www.hotcars.com 22 Of The Fastest Cars Available For Under $15,000

Over the last 5 years, many fast cars with great features like superb handling, powerful acceleration, swift braking and so on have flooded the market, making it easy for car enthusiasts to purchase them without breaking their banks. Every good driver who knows their worth knows that they don’t have to drive an expensive and exotic sports car to tear up the race track in this era and age. And that means the fun behind the wheel can come as cheap as $15,000, or even less.

Update March 2022: Each year, used cars either depreciate or start skyrocketing in value as they become classics. The latter sees some iconic cars reach prices well into the six-digit range. But in most cases, old vehicles are becoming bargains, and we’ve updated this list to include more of the fastest cars you can buy for less than $15,000 in 2022.

This general depreciation results from the previous initial depreciation and low level of demand due to the high cost of most of these high-end fast cars. During the 2008 global financial crisis, many super-wealthy people sold most of these expensive cars just to save themselves from being carried away by the strong tide of the economy.

Nowadays, if you are good at poaching for good car deals online, you can get great deals on performance cars that will provide an incredible feeling of satisfaction in the long run.

An old Chinese saying that, when translated, says, “If you don’t know where you are going, everywhere will look alike.” Oh Yes! We are here to help you “locate where you are going” by listing 22 of the fastest cars you can purchase for less than $15,000 and save you from going under in the name of searching for speed.

Related: Here Are The Most Reliable '90s Sports Cars You Can Buy For $15,000

222007 Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac’s CTS-V was first sold in 2004, and the first generation as a whole is now an outstanding deal. In fact, the most refined year, 2007, offers a hint of luxury along with a powerful 400 horsepower engine.

2007 Models can go for as low as $10,000 and offers a sunroof, bucket seats upholstered in leather, and Bose sound system. The LS2 engine is a gas-powered 6.0L V8 that’s mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It’s the ultimate affordable luxury performance sedan. Because of poor sales numbers, though, they may be a bit difficult to track down, but worth it once the right one is available.

212008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

Giving the STI a run for its money is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. The zippy sports car puts out 291 horsepower from a 2.0L four-cylinder engine. While their values have always been strong, the early years of generation X are starting to become affordable. For instance, a 2008 model will run right about $15,000.

To pair with the four-cylinder, either a six-speed or five-speed manual transmission. Additionally, like its main competition, it sports AWD. Still, its sub-par gas mileage rating meant it was doomed to meet the trash can of history. We’d give anything to have a refreshed model!

202014 Ford Fiesta ST

Ford might have killed off its sedan lineup, but finding a used model can have a few benefits. First, in the Fiesta ST’s case, the value of older models has come down significantly. Second, no one suspects a Fiesta to sport the kind of power the ST puts down.

With 197 horsepower and a six-speed manual, the Fiesta ST is ready for the track. For around $13,000, you can find a Ford Fiesta ST to start modifying or beating up at the track. It can hit 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and sports a top speed of 130 mph. With some proper tuning, it can be even faster. Not bad for a little hatchback.

191995 Porsche 928

If you’re looking for an American muscle car made by Porsche, this Porsche 928 can fit appropriately as one. In fact, it may be the closest you can ever get. When it was first produced in 1978, the manufacturers proposed for it to replace the Porsche 911, which was the company’s iconic vehicle. The production year of this car ran from 1978 to 1995.

The 1995 Porsche 928 has the blend of handling, poise, and power of a sports car with the comfort, equipment, and refinement of a luxury car. Also, it has a 5.0L front V8 engine that generates 300 horsepower to hit a maximum speed of 162 mph. You can get this car for a few dollars below $15,000.

182007 Mercedes S600

The Mercedes S600 is the perfect car for any passionate gearhead. This car is an ideal blend of a big car and a bigger engine; that’s why it can hit a maximum speed of 180 mph without any limits. Apart from being a speed demon, the Mercedes S600 has a thing for comfort as the car seat helps to massage your back when you’re on the wheels.

It has a 5.5 Liter V12 twin-turbo engine that generates 460 horsepower. Amazingly, you can get this car for somewhere around $13,500 to $14,000, depending on the car dealer you are working with.

17Chevrolet Corvette C6

The Chevrolet Corvette C6 is a rugged and big V8-powered car that can corner and handle as well as a Ducati motorcycle. You will obviously love this American-built car if you are a drag race fan or even an average driver. For the first time in 2017, the price of the Chevrolet Corvette C6 broke through the $15,000 mark and was sold at a more affordable price for the public.

