Top 10 Fun-to-drive Cars You Can Buy For Under $5,000

It can seem hard to find a fun-to-drive automobile on a small budget, but it’s not if you know what you’re doing and when. You don’t always have to pay a lot of money or have the latest technology to have fun driving. Sometimes, it’s just about how well the car handles, how fast the engine is, and how classic the design is. You can still find cars that are a lot of fun to drive for less than $5,000. You can carve curves, hit backroads, or just enjoy shifting gears yourself.

This article is all about automobiles that car lovers still swear by—cars that are fun to drive, cheap, and dependable. These ten cars, from vintage Japanese coupes to European compacts to American classics, are the most fun you can have for the least amount of money. This guide will help you make sensible choices, whether you’re a college student looking for a toy for the weekend or a seasoned gearhead on a budget. Get ready to find these great secondhand cars that are hard to find.

1. Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA/NB)

Many people think the Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the best vehicles for driving. If you’re patient, you can still get early NA and NB versions for less than $5,000. The Miata is hard to beat when it comes to driving pleasure because of its light frame, rear-wheel drive, and quick manual transmission. The car’s ability to talk to the driver through every turn is more important than its raw speed. The 1.6L and 1.8L engines are fast enough, though.

The Miata is charming because it is simple; it doesn’t have a lot of technology, just pure mechanics. There is also a huge fan base for these roadsters, which makes it easy to locate components and cheap to make changes. The top-down driving experience just makes it more appealing, and the pricing is hard to beat for a car that lets you have fun in the sun. The Miata is still the best choice for anyone who want to have fun driving without spending a lot of money.

2. BMW E46 3 Series

The BMW E46 3 Series, especially the 325i and 330i variants from the early 2000s, is a great deal for less than $5,000. It has a great balance of performance, luxury, and driving characteristics. The E46 is still a standard for sports sedans because it has almost ideal weight distribution and steering that responds quickly. The most exciting versions are those with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. They give a balanced, lively ride that fans still love today. Even though it’s an older car, the inside is still really nice and the ride is very comfortable, making it a pleasure to drive to work and on fun weekend trips.

There are some worries about reliability, especially with electronics and cooling systems, but there are a lot of well-maintained specimens out there. If you look carefully, you can locate one that has been well cared for, so you can experience one of BMW’s best-handling platforms without spending a lot of money. If you want to drive like a German, this is a great pick.

3. Ford Mustang GT (SN95)

The mid- to late-1990s SN95 Ford Mustang GT is still an excellent choice for people who want to have fun with muscle cars without spending a lot of money. The Mustang GT has a 4.6L V8 engine that provides a good amount of horsepower. It accelerates quickly and has a throaty exhaust note that makes every drive fun. It has rear-wheel drive and manual gearboxes, which make it even more exciting.

It’s like driving an old-fashioned American car that’s rare to find these days. The inside and handling aren’t as good as recent versions, but the raw power and nostalgia make up for it. These Mustangs are also very easy to work on, and there are a lot of aftermarket accessories available that let owners change the way their car looks and performs without spending a lot of money. Enthusiast clubs and internet forums are fantastic places to get help, which makes it easier to own. You may still get a good-condition SN95 Mustang GT that will give you a thrill without breaking the bank if you look around.

4. Acura RSX Type-S

The Acura RSX Type-S is a coupe with front-wheel drive that shows you don’t need rear-wheel drive to have enjoyable driving. The Type-S variation is a lot of fun to drive, especially for people who want to drive fast and have great gear engagement. It has a high-revving K20 engine with a close-ratio 6-speed manual gearbox. The engine screams to an 8,000 RPM redline, and the sport-tuned suspension and small curb weight make it easy to handle. Even though it has a lot of performance features, the RSX is nonetheless practical since it gets good gas mileage and has a surprisingly pleasant cabin for everyday use.

Another good thing about it is that it’s a Honda, which means it will be more reliable than older European performance vehicles. If you want to locate a pristine RSX Type-S for less than $5,000, you may have to be patient and negotiate, especially if you want one that hasn’t been changed. But the payoff is a car that is both entertaining and useful, and it does both better than most cars in its price range.

5. Volkswagen GTI (Mk4)

The Mk4 Volkswagen GTI, especially the 1.8T turbocharged model, is one of the best hot hatches for those on a budget. The GTI has a quick engine and precise handling that make it pleasant to drive. It also has a practical design and a European style. The turbocharged 1.8-liter engine gives a terrific kick, especially when paired with a manual transmission. This makes highway pulls and corner departures a lot of fun. The hatchback shape makes it more useful by giving it enough luggage room and making it easy to use every day without losing any enjoyment.

The Mk4’s interiors are well-made and feel more high-end than those of many other cars from the same time period. However, maintenance is quite important because if you don’t take care of it, it might have dependability problems, especially with electronics and turbo parts. There are a lot of enthusiast forums and do-it-yourself guidelines, which makes repairs easier. The Mk4 GTI is a great everyday driver with personality and character, as long as you can overlook minor oddities and focus on well-maintained examples.

