If you are willing to go secondhand, you don't have to pay a lot to drive an interesting car. Cool cheap cars are out there, and while everyone's definition of the word varies most of the time a cool car is one that is either fun to drive, great looking, or just offers a certain style and image that appeals across a wide range of demographics. Some cool affordable cars are harder to find than others due to their relatively low production numbers, but the miracle of depreciation has put many intriguing automobiles within the reach of the average driver.
Let's take a quick look at 10 cool cheap cars out there on the used market.
A used Honda S2000 provides a stunning combination of performance and value. There's no doubt that the dashing two-seat drop top is one of the more exotic-looking cool cheap cars, but its Honda drivetrain helps to ensure that a used Honda S2000 won't come with Italian-level repair and maintenance bills. A 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine produces 237 horsepower, sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, and the S2000 is a favorite amongst track enthusiasts looking for a dual-purpose car that they can also run on the street without having to worry about reliability.
Cool Cheap Cars - 02. Used Subaru WRX
A used Subaru WRX has long been the target of compact car enthusiasts seeking cool affordable cars to modify for more speed, better handling, or hotter looks. A used Subaru WRX is a tuner's dream thanks to the fact that its turbocharged, 2.5-liter engine responds exceptionally well to modifications, allowing it to surge past its stock 265 horsepower. A standard all-wheel drive system makes the WRX a viable option in the wet, in the snow, and on dry tarmac, and a five-speed manual transmission helps to manage the vehicle's output. The Subaru can also be had in either sedan or hatchback body styles, adding further versatility to what is already a well-rounded car.
Cool Cheap Cars - 03. Used Ford Mustang GT
American muscle depreciates quickly, especially when considering a used Ford Mustang GT. The Ford Mustang GT has undergone several revisions over the past few years that have seen prices on older models drop like a stone, which helps the coupe qualify for inclusion on our list of cool cheap cars. 2010 and earlier models might not have the same level of power as the current edition of the car, but 315 horses from a 4.6-liter V-8 is nothing to sneer at. Transmission choices for the retro-styled Mustang include a five-speed manual and a five-speed automatic, and the GT can reach 60-mph from a standing start in just a few ticks over five seconds.
Cool Cheap Cars - 04. Used Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V
A used Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V flies a little under the radar as far as cool affordable cars go, which means that there's a bit more exclusivity associated with owning this model. Secondhand versions of the compact sedan still have a lot in common with the new version of the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, which adds even more value to the equation. The SE-R Spec V adds a stiff suspension system, bigger brakes, and a snazzy body kit to the standard Sentra platform, and it also introduces a 200 horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is shifted exclusively via a six-speed manual transmission.
Cool Cheap Cars - 05. Used Mazda RX-8
A used Mazda RX-8 makes it onto our list of cool cheap cars thanks to its lightweight design, supernatural cornering capability, and unique rotary engine. The Mazda RX-8 is also noteworthy for offering a coupe body style that comes with an additional set of small rear-hinged doors that provide easy access to the vehicle's very livable rear quarters. The RX-8's 1.3-liter Renesis rotary engine can be relied on to produce up to 232 horsepower when matched with its available six-speed manual transmission - output that comes at a staggering 9,000 rpm, giving the Mazda even more of a race car feel. A six-speed automatic gearbox can also be had with used editions of the RX-8.
Cool Cheap Cars - 06. Used Jeep Wrangler
It's an almost universal truth: Jeeps are cool cheap cars, and used Jeep Wranglers are some of the best of the bunch. No, a Jeep Wrangler might not be fast, nor is it particularly comfortable, but there's something about the SUV's almost unstoppable off-road capabilities that gives it a rugged charm. Add in the fact that you can peel off the top - and remove the doors - and you have a winning formula for coolness. A 3.8-liter V-6 motivates older Jeep Wranglers and it offers up 202 horsepower and can be shifted via either a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is, of course, standard with the Wrangler.
Cool Cheap Cars - 07. Used Honda Civic Si
A used Honda Civic Si is not only a cool affordable car, but it also happens to be a practical one, especially if found as a sedan instead of a coupe. A Honda Civic Si looks a bit sportier than its standard cousin, but slipping behind the wheel reveals that the changes to the compact car's platform are far more than skin deep. Extensive chassis tuning helps to make the Civic Si an entirely different beast, giving it surprisingly neutral handling for a front-wheel drive car. The Civic Si also features a high-revving 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that blasts out 197 horsepower. A six-speed manual is the only gearbox to be found with the Civic Si.
Cool Cheap Cars - 08. Used MINI Cooper
Although they are a bit pricy when new, a used MINI Cooper hatchback satisfies the coolness quotient required to be on this list while also offering a comfortable and nimble ride, the availability of high end features, and better-than-expected practicality given the ability to fold down its rear seats and haul a respectable amount of cargo. A used MINI Cooper's base engine is a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder unit that is tapped to produce 118 horsepower, and the choice must be made between six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. All editions of the car come with its iconic, 60's-influenced styling.
Cool Cheap Cars - 09. Used Nissan Cube
A used Nissan Cube proves that cool affordable cars don't have to be fast - sometimes, they just need to be funky. The Nissan Cube wears its Japanese-influenced styling with pride, offering North American buyers the chance the drive something that hasn't been watered down by the need to accommodate foreign markets. The rounded rectangle that is this compact crossover is weird and wonderful at the same time, especially considering the patch of shag carpet that it wears on its dashboard and the transparent rear pillar designed to help improve visibility for the driver. The Cube is powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that is good for 122 ponies, and transmission options include a six-speed manual and a continuously-variable automatic.
Cool Cheap Cars - 10. Used Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
Sport trucks are a lot of fun, and a used Toyota Tacoma X-Runner is one of the slickest-looking cool affordable cars around. The Toyota Tacoma X-Runner offers a slammed suspension system, a ground effects kit, 18-inch rims, sticky rubber, a loud stereo, and a hood scoop to charm fans of trucks that are designed to do more than just haul and tow. The X-Runner, which is available as an Access Cab model (seating for as many as five passengers), comes with the Tacoma's top-tier 4.0-liter V-6. This gives the driver 236 horsepower to play with, and depending on whether you are more into show or go, the X-Runner can be picked up with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission.