13 Popular Cars That Actually Deserve the Hype

As prices for both new and used cars have skyrocketed, it’s time to consider whether enthusiast cars are as good as they’re hyped up to be.

Paying through the nose because of nostalgia or the so-called “scene tax” really isn’t worth it if you ask us.

For that reason, we’ve created a list of 13 popular cars that actually deserve the hype.

C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Every gearhead was anxiously waiting for the latest Z06 Vette, and when it finally arrived, it did not disappoint. How could it? Behind the driver, you’d find the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine.

With a 10.6-second quarter-mile time, a top speed in excess of 200 mph, and capable of pulling 1.22 lateral g, the Corvette Z06 is a fighter jet for the road.

BMW 1-Series M Coupe

In 2011, BMW took the performance car world by storm when it unleashed the 1-Series M Coupe. While the M3 was still available in two-door coupe form back then, Bimmer enthusiasts looked at the performance-oriented 1-Series with its flared fenders as the E30 M3’s true successor.

It was compact, fun, and proved to be extremely popular. BMW only planned to build 3,000 cars, but ended up making over 6,300 of them. Buying a well-kept, low-mileage example today will set you back a lot more than when it was brand new.

Nissan GT-R

Ask any car enthusiast from the PlayStation generation about Japanese cars, and chances are they’ll go on a rant about how great the Nissan GT-R is. And they’re right!

While the older GT-R generations were never offered in the Western world, that changed when Nissan introduced the R35 in 2008. Officially, its twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter engine produced 480 hp. In reality, it was over 500 Japanese stallions. That figure was easily improved upon with just a few tweaks, and the GT-R soon earned a reputation as a supercar slayer.

Audi TT RS

Audi introduced the TT RS in the US market in 2012, and it was one of the very few times that a European car sold on the American market outperformed the version sold on the old continent.

Under the hood, the US-market TT RS boasts a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five engine producing 360 hp — 25 more than the Euro version. Combined with its sleek body, stylish interior, and slick six-speed gearbox, the TT RS has become a fan favorite among those looking for an everyday sports car.

Dodge Viper

From the refined and luxurious Audi, we move on to the almost agricultural Dodge Viper. While Dodge did soften it up a bit for its later generations, the serpent would still bite if not respected.

Its V10 engine grew from 8.0 liters to 8.3, and even 8.4 in later versions. Sending 640 thoroughbred American stallions to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual means it definitely deserves the hype.

Honda S2000

Honda introduced the S2000 in 1999, and the affordable open-top sports car with the highest specific power output for a naturally aspirated engine was a dream come true for many enthusiasts.

Early models had a 2.0-liter engine that needed to be revved all the way to the redline, but Honda addressed some of its shortcomings by increasing the volume to 2.2 liters in later models. S2000 prices have skyrocketed in recent years, so finding a good one for sensible money is nigh-on impossible.

Lotus Elise / Exige

When Lotus revealed the Elise, they truly cemented the fact that a lightweight car with an excellent chassis and a small engine will annihilate heavier competitors. The first-gen Elise was as simple as it gets, which also made it one of the most reliable British sports cars ever.

Lotus originally launched the Exige as a more track-focused coupé version of the Lotus Elise. Later generations of the Exige received a bigger engine, a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 instead of the Elise’s inline-four, and it’s easily capable of keeping up with more exotic machines around a racetrack.

Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

The original Shelby GT350 Mustang was a proper race car for the road, and Ford ensured that the modern version lived up to that legacy.

Under the hood lies a howling 5.2-liter flat-crank V8 that sends 526 hp to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. It looks stunning, sounds incredible, and handles like a dream, making the Shelby GT350 an instant classic from the moment it was unveiled.

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

A car with over 700 hp is rarely available at a price point that regular people can afford. For roughly $60k, gearheads could find themselves behind the wheel of one of the meanest muscle cars ever made — the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

Those who weren’t able to buy a classic muscle car when they were affordable were given a second chance with the Challenger, which has all the traditional muscle car traits but in a modern and more reliable package.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo came straight from the rally stages. Some would say the best of them all is the Mk6.5 Tommi Mäkinen Edition, built to celebrate the Finn’s WRC victory.

Powered by highly tunable turbocharged 2.0-liter engines that send power to all four wheels, every generation of the Lancer Evo is very desirable. By the time production ended, 10 generations were made, with quite a few special editions thrown in the mix.

Porsche Cayman R/Boxster Spyder

Everyone is drooling over the track-focused Cayman GT4, which has the 3.8-liter boxer unit from the Carrera S mounted in the middle. However, its predecessors, the Cayman R and Boxster Spyder, are still better choices for everyday road use.

These are probably the ultimate cars built on the 987 platform, and thanks to the layout, they offer superior handling to most other Porsches — especially the ones you can buy for the same money.

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Mercedes loves to install massive engines under the hood of its sportier C-Class sedans. The C63 AMG, built between 2008 and 2015, is probably the best of them all, as it’s packing a 6.2-liter powerhouse producing between 451 and 481 hp.

Every gearhead knows there’s no replacement for displacement. Later models received a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, but we still prefer the larger, naturally aspirated V8. The C63 AMG isn’t cheap to buy or own, but the roaring V8 more than makes up for that.

Ford F-150 Raptor

Ford has been making performance trucks for decades already. While the old Lightning trucks were more road-focused, Ford designed the F-150 Raptor as a daily driveable Trophy Truck. It may say F-150 on the tin, but only the cab is the same as on the regular F-150.

The first version had a V8, but Ford switched to a turbocharged six-cylinder for the second generation. Enthusiasts can’t agree on which version is best, so Ford has now made a standard twin-turbo V6 model and a supercharged V8 Raptor R version. The Raptor was a massive success and eventually spawned a whole new segment of off-road performance trucks.