The Sports Cars You Could Buy Instead Of Leasing A Corvette Grand Sport For $1,800 A Month
Just a few months ago, Chevrolet debuted the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X. At the heart of the new C8 generation GS model is the latest generation of Chevrolet’s iconic LS-based small-block V-8 engine, dubbed the LS6, a 6.7-liter naturally-aspirated V-8 producing 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. The 2027 GS X adds AWD capability and increases the overall output to 721 hp via its front-axle electric motor setup.
Without question, the GS X is the definition of an everyday supercar. The only issue is that it costs $1,799 per month on a 39-month lease, with $3,839 due at signing. That total makes the effective monthly payment equal to $1,897, before considering taxes or fees. That’s $22,764 per year for a car you don’t own and will cost you $73,983 over the course of a 39-month lease. For the same amount, you could buy a whole list of other options that feel just as special to drive and will still provide some return on investment when you decide to sell. Using Classic.com one-year price average data, we have produced a list of sports cars you could buy for the same cost as a new lease on a 2027 Grand Sport X.
All 1-Year Average Price valuations have been sourced from Classic.com
BMW M5 (F90)
1-Year Average Price: $40,036
The fact that you can obtain a vehicle with the level of luxury and performance found in the F90 generation BMW M5 for only about $40,000 is stunning. The base output of the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine powering the M5 is 591 horsepower, and that power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
With a little aftermarket tuning, this engine could easily produce more horsepower than the Grand Sport X while maintaining the practicality of a five-seater sedan. We found a 2018 example with 120,000 miles that sold for only $25,750, and models with over 100,000 miles regularly sell for sub-$30,000. That means you could own an F90 M5 for nearly the cost of a single year of leasing a GS X.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
1-Year Average Price: $44,475
Despite being one of the best-looking high-performance sedans on the market, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is no stranger to the effects of depreciation. The Alfa Romeo Giulia is actually the third-worst luxury sedan in terms of resale value after three years, losing almost 60% of its base price in that time.
This makes the Giulia Quadrifoglio an absolute steal on the used market, and its 503-hp 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine will make you a believer. The Quadrifoglio is Italian passion at its best and certainly provides more theater than a GS X, even at legal road speeds. Most buyers shy away, as high ownership costs are a certainty with this platform, but when has a daily-drivable vehicle with a Ferrari engine been low-maintenance? If you can handle almost $2,000 a month for a lease, you can certainly handle the contingency costs that come as part of Quadrifoglio ownership.
BMW M2 Competition (F87)
1-Year Average Price: $49,162
For just under $50,000, you can experience one of the finest modern sports coupes ever produced. The F87 generation BMW M2 Competition is the perfect luxury daily driver that can also be a capable track car. Unlike the GS X, the M2 Competition is available with both a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and has its power sent exclusively to the rear wheels.
The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged S55 inline-six may not be quite as capable as its successor, BMW’s S58 inline-six, but it still packs a strong punch. With a little bit of added boost and some good fuel, the M2 Competition will surely give the GS X a run for its money. What’s even more amazing is that a 2020 example sold in September 2025 for only $31,250 with 39,000 miles. If that isn’t a steal, we don’t know what is. Finding these muscular high-performance German coupes is certainly possible in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, even if the average is higher.
Cadillac CTS-V (3rd Gen)
1-Year Average Price: $51,688
If the feeling of a push-rod 6.2-liter V-8 engine is what you specifically desire, then the third-generation Cadillac CTS-V should easily quench your thirst. With the help of a supercharger, the LT4 engine powering the CTS-V produces 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
A simple tune and pulley upgrade will have GS X owners quaking in their boots when they see this luxury sedan pull up. You could have a faster car than a six-figure Corvette for less than half the money, and it can also seat five occupants in comfort. What’s not to love? Even better, we found a 2016 example that sold in November 2025 for $32,250 with 108,000 miles. Even a 50,000-mile 2017 example sold in November 2025 for only $46,500, a significant discount from the average. Considering the performance and driving experience you are getting for that price, the overall package is hard to beat.
Audi R8 V-8 (Gen 1)
1-Year Average Price: $61,803
The people who say the V-10 variant of the Audi R8 is the only one worth buying are usually the same people who have never driven either variant of this legendary two-door German coupe. The V-8 model may be the less desirable one according to market prices, but this is a knowledge gap waiting to be taken advantage of by the right buyer.
The naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V-8 engine still generates 414 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque and is available with a gated six-speed manual or a six-speed single-clutch automated manual. It may not be as fast in a straight line as a GS X, but the Audi R8’s performance in the corners is nothing to scoff at. Let’s not forget the supercar level of sex appeal you are unlocking for a price under $60,000. The best deal we found on a first-generation R8 V-8 model is from this month, June 2026, where a 2008 example with 106,000 miles sold for $43,000. In the UK, these R8 models are selling for around $30,000, even in the more desirable manual transmission specification. That is amazing value for the right shopper who wants a car that feels special every time they go for a drive.
