10 High-Performance Cars That Are Perfect for Budget-Conscious Buyers

In the automotive world, performance is often directly proportional to price – an increase in car performance translates to a rise in the car’s cost. For instance, a base 158-horsepower Honda Civic starts at $23,950; the track-focused Type R featuring a 315-horsepower engine starts at $43,795. The performance variant of the Civic costs $20,000 more than the base car.

On the face of it, therefore, you must dig deeper into your bank account if you want to drive a performance car. However, thanks to the magic of depreciation, you don’t have to spend much to own a performance machine. The used car market is a gold mine for bargain-priced, high-powered vehicles. Here are 10 high-performance cars that are perfect for budget-conscious buyers.

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1 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8

Starting Used Price: $9,000

The Chrysler 300C SRT8 was a 300C tinkered with by Street Racing Technology (SRT), Chrysler’s equivalent of Mercedes’ AMG. Interestingly, Mercedes, then a partner of Chrysler, contributed plenty to the 300C’s conception. The blocky, aerodynamically inefficient 300C needed a powerful engine to push it through the air.

Specifications

SRT obliged, mating a 6.1-liter V-8 to the car’s chassis. SRT also refined the transmission, accelerating upshifts and downshifts. The result was a naught to 60 MPH time of 4.7 seconds and a max speed of 173 MPH. The 300C SRT8 was more than a performance car; it was also a practical sedan that worked as a daily driver.

2 2005 Maserati Quattroporte

Starting Used Price: $11,000

The 2005 Maserati Quattroporte was Italy’s answer to the likes of the Audi S8 and the BMW 745i. What appears to be the perfect mafia boss car, the Maserati had the perfect blend of style, luxury, and performance to come close to equaling its illustrious competition. Designed by Pininfarina, the Quattroporte received near-perfect style points. Furthermore, the poshest of luxury toys and materials lined the car’s interior.

Specifications

Maserati offered ten different colors of leather and a wood or titanium finish. The Quattroporte got maximum points for luxury, especially considering that the cabin graciously accommodated its four occupants.

The Italian company ticked the performance box by offering the Quattroporte with a 395-horsepower engine mated to a six-speed automated manual transmission. The Quattroporte was good enough to fight its German counterparts, and Maserati knew it: the vehicle’s original MSRP exceeded $100,000. Now, however, you can get one for around $11,000.

3 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Starting Used Price: $12,300

The Bentley Continental Flying Spur looked like and was a stretched Bentley Continental. Perhaps awed by the success of the Continental, Bentley decided to develop a sedan version of the car. The Flying Spur was luxurious, as you would expect with any Bentley. The surprising thing about the 2006 Flying Spur was its ridiculous speed.

Specifications

Powered by a turbocharged version of the W-12 used in the Volkswagen Phaeton, the Bentley rocketed to 60 MPH from zero in 4.6 seconds. 25 seconds later, the hulking Flying Spur hit 150 MPH. The Flying Spur was quicker than the substantially skinnier Continental. Those daring enough to push the limo-like Flying Spur to its limit hit a top speed of 195 MPH.

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4 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe

Starting Used Price: $13,000

Porsche developed the 996 generation 911 Carrera Coupe at a desperate time for the venerated company. Porsche needed the new 911 to be a smash hit on the brink of collapse. People often ridicule the 911, claiming the car has remained the same since its debut. However, the 996 generation Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe truly was new – it was the first 911 designed on a clean sheet of paper since the first one’s debut in 1963.

Specifications

Porsche enthusiasts were worried that ditching the 911’s iconic air-cooled engine for a water-cooled engine would impact the vehicle’s performance. However, even the staunchest defenders of the air-cooled engine knew deep down that the water-cooled 3.6-liter flat-six powering the ‘99 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe was a masterpiece.

5 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG

Starting Used Price: $16,000

The CLK55 AMG was a joy to behold; it was one of the best-looking cars of the early 2000s. It featured a more potent version of the 5.5-liter V-8 that powered the previous model. The 2003 CLK55 AMG was quick, speeding from stationary to 60 MPH in 4.9 seconds and peaking at a limited top speed of 155 MPH.