The 186-mph car is powered by a 6.0L engine that generates 400 horsepower with 400 lb-ft of torque. The Corvette C6 will reach 60 in the space of 4.2 seconds. It will gain another ground of 100 mph before your brother’s Toyota Corolla hits 60.

162010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is a formula automobile with a coupe body design and a rear-wheel-drive system. This car has a powerful 6.2L V8 engine that outputs 426 horsepower. With this, the beast pushes out an impressive top speed of 200 mph. This technically means that it will run a soccer field in one second.

However, you have to be patient when finding the Chevrolet Camaro SS for purchase because the production of the Chevrolet Camaro SS was halted for some time. Thus, the number of car models was limited and rare to find at some time. But if you’re patient enough in your search, you could get one below $15,000 that’ll be worth your investigation.

Related: The Most Badass '60s Muscle Cars You Can Buy for $15,000

152008 Audi S8

The Audi S8 has a 10 cylinder V10 engine that outputs a whopping 450 horsepower with a torque of 398 lb-ft. This German machine has a body crafted out of 17 sheets of metal which makes the body quite tough and durable giving it a weight of 4,500 pounds. This weight doesn’t stop it from hitting a maximum speed of 180 mph.

The Audi S8 has the V10 engine of the Lamborghini Gallardo, but despite this, it will never go below $15,000 in this lifetime. Thus it’s a great privilege to drive and handle a car like this. However, it’s important to note that fixing the car costs a considerable fortune when something gets broken. That has been a good reason for the car’s price to drop from its original price of $100,000 to a fraction below $15,000.

142014 Audi TT

If you’ve watched the Will Smith movie “I Robot,” then you’ll remember the Audi TT. In 2014, the film made us believe that the Audi TT was a future car. Well, they got it right.

This German car is one excellent speed demon that can still tear up any race track any day at any time. The beauty about the car is that you can’t be limited by any amount above $15,000 to buy this car because you can comfortably pick up the keys on your own at $14,200, depending on the car dealer. This all-wheel-drive car runs on a 3.2L engine that generates 274 horsepower with a torque of 236 lb-ft. And with all that, it hits a maximum speed of 170 mph.

132008 Nissan 350Z

The 2008 Nissan 350Z is one car that gives a remarkable performance considering its affordable price. The 2008 Nissan 350Z is an upgrade of the first Datsun 240Z, which aided in recuperating the category of cheap, fast sports cars in the 1970s. The 2008 Nissan 350Z is the perfect follow-up for the Datsun 240Z mission.

This car has a 3.5L V6 engine which generates 305 horsepower – something that is uncommon for a lot of entry-level sports cars that trade power for affordability. The beauty of this car will make you mistake it for a concept car because it can still stand as a modern-day car. To crown it all, the 155-mph car can be bought at $14,700, giving you $300 to spare for the first gallons of fuel you’ll waste doing burnouts and quarter miles.

122011 BMW 328i

If you follow the trend, you’d have noticed how the BMW 3 series gets an outrageous amount of praise from different automotive journalists. This frequently occurs because BMW has been able to build better small luxury sedans than its competitors for the past thirty years. At this point, you can take a good guess that this model represents one of the times when BMW was at its game.

Hence, it’s safe to say that this car has everything a driver could ever want, from an exceptional engine, rear-wheel drive system, to a manual transmission. It also reaches a top speed of 155 mph thanks to the engine’s maximum power of 230 hp at 6500 rpm. With an estimated price of about $13,500, you’d be able to land this four-door wagon body-styled BMW with an interior that will “wow” you in every way.

112012 Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 is a Third Generation Mazda car that gives fantastic competition to the wild Honda S2000. This beast also comes from the category of compact roadster cars. However, it has a moderate horsepower and a simply-built design that gives its counterpart, Honda S2000, a run for its money.

Apparently, it’s more affordable than the Honda S2000, going at a better price of $12,900. If you want to boost your driving skills, the 167 horsepower and torque of 140 lb-ft of the beast’s 2.0L four-cylinder engine can help you bolster the road without stress.

102010 Ford Mustang GT

Suppose a 4.6 L V8 engine with the capacity to produce a maximum power of 300 hp and maximum torque of 320 lb-ft is your target, with a budget of $14,500. In that case, the Ford Mustang is your sure bet. This car uses an incredible engine that can be backed up with a five-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual transmission.

