You don’t need to be a millionaire to own a great sports car. In fact, some of the best can be bought under $10K – that’s less than a down payment on a house! If you’re on the lookout for your next daily or weekend car, check out our top affordable recommendations budget sports cars below!
Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GTI
Why we like it: Fun to drive, improved traction, sporty exterior, smooth controls
Specs:
- 2.0L 4-cyl 147kW engine with 280Nm of torque
- Fuel economy: 8.1L/100km
- 0-100km/h in 7.2 sec
- Power to Weight ratio: 108.1 kW/t
- Features: Sport seats, rear spoiler, 10-speaker sound system, electronic stability program
2010 Ford Focus XR5 Turbo
Why we like it: big engine, responsive chassis, roomy interior, sensible enough for daily driving
Specs:
- 2.5L 5-cyl low-boost turbo engine with 166kW power and 320Nm torque
- Fuel economy: 9.3L/100km
- 0-100km/h in 6.6s
- Power to Weight ratio: 117.9 kW/t
- Features: Sporty look, leather steering wheel, sports suspension, twin XR5 exhaust
BMW E36 325i
Why we like it: take proper care of it and it’ll last you a long time. You can do most fixes yourself if you have some mechanical know-how. And the rear wheel drive is a big plus for those who love burnouts.
Specs:
- 2.5L 6-cyl 141kW engine with 245Nm of torque
- Fuel economy: 8.8L/100km
- 0-100km/h in 8s
- Power to Weight ratio: 97.3 kW/t
- Features: contoured sports seats, cruise control, convertible option, rear wheel drive
Suzuki Swift Sport ZC32S
Why we like it: Excellent handling and grip, sporty interior, great fuel economy
Specs:
- 1.6L 4-cyl 100kW engine with 160Nm of torque
- Fuel economy: 6.1L/100km
- 0-100km/h in 8.1s
- Power to Weight ratio: 94.3 kW/t
- Features: Sport seats, oversize dual exhaust, push-to-start, xenon headlights, adjustable steering wheel
2009 Volvo C30 T5 R-Design
Why we like it: fun drive despite the stiff suspension, plenty of legroom, comfortable interior and seats, retro styling
Specs:
- 2.5L 5-cyl 169kW engine with 320Nm of torque
- Fuel economy: 8.7L/100km
- 0-100km/h in 6.7s
- Power to Weight ratio: 121.8 kW/t
- Features: folding side mirrors, sports upholstery, driver’s power seat, high performance 8-speaker sound system
What's your favourite budget sports car?