A Fun Car Doesn't Have to Be Expensive
Unless you’re extremely wealthy, you’re most likely not looking to spend a fortune on your daily commuter. Rather than settle for something plain, practical, and - heavens - boring, however, we’ve got here 35 super fun cars to drive - all for under $10,000.
Mazda MX‑5 Miata
First introduced way back in 1989, the Miata nameplate has been in use ever since. Although it’s certainly seen its fair share of changes (both mechanical and aesthetic), one thing has remained consistent: it’s damn fun to drive.
Nissan 350Z
2003 saw the introduction of the fifth-generation of Z-cars by Nissan. The 350Z was a two-seater sports car with tons of style considering it wasn’t from a “prestige” brand. The 2006 model, in particular, is exceptionally fun to drive and - given its age - they often go for under $10,000.
Toyota MR2 Spyder
Specifically conceived to be both sporty and economical, the Toyota MR2 Spyder was the very last MR2 sports car to be released, and was sold exclusively as a convertible. Its lightweight design made it zippy and responsive, offering a similar experience to the Porsche Boxster - for a fraction of the cost.
Acura RSX
Though the Acura RSX of today is an all-electric SUV, the RSX of 2001 was a completely different beast. Two models were released, a standard model and a more high-performance model (which we’ll get to shortly), but both were extremely fun to drive and fairly priced as well.
Honda Fit
Also known as the Honda Jazz, the Fit is one of Honda’s most innovative models thanks to its Magic Seats system which allows you to configure your interior space to your liking. Beyond that, however, its smooth, quiet ride and zippy handling make it an excellent, fun city-crawler.
Toyota 4Runner
In production since 1984, the 4Runner nameplate has become a legend amongst off-road enthusiasts, offering rugged capabilities and durability at a much more affordable price than many of its contemporaries. While newer models may be expensive, older models from around 2000 still offer a fantastic driving experience at a very cheap cost.
Nissan Sentra
The Sentra nameplate has been around since 1982, a series of compact sedans offering tons of space and a reliable, engaging driving experience. While the more beefed-up trims like the SR offer greater performance capabilities, the base trim from 2017 still makes for a fun, affordable drive.
Subaru Forester XT
A performance-oriented version of the second-generation Forester, the XT from 2003 offers a turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive with excellent handling. Well-maintained models from that era are often under $10,000.
Renault Clio 182
Also known as the Clio Sport, the Clio 182 is regarded as a “driver’s car” thanks to its fun and engaging dynamics.Its interior quality sometimes leaves a bit to be desired, but there are few cheap cars that can match its agility and handling.
Chevrolet Cobalt
Produced from 2005 to 2010 to replace the Cavalier, the Cobalt was offered as either a coupe or sedan, and shared a platform with the Saturn Iron. The turbocharged variant - the Cobalt SS - may perform better, but both trims offer nimble handling and agility for a very affordable price.
Volkswagen Golf GTI (MK5)
First introduced in 2005, the MK5 brought the GTI nameplate back into the spotlight in the form of a traditional hot hatch that was both fun to drive and practical. Second-hand models are fairly cheap nowadays while still offering the zippy fun that folks got to enjoy back then.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Sharing a platform with the regular Genesis, the Genesis Coupe was, well, a coupe that offered punchy, powerful performance and aggressive styling that showed it meant business. Fun fact: it was also Hyundai’s first-ever rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle.
Ford Focus ST
Who says practical can’t be fun as well? While the Focus ST was by no means Ford’s most luxurious model, it offered something that few others could: lively, youthful appeal thanks to its fun driving mechanics.
Scion FR‑S
Developed by Toyota and Subaru, you could say that the FR-S was the scion of both companies’ proclivities. It was hardly a luxury car, but it was lightweight, nimble, affordable, and above all, super fun and engaging to drive.
Subaru Impreza WRX
Though they’ve since dropped the “Impreza” from the WRX, Subaru can’t take away the nameplate’s rally heritage, which many older models more than lived up to. They offered great traction that made them perfect for both spirited sojourns on the highway as well as some light off-road paths.
Acura RSX (Type‑S)
Billed as an “everyday sports car”, the Acura RSX (Type‑S) is pretty much exactly that. It’s stylish enough to turn a few heads, and certainly fast enough for that, too. But it’s also a very practical machine that you can use as a fun daily commuter if you want to.
Honda Civic Si
The Civic nameplate isn’t necessarily synonymous with fun and engaging driving dynamics. However, the 2006 Civic Si offered exactly that, a nimble and practical machine that could nonetheless tear it up on the highway if you so chose.
