10 Affordable Sports Car Alternatives To The Porsche 911

Porsche has built several amazing cars over the years, but the Porsche 911 remains its crown jewel, a symbol of its engineering and design prowess. Several trims like the Porsche 911 GT3 set the standard for luxury sports cars, becoming popular as aerodynamic masterpieces that most other manufacturers find extremely difficult to compete against. Back when Porsche 911 was just released, it was called the 901, but as there were some trademarking issues, Porsche changed it to 911, which really sounds significantly better as well. The 2023 Porsche 911 starts somewhere at around $106,100, and that really begs the question, are there no alternatives to the car that offer great performance but still manage to remain comparatively accessible? The answer can be both, yes and no, depending on whom you ask.

Fans of luxury sports cars will tell you how it is impossible to compare the luxury and performance of a Porsche car with any other brand. However, some more pragmatic gearheads might claim that if one is willing to forego some of the features offered by Porsche, there are some rather accessible sports cars that are stylish as well as competent, at least comparatively speaking.

Here is a list of 10 such cars that might not reach the same levels of luxury and features, but are still competent and affordable alternatives to the mighty Porsche 911. The rear-wheel-drive 911 Carrera S Coupe takes just 3.5 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill, so doing better than that might be very difficult for a cheap used car from the past, but these machines can still keep up respectably comparable numbers.

10 1992 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

Fair Purchase Price: $4,703

A much overlooked relic from the ’90s, the 1992 Nissan 300ZX was overshadowed by several other Japanese sports cars of its time, namely the monstrous Nissan Skyline R32 GTR, otherwise known as the ‘Godzilla’. The Nissan 300ZX was by no means lacking in form or function, as it was a stylish coupe that had several awesome variants, like the twin turbocharged trim that could do a 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Those are awesome numbers for a car that is over three decades old!

Performance

Unfortunately, a car this old would obviously have a severely outdated interior and not nearly as advanced safety technology, but considering the KBB fair purchase price tag of just $4,703, one really doesn’t have much to complain about. The 300ZX can make for an awesome project car that can be modified and improved to match the luxury and features of more modern machines, if one were willing to put in the effort.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy A Nissan 300ZX

9 1998 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6

Fair Purchase Price: $7,834

The almost forgotten 1998 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 is capable of doing the 0 to 60 mph sprint in around 5.2 seconds. This is less than 2 seconds behind the modern day 911, and considering this is a car from over two decades ago, that costs less than ten grand on the used cars market, it should be obvious that it’s a steal.

Performance

With popup headlights and a stylish build, the final generation of the Pontiac Firebird offers nothing but style and performance, things that all sports car fans love and desire.

8 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4

Fair Purchase Price: $10,225

Mitsubishi’s sports cars are a lost treasure, as they moved on towards making SUVs, hybrid vehicles, and crossovers. They used to be one of the best performance car manufacturers from Japan before they decided to move towards mass-market vehicles. Nevertheless, machines like the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 still carry a powerful engine that is capable of generating 320 horsepower, reaching 60 mph from standstill in a mere 4.7 seconds.

Performance

The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 is an almost forgotten classic, and it carried a front-engine AWD layout, making it one of the few cars built by a Japanese brand that was actually able to keep up with the likes of the mighty Skyline GTR back in the day. It might not be as modern and technologically feature-filled by today’s standards, but its competence is desirable enough for it to lend a spot on this list. Perhaps taking one of these on a test drive is a good idea for anyone looking to get their hands on a superb Japanese sports car.

7 2005 BMW M3

Fair Purchase Price: $10,824

If the BMW E46 M3 had a peak year, it would be the 2005 model, as one can get a good example of this car for a great bargain, with the fair purchase pricing standing at around $10,824. The car can conquer the 60 mph sprint in just 4.6 seconds, boasting better acceleration than the 2008 Z4 M despite the heavier curb weight.

Performance

The 2005 BMW M3 was the fifth edition of the model, and despite its age, it is still considered to be one of the best editions of the M3 series to this day, and should definitely be on one’s list of used luxury sports cars to test drive at least once.

