12 Affordable 400+ HP Sleeper Sedans On The Used Market
We all love a sports car or muscle car, but when life gets in the way, it’s normally time to give in and go and buy a sensible four-door sedan. But that doesn’t mean you have to trade in your performance car thrills. There are plenty of red-hot sleeper sedans lurking in the classifieds that have 400 horsepower or more – in other words, up there with a lot of muscle cars – wrapped into nice, sensible, spacious bodies. Yes, you might be better off getting a low-powered sedan or SUV, especially if fuel bills are a priority, but where’s the fun in that?
1
Audi S6: $10,300
Power: 435 HP
What sets the Audi S6 (C6) apart from most sleeper sedans (OK, aside from the E60 BMW M5) is the fact it has a V10 rather than a V8. The car arrived at a time when Audi had taken over Lamborghini and so its V10 shared engineering DNA with the Gallardo engine. The all-wheel-drive S6 is the very essence of a sleeper, making do without the go-faster bodywork of the even more potent RS6, in favor of a silhouette that isn’t that much different from your average A6 repmobile.
The V10 pushes 435 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, enough to take the Audi S6 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. These cars are ridiculously cheap, with 2010 models coming in at $10,300, says Classic.com. This is a supercar-sounding sleeper for a fraction of the price.
Where research meets the right deal
2
Volkswagen Phaeton W12: $13,150
Power: 420 HP
In the early 2000s, renowned Volkswagen Group chairman Ferdinand Piëch wanted to build a world-class luxury sedan capable of taking on Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The result was the Phaeton, an engineering masterpiece that packed a 6.0-liter, 48-valve W12 producing 420 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, sending power to all four wheels through a five-speed automatic. Despite tipping the scales at a hefty 5,436 pounds, it still managed a 5.5-second 0–60 mph run.
None of that performance was obvious from behind the wheel. With its understated bodywork and almost Passat-like appearance, the Phaeton looked anything but exotic. Volkswagen charged $recent W12 auctions94,600 for the W12 in the U.S., putting it firmly in six-figure territory once options and taxes were factored in. Today, the Phaeton averages $13,150 across the lineup, while recent W12 auctions have dipped below that figure, making this 12-cylinder monster an astonishing bargain.
3
Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG: $19,300
Power: 469 HP
There is something wonderful about how desirable a car can be that is related to the taxis you see everywhere in Germany. The Benz E-Class may be ubiquitous, but with a body kit, some nice wheels, and an AMG badge, it is adored the world over. Oh, did we mention the engine? Yes, that bit has changed too. You won’t find a rattly, oil-burning diesel under the hood of an E55; Instead, staring back at you is a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine that generates 469 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Expect 60 mph to arrive in around 4.5 seconds. The W211 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG from 2005 has an average price of just $19,300.
4
Dodge Charger SRT-8: $21,800
Power: 425 HP
When the Dodge Charger returned for its sixth generation, it was at the forefront of the second golden era of muscle cars. Gone were the underpowered relics of the past, and replaced by a distinctly old-school-looking sedan. But behind those retro looks, the Charger was a modern sports sedan, especially the powerful SRT-8 versions. These cars come fitted with a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 that pumps out 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The SRT-8 model will hit 60 mph in around five seconds. The sixth-gen Chargers sold well and are relative bargains today. You can pick up a 2009 SRT8 for $21,800, says Classic.com.
5
Porsche Panamera Turbo: $24,500
Power: 500 HP
Porsche had toyed with the idea of a kind of four-door sedan version of the 911 for years, then the Cayenne arrived in 2002, and you could be excused for thinking that this fast SUV might be it. But in 2009, the Panamera took the stage, and while it may not have a rear engine like the 911, this big sedan certainly looked like a version of the iconic Stuttgart sports car for the whole family. The first-gen’s looks arguably weren’t as resolved as later models, but there was no denying that the Panamera was a sleek alternative to the classic sedans of Mercedes and BMW.
