Top 18 Affordable Sports Cars of All Time

Cheap, quick and usually rear-wheel drive. The arguments here are older than most of the cars.

1. 1
   Mazda MX-5 Miata

   Light, cheap and rear-wheel drive — the default answer to this question since 1989.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Nissan 350Z

   A blunt, cheap V6 coupe that revived Nissan's Z line in 2002.
   775pts
3. 3
   Ford Mustang GT

   A V8 coupe that has undercut European rivals on price since 1964.
   732pts
4. 4
   Datsun 240Z

   The 1970 Japanese coupe that offered E-Type looks at a fraction of the money.
   610pts
5. 5
   Porsche Boxster (986)

   The car that saved Porsche, and the cheapest way into a mid-engined one.
   488pts
6. 6
   Chevrolet Camaro

   The Mustang's oldest rival, built in six generations before production ended in 2023.
   488pts
7. 7
   Ford Focus RS

   A four-wheel-drive hatch with a drift mode, built for the enthusiast end of the range.
   488pts
8. 8
   Nissan 240SX

   The drift scene's starter car, cheap and endlessly modified.
   488pts
9. 9
   Hyundai Genesis Coupe

   Korea's rear-drive answer to the pony car, sold from 2008.
   413pts
10. 10
    Volkswagen Golf GTI

    The hot hatch that made performance practical, and often cheaper than a coupe.
    413pts
11. 11
    Fiat X1/9

    A mid-engined targa designed by Bertone and priced like a shopping car.
    413pts
12. 12
    Honda Civic Type R

    A front-drive hatch quick enough to embarrass cars costing twice as much.
    325pts
13. 13
    Honda CRX

    A featherweight 1980s coupe that was quick because it weighed almost nothing.
    325pts
14. 14
    Toyota GR86

    A modern lightweight coupe built with Subaru for drivers on a budget.
    325pts
15. 15
    Mazda RX-7 (FD)

    A rotary-engined 1990s coupe with pop-up lights and near-perfect balance.
    222pts
16. 16
    Subaru Impreza WRX

    Rally technology in a four-door body, at a price ordinary drivers could reach.
    222pts
17. 17
    Toyota MR2

    A mid-engined layout normally reserved for supercars, sold at family-car money.
    222pts
18. 18
    Triumph Spitfire

    A tiny British roadster with a bonnet that tipped forward in one piece.
    98pts