[ad_1]
Most motoring enthusiasts like speed and acceleration. We crave the rush of endorphins from being pushed back into our seats and hearing the sound of the engine and exhaust working in tandem to provide the best possible performance.
For many, this is not something they can experience every day as they drive relatively normal hatchbacks, sedans and pickup trucks. American cars are known for their sheer power and straight-line speed – two characteristics which are excellent for drag racing. Luckily for many, this higher performance is available on the used market for less than the price of a new – relatively dreary – Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. For this price, a slightly older Chevy Corvette with a great big V8 engine and lots of tire-smoking potential or a nippy and practical Ford Focus RS hot hatchback is available on the used market – both worlds away from normal, everyday cars.
While fast cars can easily cost upwards of $70,000, American cars have always offered the same speed for much less cash – especially on the used market. Here are ten of the fastest used American cars for under $30,000.
10 2019 Cadillac ATS 2.0T $18,000 — 143 MPH
The Cadillac ATS was the model designation given to the smaller sedan and coupe within Cadillac’s line-up, before being renamed to the current CT4. The ATS is a pretty good luxury car which is available on the used market for around the $18,000 mark.
That’s not bad for a sporty coupe with 272 hp and a top speed of 143 mph. It can be had with a manual or automatic transmission and still looks brand-new thanks to the elegant Cadillac styling. It is a bargain luxury car with all the technology one would ever need for a daily driver.
9 1993 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 $11,000 — 147 MPH
The Chevrolet Corvette is the signature American sports car with its beautiful lines, powerful engines and relatively cheap price. While the interior comforts weren’t on par with the European equivalents, the brute force was enough to embarrass many Euro and Japanese rivals.
The C4 generation of Corvette may not be the most liked, but it was the start of a new breed of ‘Vette. The 5.7-liter LT1 V8 had enough punch to push the vehicle to 147 miles per hour – as fast as the Ferrari of its day. Now, all that power is available for as little as $11,000.
8 2019 Cadillac CTS 3.6 $20,000 — 155 MPH
The Cadillac CTS was the name given to the mid-size sedan to rival the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. In that regard, the CTS did a pretty good job and is an elegant piece of Americana. Unlike those Europeans, the Caddy is much cheaper to buy.
A good V6-powered CTS can set you back around $20,000. This nets 335 hp and a top speed of 155 mph. The 8-speed automatic is smooth and the ride irons out any road imperfections, resulting in the same luxury as a 5-Series, but for about half the price. Not at all bad.
7 2021 Dodge Challenger R/T $24,000 — 155 MPH
The current generation Dodge Challenger is quite the popular vehicle, outselling both the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro for the second year in a row. As such, the Challenger’s used value has increased a bit, but paying around $24,000 for a 5.7-liter, 375 hp muscle car is not bad at all.
The Challenger R/T comes with a smooth 8-speed automatic based on the famous ZF transmission and thanks to the pure grunt under the hood, Dodge had to limit the top speed to 155 mph. However, the much more powerful – and expensive – Hellcat version goes much faster.
6 2015 Ford Mustang GT $29,000 — 164 MPH
The Ford Mustang is the car that properly kicked off the muscle and pony car wars in the 1960s and 1970s. The Mustang is now in its sixth generation, with the seventh coming in 2024 with a wholly redesigned car – one which we are all excited for.
In the meantime, the S550 model is now old enough to be considered a bargain on the used market, with a full-fat Mustang GT coming in at around $30,000. The interior quality may be a bit on the cheap side, but the rest is pure muscle car. It even has a 164 mph top speed!
5 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS $25,000 — 165 MPH
Completing the three main muscle cars in the US is the Chevrolet Camaro. It is the most versatile of the three, featuring an inline-4 turbo, a V6 and a choice of two V8s – depending on the trim. The Camaro SS is mostly unchanged since 2017, so paying $25,000 for a used one instead of $42,000 is pretty good.
The 6.2-liter V8 up front produces 455 hp and sends all the power to the rear wheels only via either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic. Regardless of transmission, the Camaro SS tops out at 165 mph – an entire mile per hour faster than a Mustang GT. Sneaky.
4 2017 Ford Focus RS $22,000 — 165 MPH
Leaving the muscle cars for a moment, the – now discontinued – Ford Focus RS has a top speed of 165 mph. This with a turbocharged inline-4 instead of a big V8 as in the Mustang. It is quite an impressive feat.
Since the Focus RS has been discontinued and Ford has stated they will no longer be making them, the model’s value has grown in the last few years. While there are some used RS models available for nearly $50,000, the more reasonable sellers have theirs up for a mere $22,000 or so.
3 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 $19,000 — 170 MPH
Getting into the faster cars of the list kicks off with the C5 Corvette Z06. While it’s not nearly as cool or as good-looking as any of the other generations, it is a good car nonetheless. Powering the American brute is a 5.7-liter V8 making 405 hp – all of which goes to the rear wheels.
This bump in power over the C4 allowed better acceleration and control, but the improved aerodynamics resulted in a car – currently on sale for around $19,000 on the used market – capable of an incredible 170 mph. That is some serious bang for the buck.
2 2012 Chrysler 300C SRT $28,000 — 170 MPH
Ten years after the C5 Corvette, Chrysler pulled the same trick in speed, but this time with a big, luxurious sedan and an even bigger and more powerful V8. Powering the 300C SRT is a 6.4-liter V8 producing 475 hp. Power was sent to the rear wheels via a Mercedes-Benz 5G-Tronic automatic.
The 300C isn’t necessarily the most aerodynamic of sedans on the planet, but it still looks great and will continue to – even at the 170 mph top speed. Chrysler is selling a last hurrah edition for 2023, but the slightly older model at $28,000 does the job just as well – bar the outdated transmission.
1 2008 Chevrolet Corvette $23,000 — 186 MPH
Finally, the fastest American car on the used market for under $30,000 is – as probably guessed – a Chevrolet Corvette. The C6 generation was another criticized one but turned out to be superb in the long run.
Powering this beast is the tried and trusted 6.2-liter LS3 V8, producing 436 hp. Power is sent to the rear wheels and thanks to the engineering, it can reach 186 mph before acceleration stops – faster than the C7 which replaced it. This all for just $23,000. Not bad for American engineering.
[ad_2]
Source link