Car Buying Guide: What Kind of Sports Car Should You Get For $30,000?

For today's guide, let's imagine the following scenario. Say you've got $30,000 available for buying a sports car. Also, let's assume that you can add a maximum of $5,000 to that budget, in case the car is really worth it. Let's say we are looking for a car that will mostly be used for driving on public roads, but with the occasional track visit from time to time.

To further focus on finding the right car, let's say the aim is to get a coupe, ideally with RWD, but not excluding AWD or FWD variants either. The main idea would be to find a brand new car, but we'll also have a look at some used options as well.

What kind of brand new vehicles can I get?

A budget of $30,000 isn't all that big when talking about sports cars, but there are definitely a few interesting options out there. Looking at Japanese offerings, we have the Honda Civic Si Sedan, the Nissan 370Z, the Toyota GT86, the Mazda MX-5, and the Subaru Impreza WRX.

On the Euro side of things, the best two options seem to be the Mini Cooper S and the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Back to manufacturers from Asia, you might also consider the Kia Stinger GT or the Hyundai Veloster N.

Of course, we couldn't forget cars that are built in North America. Three models come to mind right away, including the Dodge Challenger with a V6 engine, the Chevrolet Camaro, which can come with either a turbocharged inline-four engine or a naturally aspirated V6, and the Ford Mustang, which only offers a turbocharged inline four in the more basic trims.

Looking over all the details, options, prices, reviews, photos and videos of all the above-mentioned cars, we would most likely choose to buy one of the following: the Nissan 370Z, the Ford Mustang or the Golf GTI.

Nissan 370Z

The starting MSRP for the base version, which comes fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox, is $30,090. If you're aiming for an automatic gearbox, a further sum of $1,400 will be required. But given the current conditions, we would probably go for the 370Z Sport, which offers an additional Viscous Limited-Slip Differential, Nissan sport brakes with rear vented discs, a rear spoiler, and 19 inch wheels.

Going for that option will set you back an additional $3,730 compared to the base model, but it does feel like a much better starting point. You've got a choice of six different colors, and at the end of day, just enough cash in your pocket to get an upgraded exhaust system, or some other minor mods done it.

Ford Mustang

Now, this is all a matter of personal preferences, but the EcoBoost Fastback seems like the way to go if you're on a budget, as the MSRP stands at $26,670. There are ten different colors to choose from, and Grabber Lime does look quite appealing. You can also get paint stripes and a black roof to add that final touch to the outside.

We're not quite sure that the high-performance package is worth $4,995, seeing that you only get a small increase in horsepower, but it can certainly be an option if you don't want to deal with 3rd party companies for upgrading the power afterwards. A 6-speed manual is included in the base price, but for another $1,595 you can get the 10-Speed SelectShift Automatic.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

In its base version, the Golf GTI, starts at $29,690. Mind you, that's the seventh-generation model and not the latest eighth-gen, which hasn't arrived yet in the United States. If you'd like to enjoy a set of LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, and leather seating surfaces, then the price will go up to $32,665, but perhaps you'd like to spend that extra amount on something else.

$800 more will get you a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. There are only four colors to choose from, neither one particularly exciting. The good part is that with the money you have left, you can pretty easily upgrade the engine for more horsepower.

At this point, an important thing to consider is also who will be driving the car. How experienced a driver is that person? If said person doesn't feel confident enough to take on a car with RWD and 300 horsepower, then the Golf GTI might be the best option out of the three.

For a more tail-happy experience, both the Nissan and the Ford are eligible for the task. The good thing about the Mustang is that you can get more horsepower a lot easier, as it is turbocharged, but overall we would probably lean towards the 370Z.

If you aren't happy with any of the above options, we would suggest you have a look at either the Mazda MX-5, a best seller in its class over the past few decades, the Chevrolet Camaro, which is definitely more aggressive looking, or the underdog that is the Hyundai Veloster N, which has good power to start with but comes with FWD.

What about used cars, what are my options?

When looking into the used car market, you find yourself engulfed in a whole new universe of options, but you should also be more considerate of things such as mileage, potential problems, previous accidents, and so on so forth. If you're looking for a car that's less than ten years old, you can access the complete range of V8 powered Muscle cars, including the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger; you also have the choice of getting a Chevrolet Corvette C6 .

Looking over the European options, there are certainly a lot of interesting cars there as well. You can get a 2017 BMW M2 with 365 horsepower on tap for under $30,000, but with around 100,000 miles (161,000 km) on it. The 4 Series is an option as well, albeit coming with a heavier body, and not in its top of the line variant. If an Audi is more to your taste, you can find an older S5 with a turbocharged V6 in it, or a slightly newer TT with a turbocharged 1.8-liter instead. Sure, you can get a V8-powered S5 too, but that means you'd have to settle for an even older car.

Somehow the Mercedes-Benz options from this era don't seem quite as sporty, but you may be able to find a CL or a C Class with a larger engine that might suit your needs just fine. An AMG version of an SL or any other of Affalterbach's smaller cars is also achievable if you look hard enough. Another very interesting European option would be the Alfa Romeo 4C, which in itself is kind of like a baby Ferrari 488, seeing as it's RWD and packs a turbocharged engine mounted right behind the driver. It hasn't got a lot of room inside though.

While it might be difficult to find a Lexus RC-F for under $30,000, you can get the 350 version quite easily, and it still has a pretty decent power output. While looking at a brand new 370Z, you could only afford a base model with the given budget; however, if you'll opt for something with 10,000 or more miles on it, you can go straight for the Nismo version, and that does make this option quite appealing!

Both the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GT86 will also fit into this budget, leaving you with some extra cash for upgrades at the same time. Back to more special vehicles, you might be able to source a Porsche Cayman, but you can expect it to have more than 50,000 miles (80,400 km) on it, which might lead to additional costs for the near future.

If you're willing to go even further back in terms of year of manufacturing, the list further broadens. It all depends on several factors like how much you are willing to spend on repairs and upgrades, where you will be using the car, how comfortable do you want said car to be, and so on so forth.

If you're looking at cars built from 2000 to 2010, you're basically opening up to any BMW M, Audi RS, and Mercedes-AMG models. The BMW M3 E92 or M3 E46 are both interesting options, and for those of you looking for something with a bit of luxury included, the M5 E60 is bound to be just as exciting.

Even further than that, back to the '90s, you can access cars like the Mazda RX-7, the Toyota Supra, or the Nissan Skyline, though these may go over your budget in certain cases, due to the increase in demand for classic JDM cars. The BMW M3 E36, an older generation Mitsubishi Evo, and many other cars also could be right for you if you already have a comfy, reliable daily.

Our take on the buying process

This guide is meant as a basic introduction to the alternatives a $30,000 budget can get you. Before actually pulling the trigger on a vehicle, we recommend you read our initial buying guide. Looking at the above options, it probably makes more sense to get a used car, because you can actually get something a bit more special for the given budget. On the other hand, you might have to spend some extra dollars afterwards to have it working properly.

We will be getting back to you with a more in-depth analysis for each category described above, as there are still many aspects to look at before making an educated decision on the topic at hand. The buying decision ultimately comes down to you, so figure out exactly what your expectations are and go for a test drive before signing any papers - that's essential.