Take a quick look around the automotive market and you’ll notice that sports cars are fading fast. Many have become heavier grand touring cars while others have simply been discontinued altogether. Thankfully, the used car market is full of exceptional sports cars and we’re wondering which ones you think are best for $20,000 or less.
We’ve all watched as prices of both new and used cars have soared over the last few years. Sadly, it seems that trend isn’t going to end anytime soon. $20,000 certainly isn’t enough to get a brand-new sports car of any ilk but it’s more than enough to make some questionable choices on a used model.
One used sports car that’s hard to question is our lead image, the Mazda MX-5 Miata. It’s reliable, it’s very nimble, it provides outstanding balance and feedback, and it’s just practical enough to drive daily. It even has a convertible top for days when the weather is good. Of course, the one thing you won’t get with a Miata is a boatload of horsepower and torque.
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Thankfully, those metrics can still be found in spades across the used car market. A nicely maintained Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, or Dodge Charger would offer more ponies under the hood. While not as reliable as the Miata, they’re fairly easy to maintain and live with every day. What if you want to get a little more extreme though?
C4 and C5 Chevrolet Corvettes aren’t all that tough to find under budget and with the cash saved one could add a bit more power, better suspension components, or more. Perhaps having a more well-rounded sports car is the right move though. In that case, might something from Europe or Japan be a better choice?
For $20,000, a bevy of BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and even Porsche (see Boxster) sports cars are available too, though you should be aware of, and prepared for, higher maintenance and repair costs. Add to that the Nissan Z, some higher mileage Honda S2000s, the Toyota MR2, and the Mitsubishi 3000GT as well as the Eclipse. In the right condition, we can even see some of these appreciating in value over the years.
What do you think though? What’s the best used sports car on the market today for $20,000? Let us know in the comments below!
