Fast cars are normally considered to come from the luxury cars realm. First, this is due to their high performance ‘stuffing’. This is also because fast cars are somewhat specialty cars, for they are not so popular and meant for pre-determined drivers. But it doesn’t mean that a good fast vehicle should be out of your reach if your budget is limited with $20K.
The used car market has plenty of offers for you to look through and find a great ride by a trusted brand. On the one hand, the price drops in relation to the model year, which makes these cars realistically affordable. On the other hand, often you can find vehicles that were well taken care of – many fast car owners like their rides to last long.
Here are some of the fast cars that you can buy to enjoy some wind and adrenaline without exhausting your budget.
Price: $12-15k
Engine: 4.6L V8, 300hp
Fuel Economy: 12.3L city/ 8.4L hwy
Other: RWD, manual
Those into fast vehicles tend to fall in love with one of the brands and keep away from others – just like with smartphones. So you either love Ford Mustang GT or dislike it. Especially if you are to compare this one with some other Mustang models like Shelby GT500, for example.
What you’ll get with the GT is a 4.6L V8 engine, giving out some 300 horses and a 5-speed manual transmission. Now, if you happen to run into a convertible model, then you have yourself a perfect ride for the summer.
Price: $6-12K
Engine: 5.7L HEMI V8, 368hp
Fuel Economy: 13.5L city/ 8.0L hwy
Other: RWD/AWD, automatic
Dodge Charger is not your typical fast car. See for yourself: a sedan with an automatic transmission isn’t the type of car speed freaks would vote for. However, this car has a lot to compensate for the above-mentioned peculiarities. The 5.7L engine able to produce the crazy 368 horsepower and 5-second acceleration to 100 is definitely something. The only fact that the police have Dodge Charger in service should tell you this car is angry.
The Charger comes with AWD and RWD drivetrain options. So here you have a choice of what is more suitable for you. And despite being a sedan, the Charger does have an aggressive enough look for you to feel winning the road.
Price: $5-19K
Engine: 1.3L 2-rotor rotary, 232hp
Fuel Economy: 14.7L city/ 10.7L hwy
Other: RWD, manual/automatic
Mazda RX-8 is a neat and compact sports car for a budget. With a small engine, this isn’t the fastest car out there, but it is still great for some city driving. Its agility is made possible with a 6-speed transmission, which comes manual or automatic.
While this Mazda isn’t the best choice, it is a good ride for the money. Those just starting with fast cars might find this option for a city environment.
Price: $13.5-20K
Engine: 2.5L H4, 305hp
Fuel Economy: 13.8L city/ 10.2L hwy
Other: AWD, manual
Not everybody is a fan of the laid-back American style featured in Mustang, Charger, or other similar cars. Some are looking for Japanese-style maneuverability and compactness. Subaru Impreza WRX STI is just the one. While RWD cars are great for fair weather, they will lose to the Subaru AWD drivetrain. So, if you’re a fan of all-weather driving fun, this Subaru car can be a great choice.
With twice as few cylinders that a Mustang (which is 4 vs 8), WRX STI still can push some great 305 horsepower. And just check out the price: not being so popular, 2008-2010 models can be found cheap enough on the used car market.
Price: $8-12K
Engine: 3.8L V6, 306hp
Fuel Economy: 11.9L city/ 7.3L hwy
Other: RWD, manual/automatic
Another great alternative to voracious American cars is this compact and sleek-looking coupe. It has a 6-cylinder 3.8-litre engine able to produce over 300 horsepower. It was meant to rival such vehicles as Mustang and Camaro, which it does successfully enough. But with some great advantages.
The V6 engine was a modification of a base 2-litre V4 engine. But at the same time, Genesis GT Coupe is the most fuel-efficient car on this list. If that alone isn’t enough, the price range should make this car even more attractive to someone with a moderate budget.