6. Honda Civic Si (EM1)

The EM1-generation Honda Civic Si, made from 1999 to 2000, is a front-wheel-drive jewel that is still praised for how fast, reliable, and powerful it is with VTEC. This Si has a 1.6L DOHC VTEC engine and a smooth 5-speed manual transmission. It screams up to 8,000 RPM and feels shockingly speedy and responsive when you drive aggressively. Even though it is more than 20 years old, it drives with the accuracy and lightness that many modern vehicles have lost. The coupe shape gives it a sporty appeal, yet the inside is nevertheless basic and useful.

It gets great gas mileage, so it’s a fun and useful choice for drivers on a budget. There are a lot of aftermarket parts for Civic Si vehicles, so you may make them look anyway you like. It can be hard to find an EM1 that hasn’t been changed for less than $5,000, but it’s not impossible, especially in places where rust isn’t a big problem. This Civic is a symbol of cheap, joyful driving that makes you want to crank your engine.

7. Mazda Protegé5

At first, the Mazda Protegé5 may not seem very exciting, but it has a sporty suspension tuning, a hatchback that can be used in many ways, and a manual gearbox option that make it a surprisingly entertaining car to drive. People liked how the Protegé5 handled and steered when it was made in the early 2000s. It was often compared to sportier variants. It doesn’t have a powerful engine, but it’s light and well-balanced, so you can confidently drive it hard into turns. The five-door design makes it more useful, and the style is still attractive today.

Another good thing about it is that it gets good gas mileage, and because it’s a Mazda, it has a good reputation for being reliable when taken care of. It’s a terrific choice for anyone who desire a fast commuter that can still be fun on winding roads. There are still a lot of well-kept Protegé5s on the market for less than $5,000, so anyone looking for a fun car to drive should take another look at it.

8. Subaru Impreza 2.5RS

The Subaru Impreza 2.5RS was the most powerful Impreza model until the WRX came to the U.S. This little car had rally-inspired stylistic elements like hood scoops and flared fenders. It also had all-wheel drive and a powerful flat-four engine, making it a great choice for anyone who wanted to have fun on a budget. The 2.5RS doesn’t have a turbocharger, but its naturally aspirated engine gives it quick power, especially when combined with a manual transmission.

The symmetrical all-wheel drive offers it a distinct driving sense and makes you feel safer in bad weather or on gravel roads. It also drives admirably for its time, with good input and grip in turns. The 2.5RS has a lot of fans, therefore parts and help from the community are easy to get. It takes work to find one in excellent shape for less than $5,000, but it’s still doable in areas with less rust. The 2.5RS is a great choice for anyone who seek rally DNA in a cheap package. It delivers real all-weather driving fun.

9. Toyota MR2 (SW20)

The SW20 Toyota MR2, built in the 1990s, has a mid-engine configuration that is usually only used in far more costly sports vehicles. This one-of-a-kind design provides the MR2 great balance and handling, which makes driving it on twisting roads a lot of fun. You can usually get non-turbo models for less than $5,000, but they still offer a good mix of performance and driver involvement. The manual transmission and low sitting position make the car seem more like a sports car, which makes the driver feel more connected to the automobile.

Even after many years, it still stands out because of its unique design and small size. But the MR2 deserves respect; it may be hard to handle at the limit because of how its mid-engine works. That’s why fans enjoy it, and it’s a favorite among those who want real, analog pleasure. It may take some work to find well-maintained models, but the payoff is a unique driving experience at a great price.

10. Volvo 240

The Volvo 240 may seem like a strange choice for a list of fun-to-drive vehicles, but don’t let its boxy appearance and calm reputation deceive you. The 240 has become a cult classic among car lovers because it features rear-wheel drive, a strong chassis, and is quite reliable. When you add a manual gearbox, it becomes much more fun to drive since it changes the experience from useful to surprisingly exciting. Its handling isn’t perfect, but it’s easy to predict and forgiving, making for a smooth yet enjoyable ride.

What makes the 240 so enticing is the community of DIYers and tuners who have figured out how to get even more performance out of these tough vehicles by swapping engines and upgrading the suspension. The automobile is simple to work on, and the components are still rather cheap. The Volvo 240 may not be quick, but it has a wonderfully old-school, analog driving feel that makes it a pleasant and interesting choice for less than $5,000.

Last Thought

that doesn’t have to cost a lot to be fun to drive, and this list shows that. There is something for every kind of car lover under $5,000, whether you like light roadsters, powerful V8s, rev-happy coupes, or strange European wagons. You can locate a cheap car that makes you grin every mile if you do some study, are patient, and know a little about cars.

These automobiles aren’t just about how fast they go; they also show who you are, how you interact with others, and how much you like driving. These 10 options are a great place to start if you want to have fun driving without spending a lot of money.

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