13 Cheap Fun Cars
Who needs a boring sedan, when you could get an awesome used sports car or quirky off-roader for less than $20k? Check out some cheap fun cars for a good time.
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The best things in life may not be free, but they also don’t need to break the bank. Just because you have a love for spontaneous adventure and off-roading doesn’t mean your wallet has to suffer.
Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, checks out the best cheap fun cars to consider before you buy
your next thrill ride. New cheap fun cars that won’t leave you broke
The 2022 Hyundai Elantra N is a compact sedan that’s been given the N treatment. “Noticeably more aggressive interior styling, a 276 hp turbo four-cylinder, a trick differential, and an available 6-speed manual transmission make the Elantra N an excellent small performance sedan for not much money,”
HotCars
tells us. The VW Jetta GLI better watch out. Compact pickup trucks are an untapped market in America. With a starting price of $20,000, the 2021 Ford Maverick is based on the Escape/Bronco Sport platform. The capable truck has a hybrid powertrain with 42 mpg in the city. The fun ride not only offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it can carry and tow like a boss.
If you’d rather have a capable off-road crossover instead of a pickup, consider the Ford Bronco Sport for tackling rough terrain. “Unlike the full-size Bronco, which is based on a truck platform, the Bronco Sport uses the Escape platform,” HotCars notes. The three-cylinder vehicle gets awesome gas mileage and is much more capable than you’d expect for its size.
The 2022 Honda Civic is an attractive compact vehicle that still offers a manual transmission. The fun little car sports a well-balanced turbo four-banger and top-notch chassis engineering. It’s also as practical and reliable as we’d expect from the
Japanese automaker
. If zooming through twisty mountain roads on the weekend is your thing, you’ve probably heard of the Mazda Miata. The spectacular car is about the same size as the 1990 NA model but is now much more lightweight. With a hardtop and modern amenities, it’s hard to compete with this zippy little sports car.
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Cheap fun cars not likely to depreciate
The 1991-1995 Toyota MR2 Turbo is more reliable and affordable than the 1984 to 1989 first-generation models. According to
Car and Driver
, “The Toyota's bombproof turbocharged 2.0-liter 3S-GTE engine responds extremely well to tuning, and the MR2 looks like a proper sports car.” Prices have been rising steadily, so get your hands on the 1994 or 1995 model as soon as possible. We love a beautiful and simple 2000-2009 Honda S2000. While it drives like a Mazda Miata, it packs a 9000-rpm redline and an extra 100 hp. The 2000 and 2003 models have quicker steering, but the 2004 or later iterations offer a soft top and a more practical low-rpm torque.
The 2004-2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited "LJ" is a rare version of the famous TJ Wrangler with circular headlights. The “Long Jeep” as it's called, was 10 inches longer than the Wrangler and only had two doors. According to Car and Driver, “The extra size translated into a more comfortable interior and more cargo space behind the rear seats.”
You can find the vaunted Dana 44 rear axle on every LJ, but if you’re willing to pay $25,000 more, the 2005-2006 LJ Wrangler Rubicon is a worthy find. The holy grail of Jeeps can be found for $15,000 to $20,000.
Though it’s hard to locate an unaltered 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, the speedster has a rally car spirit and impressive steering response. You’ll want to avoid modified versions with big wheels and insane turbos.
“What makes the Evolution IX appealing in standard guise is that it adds Mitsubishi's variable valve timing (MIVEC) to the already stout 4G63 four-cylinder engine from the Evolution VIII, as well as a slightly peppier turbocharger and sleeker bumpers,” Car and Driver notes. Not to mention, a super cool aircraft-size rear wing.
Used sports cars under $20k
The 2013 Jaguar XK is worth less than a quarter of what it cost when it first hit the market. The V8-powered mini GT is powered by a 5.0-liter engine with 385 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. And the British luxury carcan ramp up to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds. While the original price started at about $72,637, you can find one for less than $17,000.
The all-American 2014 Dodge Challenger SRT8 beats out the power of a Corvette any day. It can even hit 60 mph in only 4.8 seconds. The muscle car sports a “massive 392 HEMI V8 living under its intake-adorned hood,”
HiConsumption
reports. The Challenger offers a 6.4-liter engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. For about $18,500, you can get a whole lot of car.The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG is strong, innovative, and insane. In 4.2 seconds, the 5.5-liter V8 folding hardtop can reach 60 mph. With 415 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque, you can get your hands on one of these for about $19,000.
Ending our list of cheap fun cars, the 2015 Audi TT Roadster is a smart and futuristic convertible with an ergonomic interior. It features a turbocharged 2.0-liter straight-four engine with 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Roadster also comes with a six-speed auto-manual dual-clutch transmission and standard all-wheel drive. These go for around $19,300.
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