6 2003 Mercedes SL55 AMG

Fair Purchase Price: $13,682

The 2003 Mercedes SL55 AMG is yet another example of an amazing luxury sports car that handles like a dream. Buying a luxury car entails spending a ton of money for purchasing and maintaining it, but the 2003 Mercedes SL55 AMG is nearly two decades old and, its national average fair purchase pricing is just $13,682, according to KBB.

Performance

When an affordable used luxury sports car can reach the 60 mph mark from standstill in just 4.6 seconds, one simply does not make any complaints about the dated interior technological features, but rather look for a dealership to get a test drive.

5 2009 Nissan 370Z NISMO

Fair Purchase Price: $14,207

The 2009 Nissan 370Z has a limited top speed of 155 mph, and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds for the Nismo trim. Nismo is Nissan’s Motorsports division, and they optimize their cars for track utilization, with superior weight distribution and a fine-tuned suspension system. The 2009 model of the 370Z Nismo has a tenacious grip for cornering sharp turns at breakneck speed, and a very competent V6 engine that can deliver 350 horsepower.

Performance

People who like Nissan’s sports cars should most definitely consider the 2009 Nissan 370Z Nismo, as it is significantly cheaper than newer models and yet of similar competence. Fans of the Porsche 911 should seriously consider this cheap Japanese alternative, because while it might not be a luxurious car, it is a reliable sports car that definitely has a charm about it.

RELATED: This Is Our Favorite Feature Of The Nismo 370Z

4 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe

Fair Purchase Price: $15,581

The 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP was an awesome and stylish sports car from the well reputed performance car manufacturer. Unfortunately, the rushed production ended up ruining its reputation as the interior of the car ended up being rather cheap and poor quality. There were other reliability issues with the earlier models of the Solstice GXP, but the 2009 model year addressed many of these issues.

Performance

The 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP coupe manages to boast a 0 to 60 mph time of just 5.3 seconds, which is quite impressive when coupled with its stylish looks and a fair purchase pricing of just $15,581, according to KBB. Nevertheless, it might be a good idea to consider investing into one of these, as they look like a million bucks and offer good performance numbers.

3 2008 BMW Z4 M

Fair Purchase Price: $22,912

The first decade of the 21st century was a great time for luxury sports cars, as manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz built many competent and iconic models during these years. The 2008 BMW Z4 M, for example, handles the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.8 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph, making it an awesome BMW sports car that has amazing weight distribution and responsive handling.

Performance

Kelley Blue Book places the national average fair purchase pricing for the 2008 BMW Z4 M somewhere at around $22,912, which is quite accessible when compared to a modern day Porsche 911, that costs well over a $100,000. Fans of luxury sports cars that are on a budget should seriously consider taking it out on a test drive.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why Every Gearhead Should Own A BMW Z4

2 2006 Honda S2000

Fair Purchase Price: $26,020

The specifications of the 2006 Honda S2000 can be surprising to some, as this 237 horsepower car is able to reach the 60 mph mark in a mere 5.4 seconds, made possible by its lightweight build and great weight distribution. The Honda S2000 is a great example of timeless design and undeniable reliability, as the car has truly stood the test of time.

Performance

The 2006 Honda S2000 can be an awesome Japanese sports car that is fast and agile, with good reliability and timeless charm. It might not be some crazy powerhouse, but it most certainly has a big following despite being out of production for a while.

1 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Fair Purchase Price: $32,908

The 2006 Corvette Z06 is one of the most competent sports cars of its time, and depending upon the condition and location, it can cost a little over thirty grand. The mighty V8 that finds its home under the hood of this charming Corvette can generate 500 horsepower, enabling it to reach a non-governed top speed of 198 mph.

Performance

The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette can keep up with a much more modern Porsche 911 Carrera S as well as Turbo, making it a great alternative to the luxury sports car. People who want to buy an American sports car that is competent and powerful should consider looking into the 2006 Corvette, though the pricing varies heavily, as several good condition examples can cost way more than the KBB national average.