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2025 Buick Enclave vs Honda PilotTop 10 Fast Cars Under $10,000
In searching for fast cars, it’s easy to outrun your budget. But we’ve tracked down ten fast and affordable cars for less than $10,000.The Fast & The Frugal
If there’s one thing that’ll make a car person feel smart, it’s finding a deal. Sure, you can go to a dealership and spend obscene amounts of money to get yourself a quick car, but finding one on the cheap will make you feel like a genius. That, and it’ll save you cash you can use for all the inevitable upgrades you’ll be making. With the jump in used car prices over the last few years, finding really cheap fast cars has become harder and harder. You get what you pay for, if you shop wisely, and what was once the realm of $5,000 fast cars has become the realm of $10,000 fast cars. Below we run down our picks for the ten best fast cars under $10,000, focusing on speed, handling, and overall drivability.
NC Mazda Miata MX-5
No list of sporty cars can be complete without mentioning the Mazda Miata. The Miata is not, obviously, a fast car in the strictest, straight line zero to sixty sense. And yet, the Miata is a quick car once the road starts to curve. The Miata comes alive in the corners like few other cars. The sweet spot for quality and affordability when it comes to Miatas is the NC/third generation from 2006 through 2015. The Miata’s 2.0L four-cylinder makes just 170 horsepower and 140 lb.-ft. of torque, but the car itself only weighs around 2,500 lbs. The Miata’s five- and six-speed manuals are sharp and engaging (the latter comes with a limited-slip diff as well). The NC is the most spacious of Miata generations, significant for anyone 6-foot and above considering this diminutive roadster.
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk VII
Speaking of lightness and maneuverability, there’s the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk VII (2012-19). Like the Miata, it’s small, but the GTI comes with a lot more power and a lot more practicality. The seventh-gen GTI runs a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder making 217 horsepower, while the Performance version makes 227 horsepower, enabling a 6.4-second zero to sixty time. Low, light, and nimble, the GTI makes a compelling argument for front-wheel drive cars being just as fun as rear-wheel drive cars. Add in the commodious interior and the practicality of a hatchback and the GTI is one of the best fast cars you can find at any price.
Lexus LS 460 2006-09
The GTI will make you feel like a smart car buyer, but for a genius-level purchase, consider the bullet-proof fourth-gen Lexus LS 460. The 1UR 4.6L V8 in this car makes 380 horsepower and 367 lb.-ft. of torque for some serious pull on the highway and a zero to sixty run of 5.7 seconds. A smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic takes care of the gears, and the car comes with the choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. This being a Lexus, you’ll also find plush leather seats, wood interior trim, and all sorts of luxury feels, including an adaptive suspension. The LS 460 L is the longer wheelbase version which offered an Executive package that included a rear seat DVD player. With luxury, reliability, and speed all for less than $10,000, it’s hard to not love the Lexus LS 460.
Subaru WRX GD/GG
Remember when we said you might want to keep your fast car buying budget down for upgrades? That was for the Subaru WRX. Whether it’s for a front splitter, copper-tone wheels, ground effects, or a bigger turbo, buying a WRX almost certainly means you’re tuning it to the hilt. The GD/GG generation Impreza WRX spans from 2001 through 2007 and initially ran a turbo 2.0L flat-four making 227 horsepower and 217 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmission options included a four-speed automatic and either a five- or six-speed manual. Even the non-STI version of the WRX was a quick car out of the box, boasting a roughly six second zero to sixty sprint. Visual overhauls in 2004 and 2006 mean you can get this generation WRX with three distinct looks (the 2006 version coincides with the release of a bigger 2.5L engine good for 230 horsepower). Whether you like dogs and camping or vapes and drifting, the Subaru WRX is an excellent choice if you’re shopping for fast and affordable cars.
BMW Z4 E85 2002-08
BMW knows a thing or two about small, sporty cars. While we wouldn’t recommend every aging German sports car, the BMW Z4 is one we’re happy to endorse. This zippy roadster is that classic BMW mix of speed, agility, and refinement. The E85-gen Z4 came with a series of engines, from a puny 2.0L four popper to a range of straight-sixes from 2.2L to 3.2L. The best non-M version (the M being well above our $10,000 mark) you can find is the 3.0si, specifically the one built from 2006 through 2008. This version makes 265 horsepower and is capable of a zero-to-sixty time of 5.6 seconds. The slightly, weaker but more common 3.0i is still pretty potent at 231 horsepower (2002-2005). If you want that open top Miata, feel with a bit more power and a good deal more luxury, take the BMW Z4 for a spin.
Porsche Boxster/Cayman 986 (1996-04)
The gen-one 986 Porsche Boxster/Cayman (that’s roadster and coupe respectively) might be the little brother to the 911, but this is one fantastic mid-engine sports car. Superb steering (from the 911) and blissful corning ability are augmented by the mid-ship engine placement for a more balanced and manageable feel than the 911. Power comes from an escalating series of flat-six motors. Early generation cars are 2.5L and make 201 horsepower. Mid-gen versions (from 2000 on) up that to 2.7L for 217 or 3.2L for 247. Both of the 2.7L and 3.2L got modest bumps in output late in the generation, to 222 and 254 horsepower, respectively. Transmission choices include a five-speed automatic or either a five- or six-speed manual.
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 (1993-2002)
The fourth-generation Chevy Camaro is another promising car if you’re looking for cheap speed. The early 1990s version of the Camaro Z/28 runs an LT1 V8 (shared with the Corvette) good for 275 to 305 horsepower. The Camaro received a visual update in 1998 that coincided with the addition of a new engine to the Z/28, the laudatory LS1 V8 making 350 horsepower. The Camaro’s singular style in these years is augmented by the option for either a convertible or T-tops.
Dodge Charger (2011-23)
Seeing the previous-gen Dodge Charger in traffic you can look close for badging or just roll down your windows to tell you whether it’s a V6 and therefore a slow car that looks fast or a Hellcat with upwards of 700 horsepower itching to get you a ticket for exhibition driving. The Charger R/T is the perfect medium, affordable (unlike the Hellcat) and quick as all get out. The R/T runs the mid-tier Charger motor, a 5.7L Hemi V8 making 370 horsepower and capable of a 5.1 second sprint from zero to sixty. You’ll find a ton of police spec Chargers with this motor circa 2013 model year on the used market for between $7,000 and $10,000. We can’t think of a better basis for the next Blues Mobile 3.0 (it’s got a cop motor, cop shocks…).
Ford Mustang GT (2005-2010)
Like the Miata, the Ford Mustang GT was a sure thing for our list. Our pick for the best, cheap Mustang is the fifth generation from 2005 through 2009. We’ll skip right past the V6 and elide the GT500 (too expensive) and get right to the GT’s 4.6L V8. This motor makes 300 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque and comes with a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. The automatic is slightly quicker, capable of a zero to sixty run of 4.9 seconds. The GT comes with performance enhancements like a limited-slip diff, dual exhaust, and 12.4-inch disc brakes. This generation sports a beefy, retro design that rivals the Charger for mean street demeanor.
C4 Chevrolet Corvette (1992-96)
The C4 Chevy Corvette is what we talk about when we talk about “Your Dad’s Corvette.” This generation saw five different 350 cu.-in. (5.7L) V8s over its twelve-year run from 1984 through 1996. Some of those engines, this being the 1980s, were a bit underpowered. That’s why we recommend sticking to the 1992 and later cars equipped with the aforementioned LT1 V8 and its 300 horsepower. (The ZR1 was hitting better than 300 horsepower starting in 1990, but those cars are a good deal more expensive than $10,000, even today.) Styling is distinctive with an optional Targa top and a mid-level body crease that accentuated optional two-tone paint schemes.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Good article thanks