Value vroom: Top 10 best budget sports cars

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Performance thrills need not be expensive. Here are ten of the best budget sports cars that deliver high performance for low prices.

Looking to add a dash of excitement to your life without leaving you financially broken? One of the best budget sports cars in my list can be an excellent idea. If, of course, you can avoid buying a stinker.

Here are my top ten best budget sports cars to give you some motoring inspiration. Just be sure to do your research before buying to avoid scary repair bills and that dreaded buyer’s remorse.

1) Mazda MX-5

Despite being impractical, the Mazda MX-5 continues to be a popular choice for UK drivers, offering a likeable balance of handling and driving pleasure. Being small, balanced and grippy, this two-seater convertible is well-suited for British roads. Even if the rain does not stay away long enough for you to put the roof down.

2) Ford Mustang

Having come to our shores in right-hand drive, the revamped Ford Mustang and its unique blend of muscle car motoring and modern comfort quickly made a name for itself. Later versions offer better and better handling and, if you go for the V8 and not the less enjoyable 2.3-litre Ecoboost, a thunderous soundtrack.

3) Jaguar F-Type

Want a slice of British elegance combined with high-performance? The Jaguar F-Type is an excellent choice for those with a bigger budget. With its distinctive design, potent engines and head-turning looks, a used F-Type is likely to bring four-wheeled joy to your life.

4) Toyota GT86

For something cheaper, lighter and able to go sideways more effortlessly, we have the Toyota GT86 and its rarer Subaru BRZ sibling. Known for its lightweight design, rear-wheel drive and a focus on pure driving pleasure, a used GT86 can be bags of fun. Although it does need to be pushed rather hard to truly come alive.

5) Porsche Cayman

Yes, a Porsche. Repair bills can be scary, but a used Porsche Cayman, with its mid-engine layout and sharp handling, can be a memorable thing. Fast, stylish, involving and suitable for UK roads, you could do a lot worse than a Cayman (or the more budget-friendly Boxster).

6) Nissan 370Z

Another beast from the east, the V6 Nissan 370Z is as aggressive to look at as it is in the handling and engine departments. Rivals have left it behind for refinement and finesse, but there is something likeable about its brutish ways. Plus it has aged better than the 350Z it replaced.

7) BMW M3

No list can be complete without some performance Bimmer. In this case, the mighty M3 and its Germanic performance, styling and handling. It comes in many flavours and forms, all of which should tick that all-important enjoyment tick box. Though it is less prestigious than other cars on this list hence the jokes about needing a head tattoo.

8) Audi TT

Meanwhile, we have the Audi TT, with its distinctive rounded design and all-wheel-drive capabilities. If you are happy with severely reduced performance, it can be as cheap as chips. Bigger, pricier engine choices and later versions do command a higher price tag, though there are few cars quite as brutally fast and easy to drive as the TT RS.

9) Ford Focus RS

Another modern classic (though not as good as many have said), the Ford Focus RS is an old-school hot hatch with a turbocharger and all-wheel drive. Assuming the previous owner avoided experimenting with the infamous drift mode, it can be a decent value proposition that is fast, practical and silly.

10) BMW Z4

Last but not least is the never-appreciatining BMW Z4. As with the Audi TT, bigger engines offer more excitement (and also sometimes a sixth gear for lazier motorway cruising) but you will have to pay more. Expect a harsh ride if fitted with run-flats, but more than two decades later it is still a great handler and enjoyable to look at.