You may be sitting in your minivan or SUV and see a glorious Porsche 911 roar by. As your three-row, seven-passenger family vehicle with best-in-class cargo space quickly disappears in the rear-view mirror of the 911, you may start to daydream about different investing choices you could have made.
But you can stop daydreaming. There are plenty of fun-to-drive sports cars that deliver impressive performance and are quite affordable. From American muscle cars that offer incredible horsepower-per-dollar propositions to refined Japanese and Italian sports cars that prioritize cornering ability.
Check out the following slides to learn which of these sports cars, which all start below $40,000, are right for you!
The 370Z is the latest in a long line of Nissan sports cars to wear the Z badge. It features agile handling, a smooth ride, and a standard V6 engine sending power through a precise-shifting manual transmission or available automatic transmission. The V6 makes 332 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque.
That might not be as much as the 350-horsepower NISMO model, but the Sport trim, which starts at $33,750, features a limited-slip differential, 19-inch wheels, upgraded brakes, and the SynchroRev Match system, which “blips” the throttle while downshifting. This feature replicates the driving advantages of “heel-toe” driving without having to master the unique driving skill.
As creature comforts go, the Z Sport offers a Bose premium audio system with eight speakers.
To acquire a car with head-turning style, you typically need to drop high-five figures or even six figures. With the Dodge Challenger, you get that standout styling at a fraction of the price. The Challenger is also the car with the most back seat and trunk space on this list.
At $37,995, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack is arguably the best horsepower-per-dollar deal here. To start, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack packs a 6.4-liter (392 cubic inch) V8 that cranks out 485 horsepower, sent to the rear wheels. The Scat Pack offers a unique exterior package, including the split front grille, inspired by the 1971 Dodge Challenger.
Starting at $25,495, the Subaru BRZ is a great value, considering how much fun you’ll have behind the wheel. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine sits low to the ground for a lower center of gravity – the result is spectacular cornering abilities. For the 2017 model year, the horsepower has been bumped up to 205.
Other updates for 2017 include subtle design tweaks, with added vents and new headlights. Inside, the comfortable seats are carried over, but the dash gets a healthy update with a standard 4.2-inch driver information display. An available Performance Package offers upgraded shocks, brakes, and rotors. An updated suspension across the model line rounds out the 2017 improvements.
The Fiat 124 Spider is an iconic name, conjuring up the pure fun of driving. This reincarnation is actually built on the bones of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, but it features styling that is faithful to the original 124 and boasts an Italian turbocharged engine.
The Abarth, starting at $28,195, is the most potent 124, with racy looks and 164 horsepower sent to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Abarth features an upgraded performance suspension and, like the rest of the 124 lineup, an easy-to-stow manual convertible top that only needs one hand to drop.
The Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ were developed together, so the differences between the two are subtle. The 86 used to be the Scion FR-S but now has a name that speaks to Toyota’s heritage. With the new name comes mild updates for 2017, inside and out.
The cabin features comfortable front seats and a simple and straightforward layout, so the driver can focus on the road. Below the hood is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that makes between 200 and 205 horsepower, depending on whether you get the automatic or manual transmission. This layout can return up to 32 mpg on the highway with the automatic. Paired with a starting price of $26,255, the 86 is a tremendous value for a sports car.
The Chevrolet Camaro has long been synonymous with affordable performance. But the Camaro has never been this refined or technologically sophisticated. From both performance and creature comfort standpoints, this is the most advanced Camaro yet. And starting at $36,095, the Camaro SS is a high-powered value.
The Camaro SS features a 6.2-liter V8 making 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual transmission or an optional eight-speed automatic. With the automatic, you can get from 0 to 60 mph in just four seconds!
With the Challenger and Camaro on this list, you had to know the Mustang was coming. The iconic Pony all but created the idea of affordable performance in America. The 2017 Mustang is a far cry from the 1964.5 model, and arguably shares more with a Japanese or German performance coupe.
The high-end cabin features Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. With a starting price of $33,195, the Mustang GT blends this sophistication with a 5.0-liter V8 making 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough for it to get from zero to 60 in just 4.3 seconds.
For many, the Miata is the just-right answer to the question, “How do I own a fun car and still pay the bills?” The four-cylinder engine makes just 155 horsepower, but because the Miata weighs in at only around 2,300 pounds, it still feels quick. Its agile handling also helps in that regard.
For 2017, Mazda has added a new variant to the Miata lineup, the RF, which starts at $31,555. This replacement for the old power retractable hard-top model from 2015 features buttresses on either side of the trunk, giving it a fastback appearance. When the top stows into the trunk, the remaining structure makes the RF look like a classic targa-top roadster.
If one of the sports cars on this list piqued your interest, head over to our best lease deals and financing deals pages. There, we’ve compiled a list of all the best incentives manufacturers are currently offering.
Once you’re ready to buy, be sure to use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealer in your area that’s offering the lowest price. Shoppers who use the program save an average of $3,279 off their new car purchase.
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Maximum Driving Excitement for Less Than $40K
You may be sitting in your minivan or SUV and see a glorious Porsche 911 roar by. As your three-row, seven-passenger family vehicle with best-in-class cargo space quickly disappears in the rear-view mirror of the 911, you may start to daydream about different investing choices you could have made.
But you can stop daydreaming. There are plenty of fun-to-drive sports cars that deliver impressive performance and are quite affordable. From American muscle cars that offer incredible horsepower-per-dollar propositions to refined Japanese and Italian sports cars that prioritize cornering ability.
Check out the following slides to learn which of these sports cars, which all start below $40,000, are right for you!