The 6 Most Reliable Used Sports Cars
Photo by Samuel Girven on Unsplash
Every car enthusiast at one point or another has taken a quick peek at the average cost of their favorite sports car and thought, “woof.” It’s no surprise that tricked-out, hyper-engineered, expertly-designed built-for-speed vehicles don’t exactly come cheap, new, or used.
While there are many fun-and-fancy-free vehicles in the world that won’t necessarily break the bank, it can be difficult for average people to justify spending any amount on that impractical but oh-so alluring little two-seater.
Therefore, when you do decide to take the plunge and buy the sports car of your dreams, you should be able to trust that you’re investing in a vehicle that is as functional as it is fun. Lucky for you, finding a car that strikes that balance of pleasure and pragmatism isn’t as difficult to find as it might initially seem. Read on to learn more about our favorite reliable used sports cars.
A Quick Note on Reliability
As it turns out, modern sports cars are some of the most reliable used vehicles on the planet. This is partly due to quality engineering and high-tech material innovations. However, previous owners deserve a lot of credit too. Sports cars are unique investments, and dedicated car enthusiasts treat them as such, investing time, energy, and money into proper ongoing care and maintenance.
Sports cars are also usually driven less, resulting in far less wear and tear than the average day-to-day ride. This means that when you buy a used sports car, chances are you’re getting a well-loved and well-maintained vehicle that has the potential to outlast even the family minivan. It’s then up to you to keep up that stellar maintenance.
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Porsche Boxster
The first practical note about this iconic little car is that the build has remained relatively the same since the Boxster first emerged on the market in 1996. This means that there are very few mysteries about its general functionality, so you or your mechanic have a wealth of knowledge to pull from should any problems arise.
While it’s not the cheapest to maintain, its anatomy is similar to the 911, so parts are plentiful and easy to find. Ease-of-maintenance aside, the Boxster is far from the most practical on our list – little more than a few bags of groceries fit in the tiny trunk, and the soft-top isn’t ideal if you live in very wet or very cold weather.
But the Boxster is oh-so comfortable and isn’t so sporty that it leaves out creature comforts like its touch-screen infotainment system and cupholders.
Mazda Miata
This zippy little convertible somehow managed to keep the look, feel, and performance of a more powerful sports car without sacrificing any practicality. Just as much at home on the racetrack as your daily commute, the Miata has a retractable roof that keeps you cozy in cold weather and stows in 12 seconds for a joyride in July.
Two compact seats mean you won’t be taking the kids to school in this, but 28 MPG in 2010 models makes it ideal for running errands around town. Best of all (if you’re on a budget), used Miatas are inexpensive, selling for as little as $7000.
Ford Mustang GT
The Ford Mustang GT: the timeless staple of American muscle cars. Fast, powerful, and notoriously fun to drive, Mustangs might not be the first car that comes to mind when you imagine a pragmatic sports car. But it’s on our list of reliable used sports cars for a reason—GTs have the potential to stay on the road for 200,000 miles with regular maintenance.
One Ford fanatic even claims that his Mustang is still going strong at 400,000 miles. Four seats and 11.5 cubic feet of cargo space also make the GT a practical choice for drivers who regularly have passengers to cart around. 2010 models are additionally sensibly priced, selling for between $9,000 - $14,000.
THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
BMW M4
2018 models are among the most comfortable sports cars in the world, according to Autobytel. And with four seats and 15.54 cubic feet of cargo space, it’s also the roomiest on our list of most reliable used sports cars. (Finally, a sporty racer you can fit the dogs in!)
For fans of going fast, the 2018 M4 boasts 425 HP, and all of that power can be optimized for different driving experiences with “user-selectable driving modes.” Choose Sport+ for a day at the track, Eco-Mode on your way to work, and Comfort for a weekend cruise.
Toyota 86
If we’re talking about reliability, we can’t possibly leave out Toyota. The Japanese make is synonymous with reliability and practicality – even in their sportier vehicles. And the 86 comes just a hair to the left of being slightly impractical (amazing, we know!) 2017 models have 200-205 HP depending on the transmission.
The front-engine rear-wheel-drive configuration and low center of gravity mean this car is happiest on the track. And reviewers think drivers will be happiest on the track as well—it’s loud and stiff and “not for the faint of heart.” But as much as the 86 tries to epitomize the wild and unwieldy race car, it just can’t shake its roots, as the automatic model boasts a sensible 32 MPG on the freeway and enough cargo space to stow three carry-on suitcases (provided you fold down the rear seats first.)
THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000
We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten.
Chevrolet Corvette C5
Another of the American greats, the C5 is a surprisingly practical sports car that’s fun to drive and easy to maintain. The C5’s LS V8 engine is almost more famous than the Corvette itself, as the “most popular engine to swap into other cars for cheap, reliable power.”
The engine’s popularity means that spare parts are readily available, and body parts for used C5s come at a steal, as owners can usually get them off of engineless Corvettes. If you manage to get your hands on a complete vehicle, the Corvette C5 makes a commuter car that’s as impressive as it is sensible: the powerful motor achieves around 25 MPG on the freeway.
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