These Sports Cars Have Finally Become Affordable In 2026

A brand new sports car is not a small purchase. Even the no-frills Subaru BRZ has jumped into the high-$30,000s in recent years, and Honda’s new Prelude coupe is demanding over $40,000 right out of the gate. This means that enthusiasts on a budget have nearly no choice but to turn to the used market.

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Luckily, there is an array of performance cars that once demanded high prices, but have now depreciated into bargain status. From European grand tourers to lightweight purist coupes, here are eight sports cars that frugal enthusiasts can finally afford in 2026.

8

BMW M2 Competition (F87)

Price Range: $35K-$43K

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BMW M2 Competition	405 HP	406 LB-FT	4.0 seconds

In 2018, BMW was essentially forced to retire its original M2 performance coupe, as its N55 inline-six no longer complied with tightened emissions regulations in Europe. The M2 Competition arrived as a swift replacement, and it featured a detuned variant of the S55 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six from the larger M3 and M4. The Competition also adopted the M4’s carbon fiber strut bar for improved front-end rigidity, as well as a new cooling system, larger M Sport brakes, and upgraded sport seats. Production ran until 2021, when it was replaced by the current G87-generation M2.

The M2 Competition started at almost $60,000 when new, and fully loaded models easily reached the $70,000 mark. Today, buyers can pick up a higher-mileage example for half that price, though the higher end of the market with lower-mileage examples still creeps well past $40,000. One example with 66,000 miles sold on Bring a Trailer for $35,500, and another with 42,000 miles sold for $43,500.

7

Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Price Range: $21K-$44K

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The Jaguar F-Type was created as a spiritual successor to the front-engine, two-seater sports cars like the E-Type that initially put the British marque on the map. It was introduced as the halo model for the automaker’s modern renaissance under Indian automaker Tata Motors, and it was aimed at the likes of the Porsche 911 as a more emotional alternative.

While the new-age sports car received a variety of engine options and design refreshes over its lengthy 11-year production span, the base coupe variant of the first iteration is consistently the most affordable. It packs a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and rear-wheel drive, arguably offering much more power and aural drama than later-production four-cylinder base models. Examples range from the 2014 to 2018 model years with an average price of $42,971, according to The Classic Valuer. This is a notable drop from the original starting price of around $65,000.

6

Audi TT RS (8J)

Price Range: $20K-$37K

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With the TT RS, Audi looked to elevate the compact TT sports car into a true track monster, which was achieved by tapping into the automaker’s 5-cylinder heritage. The first iteration of the hardcore TT landed in North America in 2012 with a 2.5-liter TFSI turbocharged inline-five, which sent power to all four wheels with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. U.S. models were sold exclusively with a six-speed manual.

The TT RS sold for around $56,000 when new, and Audi only produced roughly 1,000 units for the United States. Today, the sports car can be found for much less despite its low production numbers. Prices average at $37,800, according to The Classic Valuer, which is on point with a low-mileage Bring a Trailer listing that sold for $37,500.

5

Porsche Cayman (981)

Price Range: $24K-$39K

Bring a Trailer

The 981 generation of the Porsche Cayman debuted for the 2014 model year as a larger, more refined iteration of its 987 predecessor. Hydraulic steering was traded for an electronic power system, and the interior featured more polished ergonomics and higher-end materials. Today, the 981 is known as the last Cayman to use naturally-aspirated flat-six engines across its entire lineup, as the later 718 base models were equipped with a turbocharged flat-four.

While the 981 Cayman started at just over $50,000 when new, used examples range from as low as half the original price to almost $40,000. This example, with 45,000 miles on the odometer, sold on Bring a Trailer for a shockingly reasonable $31,500. Even lower-mileage examples of the base Cayman are somehow immune to the wild Porsche price inflation, as this 11,000-mile example sold for a very sane $37,500.

It’s worth noting, however, that the base model is the only Cayman variant to benefit from steep depreciation, as the GTS and GT4 models remain highly sought after. Even the S variant with its larger 3.4-liter flat-six still demands significantly higher prices.

4

Lotus Evora S

Price Range: $32K-$49K

CarGurus

The Lotus Evora S served as a step up from the base variant when it launched for the 2011 model year. Like the rest of the Evora model line, the S was meant to blend the automaker’s raw, lightweight ethos with a more practical and usable 2+2 layout, but it compensated for many of the flaws of the entry-level model. The ‘S’ in its name stood for supercharged, as it filled in for the lack of lower-end torque that plagued the naturally-aspirated base Evora. It also added a more aggressive exhaust note, sharper steering, and a stiffer suspension.

The Evora S demanded a hefty sum of around $80,000 when it was new, and factory options quickly catapulted this price further into the sky. Luckily, buyers can now pick one up for around half its original value. This clean example with 39,000 miles sold for a modest $36,000 on Bring a Trailer. Another example with rare Velvet Red paint and 42,000 miles sold for $47,500.

3

Lexus RC F

Price Range: $29K-$45K

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The Lexus RC F coupe debuted in 2014, aiming to solidify the automaker’s F performance division as a worthy challenger to AMG and M. This track-focused variant of the RC sent immense power to the rear wheels exclusively, and it featured a raw 5.0-liter, naturally-aspirated V8 engine under the hood. While heavier and less sharp than its German rivals, the RC F delivered solid Lexus reliability alongside its charming, high-revving driving character.

The RC F was worth around $60,000 when new, and fully-loaded, later-production Final Edition models climbed towards the $100,000 mark. Today, The Classic Valuer reports an average used price of $38,988, excluding the high-dollar special editions that arrived at the end of the Japanese sports car’s production run. This example on Bring a Trailer fetched just $39,250, even in spite of its low mileage.

2

Jaguar XKR

Price Range: $8K-$26K

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Upon its North American release for 2007, the second-generation Jaguar XKR offered exhilarating power and razor-sharp handling while preserving the grand touring ethos of the standard XK. It pushed out massive power from its supercharged V8 engine, propelling it from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, and it benefited from a lightweight aluminum monocoque chassis.

As one would expect from a potent British grand tourer, the XKR was not cheap when new. Prices started at around $85,000 during its 2007 debut year, and a mid-cycle refresh for 2010 creeped up into the six figures. However, values have plummeted since then, allowing buyers to get their hands on this sophisticated two-door for an astoundingly modest average of $26,784, according to The Classic Valuer.

1

Maserati GranTurismo

Price Range: $9K-$34K

Maserati

The Maserati GranTurismo was created to serve as a cushy, high-speed grand tourer that connected the brand’s two-door performance heritage with its lineup of four-door sedans at the time. The GranTurismo stood out from its German and British rivals with its sonorous Ferrari-derived V8 and gorgeous Italian styling. The first-generation model remained on sale for 12 years, and its naturally-aspirated V8 held out for the entire production run.

Today, Maserati’s lineup holds a reputation for falling victim to steep depreciation, and the GranTurismo doesn’t disappoint. While it demanded an eye-watering price tag of around $110,000 when it debuted in 2008, today’s values have dipped to an average of $34,178, according to The Classic Valuer. Pricing can even reach lows of around $10,000 if the title is not clean.

Sources: Audi, BMW, Bring a Trailer, Jaguar, Lexus, Lotus, Maserati, Porsche, The Classic Valuer