Porsche Cayman GTS (981)
1-Year Average Price: $62,744
Another German coupe that feels special every time you get behind the wheel is the 981-generation Porsche Cayman GTS. Production of this rare GTS model only lasted from 2015 to 2016, and the GTS was the highest trim available before stepping up to the collectible GT4 model.
The 3.4-liter flat-six engine powering the Cayman GTS produces 340 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque and can be mated to either a seven-speed PDK or a six-speed manual transmission. This flat-six is an absolute gem that still feels fast on the street and provides a quality of aural feedback that would bring any driving enthusiast to tears. The 981 GTS’s curb weight barely scratches 3,000 pounds and feels light and nimble in a way the GS X could never replicate. The best recent deal we found was a PDK-equipped 2016 example with 52,000 miles for $52,500. Not a single manual model has traded hands within the last year, demonstrating the rarity level of this high-performance German sports car.
Lotus Evora 400
1-Year Average Price: $62,744
A two-door sports coupe that is even rarer than a 981 Cayman GTS is the Lotus Evora 400. This British sports car comes exclusively with a 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 engine producing 400 hp and 302 lb-ft, mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Other notable upgrades include an entire body redesign, which makes the Evora look significantly more aggressive than its previous iterations while also increasing performance. Just like the 981 Cayman, the Evora 400’s curb weight barely exceeds 3,000 pounds, making it one of the most dynamic sports cars you can purchase at this price point. The rarity of these British coupes is notable, and only five examples have been sold in the past year. Of the Evora 400s that did sell, the best deal was a 2017 example that sold in January 2026 with 43,000 miles for $57,500. The Evora 400 may not offer the same outright performance as a GS X, but it feels just as special and certainly more engaging when near the limit of grip.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C7)
1-Year Average Price: $76,389
Sometimes the best alternative to a Corvette is another Corvette. The Z06 model of the C7-generation Chevrolet Corvette was introduced in the 2015 model year. With a supercharged 6.2-liter producing 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, with power sent directly to the rear wheels, you can’t really go wrong.
The beauty of the C7 Z06 is that it is also available with either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Around a racetrack, the C7 Z06 equipped with the Z07 performance package is faster than a C8 GS X. The C7 Z06 features carbon-ceramic brakes, track-specific suspension tuning, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires while being several hundred pounds lighter than the C8 GS X. Out of all the cars on our list, the C7 Z06 trades hands at a much higher rate, with 112 verified sales within the last year. The best deal we found during that period was a 2016 manual-transmission example that sold in November 2025 with 82,000 miles for $41,500. It will cost you more to lease a C8 GS X for two years than it would be to just buy a C7 Z06 outright.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (C8)
1-Year Average Price: $77,514
What can be true once can also be true twice. There is a Corvette for every situation, and the C8-generation Stingray does everything right as long as you don’t want a manual transmission. Yet, with 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque from its 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8, the C8 Stingray provides plenty of engagement. If you desire the mid-engine dynamics and particular look of the C8 Corvette, the Stingray provides that experience and more.
What really sweetens the deal is how cheaply you can find a C8 Stingray on the used market. There have been 99 verified sales within the last year, demonstrating the C8’s popularity in the used market. Yet, we still were able to find multiple examples that sold all within the last three months for less than $48,500. A 2021 example equipped with the 2LT package with 22,000 miles sold for $53,000 only three months ago. Our reasoning for these low prices is simply an excess of inventory, along with the fact that the car is still available new today. In terms of value, the C8 Stingray beats the C8 GS X by a long shot.
Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe (991.2)
1-Year Average Price: $79,586
The new GS X is certainly a special car, but does it feel more special than a 991.2 generation Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe that you could buy for up to $21,000 less? The 991.2 Carrera is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine producing 420 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque, with power sent to the rear wheels only. The 991.2 Carrera was available with either a seven-speed PDK or seven-speed manual transmission, but the latter carries a significant premium on the used market.
For example, of the nine verified PDK-equipped 991.2 Carrera Coupe sales this past year, the best deal was a 2017 example that sold in July 2025 for $53,000 with 88,000 miles. Another 2017 example, with only 32,000 miles, sold in December 2025 for $68,500—still thousands less than a lease on a GS X. If you want a manual-equipped model, it’s a different story. The best deal in the last year was a 2017 example with 23,000 miles that sold in March 2026 for $89,750. For around $50,000 to $60,000, a PDK-equipped 991.2 Carrera is a certified steal, and you will still have equity left when you sell years later. The GS X may be attractive, but you have a lot of legitimate competitors around that price point.
Sources: BMW, Alfa Romeo, Cadillac, Audi, Porsche, Lotus, Chevrolet, Classic.com
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