Tradition says pure sports cars are equipped with "nothing that doesn’t make them go faster." Long ago, that meant roll-up side windows and a heater were extravagances. Today, however, they are both sports car norms, along with power-folding convertible tops, power door locks and automated climate controls. Such amenities are now lightweight enough not to slow a car down and are considered indispensible in this fast-paced, luxury-minded world of ours.
Furthermore, some time ago, sporty coupes reached par with traditional two-seat sports cars in terms of performance while offering sedanlike practicality. Thus, a "sports car" today can be everything from a swoopy two-seat convertible to a boxy sedan look-alike that hides a powerful engine and road-gripping suspension under its family-friendly fenders.
With such diversity to choose from, fun-loving drivers can find themselves in a pleasant quandary when deciding what to buy. Should they opt for a dashing convertible when they could have just as much driving fun in a sports sedan that also offers a usable rear seat?
That decision is often compounded by the expensive, impractical nature of traditional two-seat sports cars. Their minimal seating and lack of storage space means the thoroughbred sports cars are tough to justify in single-car households. Such limited use excludes them as everyday cars for regular working folk. As a result, the sports car market often drifts very upscale — think Aston Martin or Porsche.
But the rich needn’t have all the fun. For $35,000 there are a handful of capable traditional sports cars and a wider selection of performance-oriented coupes and even sedans. We’ve gathered 10 of the best of these sub-$35,000 sportsters for your review.
Our criteria value convertible tops, sharp handling, strong performance and rear-wheel drive, but are not blind to other possibilities as long as the intent is grin-inducing driving. Enjoy!
For the heel-and-toe crowd, these traditional sports cars thrill with precise chassis, firm suspensions and no-excuses thrust. Storage is minuscule, the ground-hugging stance means athletic ingress and egress, plus you look up at truck axles. But fewer things in life are more responsive.
At $35,000, the S2000 is right on our price bubble, but it is also the purest sports car here. Its wire-tight chassis and screaming, high-revving engine live for the thrill of the open road, but will commute if you insist. A bit compact inside, a snick-snick 6-speed manual transmission with a proper gearshift lever, contemporary instrumentation and Honda’s great detailing put paid to the term "cockpit." It’s the pinnacle of approachable, drop-top sports cars.
Like the Honda S2000, the iconic Miata has been around for years — proof of its staying power. Aimed squarely at the affordable roadster market at $22,000 to $28,000, it’s within reach of the masses. Highlights are cheeky handling and moderate power combined with polite daily driving manners. It, too, is on the compact side, so the big and tall crowd won’t be comfortable here, and the trunk is tiny, but nicely engineered. Open-air fun has rarely been this affordable.
Those looking for something different gravitate to another Mazda sports car, the $26,435 RX-8. The weather-tight coupe has generous, secure storage by sports car standards, but its odd doors and cramped rear seat tip off its iconoclastic nature. Under the hood is a rev-crazy 232 horsepower Wankel engine giving the RX-8 a unique, high-strung personality and a thirsty — 18 mpg city, 22 mpg highway — habit at the pump. For some, however, the RX-8’s snappy power, balanced handling and tight bodywork are an irresistible draw.
Nissan’s new kid on the block, the 370Z Coupe, lists for $29,930 to get started, but can reach to the $40,000s, so option-list restraint is required. Solid sports-car credentials come from a stiff chassis and 332 horsepower, but the 370Z is also expressively Japanese. Overt style cues such as the "can’t miss ’em" individually mounted instruments with oversize hoods, plus tech toys such as rev-matched downshifts, give the 370Z a youthful, almost geeky air.
Two-seat Americans sports cars are normally rare — in fact, nearly nonexistent beyond the highly capable Corvette. Thankfully, the Pontiac Solstice and its Saturn Sky sibling buck the trend for about $30,000 in GXP and Redline form, respectively. Acceptable chassis give fun handling, but 260 turbocharged horsepower is the main attraction. Styling is overt, be it rounded on the Solstice GXP or edgy with the Sky Redline, and a coupe joins the roadsters this year. Storage is nearly nil, but curiously the turbocharged engine at 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway gets three more mpg than a standard Solstice.
Corn-fed mid-Americans as sports cars go, the Camaro and Mustang have lately gained superior chassis while retaining the torquey muscle they’ve always been loved for. Today’s pony cars boast the finesse, refinement, power and presence to hold their own in any sports-car crowd.
So new it isn’t being sold yet, the all-new Camaro is a reasonable $22,245 in V6 trim and $33,420 with a V8. An independent rear suspension promises a smooth ride, and the weight distribution is perfectly even, so handling should set new standards.
The styling is spirited, especially inside, and space utilization poor, but that’s a pony car. Concentrate on the more affordable V6; it cranks a V8-like 300 horsepower with reduced insurance and fuel costs.
Significantly upgraded for 2010, the Mustang is $20,500 in V6 trim and $34,000 for the V8 GT. Restyled inside and out, the all-new interior impresses, delivering newly found sophistication. A fun commuter as a V6, the Mustang is at its sports-car best with its 4.6-liter V8, and enthusiasts shouldn’t skip the Handling Pack II option. Mustang highlights of day-in, day-out practicality and essentially unlimited aftermarket support for hot rodders continue unabated.
Not so much sports cars but hot hatches and swoopy coupes, this collection of hardtops offers more room, more storage and typically more rush from deep-breathing engines.
A bit of an unknown as it won’t be on sale until this spring, the new Genesis Coupe is Hyundai’s sports-car surprise. Amazingly, it’s rear-wheel drive, with a good old 6-speed manual gearbox and either turbo 4-cylinder or V6 power. A Track Model is available for the more adventurous, but best of all is the pricing. Just $19,990 gets the turbo-4 party started; the V6 is $24,990.
If sports cars are about driving fun, then how could the MINI be anything but? The cheeky style king starts with its small overall size, packs on the original MINI’s timeless styling cues and a positively exuberant interior. It’s a fun and friendly scooter with good front-seat room and a rear perch for visitors. A clever marketing program sets the car’s playful tone, and a line of great accessories answers the almost automatic need to customize. Entry-level MINIs tend to the low side of the power curve at$18,550, but the supercharged ones such as the 208 horsepower Cooper Works offer all the necessary steam at $28,550.
Once the absolute darling of the rally-inspired enthusiasts, Subaru has retuned its headlining STi for a bit more civility, which isn’t all bad in the real world. There’s still 305 turbocharged horsepower coupled to all-wheel-drive traction, plus a driver-controlled differential to entertain your technical side. The suspension was upgraded for this year, along with the price. At $34,995 the STi is just a fiver below our cutoff, so if the nearly unique all-wheel drive is an attraction, some discipline with the option list may be required.
What list would be complete without honorable mentions? Here are others to consider:
Audi A3— Not really sporty until past $35,000.
Audi TT — Fabulous sports car, but $35,200 is a tick over our limit.
BMW 1-Series — Great even at $30,000, but it takes $35,600 to get the so-thrilling turbo.
BMW Z4 — Classic sports-car excellence, but it starts at $37,500.
Dodge Challenger — Massive muscle car at its $40,000 SRT8 peak; too meek with the affordable V6.
Mazda MAZDASPEED3 — Fun, big power and inexpensive, but front-wheel drive; regrettably no more room on our list.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder — Affordable, convertible, but a floaty chassis; maybe more boy racer than racer.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — Lately softer and four doors; and $38,000 for the Evo.
Nissan 350Z Roadster — Sports car to the core, but just over the price line.
Pontiac GXP — Just $30,000 for 361 awesome rear-wheel horsepower and torque to match, but more muscle sedan than sports car.
VW Eos — Price OK and has plenty of power, but tuned to cruise.
VW GTI — Hot hatch, but we miss the R32.
Longtime Road & Track contributor Tom Wilson’s credits include local racing championships, three technical engine books and hundreds of freelance articles.