Sports cars are generally a mix of great handling and outright speed. They come in all shapes and sizes, from small superminis to huge powerful saloons. There’s also a huge variation in the price of a sports car, some have exceeded their original sale price and become collector’s cars, while some have remained great value cars.
Honda Civic Type R EP3
One of the cheapest cars on the list is the Honda Civic Type R EP3. It boasts a 2.0 litre naturally aspirated engine producing a respectable 197BHP. This power isn’t really in your hands until 5900 RPM, however at this point VTEC kicks in which carries on through to the limiter at 8050 RPM; simply put, VTEC alters the valve timings depending on the speed of the engine, It lets less air in at low speeds and more at high speeds.
Mazda MX-5
The Mazda MX-5 is universally loved in the car world as it’s inexpensive, handsome and provides one of the best driving experiences possible from a car. Despite not being the quickest, it’ll leave the majority of its competitors behind in the corners. The power to weight ratio is what really sets the car apart from the pack. Modifications are cheap and plentiful. The addition of a soft top is always a welcome feature in the summer months.
Volkswagen Golf R
Volkswagen have produced numerous sports cars over the years. Their Golf model comes in everything from a 1.0 turbo to a Bentley produced W12 engine; albeit a one off. The Golf R is the most powerful Golf available to buy today. The 2010 model is surprisingly modern, a touchscreen infotainment system fills the front dash, full heated leather seats and multi-function steering wheel were also options. The car had a blistering 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds and accelerated on to an electronically limited top speed of 155MPH.
Mazda 3 MPS
Mazda have entered the list once again, this time their offering is the nimble 3 MPS. The exterior is sporty and it features body hugging sports seats; a good start. It does feature satnav however the screen it’s displayed on is far too small and it’s all controlled with buttons on the steering wheel. When it comes to performance however, the MPS ticks all the boxes. A 3.2 turbo engine churns out 256BHP with a redline of 6500 RPM.
Maserati 3200 GT Luxury
The surprise feature on this list is a Maserati 3200 GT Luxury. The Italian sports car once fetched a sum of £62,000 but you can pick one up now for under £10,000. Even at that price it’s easy enough to find well cared for examples around the 60,000-mile mark. The 3.2 twin turbo engine returns 370BHP and a top speed of 175MPH. With all older cars, repairs can be expensive, a failed throttle body costs as much as £2000 from Maserati.
