In this series of blogs, we will talk about sports cars, which is my true passion!! There is nothing like redlining a sports car, and pushing it to it’s limits, either in a straight line or carving the corners. Whether it be that high-revving 4 banger or that thunderous V-8 american muscle, here is a list of cars that you may have have never considered in the sports car market. Since these are “toys”, things like warranties are not going to be considered. Most of these cars are usually just weekend warriors, although consideration for good daily driver and year round usability (ie. Canadian winters!!) will be taken into account. In this specific post, we will look a what I consider are the best sports cars you can buy for under 10000$.
1) 1997-2001 Honda Prelude SH:
2.2L DOHC I-4
200hp @ 7000rpm
156tq @ 5250rpm
0-60 = 6.8
1/4 mile = 15.4@91mph
Top speed = 131 mph
Price range = between 6000 – 10000$
New MSRP = 31300$
caranddriver 10 best award winner multiple years and also rated the best handling car for under 30000$ (ATTS major factor), the prelude type SH truly is an amazing car. Along with it’s somewhat luxurious interior with a simple layout and great fit and finish. The type SH has the ATTS (active torque transfer system)which fixes FWD understeer characteristics during spirited corners to make the car feel more like a RWD when it comes to dry tarmac performance. Best part is also reliability and ease to drive on a daily basis, with decent fuel economy, rarity and unique styling.
2) 1999-2004 Ford Mustang GT
4.6L SOHC V-8
260hp @ 5250rpm
300tq @ 4000rpm
0-60 = 5.5
1/4 mile = 14.2 @ 98mph
Top Speed = 138mph
Price Range = between 7500-11000$
New MSRP = 37500$
Classic American muscle, from the sound, performance and even rugged looks, for under 10000$ I’m not sure if there is a more exciting muscle car that can be had. If your a fan of exciting straight line performance, and pony car heritage, this is the best choice for less than 10000$. Don’t expect much cornering grip, good fuel economy or bullet proof reliability, but who cares!! Your buying this car for the sound and passion of american muscle. Oddly enough you could also come across the next generation mustang GT’s (2005+) for close to 10000$ which is a much better buy in my opinion. Asking prices should be in the low 10000’$ but I bet with some good negotiations you can acquire one for the 10000$ mark.
3) 1999-2001 Audi S4
Twin Turbocharged and Intercooled 2.7L DOHC V-6
250hp @ 5800rpm
258tq @ 1850rpm
0-60 = 5.6
1/4 mile = 14.2 @ 98mph
Top Speed = 143mph
Price Range = 7000 – 11000
New MSRP = 57200$
Speed, luxury, AWD handling on all types of surfaces and road conditions, high quality quiet cabin with loads of luxury goodies, along with sophisticated good looks and charm on the road, this may be the best all around car sports car for under 10000$. Not only that, you tuners out there will be happy to know that this Audi has loads of aftermarket potential, especially with that twin turbo motor. It’s a proper sedan with sports car performance, probably the best choice in this group.
4) 2002 Subaru WRX
Turbocharged and Intercooled 2.0L DOHC Boxer 4
227hp @ 6000rpm
217tq @ 4000rpm
0-60 = 5.4
1/4 mile = 14.1 @ 96mph
Top Speed = 144mph
Price Range = 7000 – 11000
New MSRP = 34995$
Did you ever think you would be able to drive a street legal rally car for under 10000$? Well you can with the WRX, not as refined as the S4 in terms of luxury, fit and finish and features, but when it comes to driver excitement this takes the cake. This car demands to be driven hard on tarmac and on gravel roads, and when the roads are covered in snow, the WRX feels at home. Along with solid reliability, infinite aftermarket parts, good aggressive looks, rarity and tons of charm, the WRX is the best choice for those who want a rally sports car they can drive year round, especially in regions with heavy snowfall. Also a caraddriver 10best winner.
5) 2002-2005 Acura RSX Type-S
2.0L DOHC I-4
200hp @ 7800rpm
143tq @ 7000rpm
0-60 = 6.2
1/4 mile = 14.9@95mph
Top Speed = 140mph
Price Range = 6000 – 13000
New MSRP = 31000$
For under 10000$ you can own a car producing 100hp/liter that redlines at a screaming 8100rpm, with one of the absolute best shifting manual transmissions ever made to this day. Those people at Honda know how to make adrenaline pumping cars, that taunt you to redline it even on your short commute to work! With top notch reliability, precision handling characteristics, great fuel economy, fantastic resale value, quality cabin layout and materials, it’s no wonder why this car is a repeat winner of caranddriver 10 best awards. 2004 had a mid model refresh with minor updates all around which is what I would be gunning for.
