Picture this: you're in your brand-new Honda or Camry, foot to the floor on the highway and a fast Mercedes or BMW passes you as if you were standing still. You love how effortlessly it moves, but you think to yourself, "I want that, but I can't afford it." For most people who are non-car enthusiasts, they think this way because cars like these are fast but also look very expensive. But, interestingly enough, your commuter car costs more than some of these cars.The 2026 Toyota Camry is one of the best cars Toyota has made with great styling and improved acceleration and fuel economy with the hybrid tech. It's safe, it's efficient, and it'll probably last until the end of time. But with a starting MSRP now around $29,100 (and easily climbing past $35,000 for the XSE trim), you could buy a more prestigious car for that money. If you're willing to trade that new car smell and a factory warranty for performance, then there are a lot of depreciated performance cars that get you excitement, attention, and a bit of prestige for less than the price of a well-equipped Camry. 2008–2014 Maserati GranTurismo S - 183 mph Average Retail: $26,200 Bring A Trailer Maserati hasn't really had the best press in recent times, but the name still carries a fair amount of weight in the automotive world. The Gran Turismo is a Pininfarina-designed sports car with a Ferrari-derived V8 engine that has one of the best soundtracks. The original Gran Turismo used a 4.2-liter V8 making 405 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque but falls short of our speed target at 177 mph, you'll need the S to go even faster.The Gran Turismo S was released for North America in 2009 with the larger 4.7-liter V8 producing 440 horsepower but less torque at 361 pound-feet. The V8 in this car is one of the best sounds you will hear at this price point and it will do 183 mph while screaming to 7,000 rpm with each gear change. For less money than a brand-new base Camry, you can get this Italian masterpiece that would feel right at home among other exotic cars. But this is a depreciated luxury car with an Italian heart, so be warned that repairs might get expensive when things break.The Gran Turismo market is such a bargain right now that if you're willing to spend a bit more money, let's say $35,000, which is the MSRP of the top-spec Toyota Camry XSE, you get an even better car. You can easily get yourself a 2012-2014 Maserati Gran Turismo Sport with more power at 454 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque with a slightly higher top speed of 186 mph. 2012–2015 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - 184 mph Average Retail: $32,400 Chevrolet The fifth-gen Camaro was widely celebrated since it returned after its 8-year hiatus, but started to take a more sports car approach than pure muscle. The ZL1 was the moment the Camaro stopped being a straight line muscle car and started hunting down Porsches. But the Camaro still had brute force with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 pushing 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque. The acceleration on this car is brutal, with a 0–60 time of 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 184 mph if you opt for the manual, the automatic tops out at 180 mph. Thanks to its Magnetic Ride Control, it’s actually surprisingly comfortable as a daily driver that you can get for Camry money. Just don't expect Camry-level fuel economy. 2014-2016 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG - 186 mph Average Retail: $25,100 Mercedes-BenzThe E63 AMG is an automotive powerhouse on wheels. It originally used the M156 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 with 518 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque. But the one you want is the facelift 2014-2016 model with the twin turbo V8. The 5.5-liter twin turbo V8 produces 550 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque as standard, but if you opt for the E63 S, that pushes power to 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. These numbers are enough to rocket this car to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 155 mph. But if you opt for one with the AMG Driver's package or simply have it unlocked, this car is capable of hitting 186 mph.An E63 S without the limiter has been tested at 191 mph (307 km/h). These cars are monsters and, because Mercedes wasn't fully into making these cars as aggressive as they could be at the time, they're the ultimate sleeper. You could even have them as a station wagon which could haul a lot of luggage at high speeds. If you don't care so much about the looks, you can get these cars for cheaper with the pre-facelift 2011-2013 model that offers similar performance for less money. 2012–2016 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG - 186 mph Average Retail Price: $27,225 Bring A TrailerThe second-gen Mercedes-Benz CLS has to be one of the most beautiful modern Mercedes in existence. It basically uses the same chassis and powertrain as the E63 AMG but wrapped in an elegant coupe style body. It also elevates the interior cabin and pushes the comfort and luxury feature more towards an S-Class. Put the E-Class and CLS side by side and the CLS undeniably looks more expensive, but both cars can be had for similar money. It has the same power as the E63 in both standard and S form. So the top speed is identical at 186 mph with the AMG Driver's pack, but they've gone faster. Did I say this car is beautiful? Yes, way more than that Camry. 