stereo system to get modern infotainment. Also, you should know that many reviewers feel 20-year-old automatic transmissions–even in supercars–aren’t up to modern standards. Luckily, all three of these models were available with true, three-pedal manual transmissions. Though this configuration is rare, it will probably appreciate quickly once these cars become classics.
2006-2017 Aston Martin DB9 and Vantage
Aston Martin’s bread-and-butter is its front-engine, RWD coupe–a proper British grand tourer. Daniel Craig’s early James Bond films made Aston Martin’s DB9 generation (2003-2017) world famous. Driving your own DB9 is sure to make you feel suave as a 00-agent in a Tuxedo. But buying one doesn’t have to break the bank.
The DBS is the high-performance trim of this generation, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any examples under $100k. But the regular DB9 also came with a V12, and some even have collectible manual transmissions. You’ll find the cheapest ones are more than ten years old, and thus ineligible for the factory warranty, so make certain they’ve been properly maintained. Even more affordable is the V8-powered Vantage, which is also available with a manual. CarGurus puts the average resale value of every Aston Martin DB9 supercar made before 2016 below $100k.
If you’re an Aston Martin fan, check out 007 things you didn’t know about founder David Brown.
2009-2013 Ferrari California
Ferrari purists love to hate the V8-powered, four-seat California convertible. But this supercar ticks a lot of boxes and costs $100k or less. With a 4.3-liter V8, Ferrari claimed that the California could reach 60 MPH in just 3.9 seconds. After you finish embarrassing peasant cars, you can retract the hardtop with the push of a button and cruise under the open sky with three of your friends. That is, if two of your friends have no knees; a 2+2 like this is really engineered for two adults and perhaps two children.
The “California” nameplate actually originated with the 1950s 250 GT Spyder, but couldn’t be more perfect for this car. Ferrari offered a 6-speed gated manual until 2010, which is very hard to find on the used market. It then updated the California for the 2014 model year with all-new sheet metal, turbocharged its engine, and badged it as the “Califronia T.” This redesign has driven the prices of first-generation Californias down. Though a 2009 Ferrari California’s original MSRP was $192k, CarGurus puts its average resale value at $103,146 currently, though the website admitted Californias get listed as low as $93,129.
Read why Jay Leno refuses to buy a single Ferrari.
2004-2014 Lamborghini Gallardo
With its mid-engine layout and flying-wedge design, Lamborghini is an icon even among supercars. So it might shock you to learn that there are used Lamborghinis that sometimes go for as little as $100k. But the average 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo is going for just $109,260, according to CarGurus, and you can find bargains that are even cheaper, making it a true $100k supercar.
While the Murcielago had a V12 engine, the Gallardo was the entry-level Lamborghini of its generation and had a V10 co-developted with Audi. But as the last Lambo with a manual transmission, it has earned a certain cult status among enthusiasts. While Lamborghinis have a reputation as, blunt instruments, even modern reviewers are surprised by the Gallardo. It is well-balanced, offers great visibility, and when equipped with the six-speed gated manual it is an absolute joy to drive.
So there you have it, three bonafide supercars you can get into for the price of a Raptor Type R. Next, read about how the Corvette Z06 offers true supercar tech for $90k or see a review of a used Lamborghini Gallardo in the video below:
