10 Cheap Sports Cars With Proven Reliability For A Lifetime Of Fun

Dec 14, 2023

Reliability and affordability are some of the most sought-after attributes in the automotive industry, and these sports cars have both.

Gearheads who crave maximum fun behind the wheels often focus their search on the sports car segment. With emphasis on attributes such handling, acceleration, and speed, among other performance attributes, sports cars are easily the best bet for maximum thrill behind the wheels. That said, not all sports car enthusiasts are so blinded by fun, that they ignore reliability - an attribute which, when absent, drastically reduces the fun aspect of a car.

While there are several classic sports cars with proven reliability for a lifetime of fun, on this list, we’ll provide you with really affordable sports cars that also offers impressive lifetime dependability.

We sourced useful data from J.D. Power, CarEdge, RepairPal, and KBB to provide you with the cheapest most reliable sports cars you can acquire.

While it's quite debatable, there's hardly any car out there that can offer as much fun as a Mazda MX-5 Miata at its price point. A quintessential sports car, the Mazda MX-5 seats just two people, and it's extremely light, weighing just a little above 2,000 pounds. The best-selling two-seat convertible sports car in history, it's no doubt the Mazda Miata changed the automotive scenery forever.

Most MX-5 models are really dependable, but the 2019 model takes the dependability cake within the model. The awesome sports car is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with an output of 181 hp, which earned it a reliability score of 86/100 on J.D. Power. Not only that, listed for an average price of $22,983 on the Kelley Blue Book, the 2019 Mazda is among the most affordable sports cars you can buy on the used car market.

You have to give it to the Fiat 124 in the looks department. The sports car looks quite alluring, inside out. But, looks aside, the 124, also widely known as the Fiata, is truly fun if you’re lucky enough to get behind its wheels. And for its relatively affordable price in the used car market, that's quite an attainable luck. That said, let's show you a few things you need to know before buying a used Fiat 124 Spider.

Based mainly on the fourth-generation MX-5 roadster, the 124 gets powered by a turbocharged Multiair engine. For the 2017 model, FIAT powered the 124 Spider with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an output of 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. With this powertrain, the 2017 124 Spider earned a reliability score of 75/100 on J.D. Power, and according to the site, people are paying as low as $15,000 for the model.

The Mustang is among the earliest produced models on this list, as it got introduced in 1964. Also, with huge sales accompanying its introduction, the Mustang had one of the most successful launches ever in automotive history. The Mustang has received a lot of updates and upgrades since its introduction, but it has remained a largely reliable model.

With a reliability score of 88/100 on J.D. Power, the 2020 Ford Mustang is among the most dependable modern Mustang models around. KKB also valued it at $27,500, meaning it's an easily accessible Mustang model.

The Toyota GR86 is track-proven and street-ready, and it's also an incredibly thrilling car. Introduced in 2021 as the second-generation version of the badge-engineered Toyota 86, the model, like the first-generation version, features same rear-wheel-drive blueprint as the first-generation models. Before going into the model's reliability, let's show you how the Toyota GR86 holds up after a year of use and abuse.

J.D. Power gave the 2022 Toyota GR86 a reliability score of 73/100, which is enough to earn it a place on this list. The trust placed on the model comes from the tested dependability of its amazing 2.4-liter horizontally four-cylinder engine that produces 228 horsepower. Also, the car doesn't cost an arm and a leg, according to J.D. Power, people are paying as low as $27,474 for the 2022 GR86.

Subaru markets the current WRX model as a "4-door sports car," and while that seem like a rather unconventional description for a sports car, with features like the track-tuned suspension for precision control, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and potent engine for all the needed power, the WRX surely has sporty DNA.

That said, the 2020 model is our choice for dependability. With a reliability score of 77/100 on J.D. Power, the 2020 Subaru WRX is easily a great choice for a lifetime of fun at quite an affordable price.

The 370Z is a multiple award-winning sports car produced by Nissan as the sixth generation of the Nissan Z models. Notably, the 307Z, introduced in 2008, combines the potent power of the VQ V6 engine with the world's first available rev-matching manual transmission, for quite a thrilling performance.

For the base model, the 2010 Nissan 370Z features a 3.7-liter V6, mated to a six-speed manual transmission that churns out a respectable 332 horsepower. J.D. Power gave the 2010 Nissan 370Z a reliability score of 84/100.

Powerful, gorgeous, luxurious, and definitely fun, the Chevrolet Corvette is a dream car for many gearheads, even though it's quite an affordable car if you’d consider the used Corvette market. Introduced as far back as 1953, there are several Corvette models that’ll soon be worth a fortune.

Reliability-wise, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette is our top pick among the Corvette models as its 86/100 reliability score on J.D. Power is a great testimonial to the model's ability to provide its owners with a lifetime of fun. Hagerty valuation tool estimated a "good condition" 2009 Chevrolet Corvette to cost $20,300.

Germans are among the pioneers of car production, and looking at these German performance cars that’ll last 500,000 miles, we can say they're still waxing strong at the craft. The Audi A5 is another incredibly amazing German car. Launched in 2007, the model has been produced in different body styles that include a truly sporty 2-door coupe.

For the 2017 model, Audi produced a really dependable A5 that received a reliability score of 86/100 on J.D. Power. Not only that, the 2017 Audi A5 has also become quite affordable as people are now paying as low as $20,854 for the used version, according to J.D. Power.

Chevrolet has built some of the most iconic cars the world has ever seen, and the Camaro made the list as well. Introduced as far back as 1966, the Camaro is currently in its sixth production generation and thanks to its aggressive styling, powerful performance, and thrilling driving experience at a relatively affordable price tag, the model is a prime candidate for this list.

With an incredible reliability score of 88/100, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is our pick for a lifetime of driving fun. It features potent, yet bulletproof engine options that include the 6.2-liter V8 with an output of 426 hp. At the used car market, you can get a 2010 Camaro for as low as $9,500.

The Subaru BRZ is highly reputed for its excellent handling and balance, as well as its engaging driving experience. A production twin of the Toyota 86, Subaru developed BRZ in partnership with Toyota. A rear-wheel-drive model that comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission for the most enchanting driving experience, the BRZ is for gearheads searching for fun behind the wheels.

Thanks to its amazing powertrain, the 2022 BRZ made this list. Its engine is a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated flat-four-cylinder that produces 228 horsepower, and it earned the model a reliability rating of 78/100 on J.D. Power.

Right from childhood, Olakunle has been fascinated by cars, and as an adult, he's gotten neck-deep in the world of automobiles. Hence, he finds contributing to HotCars quite interesting – a surreal experience.