Throughout its history, Ferrari has represented a performance pinnacle and recognizable prestige in the automotive sphere, but the badge didn't always signify the fastest car in the room. While the Ferrari 348 offered supercar looks and a visceral driving experience, its performance metrics have since been eclipsed by several cheaper cars from the same era. For full disclosure, the 90-esque shape penned by the legendary Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina wasn't a slouch in a straight line or the corners either, but it lived in the shadow of far more potent Prancing Horses of the era, including the ultimate analogue F40.Bring A TrailerThis list, however, highlights ten standout '90s performance cars that were not only faster than the Ferrari 348 in the 0-60 mph sprint, but that, today, cost a fraction of the price. The 348 featured a 3.4-liter V8 pushing 320 hp to the rear wheels – good for a 5.4-second 0-60 mph dash and a top speed of 173 mph. Pretty impressive for '90s sports car standards, but here's a selection of ten ‘90s cars that could leave the 348 in their rear-view. Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR-1 (1990–1995) Bring A Trailer Specs And Price Built to showcase GM’s engineering might, the C4 ZR-1 was a beast and can still hold its own on the streets and strip. Its 5.7-liter LT5 V8 was co-developed with Lotus and produced 375 hp in early versions, increasing to 405 hp in later models. This lump of power was sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed transmission and enabled it to complete the obligatory 0-60 mph in a time of 4.4 seconds, which made it substantially quicker than the Ferrari, at least in a straight line.Being a ZR-1, it was intended to be quicker and better than the standard C4 Corvette on which it was based and came endowed with a thicker rear profile, upgraded suspension, and styling cues that made it a cut above its lesser brethren. Depending on the originality and mileage, clean-looking examples can be picked up for under $30K but the averages typically hover around $40K on Classic.com. Underrated bargain?! Toyota Supra Mk4 Twin Turbo (1993–2002) Bring a Trailer Specs And Price The famous "More than you can afford pal" Fast and Furious movie scene had the overtly overstyled and modified Supra leave the potent F355 in its wake. While this article is exclusively looking at factory stock iterations, the understated coupe that could be modified into Japan's nefarious Shutoko missile couldn't leave many Ferraris of its generation in its dust. However, in stock form, the 2JZ-GTE-powered MK4 Supra had enough grunt to get off the line more briskly than the 348 in question. Period tests reveal that the rear-wheel driven Toyota could hurtle towards 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds, but it is generally agreed that its realistic three-pedal layout lies closer to the 5-second mark.Widely regarded as one of the most iconic JDM products ever released, pricing has steadily increased, and finding stock and unmolested examples is becoming increasingly difficult. Alas, those that have been fettled with can push out double or triple the original power output with some well-considered modifications. Ironically, it may not stay cheaper than the Ferrari example under inspection today, with some original and highly original examples on Classic.com demanding more than double the average used price! Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo (1989–2000) Hampson Auctions Specs And Price Sticking with Japan, another six-cylinder, twin-turbocharged coupe that could outrun some Ferraris from the era was the result of Nissan's attempt to revitalize the Z-car lineup and recapture the spirit of the original 240Z, while also incorporating modern performance and technology. It was safe to say that the famed automaker managed to do so, and the handsome coupe, which eventually shared its headlights with later model Diablos, has started seeing a resurgence in the used car market, although it is unlikely to reach the highs of the aforementioned Supra anytime soon.What also made it different from its fellow countrymen was that its six-cylinder engine was configured in a V shape (VG30DETT) and produced between 276 hp and 300 hp depending on the market. Period tests pegged its 0-60 mph time between 5.0 to 5.6 seconds, squarely in Ferrari territory. This was also meant to envision the original Nissan Z moniker with modern technology. Aside from the sharp looks, the model featured four-wheel steering, a heavily digitized and driver-focused cockpit, and a T-top for open-air driving. According to classic.com, in turbo form, it can be had for an average of around $30K, but for the base models, expect prices to be roughly $10K cheaper. Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 / Dodge Stealth R/T Twin Turbo (1991–1999) Mitsubishi Specs And Price Almost identical to the Nissan mentioned above, the dynamic Japanese-American duo twins featured a tech-packed drivetrain with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 at its core. Unlike the other models mentioned so far, it boasted four-wheel drive in addition to the four-wheel steering and active aerodynamics. Traction is key when sprinting, which means that the 320 hp on tap could catapult the VR-4 and Stealth R/T to 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds (MotorWeek, 1992).While heavier than some of the rivals at the time, courtesy of these tech gubbins, the 3000GT VR-4 was lauded for its cutting-edge engineering and road presence. Following a steady spike in pricing, classic car sales websites show the VR-4 iteration of the Mitsu can be had for around $40K, depending on mileage and condition. Mazda RX-7 FD (1992–2002) Bring a Trailer Specs And Price Right up there with