10 of the best and coolest sports cars you can get used for under $30,000

1. 2017 BMW 2 Series 

The 2017 BMW 2 Series is the smallest and most affordable BMW
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but it still packs plenty of punch, especially in M240i guise. A 335-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder drives either the rear wheels or all four wheels, with your choice of a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic. 

2. 2017 Chevrolet Camaro

Classic muscle looks with modern sports car handling give the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro plenty of appeal even in base form, but the 455-hp 6.2-liter V8 and upgraded handling, braking, and magnetic-ride suspension of the Camaro SS take it to the next level. If you’re persistent, you may even find a 1LE track package model within our budget. 

See: A eulogy for the muscle car

3. 2013 Chevrolet Corvette

Older and slightly less powerful than the Camaro, the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette nonetheless deserves a place on this list because of its incredible handling, inimitably sleek looks, and monstrous performance envelope. The 430-hp 6.2-liter V8 is nothing to sneeze at whether you choose the 6-speed manual or the 6-speed automatic, especially with the Corvette’s 3,200-ish pounds curb weight. That’s nearly 500 pounds lighter than the Camaro. 

4. 2017 Ford Mustang 

A much closer match to the Camaro SS’s feature set is the 2017 Ford
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Mustang GT, with its 435-hp 5.0-liter V8 and choice of 6-speed manual or automatic, classic style, and tuned-up handling. All GT models also include a line-lock mode for easier burnouts and launch control to help annihilate the drag strip. 

Be sure to read: Here are the most important questions to ask when buying a used car from a private seller

5. 2006 Honda S2000

The oldest car on our list isn’t a Porsche
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for once, but it rivals any Porsche for its purity of driver engagement. Often noted as being more like riding a motorcycle than driving a car, the S2000‘s intimate cabin and precise, firm driver interfaces (pedals, shifter, steering wheel) allow the driver to extract every ounce of performance from the high-revving 237-hp 2.2-liter 4-cylinder. You may find a 2007 or 2008 in this price range. 

See: How old is too old for a used car? Here are the main things to consider when buying one.

6. 2017 Infiniti Q60

If you’d like a taste of luxury alongside your sport, the 2017 Infiniti Q60 is a remarkable value on a $30,000 budget. Stunning style is standard, as is rear-wheel drive, a 7-speed automatic transmission, and, on the 3.0t at the sweet spot of our budget, a 300-hp twin-turbocharged V6 under the hood. 

Plus: I got to drive the new McLaren Artura supercar—here’s what I learned about myself, cars and…cows

7. 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

No list of affordable sports cars is complete without a Miata. The 2021 Mazda
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MX-5 Miata is a nearly new example of the line, offering fresh design, modern tech, and a refined cabin on top of some of the best handling and cornering traits you’ll find at any price. The slick-shifting 6-speed manual is a must-have, and while the 181-hp output of the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder is the least on our list, you’ll enjoy using every pony it can muster at every available opportunity. 

8. 2018 Nissan 370Z

With a rich history of Z cars that preceded it, the 2018 Nissan
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370Z had much to live up to. Fortunately, it carried the mantle with grace, style, and a healthy dose of speed. Despite the sleek looks and reasonably modern in-cabin tech, the 370Z’s driving style is much more old-school, focusing on smooth throttle application to manage its drift-ready rear end. 

Related: 10 cool used coupes you can get for under $20,000

9. 2011 Porsche Boxster/Cayman

A two-for-one unlike any other, the 2011 Porsche Boxster and 2011 Porsche Cayman are very similar vehicles aside from the obvious roof-based differences. Both models sport midmounted 2.9-liter boxer 6-cylinder engines, standard 6-speed manual transmissions (or available 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmissions), and the same Porsche-tuned steering and handling brilliance. The Cayman is rated 10 hp stronger than the Boxster, but the only real reason to choose between them is whether you prefer a coupe or convertible. 

10. 2022 Subaru BRZ 

Finally, we reached the newest model on our list, the 2022 Subaru
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BRZ. With a 228-horsepower flat 4-cylinder driving the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission (or an optional 6-speed automatic), the BRZ is punchier than a Miata but still puts its primary focus on handling and feel in the corners, with the added convenience and security of a fixed metal roof. 

This story originally ran on Autotrader.com.