Image Credit: JustPhotos22 / Shutterstock.A great engine note can make an affordable used car feel far more expensive than its price suggests. Some cars are no longer exotic by value, but they still deliver the kind of sound that makes a cold start, tunnel run, or full-throttle pull feel special.The goal here is not simply to find loud cars. A car does not need to be a supercar to sound special. It needs something distinctive: a high-revving V10, an Italian V8, a flat-six behind the seats, a supercharged grand-touring engine, or a naturally aspirated V8 that feels more dramatic than the badge suggests.The roughly $20,000 budget also requires honesty. These cars are older, mileage-sensitive, and condition-dependent. Clean examples can move above the budget, while cheap examples can become expensive quickly if maintenance history is weak.AdvertisementAdvertisementBuyers should budget for pre-purchase inspections, tires, fluids, brakes, cooling systems, suspension parts, and known model-specific problems. The engine note may sound expensive, but ownership can feel expensive too.Maserati GranTurismoImage Credit: Charles / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0.The 2008 Maserati GranTurismo is the clearest answer for buyers who want an Italian grand-tourer soundtrack near the $20,000 line. Edmunds lists the early GranTurismo with a 4.2-liter V8 rated at 405 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque, while KBB currently places the 2008 GranTurismo in the under-$20,000 conversation depending on mileage, condition, and sale type.The sound is the whole reason this car belongs here. The V8 has a sharper, more expensive tone than most used cars anywhere near this price, and the Pininfarina body still gives it real curb presence. It does not feel like a normal cheap luxury coupe that simply depreciated. It feels like an Italian GT that became financially dangerous in the best and worst ways.That last part matters. A low purchase price does not make Maserati maintenance cheap. Transmission behavior, suspension wear, sticky interior parts, electronics, leaks, service records, and tire condition all deserve serious attention.AdvertisementAdvertisementA well-kept GranTurismo can sound like something from a much higher tax bracket. A neglected one can punish the buyer quickly.BMW M5 E60Image Credit: BMW.The E60 BMW M5 remains one of the most dramatic used sedans ever built. KBB lists the 2008 M5 with a 5.0-liter V10 rated at 500 horsepower, and its current pricing data keeps some examples near ordinary used-family-car money.The reason collectors and risk-tolerant enthusiasts keep watching these cars is simple: the S85 V10 sounds closer to an exotic coupe than a four-door executive sedan. It revs high, has a hard metallic edge, and gives the M5 a personality BMW has never repeated in the same way.The caution is just as important as the appeal. Rod bearings, throttle actuators, SMG behavior, clutch wear, oil analysis, VANOS issues, electronics, and service history matter enormously.AdvertisementAdvertisementA cheap M5 with poor records can become a financial trap. A properly maintained one gives buyers a naturally aspirated V10 experience that feels wildly out of place near this price range.Jaguar XKRImage Credit: Spanish Coches / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0.The 2007 to 2009 Jaguar XKR gives buyers a different kind of expensive sound. The 2007 XKR used a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 rated at 420 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, giving the aluminum-body Jaguar real grand-touring performance.The XKR's soundtrack is smoother and darker than the Maserati or BMW. It has supercharger character, deep V8 strength, and the kind of polished grand-touring tone that makes the car feel richer than its used price.It is not as raw as a Viper or as sharp as the Maserati, but it sounds special enough to make a normal luxury coupe feel plain. The shape has aged well too, with long-hood proportions and a more elegant look than many German rivals from the same period.AdvertisementAdvertisementBuyers should check cooling system history, suspension components, supercharger service, electronics, convertible-top operation if applicable, and interior condition. A clean XKR gives shoppers huge sound, real speed, and luxury GT style without the price of a newer European performance coupe.Audi S4 4.2Image Credit: Sfoskett / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0.The B6 and B7 Audi S4 hide one of the best budget V8 soundtracks in a very ordinary-looking body. Edmunds lists the 2007 S4 with a 4.2-liter V8 rated at 340 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque, with quattro all-wheel drive and either a six-speed manual or six-speed Tiptronic automatic.The S4 belongs here because it sounds far more expensive than it looks. The naturally aspirated 40-valve V8 has a clean, mechanical, high-revving character that separates it from ordinary German sedans. With the right factory-style exhaust condition, it delivers mature performance sound rather than cheap noise.High-mile B6 and B7 S4s can still appear cheaply, while cleaner lower-mile cars and desirable Avant wagons can cost more. The best buy is not the cheapest one. It is the car with records, careful ownership, and no scary cold-start noises.AdvertisementAdvertisementOwnership requires careful inspection. Timing-chain guide and tensioner concerns, oil leaks, clutch condition, control arms, cooling system health, and previous maintenance records are central to the buying decision. A strong manual S4 sedan or wagon can feel like a hidden-performance car with a soundtrack that still surprises people.Porsche Boxster S 986Image Credit: Alexandre Prévot / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0.The first-generation Porsche Boxster S proves that a car does not need huge horsepower to sound expensive. Edmunds lists the 2003 Boxster S with a 3.2-liter flat-six rated at 258 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, paired with rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual.Classic.com currently places the 986 Boxster S manual average around $17,700, although cleaner lower-mile examples can easily push past $20,000. That makes careful shopping important, but it still keeps the car close to the budget in a way many newer Porsche sports cars are not.The mid-engine layout gives the Boxster S a sound and feel that ordinary front-engine cars struggle to match. The flat-six sits close behind the driver, builds revs cleanly, and delivers the kind of mechanical Porsche tone that makes even normal-speed driving feel more special.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Boxster S is also the most balanced car here. It will not match the BMW's V10 drama or the Maserati's Italian theater, but it offers sharper handling, open-air driving, and a more connected chassis. Buyers should check IMS bearing documentation or risk, cooling system health, oil leaks, top condition, suspension wear, and service records.A good Boxster S gives drivers one of the best affordable paths into genuine sports-car sound.The Sweet Spot Between Sound And RiskImage Credit: BMW.The best cheap cars with exotic-sounding engines all come with the same warning. The engine note may feel expensive, but maintenance can feel expensive too.The Maserati brings Italian V8 theater. The BMW delivers naturally aspirated V10 drama. The Jaguar adds supercharged grand-touring muscle. The Audi hides a high-revving V8 in a practical body. The Porsche puts a flat-six directly behind the driver.AdvertisementAdvertisementNone of them should be bought on sound alone. A clean inspection, complete records, healthy tires, smooth electronics, and honest service history matter more than a loud exhaust clip or a low asking price.For drivers who want a car that sounds far richer than it costs, these five are hard to ignore. Buy the right one, maintain it properly, and every start-up can feel like a small event.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.