the likes of the Supra, the Dorito-powered FD RX-7 has become a bona fide icon in the enthusiast world. Underneath the extremely minimal bodywork was a lightweight chassis that had a twin-rotor 13B-REW engine mounted on it. It produced 252 hp (and later 280 hp in JDM models), and the RX-7 was praised for being one of the best-handling cars of the decade. It could sprint to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds, which would have it edging the 348 in a straight line sprint.According to the latest price metrics, this third-gen model can also be had for a steal at half the price of the Ferrari 348. Due to its popularity with tuners, finding a clean and cared-for example is more difficult than it would be to source the Prancing Horse it goes up against here. While the dark arts of rotary make it the stuff of motoring folklore, it also requires as much care and attention as its high-revving V8 Italian opponent. BMW M5 E34 (1988–1995) BMW Specs And Price For those who wanted to beat the bottom end of the period's sports cars but still haul the family and do grocery runs in there was the super sedan. In the form of the E34 BMW M5, it featured a 3.6-litre (later 3.8-litre) inline-six producing up to 340 hp in Euro spec. U.S. models with 311 hp still managed 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds.Flying under the radar in today's market, it was surprisingly quick for the time and offered up a genuine old-school M amount of pedigree. The current market has them selling, on average, for just over $30K but mint examples can be sourced for nearly as much as the Italian benchmark in this article. Ford Mustang SVT Cobra (1994–1998) Mecum Specs And Price The Mustang was revolutionary. It holds sales records, mass appeal, and is instantly recognizable courtesy of pop culture and the sheer number of them that permeate all corners of the world. It has also been the best-selling sports car globally for more than 10 years, but before then, in the 90s, the fourth-generation SN95 arrived. It continued the trend of accessible performance for the everyday man, but for those who wanted more, SVT delivered an answer to the performance arms race, which included a DOHC 5.7-liter V8 making 300 hp. In the period, the '96-98 SVT Cobra hit 0-60 in 5.4 seconds.It was far from refined, but it may not have needed to be since it was targeted directly at buyers wanting a raw, visceral, and tunable platform to tinker with. With appealing prices on classic car platforms, it may even be one of the best affordable ’90s performers for muscle car fans, considering average pricing as of 2025 is just under $20K. Lotus Esprit S4 (1994–2004) Iconic Auctioneers Specs And Price It may have looked like a Ferrari, but it was as fast as one, too. The Esprit S4 continued Lotus' mantra as a lightweight British exotic with small displacement, but surprisingly big performance. Under the hood (at the back) was a 2.2-liter four-cylinder and 264 hp, but the S4 offered more performance than its humble cylinder count suggested. It could do 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, which is a significant margin ahead of the Prancing Horse.The Italian-esque styling was courtesy of the 20th Century's Greatest Automotive Designer, and it still looks effortlessly cool. Those Giugiaro-penned lines and an analog supercar feel mean that it has held its value extremely well in the modern era, but could very easily outpace the 348 for a little bit less money according to classic car sales platforms. Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type RA GC8 (JDM, 1995–1996) Specs And Price Classic.com Specs And Price Built for homologation purposes by way of Subaru's WRC playground, the STI Type RA featured a stripped-out interior, lightweight components, and a turbocharged flat-four. Depending on year and version, it produced up to 276 hp and hit 0-60 in around 5 seconds. The impressive performance was enabled not only by its highly strung four-banger, but Subaru's all-wheel-drive technology, which had it lurching off the start line as the green light bulb filament came to life.While the States missed out in the ’90s when it could give unassuming sports cars a hiding, imports have changed that (it is over 25 years old after all). Built in limited numbers, these homologation specials go for around $20K and can be picked up for a little bit less during high-mileage example auctions. Maserati Ghibli II 2.0 24V Biturbo (1992–1997) Car and Classic Specs And Price Starting and ending with Italy, one of Ferrari's national siblings had a product that could outpace its 348 in a sprint. Coming from Maserati, the Ghibli II Biturbo was built exclusively for the Italian market to dodge tax penalties on engines over 2.0 liters. Courtesy of the forced induction, the Ghibli II 2.0 24V Biturbo squeezed out a staggering 306 hp from its compact twin-turbo V6, which is more specific output than a Ferrari F40! A slick Getrag manual and limited-slip diff helped launch it to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds in some tests.With plush leather, analog gauges, and unmistakable Maserati drama, the Ghibli 2.0 is a forgotten Ferrari-fighter that only ever got to prove its mettle in its homeland. More than 25 years later, those wanting a piece of this action in the States would need to look long and hard to find one, and can expect more than $20K for clean examples.The Ferrari 348 might have looked and sounded the part, but dominating performance doesn’t always come with a Prancing Horse badge. These '90s icons prove that speed was available in all shapes and price points. Pricing aside, what would your pick be?Source: Ferrari, Quattroruote, Bonhams, Speedhunters, Classic.com, GM Authority, Nissan.
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