6) 2004-2006 Mazda RX-8 GT
1.3L Rotary
238hp @ 8500rpm
159tq @ 5500rpm
0-60 = 5.9
1/4 mile = 14.6 @ 96mph
Top Speed = 145mph
Price Range = 5000-12000
New MSRP = 39595$
Every single automotive journalist describes this car as being one of the easiest cars to drive fast on a track that inspires confidence that very few sports cars can provide. It’s a pure drivers car and puts handling, braking and chasis tuning on the forefront of priorities resulting in nimble responses from all driver commands, and if done right is easily the most rewarding car to a driver of this group. The RX-8 takes corners at significantly higher speeds than its competition, pulling major g’s on the skid and braking on a dime. It’s far from the fastest in a drag race tho, this car is meant for driver involvement. Do not buy this car if your looking for straight line performance as there are way better choices. It was not made for straight line performance, it was made for drivers to maximize the athletic ability this car has to offer on a track. Daily driving is also a major plus for this car, with a good reliability track record, quality and luxurious cabin and seating for 4 adults. It may be the most practical, sports car under 10000$, and it’s also a caranddriver 10 best award winner 3 consecutive years.
What do you think? I want to hear any and all suggestions about what they think some of the best sports car for under 10000$ are….remember overall sports cars (not track cars that an owner will be pissed off cause they break all the time and they wasted their money!). Speak up people and I will respond!!! (scared??)
As always, I enjoy your knowledge! Best ~ HuntMode
I have a Mitsubishi partial new engine. Shift gear…93′ is faster than original want to sell but it’s been in garage and needs all fluids changed from sitting. Where I find buyers for this car?
Thanks
Hello Hello š
Thank you for the follow I appreciate it!
I would definitely be putting up for sale ads in Mitsubishi forums. Here are two I would look at:
mitsubishiforum.com/ā
or
evolutionM.net
The second one is for a specific model (the Lancer and their variants) however they would know more where to sell.
I would also use local ad tools such a kijiji or ebay. Take really good pics and list it at a very competitive price and it should eventually sell. Autotrader.com is also arguably the best place to sell still to this day.
Live to drive…and to upgrade your ride š
A couple of interesting choices… The Subi’s and the Audi are understeering piglets…The only thing they’ve got going for them are the AWD. Other than that, they just aren’t fun to drive.
The Mustang is, well, a Mustang from the late 90’s. Build quality is nothing to write home about. Live axle? Please… That’s so 1960’s,…lol
Anyway, I think you overlooked what should have been an obvious choice. The 1995-1999 BMW E36 M3. Great examples can be found for under $10,000. And there is nothing for the money that will do so much. The engines are practically bullet proof. With just the odd electrical gremlin that ALL old cars get.
Love the input and the suggestion for an early model M3 which is actually a great choice and I completely agree with you so definitely that should be on the list. In regards to the “understeering piglets’ gotta remember this isn’t “best weekend track toy in summer weather only sports car for under 10000$”. I believe I say something about year round capability (aka I live in Northern Ontario and when there is 5 foot high snow banks I would love to film some idiot driving their E36 or in the snow….as well as a mustang haha!!) therefore some of the cars are true year round sports cars for the masses…..not for the hardcore enthusiast like ourselves correct me if I am missing the point.
The mustang is more a suggestion that these cars depreciate like crazy and that the 2005-2006 models are actually in arms length reach away and 315 HP throaty, straight line/nostalgic performance V8 power seems to be a good choice for many viewers for under 10000$ live axle or not. Porsche 911 still have their engine behind the read wheels?!!!??!?! Are you kidding me?!?! The weight distribution is terrible and that car is garbage!! Yet magically people seem to view old school 911’s (anything pre 996) and their “flaw” as a desirable trait that seems to make these cars worth more and more every passing year! 993 or 964 values?? lol Bring on the dangerous rear end, old school garbage instability any day, that what sold is all about.
To all my readers, again and again and again and again and again and again (times a million) this is not best track car, this is best sports car suggestions at a certain price point. Live Axle is garbage, but who cars when it comes to everyday usable sports cars. It’s all about soul, and I believe, to all the millions of mustang lovers out there (I can’t believe I am defending this car cause I would never buy one or own one however I still respect it!) this car has pedigree, soul, heritage and makes people feel good when they get behind the wheel of one of these. Therefore, it truly is one of the best sports cars for under 10000$ or course the newer the better and only “GT” or “V8” models for the love of God.
Good response.
As a current owner of a 2001.5 Audi S4, I have to say it’s a very pleasant car to drive. But I’ll admit that there is a touch of understeer that dampens the spirit of it. I owned a 2001.5 A4 1.8t quattro for 13 years, which was honestly a much more fun car to drive in the twisties. The smaller engine balanced the car wonderfully and I could throw it into corners just as easily as any BMW. With a light tune, the engine was putting out 205hp, making it 113hp/liter. Not bad for a car that still got 27mpg on a daily basis. And it had 248k miles on it and still going strong when it was put out of commission by a deer. If it weren’t for the gobs of torque that the S4 puts out, I’d say the A4 was the better car.
Btw, I just recently bought the S4 with 111k miles on it, for $5000. Near mint condition.
Yes indeedy, I find no fault with this list although, personally, I’d rather own an pre-1998 MX-5 than an RX-8. It’s not going to run away from anyone, but it’s beautifully balanced, the controls are very direct, and it the sucker is bulletproof. I love the feel of the RX-8’s rotary, but everyone I know who’s owned one has had the engine replaced at least once.
I had a 97 integra and I loved it, I bombed the tranny out of that and bought a 2004 Mitsubishi eclipse gt. its fun to drive and a lot faster with premium fuel, not bad on the wallet either