10 Best Affordable Sports Cars Flying Under The Radar

10 2008 Cadillac XLR-V

Starting Price In Good Condition: $25,000

Most people associate Cadillac with luxury sedans and coupes, which is possibly why the ultra-aggressive-looking XLR performed pretty miserably on the sales front. Those low production figures make it a pretty rare car these days, and one that usually escapes the mind of those considering a sports car purchase.

Performance

The XLR-V enjoys beefed-up suspension and an extra 123 horsepower over the standard XLR, resulting in some seriously impressive specs. This rakish roadster powers from 0 to 60 mph in just over 4 seconds, and although it’s not exactly a track-focussed car, we’ll bet the 443 horsepower being sent to the rear wheels makes it great fun in the corners.

Related: 10 Affordable Sports Car Alternatives To The Porsche 911

9 1988 Porsche 928 S4

Starting Price In Good Condition: $26,250

Overshadowed and undervalued, the Porsche 928 always played second fiddle to the iconic Porsche 911. This 1980s sports car boasted a 5.0-liter V8 under the hood, rather than the rear-mounted flat-six that Porsche enthusiasts love; is that why this curvaceous coupe now flies under the radar?

Performance

The 928 may slip by unnoticed by many, but there’s nothing subtle about the performance it has to offer. The top speed was most impressive for the time and competed easily with the likes of Maserati and Ferrari. Unlike those brands, the 928 represents excellent value in 2023, with good examples of the S4 available from just over $25,000.

8 1991 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE

Starting Price In Good Condition: $28,250

In typical British style, the Lotus Esprit was poorly assembled, hideously unreliable, and produced in tiny numbers. Naturally, many sports car enthusiasts prefer to choose more popular models, but the Esprit Turbo SE should not be so easily overlooked.

Performance

As is usual for Lotus, the Esprit was designed to keep the weight at a minimum, with the end result being a mid-engine sports car that only weighed 2,866 lbs. Thanks to this design, the Lotus only requires a reserved 268 horsepower in order to compete with much more powerful models, with a 0 to 60 mph time of just 4.5 seconds.

7 1994 Aston Martin DB7

Starting Price In Good Condition: $16,000

The Aston Martin DB7 is a gorgeous British coupe and one that has been steadily depreciating in price for years now. Surely there is no further drop in value to go, as clean examples can be picked up from just $16,000. We suspect most Aston Martin customers prefer to spend a touch more to secure the more modern and capable Vantage or DB9 models.

Performance

Thanks to the abundance of choice for Aston Martin customers, the DB7 remains excellent value in 2023, making it one of the most affordable, and often overlooked sports cars, on the market today. The chassis is tuned more towards grand touring than it is performance driving, but a 340 horsepower, supercharged inline-six ensures there’s still plenty of oomph on offer here.

6 2010 Nissan 370Z NISMO

Starting Price In Good Condition: $28,000

One car that definitely is tweaked for enthusiastic driving is, the Nissan 370Z. More specifically, this is the NISMO model, which has stiffer suspension than the standard version, more power, and aggressive bodywork.

Performance

The 370Z NISMO isn’t exactly what you’d call cheap, with prices kicking off just below $30,000, but it is one of the more affordable Japanese sports cars on the used market today. Frequently overlooked as customers choose to spend that bit extra for early GT-Rs, or save and pick a standard 370Z, the NISMO is well worth a look.

Related: 9 Used German Performance Cars Flying Under The Radar

5 2014 Jaguar XKR-S

Starting Price In Good Condition: $43,400

Jaguar introduced the F-Type in 2013, and over these last 10 years, the XK certainly has been overshadowed by its younger brother. Most recognize the XK as a smooth, comfortable cruiser, suitable mainly for long-distance drives. The XKR-S however, is something different altogether.

Performance

A supercharged 5.0-liter V8 lurks beneath the sloping bonnet and punches out supercar-like performance. On tap for drivers is 550 horsepower, and 502 lb-ft of torque, which helps this wing-adorned Jag to reach speeds of almost 190 mph, alongside a sub 4 second 0 to 60 mph time.

4 2001 Panoz Esperante

Starting Price In Good Condition: $35,350

Talk about flying under the radar, most wouldn’t even know that Panoz was a car brand, let alone be able to recognize one on the road. Obscure styling would certainly gain their attention though, and the performance on offer should gain yours too!

Performance

A budget of $35,000 with net you one of these obscure 2000s sports cars, which have a 320 horsepower motor under the hood. Capable of hitting 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, the Esperante has plenty to offer anyone willing to take it on. Limited-run sports cars with motorsport heritage usually command much more money than the Panoz does, so it’s easy to argue it represents great value.

3 1993 TVR Chimaera

Starting Price In Good Condition: $28,000

Back to Britain, and time to consider another famously unreliable 1990s sports car. The Chimaera is quite possibly TVR’s most successful model, despite serious running issues, and chassis that love to corrode.

Performance

The 5.0-liter V8 model is available for sub $30,000, making it one of the more affordable British sports cars from the era, under-cutting models from Morgan, and even Caterham. The lightweight design means this roadster tips in at just over 2,300 lbs, so performance is suitably blistering.

2 1999 Dodge Viper RT/10

Starting Price In Good Condition: $38,000

An icon of American engineering, the Dodge Viper famously houses an 8.0-liter V10 that proudly produces 450 horsepower and almost 500 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to their legendary status, they aren’t the cheapest sports cars ever, but for a 10-cylinder sports car, they can be considered really quite affordable.

Performance

More often than not, those shopping for a cool American sports car will choose a Chevrolet Corvette, or even a powerhouse muscle car, like a Mustang or Camaro. For that reason, this Dodge flies under the radar and makes for a pretty cool left-field choice.

Related: 10 Coolest 2000s Performance Cars That Flew Under The Radar

1 2001 Qvale Mangusta

Starting Price In Good Condition: $24,265

If it’s something obscure and out of the ordinary that you desire though, check out the Qvale Mangusta. It’s unlikely that most gearheads even know this car exists, let alone be able to pronounce the name correctly, so it certainly flies under the radar.

Performance

Under the hood is a Ford-derived 4.6-liter V8 motor, which produces a healthy 320 horsepower, and 316 lb-ft of torque. This is enough for the Mangusta to reach 160 mph in a straight line, which is more than enough to compete with more commonly sought sports cars. An inspired choice for 2023, the Qvale Mangusta is one of the coolest sports car choices you could make and all for a seriously affordable price.