10 Fun Used Sports Cars Under $30K That Will Soon Skyrocket In Value

In a world where ‘cheap’ new sports cars cost at least $50,000, driving a cool, fun sports car might seem impossible for most buyers. And that’s not even to mention the crazy depreciation of buying a new car. Sure, you can buy a used supercar that’s cheap to maintain, but then you’ll have to spend quite a pretty penny right out of the gate to get your hands on one of those exuberant used cars. Alternatively, you could keep your eye out for a cheaper classic sports car that’s also cheap to maintain, but again, there’s a slight catch. Older sports cars are just nowhere near as powerful or technologically advanced as newer ones.

But what if we told you there’s an alternative? What if we told you that you could buy a fun, used sports car under $30,000 that won’t depreciate into the ground? If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, keep on reading.

With the help of listings found on AutoTempest, as well as some performance specs from CarEdge, we’ve compiled this list of these cool future investments that cost less than $30,000.

11 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL 500

Starting Used Price: $9,800

The R129-generation Mercedes-Benz SL is one of the best all-around German coupes money can buy. Not only does it demand the respect of other road users due to that massive three-pointed star on its grille and stunning design, but the SL 500 in particular is one of the few used Mercedes-Benz cars we’d say is worth every penny.

Performance

For less than $10,000 you can get yourself a well-kept 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 that features a retractable soft top, a luscious interior, and a mighty naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 with 315 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque. Put the pedal to the floor, and you’ll see 60 mph in 6 seconds flat.

10 2001 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

Starting Used Price: $13,900

If you were to increase your budget slightly, you can get yourself a 2001 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra for $13,900. SVT was Ford’s Special Vehicle Team, and they crafted some of the best Ford models of all time including the Focus SVT, SVT Lighting, and the Ford GT. We’re not oblivious to the fact that the New Edge Mustang isn’t everyone’s favorite Mustang generation, but considering that the New Edge SVT Cobra was the last-ever Mustang stapled with the SVT badge… well, that secures its future value.

Performance

Not to mention, the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra was quite a rowdy muscle too. Underneath the hood of the Cobra laid a 4.6-liter V8 engine that chucked out 320 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. In our books, the SVT is one of the most underappreciated Mustang models ever made.

9 1999 BMW Z3 M Roadster

Starting Used Price: $12,800

With the unveiling of BMW’s One-Off Touring Coupe based on the Z4, many auto enthusiasts are reminiscing about the classic Z3 sports car once again. Although it’s too late to pick up a Z3 M Coupe (also known as the Clown Shoe) for under $30,000, you can find quite a handful of used Z3 M Roadsters for around $13,000.

Performance

At its core, the BMW Z3 M was a better-looking E36 M3. After all, they shared the same suspension and powertrain as the E36 M3; a 3.2-liter straight-six with up to 316 hp. What’s even greater though is that the BMW Z3 M came offered with a manual transmission and still managed to reach 60 mph from a stop in under 5 seconds.

Related: 10 Cheap Sports Cars That Accelerate From 0-60 MPH In Under 6 Seconds

8 2009 BMW M3

Starting Used Price: $16,595

Generally speaking, M3s come equipped with straight-six engines from the factory. Well apart from the ludicrously expensive E30 M3 that features a four-pot, there was one generation of the BMW M3 that broke tradition too, the E92 M3. Whether you opt out for the sedan, coupe, or convertible called the E90, E92, and E93 respectively, all featured the same naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 engine that revved up all the way to 8,400 rpm.

Performance

Coming in at around $17,000, the 2009 BMW M3 is one of the best cheap used cars with V8 engines that will satisfy your inner-racing car driver. With a one-of-a-kind engine, and a high demand behind its model name, the E90, E92, and E93 models are all set to go up in value as the years pass by.

Related: 10 BMW SUVs That’ll Bankrupt You With Maintenance And Repair Costs

7 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6

Starting Used Price: $17,750

Based on the Mercedes-Benz R170 SLK-Class, the Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 was essentially a budget-friendly AMG for those who wanted to stand out from the crowd. Although the Crossfire’s design is somewhat subjective, we can confidently say that it’ll make some heads turn when you’re driving by.