Honda CRX
Closely related to the Civic, the CRX nameplate was in use from 1983 until 1991, when it was retired for good. It’s a shame, too, because the CRX offered a sporty, nimble ride at a very reasonable price, something few other vehicles can match.
Volkswagen R32
The R32 first hit the roads in 2002, a more aggressive-looking (and performing) hot hatch than the other GTIs that had come before it. It featured a powerful 3.2L VR6 that had a very distinctive rumble to it, a sound that many drivers came to love.
Mitsubishi 3000GT VR‑4
A 90s icon, the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR‑4 was pretty advanced for its time. It featured a twin-turbo V6 engine, full-time all-wheel drive, and four-wheel steering, all of which contributed to its becoming Mitsubishi’s flagship high-performance vehicle.
Mazda RX‑8
The RX-8 was the successor to - you guessed it - the RX-7, and offered a number of improvements across the board. Its most distinctive features was its 1.3L Wankel rotary engine, which - to be fair - was a real fuel guzzler, but offered fantastic revving power and performance.
Toyota MR2
The term “poor man’s Ferrari” probably doesn’t sound like very high praise, but it really is the best way to describe the MR2. It offered the exotic, thrilling performance of mid-engine luxury cars at a much more affordable price, and had plenty of style to boot, too.
Datsun 510
The Datsun 510 is probably the oldest vehicle we have on our list, and as such, may not be the trailblazing performer you may be looking for. However, it’s an iconic vintage Japanese vehicle for a reason, and offered fun, engaging driving dynamics the likes of which few people could have experienced during its time, all in a compact package.
BMW 330i (E90)
Not quite luxury, but not economy either. The BMW 330i (E90) sat somewhere in between these two poles, offering both practicality and refinement - oh, and fantastic performance thanks to its smooth, reliable engine.
Mazda3
The Mazda3 isn’t a true luxury car in terms of price, but it does feature a very refined interior and a fantastic sense of style. Available as a sedan or hatchback, the Mazda3 comes with a turbocharged engine that is sure to have you on the edge of your seat (not literally, of course).
Mini Cooper S
2008 saw the introduction of the second-generation Mini Cooper, available in two models: the standard Cooper and the Cooper S. It’s this second model that is so fun to drive, a compact machine with a turbocharged 1.6L engine that made it nimble and fast.
Ford Mustang (S‑197)
The fifth-generation Mustang brought back the style of the very first Mustangs from the 60s, with updated driving mechanics that made for an engaging experience.You’d be surprised by how reasonably they were priced, too, and you can find some under $10,000.
Abarth 500
The Abarth name probably isn’t one you’d normally be familiar with. That’s because it’s actually the high-performance variant of the Fiat 500. Sure enough, the Abarth 500’s turbocharged 1.4-litre engine and sport-tuned suspension and brakes certainly put it a cut above its less fancy brother.
Honda Civic Type R EP3
Who would have thought that the Civic name would come up as often as it has on this list? The Type R EP3 was essentially a normal Civic but in hot hatch form, and with more engaging driving dynamics to boot.
SEAT Leon Cupra R
A limited edition version of the SEAT Leon, the Cupra R was a hot hatchback that boasted surprisingly powerful performance for its size, thanks to its turbocharged engine.
VW Golf R32
The words “premium” and “hot hatch” typically don’t go hand in hand, but that’s exactly what the VW Golf R32 was. Featuring a 3.2L VR6 engine as well as a ton of exclusive features, it’s actually something of a rarity today (but by no means an expensive one).
Mazda3 MPS
Also known as the Mazdaspeed3, the MPS was basically a hot hatch on steroids, featuring a powerful engine and sharp handling that made it extremely fun to drive.
Chevrolet Camaro (4th Generation)
Featuring a radical, futuristic design that was completely different from other Camaro’s, the 4th-generation of the beloved nameplate was a fun, sporty convertible that offered a premium driving experience at a decidedly non-premium cost. They’re still really cheap today, particularly the V6 variants.
Ford Fiesta ST
A performance-oriented hatchback with tons of personality and character, the Fiesta ST is basically like the normal Fiesta but with a powerful EcoBoost turbocharged engine that gives it both power and efficiency.
Jeep Wrangler
Last but not least, the Jeep Wrangler is probably the ultimate outdoor toy, a vehicle designed for adventure with engineering to match. Older models from 1998 through to around 2006 tend to be pretty cheap, too.
