10 Best Used Sports Cars Under $30,000

2015 Dodge Challenger RT Scat Pack ・ Photo by Dodge

Sadly, if you’re shopping for a new car that offers a low price and high performance, your options are fairly limited. That said, the best used sports cars under $30,000 can meet both those criteria. With a price ceiling of $30K, you’re still thousands of dollars below the average transaction price of a brand-new vehicle today.

Some of these affordable sports cars can also deliver hundreds of horsepower above the average output of today’s new vehicles. And all of them, even the ones with more modest power ratings, are impressively fun to drive. Nor are you limited to the usual suspects, like the modern-day muscle cars. Sure, we do have a couple of those in our list. But you may be surprised at the premium choices that also made the cut.

2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

Among used sports cars under $30,000, the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is the real deal. As a starting point, the Grand Sport features the same 6.2-liter LS3 V8 that powers the standard 2012 Corvette. That engine delivers 430 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque.

Next, Chevy performance engineers deployed a full range of upgrades, including bigger brakes, a more athletic suspension, enhanced aerodynamics, and either revised gear ratios (for the manual transmission) or a revised rear axle ratio (for the automatic). The result is a track-friendly performer that can zip from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds. It’s also worth noting that the 2012 Corvette Grand Sport is available in both coupe and convertible body styles.

Photo by Chevrolet

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

Prefer to go the muscle-car route when shopping for a used sports car under $30,000? That kind of budget can cover one of the Blue Oval’s modern-day classics: the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302.

The 2012 Boss is in charge of 444 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, which are provided by a 5.0-liter V8 engine. It's based on the unit found in the Mustang GT, but for the Boss, it’s been thoroughly re-engineered for even higher levels of performance. The same holds true for many of the car’s other components. Thanks to hardware such as Brembo front brakes and a five-mode driver-adjustable suspension, the Boss is able to match its blistering acceleration with hot handling, too.

Photo by Ford

2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack

For maximum horsepower under $30,000, a notable option is the new-for-2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack. It packs a massive 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that can crank out 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. Per Dodge, that’s 113 more horses and 65 more pound-feet of torque than you get from the Challenger's 5.7-liter Hemi.

You’ll be able to rip off 0-60 runs in the mid-4-second range with the new motor — and standard launch control — then bring the car to a similarly quick stop with standard Brembo brakes. Also standard are a high-performance suspension, a driver-adjustable power-steering system, and aerodynamic body mods like a front splitter and rear spoiler.

Photo by Dodge

2011 BMW M3

For a touch of European flair on a used sports cars under $30,000, we can recommend the 2011 BMW M3. Now, to be clear, the M3 is available as a coupe or convertible from the 2011 model year. Because of changes to the BMW lineup between then and today, the current M3 is a sedan. The two-door version has evolved into the present-day BMW M4.

Regardless of the nomenclature, the 2011 M3 is ready to race, since it’s backed by a 414-horsepower V8 engine, BMW’s Electronic Damping Control, a variable locking rear differential, performance-tuned brakes, and the proverbial "much, much more." BMW’s commitment to lowering the car’s curb weight for improved performance shows in innovations like the coupe’s carbon-fiber roof.

2016 Audi TT

The 2016 Audi TT is another fun-to-drive German option among the best sports cars under $30,000. True, the TT isn’t the most powerful car here. It relies on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine for 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Yet due to the car’s nimble dimensions and standard Quattro all-wheel drive, it can run from 0-60 in a brisk 5.3 seconds.

The TT also brings its share of uplevel Audi-style content, including standard heated front seats, an advanced infotainment system with handwriting recognition, and Audi’s “virtual cockpit.” This feature replaces the typical analog instrument panel with a configurable digital display. For shoppers with more flexible budgets, Audi offers the TT Roadster and the higher-performing TTS Coupe with a 292-horsepower engine.

Photo by Audi

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350

The best used sports cars under $30,000 also include some dramatic roadster-only options. Consider the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350. The sleek-looking SLK is capped off by a power-retractable hardtop that can be opened in about 20 seconds. The car’s 0-60 time is quite a bit faster, though. Leveraging a 3.5-liter V6 that serves up 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, the SLK 350 can handle the traditional 0-60 sports-car sprint in 5.4 seconds.

For all-around performance, the car also features a lowered, sport-tuned suspension, and the Mercedes Direct Steer system, which automatically adjusts steering effort based on the SLK’s speed. You’ll feel the difference at speed, too, as you enjoy what Mercedes calls “far sharper handling” than in past models.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2009 Porsche Cayman S

We also count the 2009 Porsche Cayman S as one of the best used sports cars under $30,000. The top performer in the 2009 Cayman lineup, the S model upsizes to a 3.4-liter six-cylinder that can unleash 320 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. That motor alone is good for 0-60 sprint times of under 5 seconds.

Further, the engine has a distinctive “flat” design. It’s like a V6 with its cylinders pushed all the way open. This configuration, along with the engine’s placement — between the cabin and the rear wheels — helps provide uncanny handling abilities. Of course, it doesn’t hurt any that Porsche’s Stability Management technology is standard as well.

Photo by Porsche

2015 Lexus RC 350

For a more premium sports car for under $30,000, you can shop for the 2015 Lexus RC 350. As you’d expect from a Lexus sports coupe, the RC 350 offers upscale standard content that ranges from real wood cabin trim on the inside to LED headlights and daytime running lights for the exterior.

But the RC 350 also gains sports-car credibility from its 306-horsepower V6, rear-wheel drive, and the ability to accelerate from a complete stop to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Performance-focused all-wheel drive also may be available for pre-owned RC 350 models that are priced below $30,000.

Photo by Lexus

2005 Lotus Elise

The best used sports cars under $30,000 also include an exotic choice: the 2005 Lotus Elise. Finding one for less than $30K may be a challenge, but it’s both possible and well worth the effort. The Elise is an all-out enthusiast’s car, with a bare cabin, a mid-engine layout, and critically acclaimed handling.

The Elise is also shockingly fast. Despite producing a modest 190 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine can propel the car from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. The top speed for the Elise is nearly 150 mph. The secret here? Lotus’ lightweight roadster is the size of a city car and weighs less than 2,000 pounds.

Photo by Lotus

2008 Honda S2000

A classic roadster in the mold of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Honda S2000 is slightly larger and has a noticeably stronger powerplant than its more popular rival. To be exact, the S2000’s high-revving 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine makes 237 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The 2008 Miata is limited to 166 horses and 140 pound-feet of torque.

According to Honda, the S2000 then complements that engine with “tenacious handling and an ideal 50/50 weight balance.” Nonetheless, you can also upgrade performance, and in some cases stay within our $30K budget, with the S2000 CR — complete with an aero body kit, a removable aluminum hardtop, and a track-tuned suspension.

Photo by Honda