The Mazda MX-5 Miata is certainly not the most powerful sports car out there, but it’s never been about power, it’s all about driving pleasure, and few cars will make you smile like the Miata.
It’s fair to say that the Miata is the personification of the manufacturer’s Jinba Ittai ethos, meaning horse and rider as one.
With a reasonably punchy engine and a lightweight body, the Miata has a power-to-weight ratio of 168.5 hp/tonne. However, we’ve dug up some dirt cheap models that’ll easily match that.
C5 Chevrolet Corvette: 243 Hp/Tonne — $14,000
The 5th-gen Chevrolet Corvette is a proper sports car bargain, and thanks to the legendary LS V8 found under the hood, it packs a serious punch. Perhaps the C5 Vette’s biggest claim to fame is the fact that it was the last car available with pop-up headlights.
Even the base model pumps out 350 wild American stallions, and it’s not hard to tease out some more. You can find clean examples online for under $15,000 now, and if you have a few thousand extra to spend on performance parts, you can embarrass some supercar owners.
Caterham Classic 1.8 VX: 236 Hp/Tonne — $18,000
Lotus founder Colin Chapman was obsessed with saving weight, which is quite obvious if you’ve ever seen one of their cars. Lotus created the Seven in the mid-1950s, but sold the rights to Caterham in 1973, and they still make these cars today, branded as the Caterham 7.
In 1998, Caterham launched the Classic 1.8 VX model. It only had a 135 hp engine, but thanks to its super-low weight, it’ll leave far more powerful sports cars in its dust. Unfortunately, it was never officially sold in the States, but thanks to the 25-year rule, the Caterham Classic 1.8 VX is eligible for import.
Nissan 370 Z: 228 Hp/Tonne — $15,000
Nissan has now replaced its sporty 370Z coupe with its new Z car, but we still think the 370Z is a very competent model that driving enthusiasts should consider. Under its sleek hood, there’s a naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 with 330 hp.
The 370Z’s lightweight construction, front-mid engine layout, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive make it a real driver’s car.
Chrysler Crossfire SRT6: 227 Hp/Tonne — $12,000
Chrysler gave the Crossfire one of the coolest names in the entire automotive world, unfortunately, they messed up a bit when it came to the rest. However, there are still some aspects that make the Crossfire SRT-6 a desirable sports car.
The Crossfire is built on the Mercedes-Benz SLK platform, and its 3.2-liter V6 engine is a tried and tested Mercedes unit that offers decent performance and bulletproof reliability. One of the complaints when the Crossfire was new was that it used an old platform, but that’s not an issue now. The only problem is its design, which people either love or hate.
E87 BMW 135i: 196 Hp/Tonne — $12,000
Forget about the excellent BMW 1M, as those sell for astronomical amounts of money these days. We suggest that you look into the 135i instead, as it delivers 80% of the fun for a fraction of the cost.
Under the hood, the 135i has a turbocharged 3.0-liter producing 302 or 320 hp, depending on the model year. While the 135i is an older model, it still looks stylish today as its design has aged like fine wine.
S197 Ford Mustang GT: 192 Hp/Tonne — $12,000
The Ford Mustang is an American icon that’s been around for 60 years now, which means there are plenty of cars to choose from. Base model fifth-generation ‘Stangs only have a V6 engine, so what you really want is the GT trim with its 4.6-liter V8 churning out 300 hp.
There’s no doubt that the S197 Mustang GT is a proper performance car bargain, but it’s possible to tease out even more ponies by spending some money on aftermarket parts.
Saturn Sky Red Line: 191 Hp/Tonne — $10,000
The Saturn Sky had its faults, mostly related to build quality, but truth be told, it was a little monster in Redline trim. It’s the top-spec model, and Saturn chucked out the 2.4-liter and replaced it with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that produced 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
That kind of power, combined with its low price on the used market, means it’s finally worth buying a Saturn Sky Redline.
Pontiac Solstice GXP: 186 Hp/Tonne — $11,000
The Pontiac Solstice is built on the same platform as the Saturn Sky, which means that it’s a fun car, but also comes with some issues.
Pontiac did some things right, however, and since it’s now possible to buy one of these roadsters for very reasonable money, we’d love to own one. We’d opt for the GXP version with its turbocharged 2.0-liter and 260 hp.
Nissan 350Z: 183 Hp/Tonne — $11,000
Ever since the first Z car, Nissan has stuck with the traditional sports car formula — a front-mounted engine, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive, and that’s also the case with the 350Z.
Its 3.5-liter V6 engine pumps out around 300 hp, and those who want more can turn to the vast selection of aftermarket parts. Japanese sports car prices have skyrocketed in recent years, but you can still get your hands on a 350Z in good condition for around $11,000. We don’t know how long that’ll last, though, so if you want one, you should probably act fast.
BMW Z3 3.0i: 170 Hp/Tonne — $10,000
Not everyone likes the BMW Z3’s styling, but if you’re willing to give it a shot, you’ll notice that even the base model offers tons of driving pleasure — although it’s a bit underpowered. By opting for one of the higher-spec Z3 models, such as the 3.0-liter, you can get yourself a proper driver’s car for a bargain price.
It also offers a marginally better power-to weight-ratio than the Mazda Miata, so if you’re on a strict budget but want an open-top driver’s car, we think it’s well worth a shot.
Author: Andre Nalin
Expertise: Automotive
