Top 10 Fast Cars Under $10,000

Looking for a fast car that won’t break the bank? We’re bringing you some great options for fast cars under $10,000.

Shopping for a Fast Car Under $10K

There are some specific criteria for those looking to buy a used car for under $10,000. Shoppers want something with lowish mileage, relevant technology, usable space, or just a reliable daily. However, there are those looking to find some speed on a budget too. Finding a fast car under $10,000 isn’t impossible, but it isn’t as easy as it once was. We scoured Carsforsale.com listings to bring you ten fast cars that you can find for cheap. These things are going to be used well into the 100k mile range and potentially abused, but at these prices, there’s some wiggle room in the budget for a touch of work under the hood. Here are some fast cars under $10,000.

Infiniti G35

First up is the Infiniti G35. This car is essentially a Nissan 350Z under the skin, but it can be had as a sedan or as a coupe. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is the standard drivetrain with the G35x providing an all-wheel drive (AWD) configuration. Under the hood is the same Nissan 3.5L VQ35DE V6 found in the 350Z and it’s mated to either a five-speed auto or a six-speed manual transmission. This Infiniti G35 will achieve 0-60 mph in under six seconds and it’ll keep itself planted in the curves. Fun fact, this car is also technically a continuation of the Nissan Skyline, at least that’s what it was named outside the US.

Nissan 350Z

Speaking of the 350Z, why not choose it for a fast car under $10,000? Nissan’s early 2000s Z car has been an ideal candidate for car enthusiasts who want to craft their very own performance sports car. It’s strictly RWD, there’s an available six-speed manual, and the 300-horsepower V6 engine will shoot you to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. If you can find a post 2006 model with the VQ35HR engine, you get six more horses and more torque on the low end. Also, those that aren’t into the hardtop coupe style can look forward to one of the soft-top roadster models out there.

E85 BMW Z4

Used BMWs have experienced some good depreciation over the years, making them ideal candidates for a cheap fast car. For instance, the first generation of the BMW Z4 fits nicely into our $10,000 budget. It probably won’t be the performance M model at this price, but there’s still the 3.0L straight-six that’s sending power to the rear wheels that’ll put in some work. The 3.0L option can capably launch you to 60 mph in 5.5s and you get the choice of a five-speed automatic, five or six-speed manual, or even the chance at one with the SMG-II automated manual transmission. That last one allows for manual shifting but leaves the clutch work to the car rather than your foot. Similar to the Nissan, the Z4 comes with either a hardtop or a retractable soft top so you can feel the wind through your hair while speeding off.

Ford Mustang GT

Cheap fast car searches almost always point to the Ford Mustang. Going all the way back the ‘80s Fox Body Mustang, the GT trim has carried a V8 under the hood. This provides shoppers with more than one generation of the Ford Mustang GT when looking for a fast car under $10,000. You can get the older the Fox Body Mustang with lower mileage, or there’s the choice of up to a fifth gen Mustang with all the modernizations and speed while carrying well over 100,000 miles on the odometer. A good middle ground is a moderately used late ‘90s Mustang GT carrying the 4.6L V8. It isn’t the 5.0, but it’ll still make for a contender.

Jaguar XKR

How about a little British influence when shopping for speed on a budget? The first gen Jaguar XKR is essentially a performance oriented XK8 with a supercharged 4.0L V8 engine that boasts 370 horsepower sent to the rear wheels and can sprint to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds. On the outside it looks like something my grandma would enjoy, but that just makes this a good sleeper option. The next generation XKR looks a little sportier, adds 50 horses, and has a sub-five second 0-60 time, but getting into that model for under $10,000 is going to come with a lot of mileage under its belt.

Fourth Gen Chevrolet Camaro Z28

1998 Chevrolet Camaro SS - media.chevrolet.com

We’ve mentioned the Mustang, so we have to mention its Chevrolet competition, the Camaro. The GM muscle car can also be a good fast car option for under $10,000, but it gets a little more specific than the Ford let us be. Sure, you could snag a high mileage fifth gen with the 3.6L V6 under the hood at this price point, but why not take a look at the catfish Camaro? The Chevrolet Camaro Z28 from 1998 to 2002 to be more specific. This model gained the LS1 motor shared with the Corvette of the time and allowed it to accelerate to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Why not grab a car with an LS rather than LS swap, right?

Porsche 986 Boxster S

Everyone carries some aspiration to own a Porsche at least once, so why not fulfill that desire and pick up a Boxster for under $10,000? This mid-engine roadster debuted in the late ‘90s featuring a flat-six engine. The standard is alright, but the Boxster S from 2000 to 2004 is the one to own with its 3.2L H6 making 250 horsepower. Weighing under 3,000 lbs allows the Boxster S to speed off in a hurry with a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds. Plus, this thing exemplifies the Porsche lifestyle without the Porsche price, so it’s worth a look if you’re in the market.

B6 Audi S4 quattro

Early 2000s Audis have slowly become a fan favorite for car enthusiasts. It probably has something to do with the fact that their S models were available with big V8 engines paired to the Audi quattro AWD system. For our particular use case, the B6 generation Audi S4 quattro fits right under $10,000. You can find the S4 as a sedan, convertible, or my personal favorite, a wagon. The 4.2L V8 pumps out 340 horsepower sent to all four wheels, allowing it to race to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Plus, these things are known for being tuned to shoot flames out the tailpipe, I mean, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Chevrolet Corvette C4

1987 Chevrolet Corvette - media.chevrolet.com

Corvettes are always on fast car lists, but did you know you could pick one up for under $10,000? The C4 Corvettes are just sitting out there waiting to speed off with their 5.7L V8 engines under the hood. Now, they’re no C5 with the LS, but the old LT small-blocks that the C4 carried put in enough work to hit a 0-60 mph time of under 6 seconds. Sweetening the deal, the C4 Corvette came with pop-up headlights, a feature no other car can match from this list.

GD/GG Subaru Impreza WRX

2002 Subaru Impreza WRX wagon - media.subaru.com

Last on our list of the top 10 fast cars under $10,000 is a little bit of rally goodness. The GD/GG generation of the Subaru Impreza WRX features either a 2.0L or 2.5L flat-four turbocharged engine that’s pushing power out to all four wheels. Sadly, these will only be WRX models and not the performance WRX STI models; those would have to be extra busted to fall under $10,000. The Impreza WRX 2.0L EJ20 H4 could speed to 60 mph in about 5.6 seconds, while the later models with the 2.5L EJ25 H4 could reach it in 5.4 seconds. Similar to the S4, got to love a turbocharged wagon option.