The Turbo version arrived in 2010 with a bonkers twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 engine under its 911-like hood. This mill pumps out a mighty 500 horsepower in U.S. versions and is mated to a twin-clutch ‘PDK’ 7-speed automatic transmission and channeled into all four corners. Acceleration is rapid, with 60 mph arriving in 4.1 seconds. These cars are pretty cheap these days, considering their near-supercar power, if a slightly intimidating used buy. Pick up a first-gen Panamera Turbo for roughly $24,500, says Classic.com.
6
Pontiac G8 GXP: $25,000
Power: 415 HP
Just before Pontiac shut down for good, the company produced arguably one of its best muscle cars of recent times (if not ever). The G8 GXP may have been closely related to the Aussie-built Holden Commodore, but the ingredients are pure American muscle car.
The sedan had a Corvette-sourced 6.2-liter LS3 V8 stuffed in the nose, producing 415 horsepower, all delivered to the rear wheels. The fact that you could take the whole family for the ride (please drive carefully) was a definite bonus. It was the last hurrah for troubled Pontiac, with the company sadly going out of business in 2010. Expect the GXP to hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The G8 family has an average price of $25,000, says Classic.com, and even though the Corvette-powered GXP offers far better performance than the base model or the mid-range GT, recent auction results show it can still be bought for that price.
7
BMW M5 (E60): $25,700
Power: 500 HP
What else is there to say about the E60 M5? Scintillating to drive, scary to own (if you buy a bad one), and a symbol of when carmakers were free to just fit the maddest engine they could dream up into a sedan. The E60 BMW M5 arrived for the 2005 model year fitted with the company’s S85 engine, a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 that generates 500 horsepower and is inspired by the F1 engines of the time.
You only get rear-wheel drive – there is no fancy all-wheel-drive system here – and if affordability is the top priority, you’ll have to settle for models equipped with the 7-speed SMG automated manual, as the stick shift versions command a huge premium. The M5 hits 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Expect to pay on average $25,700 for early 2005 examples, says Classic.com, but it’s a car that will benefit from proper maintenance.
8
Lexus IS F: $26,350
Power: 416 HP
The Lexus IS F isn’t a sports sedan that instantly springs to mind, with the likes of BMW’s M3 and M5 normally being more associated with fast four doors. But the XE20 Lexus is an epic piece of kit, with a 5.0-liter V8 that delivers 416 horsepower and 371 lb-ft of torque. This is enough to blast the Lexus down the road to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. The engine is connected to a clever 8-speed automatic transmission that features a manual mode and paddle shifters, and power is directed to the rear wheels only. This is techy Japanese thinking meets old-school muscle car brawn – you can’t help but love it. A 2011 model will cost $26,350 on average, says Classic.com. The bottom line is: it’s bulletproof and a bargain.
9
Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400: $28,100
Power: 400 HP
Infiniti doesn’t command the same prestige as Nissan’s domestic luxury rival, Lexus, but that doesn’t mean the badge has been short on interesting performance cars. The Q50 Red Sport 400 is a prime example. Its VR30DDTT 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 produces 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 0 to 60 of roughly 4.5 seconds.
Red Sport models add larger wheels, upgraded brakes, sportier exhausts, and visual tweaks, but they still look close enough to a regular Q50 to fly under most people’s radar. That makes the car particularly appealing to buyers who want serious pace without the usual performance-sedan theatrics. For the best combination of newer hardware and used-car value, look for post-facelift examples; KBB currently values a 2021 Red Sport 400 at roughly $28,100.
10
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio: $36,300
Power: 505 HP
Alfa Romeo is a company that seems to be constantly trying to capture the magic of its illustrious past, with mixed results. The company managed to get that lightning in a bottle with the Giulia Quadrifoglio. That wasn’t just because the car was fitted with a 505-horsepower 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that was built for Alfa by Ferrari engineers; it was the fact that the company created a car good enough to do this amazing powerplant justice.
Rave reviews after rave reviews have consistently put the Alfa sedan in the top drivers’ car of recent times category, with the Alfa seemingly avoiding the gaudy big alloys and brute force approach of some competitors, in return for a true driver’s car that is achingly desirable. The acceleration to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds means the roar-some Alfa is almost supercar quick too. The fact that 2017 cars now cost on average $36,300, according to Classic.com, makes this modern classic a dream car that a lot of us could actually own.
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