Specifications

Under the skin, AMG-tuned suspension stuck the car onto the tarmac, facilitating handling and responsiveness without ruining occupant comfort. Mercedes and AMG knew that people would push the vehicle to the limit, so they installed large brakes with plenty of stopping power on the CLK55 AMG.

6 2016 Ford Mustang V6

Starting Used Price: $16,000

The Ford Mustang V-6 formed part of Ford’s attempt to make sporty yet economical and practical Mustangs. Featuring a 3.5-liter V-6 producing 300 horsepower, it was the base Ford Mustang. The V-6 Mustang didn’t make much sense as it was less potent and less economical than the EcoBoost Mustangs featuring turbocharged four-cylinder engines.

Specifications

Still, the vehicle provided reasonable performance. You could still have tire-shredding, smoke-filled fun in a Mustang V-6. It took 5.9 seconds to complete the 60 MPH dash, and at full tilt, the car peaked at 121 MPH. Delimited versions could go as fast as 135 MPH.

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7 2008 BMW M3

Starting Used Price: $16,000

The fourth-gen BMW M3 was unique because it was the first – and, so far, only – M3 generation to feature a V-8 engine. Under the 2008 BMW M3’s skin lay an angry 4.0-liter V-8 mated to a new 3-Series chassis. Enthusiasts held their breath, skeptical about the new BMW M3 formula. It turned out that they had nothing to worry about.

Specifications

The 2008 BMW M3 was faster than the model it replaced and as sharp and agile as previous M3s. The rumble of that V-8 compounded the joy of driving the BMW M3. Few sports sedans could beat the M3 in a drag race: it shot from a dead stop to 60 MPH IN 4.4 seconds.

8 2008 BMW M5

Starting Used Price: $16,200

Another anomaly in the BMW lineup was the fourth-generation M5. All subsequent M5 generations after the first-generation model, which featured an inline-six engine, had V-8s. The fourth-gen M5 (E60), however, had a monster 5.0-liter V-10 under the hood. In default mode, the V-10 produced 400 horsepower; at full potential, the engine churned out 500 horsepower.

Specifications

The M5 was fast and incredibly complex. BMW engineers posited that the M-drive system had 279 possible combinations, allowing drivers to tune the car for different scenarios. BMW reverted to the V-8 engine with the next generation M5, making the fourth-gen M5 one of the most unique models in the lineup.

9 2010 Jaguar XKR

Starting Used Price: $18,000

Updates to the Jaguar XKR in 2009 turned it into an apex predator capable of hunting down costlier machinery like the Aston Martin DB9. Jaguar revised the exterior, introducing an aggressive front bumper, a reshaped rear spoiler, and LED rear lights. The exterior improvements paled in comparison to the progress under the car’s skin.

Specifications

The XKR’s supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 now produced 510 horsepower, 90 more than the power unit in the outgoing XKR. Mated to a six-speed transmission routing power to the rear axle, the XKR accelerated to 60 MPH in 4.0 seconds, half a second faster than the model it replaced. The revised XKR got to 60 MPH 0.1 seconds faster than the BMW M6.

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10 2002 Chevrolet Corvette C5

Starting Used Price: $21,000

Smart buyers of the Chevrolet Corvette C5 went for models with manual transmissions. Beyond providing a more engaging driving experience, the manual-equipped C5 delivered more torque and was faster to 60 MPH by nearly half a second. Regardless of the variant chosen, however, the Corvette C5 delivered exceptional performance. The C5 is certainly the best generation for a Corvette project car.

Specifications

Routing 350 horsepower and 360 pound-feet through a four-speed automatic transmission, the C5’s 5.7-liter V-8 accelerated the car to 60 MPH in a smidge over five seconds. At full tilt, the C5 peaked at 175 MPH. Considering its speed and responsive handling, the base C5 was perhaps unfairly overshadowed by the Z06 variant.