7 Certifiably Killer Cars You Can Still Pick Up For Less Than $15,000
It’s getting more and more difficult to find cheap used cars that are genuinely cool. It can feel frustrating at times if you really want something exceptional, but you’re on a very tight budget. The great cheap cars haven’t completely gone away, though. A whole bunch of cool sports cars, sports sedans, and hot hatches are still out there for less than $15,000. It’s not just underappreciated models, either. Quite a few of the cars on this list are ones that enthusiasts legitimately want to have in their collections.
7
Toyota MR2 (W10)
Average Used Value: $7,950 (Automatic), $14,075 (Manual)
The original Toyota MR2 is one of the most iconic Japanese sports cars of all time. It was built to a philosophy of “simplify and add lightness”, and cleverly incorporated Corolla components into a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive layout. The result was a fantastic budget sports car that mixes real driving fun with cheap running costs and near-indestructible Japanese reliability. It’s also super easy to maintain, thanks to how many components it uses from the Toyota parts bin.
You can get these cars for remarkably low prices. If you’re willing to settle for an automatic transmission, you may only end up spending around $7,950 for one. Most enthusiasts are going to want the manual, though, and that commands a significant premium. Manual transmission W10s have an average value of around $14,000 on the used market. While that’s still fairly affordable, you really do notice that premium. It’ll likely only increase with time, too, as manual transmission sports cars become rarer and more desirable.
6
Chevrolet Corvette (C4)
Average Used Value: $13,380
No, this isn’t a mistake. You can genuinely get a Corvette for less than $15,000! The base model variant of the C4 Chevrolet Corvette is currently sitting at an average used value of around $13,000. What you get for that money is an overlooked but still fantastic iteration of the Corvette, powered by the classic Chevy small-block V8. With the C4 well into modern classic status and a large aftermarket community centered around it, there aren’t many better choices out there for this budget.
5
Ford Mustang GT (SN95)
Average Used Value: $13,322
The SN95 Ford Mustang is one of the most overlooked Mustang generations. That’s a shame, as it has quite a few things going for it. Not only is it significantly better-looking than the Fox Body Mustang it replaced, but it also signalled a shift back towards greatness for the model. That was helped by the GT model, which had genuinely great V8 performance. It initially had the same 5-liter V8 the Fox Body Mustang GT had. But later on, it was given the all-new 4.6-liter modular V8. While some enthusiasts like the old 5-liter engine more, the 4.6 has proven to be a powerful, reliable and hassle-free unit.
4
Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA)
Average Used Value: $11,524
You can’t talk about fun and cheap cars without mentioning the NA Mazda Miata. Another Japanese sports car built around a “simplify and add lightness” design philosophy combined with near-indestructible Japanese reliability, the Miata quickly became the most successful sports car of all time. It was never expensive brand new, and used, it’s even more of a bargain. You can pick up an NA Miata for around $11,500 now, and for that money you likely won’t find anything much better. It’s great just as it is from the factory, or with plenty of modifications sourced from its strong aftermarket community.
3
Volkswagen Golf R32 (Mark 5)
Average Used Value: $11,217
The high-performance versions of the Volkswagen Golf have always been great entry points for anyone who wants a fast and cool car on the cheap. The Mark 5 has a couple of the best high-performance Golf variants ever. The best of them has to be the R32, powered by Volkswagen’s legendary 3.2-liter VR6 engine. The average used value of this Mark 5 Golf variant is around $11,000 today. That’s amazing value for money for a powerful, all-wheel drive hot hatch!
2
Pontiac Fiero GT
Average Used Value: $10,795
The Pontiac Fiero has always had a reputation of being a bit of an ugly duckling. It had quite a lot of teething troubles when it was new, and people didn’t really forget about them. The initial 4-cylinder cars were also extremely underpowered for a two-seater sports car. Pontiac did manage to fix those issues, though. One of the ways those issues were fixed was by creating the GT model. Instead of the asthmatic 4-cylinder, the GT has a 2.8-liter V6. That finally gave the Fiero the performance its customers wanted, turning it into a real pocket rocket that’s become surprisingly cool as the years have rolled on.
If you want a Pontiac Fiero GT these days, you can expect to pay around $11,0005 for one. That makes it the second cheapest car on this list, and the cheapest of all the sports cars here too. It may not be as lauded as the MR2 or the Miata. But it’s a fun American-made alternative. Plus, there’s always the ability to use its platform for fun special builds or replicas.
1
Chrysler 300C
Average Used Value: $10,364
The Chrysler 300C is a real oddity of the 2000s. It was based on a Mercedes-Benz platform (thanks to the Daimler-Chrysler merger), and it has chintzy styling that’s somewhat divisive. As time has gone on, though, it has become a real standout as a distinctive car available at an incredibly low price. While you can find individual examples of the 6.1-liter SRT8 at low prices, you’re more likely to get a bargain 300C if you go for a variant powered by the Pentastar V6 or the 5.7-liter V8. These more regular examples have an average used value of around $10,000. That makes the 300C the cheapest car on this list overall, and definitely one of the quirkier choices to boot.
Sources: Classic.com, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Mazda, Pontiac, Toyota, Volkswagen
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