Buying a new car is not something that everyone can do. The big one is, the used car the market is full of jewels. Whether it’s a tepid van or a forgotten supercar, the used car market has it all. Some used cars have gained a huge fan base and seem to be in as much demand as when they were originally sold.
Many cars on the used market age like fine wine. There are several used performance cars that will leave the gears breathless. Car enthusiasts looking for sport-oriented vehicles will lose their minds when looking at the used Dodge Stealth and Audi S4. These cars have an average impact and cost as much as a used 2019 Toyota Camry.
10 1990 Nissan 300ZX
When it comes to popular and long-lasting nameplates, car enthusiasts tend to automatically turn to American and European cars. One of the oldest nameplates in the world comes from Japan. Since its introduction in 1969, Nissan’s Z Series has only gotten better with time. Unlike several notorious American cars, the Z series never went through an awkward phase. Nissan made sure that cars like the 300ZX transcended time.
There are several reasons why the Nissan 300ZX is worth every penny. In 1990, Nissan offered a crazy powertrain. The Japanese automaker went ahead with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter VG30DETT V6 that produces 300 hp at 6,400 rpm and 283 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. A twin-turbo 300ZX in good condition can easily go for $20,000 according to JD Power.
9 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS
It is often mistakenly believed that the muscle sedan craze is a new phenomenon. Domestic automakers began to show signs of craze in the 1960s with vehicles like the Pontiac Tempest Wagon 421 Super Duty or the Chevrolet Kingswood with the 454 engine. These vans are living proof that American automakers they really tried to cram their most powerful engines into anything, including sedans.
Chevrolet tried to give its lineup a breath of fresh air in the mid-’90s. The Camaro and Corvette were passable, but tame compared to the mighty Impala SS. The reasons why the 1996 Chevy Impala SS was really cool are numerous. The massive body hides a 5.7-liter LT1 V8 that makes 260 hp at 5,000 rpm and 330 lb-ft of torque at 2,400 rpm. As if that weren’t enticing enough, a mint condition Impala SS is valued at just $15,900 according to Hagerty.
8 2002 Pontiac Trans Am SLP Firehawk
It’s fair to say that several American car brands didn’t make it through the malaise era. Whether it’s Mercury, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, or Plymouth, these brands came out of the malaise era completely shaken. The muscle cars of yesteryear were replaced by less-than-exciting minivans and commuter cars. Pontiac is the only one of the aforementioned companies that continued to make serious muscle cars.
The fourth-generation Firebird Trans Am may not have had the most attractive figure, but it sure was an attractive car. Before retiring the Trans Am, Pontiac made one last SLP Firehawk. This very special Trans Am. Under the hood is the same 5.7-liter LS1 V8 found in other Trans Ams from the same year. Unlike other Trans Ams, the LS1 in the SLP Firehawk develops 345 hp at 5,200 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. In 2022, a 2002 Trans Am SLP Firehawk with 2,000 miles on the odometer sold at Bring A Trailer for $30,250.
7 2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
Only three American sports cars were international successes: the Camaro, the Corvette and the Mustang. The Mustang always led the pack. From its inception, the Mustang proved to be superior to its main rival. Chevy tried as hard as it could, but Ford and its Mustang ended up winning. In the mid-2000s, Chevy threw in the towel. Ford did not refrain from releasing some truly amazing Mustangs in this era.
The SVT Cobra is not one of those used Mustangs that everyone regrets buying. In fact, it is the best facelifted SN-95 available on the market. The Cobra features a powerful 4.6-liter supercharged V8 with 390 hp at 6,000 rpm and 390 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. According to Hagerty, a 2004 Mustang SVT Cobra is valued at $22,000 in good condition.
6 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Japanese car companies were rejected when they first introduced their vehicles to the American market. In the late 1960s, no one wanted to be seen in a small car powered by a lawnmower engine. Things got better when the oil shocks and EPA regulations wreaked havoc on the auto industry. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Japanese automakers began offering sportier vehicles to their consumers.