If that doesn’t make you happy, then wait till you know that this car benefits from one of the best aftermarkets in the world. Suppose you’re confused about what this means. In that case, that can be loosely translated to suggest that the Mustang can be turned into the wild beast you desire with a choice of upgrades to the handling and power of this muscle car.

92003 Honda S2000

The Honda S2000 will give you a run for your money if you’re all out for a high-strung roadster. Want to know more? This car has been described on several occasions as a four-wheeled sports bike. By now, you should have an idea of what this model is all about. With about $13,800, you can buy this car with its 2.0L four-cylinder engine that can produce a maximum torque of 153 lb-ft and a maximum power of 237 hp.

This 2003 first-generation model features a six-speed manual transmission. This car will definitely meet your needs and budget as long as you don’t mind working with the gearbox, which is in place to mainly keep the engine spinning.

Related: 10 Best-Sounding Sports Cars You Can Buy For $15,000

82010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

In 2010, the Hyundai Genesis coupe did an excellent job making the list of affordable sports cars, and this is because it had two performance-focused engines. The first engine is a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that can produce a maximum power of 212 hp.

The second engine is a range-topping all-aluminum 3.8L V6 engine that gives out an impressive maximum power of 306 hp and a maximum torque of 263 lb-ft. Hence, with a budget of about $14,800, you’d be able to brag about a fantastic sports car that can cover 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. All engines of the Hyundai Genesis come with a six-speed manual gearbox.

72008 Saturn Sky Redline

This 2-door roadster with an FMR layout was produced by General motors in 2006. The unfortunate thing that caught up with this admirable machine that uses a 2.0 L turbocharged four-cylinder engine was financial trouble. The good news is with your budget of about $14,000, you’d be able to get this excellent car that can produce a maximum power of 260 hp and maximum torque of 260 lb-ft.

If you’re particular about body kits, you won’t be disappointed by this car. The Saturn Sky Redline has an aggressive body kit with a stiffer suspension system. It has a top speed of 123 mph. If you’re not impressed with its power and torque output, worry not, as the Redline has an upgrade kit to boost the production to 340 lb-ft of torque and power to 290 hp.

62009 Subaru WRX STI

You don’t have to have up to $15,000 in the bank to get the Subaru WRX STI, as this car goes around $14,000 to $14,500. This beast has a swift all-wheel drive system and a small engine with significant power output. This car is the epitome of raw, untamed power.

This baby has a turbocharged 2L engine that generates about 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. The Subaru WRX STI’s lightweight of 3,300 pounds contributes to its 160-mph maximum speed, even though it has a small engine.

52008 Mazda RX-8

This sports car would make you happy with your budget of about $12,000 because it has unique features that’ll get your attention, like its 1.3 L rotary engine that can produce a maximum power of about 232 hp at 8,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 159 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm. This model uses a six-speed manual transmission, and it has a low center of mass design.

This feature gives this model a level of handling competency, which is unusual in a car that has a backseat. Apart from it having a set of rear-hinged doors that can open up the side of the vehicle, it permits an adult-friendly entrance and outlet. However, it’s best to go for the 2009 model of this car to get your money’s worth.

42004 Mercedes SL55 AMG

If you are a diehard automotive enthusiast, the 2004 Mercedes SL55 AMG is one of the cars you should drive and experience before you rest (in peace). This car is one of the few things you must and should undergo before getting old. And here’s why. Speed should be the second name of this Mercedes SL55 AMG as this baby can hit an incredible top speed of over 200 mph.

This is because of its 5.4L engine that can generate 493 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 516ft-lbs of torque at an incredibly low 2750 rpm. Driving this car is also comfortable as it has massaging seats that help you calm your nerves while you’re pedaling down the throttle. And swiftly moving to the price, you can get it for something around $14,500.

3Kia Forte EX

You can buy this excellent Kia Forte EX for just under $15,000. This is another speed demon you can comfortably bet your money on. Even though its manufacturer, Kia, doesn’t focus on producing fast sports cars like Ferrari and the likes, for this one, they made an obvious exception.

The Kia Forte EX comes with a 2.0 L engine that outputs 164 horsepower at 6,200 rpm with a torque of 151 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm, which manages to push the car to speeds well over 130 mph. It also has a beautiful interior design that consists of a 4.3” digital screen with Bluetooth, a rear camera, satellite radio, and other great features that will give your money’s worth. This car also has a lot of space for the driver and passengers to comfortably spread their feet while on the move.