Performance

If for some reason the coupe shape and gigantic rear wing don’t get the attention of passersby, the sound of the AMG-sourced 3.2-liter supercharged V6 most certainly with. And with 330 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, there won’t be a dull moment behind the wheel of the Crossfire SRT-6. The only reason why you can still buy one of these for $17,750 on the used market is that very few people are buying these used sports cars…

6 2000 Honda S2000

Starting Used Price: $18,999

Although not strictly speaking a vintage car, the Honda S2000 is one of the most important classic cars that deserve a modern reboot. With one of the most engaging driver’s experiences and a rev-happy naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with a redline of 9,000 rpm and a power output of up to 240 hp, everyone wants a Honda S2000.

Performance

Of course, paying $18,999 for a 20-year-old Honda sports car seems absurd, but once you see that some pristine low-mileage examples of the S2000 sell for more than a new Nissan Z or Audi RS3, your perception changes. Just earlier this year, a one-owner 2004 Honda S2000 with 4,400 miles sold for an insane $63,000 on Bring a Trailer.

5 2012 Jaguar XKR

Starting Used Price: $24,750

Finally, we’re approaching cars that cost more than $20,000, and what better place to look than the land of cheap depreciated luxury sports cars; Jaguar. With an original MSRP of nearly $100,000, you can now buy a stunning 2012 Jaguar XKR for just $24,750 on the used market. Not only were these cars stunning to look at and sounded like true wild animals, but their growl was as powerful as their bite too.

Performance

Powering the 2012 Jaguar XKR was a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that pumped out 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. In the real world that meant that this cat could morph from a comfortable cruiser to a ferocious animal in an instant depending on your throttle pressure due to its 4.2-second 0-60 mph time.

Related: 10 Used Jaguars That Are Cheap To Own And Maintain

4

3 2013 Audi RS5 Coupe

Starting Used Price: $25,900

Nowadays, the Audi RS5 features a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6, but back in the day when the first-gen Audi RS5 rolled around, it had a 4.2-liter V8 engine with an 8,500 rpm redline. Not only does it sound much more thrilling and drive more like an on-edge sports car, but it’s much cheaper than a new RS5 costing just $25,900 on the used market today.

Performance

Although the first-gen RS5 sounded like a muscle car on paper with an NA 444-hp V8 and a curb weight of around 4,000 lbs, it couldn’t be farther from it. Due to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the 2013 Audi RS5 managed to secure a 4.1-second 0-60 mph time. There will never be an Audi sports car quite as visceral as the first-generation Audi RS5 ever again, unfortunately.

2 2012 Audi TT RS

Starting Used Price: $26,950

Featuring one of the most iconic engines in automotive history, the first-ever Audi TT RS will soon become a collector’s car. Sharing the same powertrain as the one-of-a-kind Audi RS3, a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five that jolts out 360 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque, the 2012 Audi TT RS can run from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds flat.

Performance

What makes the TT RS even more desirable is the fact that some models came with a 6-speed standard transmission; a feat that’s not only scarce among Audi’s, but sports cars at the time too. As of writing this article, you can find quite a few Audi TT RS models selling for under $30,000, and our pick is this red 2012 Audi TT RS with only 70,650 miles on the clock that has a 6-speed manual.

1 1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Starting Used Price: $29,500

Whenever anyone speaks about affordable high-performance sports cars, you need to mention some sort of Corvette. And this list is no exception. If you’re after a stylish, fast sports car that’ll continuously rise in value, we’d highly recommend the C5-generation Corvette ZR1. The 1995 Corvette ZR1 packed a ferocious 5.7-liter V8 underneath its hood, called the LT5, with 405 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque.

Performance

Related: 5 Corvettes That Are As Reliable As A Toyota (5 That Belong In A Junkyard)

With a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 13.1 seconds, the C5 Corvette ZR1 proves it’s a true muscle car. Keeping in mind that the 2024 Chevrolet C8 Corvette ZR1 is around the corner, we can only imagine that these won’t be attainable for less than $30,000 for much longer.