Launched in 1992, the Subaru Impreza is a legend among today’s gears. The Impreza’s top-of-the-line trim, namely the WRX STi, has always meant business. The 2004 Blobeye WRX STi is a force to be reckoned with. The turbocharged 2.5-liter Boxer flat-four produces 300 hp at 6,000 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The reason why the 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi is an icon is pretty obvious. As well as being a stalker during World Rally Championship races, the Impreza WRX STi was an affordable sports sedan. Today, a clean 2004 Impreza WRX STi can sell for over $50,000. One was auctioned at Mecum Kissimmee for a mind-boggling $77,000.
5 2006 BMW M5
Car enthusiasts tend to forget that BMW almost went bankrupt because of the 507 roadster. The reason most gearheads forget about this dark era is because BMW became something else after creating the M division. The legendary M1 was the first car to be revisited by the M division. Several other M cars followed, including the monstrous M5 E60.
The BMW M5 E60 is known to be one of the most unreliable M5s ever made. It’s also the first sports sedan to come with a V10. The S85 5.0-liter V10 produces 500 hp at 7,750 rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm. Despite being unreliable for the average Joe, the M5 E60 is on its way to becoming one of the most recognizable M5s. For all its appeal, the M5 E60 depreciated quickly and can be found for around $15,000. That said, things are likely to change as collectors rush to buy the M5.
4 2008 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee
The second generation Dodge Charger was a scary muscle car. When equipped with the 426 Hemi, the Charger was the holy grail of muscle cars. In the following years, the Charger would lose its appeal and was finally discontinued in 1987. When the Charger was brought back as a sedan in 2005, muscle car enthusiasts across the country were furious. That was until meatier levels were revealed.
The Super Bee is among the best Dodge Charger models of all time. Using the SRT-8 trim level as a base, the Super Bee is easily recognizable thanks to a variety of Super Bee decals. In the power department, the 6.1-liter Hemi V8 is rated at 425 hp at 6,200 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. In 2007, only 1,000 Super Bees were made for 2008. A 2008 Super Bee in good condition can fetch between $14,000 and $19,000 according to classic.com.
3 2009 Audi S5
Audi launched amazing performance cars like the Sport Quattro and the RS2. These classic sports cars paved the way for a variety of mind-blowing cars like the RS4 and R8. While most R-badged Audis are out of reach for most German car enthusiasts, S-badged Audis are the perfect compromise between price, sportiness and luxury.
The Audi S5 is the perfect German coupe for someone looking for an understated vehicle that still turns heads. The first Audi S5s came with the 4.2 liter V8 FSI. Audi rated the engine at 354 hp at 6,800 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm in 2009. There are no 2009 Audi S5s selling for more than $16,000 on Edmunds.com.
2 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
The Mitsubishi Lancer is one of Mitsubishi’s oldest nameplates. Originally introduced in 1973, the Lancer wouldn’t become the remarkable car it is today until the 1980s. The 1980 Mitsubishi Lancer EX2000 was a street legal race car. This was just the beginning of Mitsubishi’s rise to the top with the Lancer Evolution. Launched in the same year as the Subaru Impreza, the Lancer Evo would become the Impreza’s main rival.
Mitsubishi discontinued the Lancer Evo after selling the Evo X for eight years. Although nowhere near as exciting as an Evo VIII, the Evo X is a great Japanese sports sedan. The car features a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4B11 inline-four that makes 291 hp at 6,500 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Considering the Evo X is often blamed for ruining the Evo nameplate, it’s possible to find an Evo X in good condition for between $15,000 and $20,000 according to Kelley Blue Book.
1 2012 Cadillac CTS-V
The hatchback is a body that European and Japanese manufacturers perfected. America’s love of large sizes left the laptop in the back of the bus. In recent years, domestic car companies have begun to look to manufacturing all-American hot hatches. The Ford Focus RS was a great alternative to imported hatchbacks, but it was plagued with mechanical problems. At the same time, high-end Cadillac launched its own muscle hatchback.
The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V coupe is a homegrown hot hatch with plenty of muscle. No turbocharged four-cylinder engine here. A supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 capable of producing 556 hp at 6,100 rpm and 551 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm was shoehorned into the engine bay. A 2012 Cadillac CTS-V in good condition is worth $35,600 according to the Hagerty Valuation Tool.