2006–2010 BMW M5 (E60) - 190 mph Average Retail Price: $26,000 BMW Let's be honest, the main reason you'd buy the E60 M5 is for the V10, the reason we would advise you not to buy one is because of the V10. It looks no different from a 5-series from that era but with a Formula-1 derived V10 under the hood. The 5.0-liter S85 produces 500 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque while screaming like a banshee all the way to its 8,250 rpm redline. It's arguably the most performance-focused car on this list and while you can find some for under $20,000, those are not the ones you want.The reason the E60 M5 is so cheap because it is a high-maintenance vehicle. This has kept the value of this car relatively low compared to its unique place in the automotive space. This is the only BMW to have a V10 engine and the only other brand to create a car of this caliber is Audi. Keep the accelerator pinned and this car is capable of reaching 190 mph as claimed by BMW, but some independent tests have shown this car exceeding 200 mph. You can get all this for way less than a new Camry, but you have to search for a good one to avoid unwanted mechanical issues. BMW M6 (E63/E64) - 190 mph Average Retail: $19,800 via Bring A Trailer Take everything we just said about the M5 but wrap it in a sleek, grand-touring coupe body. The M6 is the M5's more stylish, slightly more aerodynamic sibling that's also available as a convertible. It shares the same V10 heart and also shares the same rod-bearing issues, which plagued a lot of BMWs in this era. Surprisingly, the M6 is even cheaper than the M5, many people remember the M5 because of the V10 but it seems they've forgotten about the M6. This has kept the values low, which makes it easily the most attainable car on this list. You have to be ready for the maintenance associated with this car, but at nearly 200 mph, those concerns feel very far away. 2008–2010 Chevrolet Corvette (C6) - 190 mph Average Retail Price: $24,930 Mecum AuctionsThe C6 Corvette is the quintessential American sports car, offering crazy performance for a very reasonable price. Every variant of the C6 Corvette easily exceeds 180 mph, but you want the updated model from 2008. That comes with the LS3 V8 pushing 430 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain is known for its bulletproof reliability and consistent performance. Unlike the European cars on this list, you can actually maintain a C6 on a Camry-based budget. It is low, loud, fast and can easily hit 190 mph with relative ease. As far as sports cars go, this is the most sensible decision you can make for way less money than a base Camry. 2009–2011 Cadillac CTS-V - 191 mph Average Retail Price: $26,200 Via: Bring a Trailer The CTS-V is essentially a four-door Corvette in a tuxedo. It uses a detuned version of the ZR1's supercharged engine producing 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque, the Corvette ZR1 made 640 horsepower and 605 pound-feet of torque. Just like the Germans, this is available in different body styles including the coupe and CTS-V wagon, but those are more expensive. You can also have it as an automatic or a manual. It also handles really well and famously lapped the Nürburgring in under eight minutes, which was a first for a production sedan at the time. Give it enough room, and the CTS-V is capable of reaching speeds of 191 mph. It’s aggressive, refined, and fast enough to make your passengers regret their life choices. 2006–2008 Bentley Continental GT - 198 mph Average Retail Price: $29,900 Bentley No car on this list is as luxurious and prestigious as the Bentley Continental GT and yes, you can buy one for Camry money. But do not forget that this is a heavily depreciated luxury car that had an MSRP of $170,000 when it was new in the mid-2000s. This beast is powered by a monstrous 6.0-liter twin turbo W12 engine producing 552 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, and it delivers that power with so much ease. The only car that would match the luxury aura of this Bentley is the Maserati, but even that car is a step behind.The inside has real wood veneers, heavy knurled metal knobs, and enough leather to outfit a small cattle ranch. It weighs as much as a small house, but with its massive torque and all-wheel drive, it will surge towards 200 mph with ease, similar to a Bugatti Veyron. For around $30,000 or just a little more, you can look like someone who made a ton of money a decade ago. However, you may need a specialist on speed dial and some hefty savings to keep up with the maintenance and fuel this car will go through. 2015 Dodge Charger/Challenger SRT Hellcat - 199 mph Average Retail Price: $31,625 Dodge When the Dodge Hellcats hit the streets in 2015, they instantly became a cultural phenomenon. Dodge was the only company that fully embraced its muscle car roots with a massive 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that was perfect at one thing: shredding tires in a straight line. The Charger and Challenger Hellcat twins are truly beloved and have a serious cult following that has kept prices high. Early 2015-2016 models can now be found in the low to mid $30,000 range.For that money, you get an exciting, tire-shredding muscle car that has the most distinct supercharger whine in the automotive industry and can create smoke clouds on demand. But find a straight road in Mexico, and the Challenger Hellcat will hit its top speed of 199 mph. The Cost of Speed Before you rush to trade in your sensible daily driver to buy a 180+ mph sports car, remember the hidden cost. An oil change for a Camry can cost $50 to $100, an E63 AMG might cost up to $300 and changing brakes on a Bentley can cost $3,000-$5,000. These cars may be cheap to buy but most of them are expensive to maintain and should be considered as fun cars and not daily drivers. However, if you're aware of these costs and still want to get one of these cars, they will offer driving experiences a Camry can only dream of.Sources: JDPower, Classic.com, Carsforsale, OEM Manufacturer, Hotcars.