Most of us cannot afford a supercar or a hypercar, but thankfully, we’ve got fast cars that can deliver a similar experience and thrill but on a smaller scale. If a person enjoys driving a performance car, it’s hard to let that feeling go. But this is nothing new, right? Cheap sports cars like the MX-5 Miata, the Ford Mustang, the Camaro, and used Corvettes are pretty popular in the country. For a budget of $20,000 or less, these cars are among the safe choices that most people go for.
But gearheads are a different breed. They dedicate much more of their time, energy, and resources to the automobile industry whether it’s on the consumer side or the technical side. As a result, they get to know stuff about automobiles that don’t reach the ears of a common man. It may be a sleeper car that’ll fool people into underestimating it or a really great bargain of a used car that’ll slip past most folks just because they haven’t heard much about it. There will always be cars like those that won’t make much sense to normal people, but any gearhead that knows about them will surely be impressed.
102004 Mitsubishi Galant LS
When we hear about Mitsubishi Galant, we usually picture an old (or even a classic) sports sedan from Mitsubishi that used to be fast but can’t hold up today. But the Galant surprisingly made its way to the 21st Century and packed a punch too, but not many know about it.
It came with 2 engine options and the 3.8-liter V6 was a beast that made 230 hp! A ricer at a red light will think that he can take you in your Galant LS, but a knowledgeable gearhead will only be stoked to see an awesome sleeper on the road.
Related: This Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Is A 750-HP Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
HOTCARS VIDEO OF THE DAY
92007 Mazdaspeed 3
Back around 2007, cars like the Golf GTi, Civic Si, and Ford Focus ruled the hot-hatch market. But the Mazdaspeed 3 is a dark horse that people will mistake for an economy car. Mazdaspeed is the tuning house responsible for the championship-winning 787-B! In the late ‘90s, it became Mazda’s official in-house tuning company.
Hence, Mazdaspeed knows what they are doing, and the Mazdaspeed 3 is an affordable, reliable, and most importantly, capable hot hatch in the used market right now. After all, it’s a Mazda 3 with a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that makes 263 hp and can do 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.
Related: 10 Reasons Why The Mazdaspeed 3 Is Perfect For Driving Enthusiasts
8Fiat Abarth 124 Spider
The Abarth 124 Spider is essentially an MX-5 Miata with a different badge on it and different engine in it. But the Italian styling makes the Abarth look a lot cooler than the Mazda. They all come with Fiat/Chrysler's widely used 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 that makes 160 to 164 hp.
It’s not too powerful, but it's very fuel-efficient and the power is enough to have fun with. Plus, you can tune the engine, and voilà! You’ve basically got yourself a Mazda MX-5 Miata but more stylish and powerful.
72008-09 Lexus IS 350
Buying a Lexus makes people think that you prefer luxury and reliability more than performance. Lexus' cars typically offer an almost care-free ownership experience when it comes to dependability. The IS 350 looks like a meek little sedan from the outside.
But inside, it’s got a 3.5-liter V6 that makes more than 300 hp! Not only that, it’s RWD too! Now we all know what that combination means, don’t we? The assurance of Lexus quality is just icing on the cake. The IS 350 is one heck of a car that we cannot judge from the outside or from the badge.
Related: A Look Back At The 2009 Lexus IS 350
62012 Ford Taurus SHO
The original Ford Taurus SHO was one of the first sleeper cars on the market. The newer models might not be as exciting, but the 2012 Taurus SHO brings back a lot of fond memories. If you’re in a Ford that’s not a Mustang or a Focus RS, chances are it’s not that fast. At least that’s what people think.
But the 2012 Taurus SHO is an AWD car whose 3.5-liter turbo-V6 makes as much horsepower as there are days in a year. As a result, performance is stunning and overtaking cars on the highway is just easy for this one.
Related: The Evolution Of The Ford Taurus SHO
52004 Pontiac GTO
Ever since we started getting heavily depreciating European sports cars on the used market, they became a no-nonsense choice over American ponies. But the 2004 Pontiac GTO is not just another muscle car. It’s a 350 hp, V8-powered beast that certainly looks slower than it is.
The LS1 5.7-liter works like a charm with the Tremec T56 gearbox, and you are able to get plenty of power at all rev ranges. That not only makes the GTO very fast, but also very accessible at the same time. And it’s not too costly as well.
41994 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
When gearheads hear the word SVT, they know it’s going to be a good car. SVT stands for Ford’s Special Vehicle Team. The 1994 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra gets its power from a 5-Liter V8 that makes 240 hp and 285 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm.
Another great thing about it is that it comes in an RWD configuration, and it has a 5-speed manual. The chassis is great for both handling and having a bit of fun. Most people will probably label it as just another Mustang, and that’s part of the reason why it’s still affordable.
3BMW E36 M3
An old BMW is going to have its price depreciated no matter what. Thankfully, some of its older cars are too good for their price now, and the E36 M3 is undoubtedly one of them. Today, the M3 is a legend in the sports car segment.
The 240 hp 3-Liter Inline-6 is utterly reliable and is capable of handling quite a few mods. BMW added more comfort for the E36 M3 compared to the E30 M3, so long trips are no big deal. People might not think that it’s a bad car at all, but only gearheads know just how amazing and desirable this car is.
Related: Here's What Makes The BMW E36 A Great Project Car
2Honda S2000
In simple words, the Honda S2000 is one of the finest sports cars of all time. To many onlookers, it may look like just another 2-seater sports car. But the S2000 is, in our books, a league above most rivals. We can even consider it one of the best track cars in its price segment.
That award-winning 2.0- and 2.2-liter engines (that rev up to 9000 rpm in the case of the 2.0!!), the unique features, the affordability (although its prices are rising with time), the mod-ability. Everything about this car is great. And we don’t need to tell you just how good this car looks, do we?
Related: Why You'd Want A Honda S2000 Over A Mazda MX-5
12011-2015 Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy in most people’s minds is a family sedan with the main focus on reliability and comfort. While it is a nice car to be in, it’s even better to drive. If you manage to get yourself one with the 3.6-Liter flat-6 engine, you’re in for a treat. Its impressive 256 hp power figure combined with Subaru’s tried and tested AWD system is a recipe for ‘smiles per hour’.
It’s no WRX STi, but it gets the job done for a lot less. Moreover, Rally legend Colin McRae came in third in his Legacy GT in 1993. If that doesn’t impress a gearhead, we don’t know what will.
These Are The 10 Most Underrated Italian Sports Cars Of All Time Read NextShareTweetShareEmail Related TopicsAbout The AuthorRamya Shah(154 Articles Published)
Ramya is a Computer Engineering graduate with a lifelong love of automobiles. Digs all types of cars but has a special place in his heart for Japanese and Italian two-seater sports cars.
