For 15 grand, do you really want to be driving an entry level, but brand-new, Toyota Yaris or something that can put a smile on your face every time you hop behind the wheel?
Yes, if you’re all about trouble-free driving and don’t know, don’t care about the difference between a numb steering and a communicative one that makes you feel exactly what the front wheels are doing, then any new car with warranty will be a better choice for you. If, on the other hand, you consider yourself a driving enthusiast, there’s nothing new out there for even close to $15,000. In fact, you’re looking at least mid-$20s for a base manual RWD sports car.
So, for this list, we decided to look for sports cars with rear-wheel drive and a stick shift with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer. Are they the only choices out there? No, but these cars are really rewarding and fun to drive. Just bear in mind that we didn’t comb over any of these finds, so buyers should do due diligence before signing on the dotted line.
Think we should have included something else in the list? No problem – we’d love it if you shared your finds in the comments.
BMW 540i
The only (true) sedan we added to the list for those of you who need the practicality of an extra set of doors and boot space is the 291hp (295PS) V8 BMW 540i E39. For about 50 percent of the price of the increasingly appreciating 400PS E39 M5, you’ll get about 80 percent of the joy, so not a bad deal. You’ll probably want the more desirable 2003 540i M Sport, but they’re actually rarer than M5s, and as such, often, overpriced. For example, this 2003 540i M Sport with 83k miles is listed at $14,995 but we’ve seen examples with fewer than 60,000 miles going for under $13,000 on Autotrader. If you don’t care about the M part, there’s a 2001 540i Sport with 86k miles for $11,500. Just be prepared for the cost / time of fixing things that will go wrong, from leaky mirrors and windows to the dreaded Vanos issue.
Porsche Boxster
With prices of older 944 and 968 models on the rise, the Boxster is the cheapest modern Porsche you can get these days. It’s a focused ride that encompasses the spirit of the larger and more expensive 911 with a more balanced chassis thanks to the mid-mounted engine. That’s not to say it doesn’t come with its own set of problems, especially the early models that are prone to the dreaded IMS bearing failure, so you should check that it’s got this one fixed or you’re in for trouble. A 2002 Boxster with 46k miles is listed on eBay with a ‘Buy it Now’ price of $13,950, while we also found a newer 2005 Boxster with 81k miles for $14,900.
Pontiac GTO
This is an odd one, but GM’s Australian import, based on the Holden Monaro, is Pontiac’s last muscle coupe, so that’s got to count for something. It’s never going to look as cool as the first two gens from the ‘60s and ‘70s with that soap-bar styling, but with zero to 60mph (96km/h) taking only 5.3s and the quarter mile 13.8s for the 2004MY 350hp LS1 5.7L V8, and even less for the more desirable 2005/6MY 400hp LS2 6.0L V8 from 2005/6, at 4.7s and 13.0s respectively, you can smoke those rear tires like there’s no tomorrow. For $13,900, this yellow 2005 Pontiac GTO with 91k miles could become yours to play with.
Mazda RX-8
Yes, we’re well aware of the reliability problems and thirstiness of Mazda’s rotary engines (just ask Andrea), but that makes them one helluva of a deal. Plus the RX-8 is a two-in-one sports car package, thanks to its suicide style rear doors that let you fit two more people (human- and not pint-sized ones) at the back when needed. And hey, $9,750 gets you a 2005 RX-8 with just 35k miles.
Editor’s Choice: Nissan 350Z
Nissan’s 350Z is the best bang for your buck at this price point, probably the most reliable, the second most affordable after the RX-8 and considered by many to be more balanced than its replacement, the 370Z. You can find a sea of 350Zs for as low as $10k or even less, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg for maintenance and repairs. You’d probably want to go with the prettier and slightly more powerful facelifted version from 2006-2008 (the 2006 has 300hp and the 2007/2008’s 306hp), but if the Scrooge in you craves for bigger savings, you can pick an early 287hp one from 2004-2005. There are plenty to choose from, like this 2006 350Z with 77k miles for $10,950.