Every year, new performance cars are introduced with some of the latest technology and features meant to make them go fast, but they're also pretty expensive. A base 911 Carrera in 2026 now costs $127,700, which is very expensive for a brand-new entry-level sports car. But when you look at the used market, there are many options.We are currently living in a golden age of depreciation, where you can find some of the best sports cars for less than the price of a fully loaded Honda Accord. These aren't cheap beater cars that will break in two weeks. This is a selection of proper performance cars with some of the best systems for their time that had high sticker prices but have depreciated to the $30,000 to $40,000 range. These nine sports cars will absolutely outrun cars worth three times their current price. 2016-2022 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport - 400 HP Rival: Mercedes-AMG SL 43 InfinitiThe SL 43 is a beautiful, brand-new piece of German engineering. This base car uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with mild hybrid assist to produce 381 hp. But the Infiniti has more power and better performance for a third of the price, and looks really good for a car that's already a decade old. 2014-2020 BMW M4 (F82) 425 HP Rival: Porsche 992 Carrera carwow YouTubeThe F82 M4 was a turning point for BMW. Previous M3s always had a coupe variant, but for this generation, the coupe became its own model known as the M4. This generation was also when BMW went all in with forced induction, and that took them to the next level of performance. This car featured a lot of new tech at the time, with the S55 twin-turbo straight-six engine, an aggressive dual-clutch transmission, and a carbon drive shaft sending power to the rear wheels. All of this is paired with BMW's telepathic handling, making this car fun and fast, but so is its more expensive rival.People say the 911 is the car BMW owners transition into, and the latest992 Carrera is one of the best sports cars on sale today. The 992 uses a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine, making 380 hp, with the latest tech to make it go fast. It may look like the 911 is at a disadvantage but this is a great pairing. From a dig, both cars are evenly matched as the superior launch control will always help the 911 beat the M4 to the quarter-mile. But the real race is done on the road without launch control, and the more powerful M4 takes the win. But the best part is that the M4 will deliver this performance at a much lower price. 2017-2024 Audi RS5 - 444 HP Rival: Bentley Continental GT V8 AudiWhen the Audi RS5 was redesigned for the 2018 model, they made a controversial move: they ditched the high-revving V8 for a twin-turbo V6. Yes, we lost the glorious sound of the V8, but not the performance. It became a lighter and more agile machine, and paired with its revised Quattro system, this car was a grip monster but also a great daily driver. Inside, the car has that solid build quality Audi vehicles are known for these days, with great tech and comfortable seats. One moment, this car could feel like a regular daily driver, and the next you could be flying down the Autobahn at 150 mph without breaking a sweat.The Bentley Continental GT can also do all this without breaking a sweat, but with an even more luxurious interior. The V8 model is the cheaper option and uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Compared to its V12 counterpart, meant to deliver smooth power, this engine was meant to be more sporty and have a bit more character. It may have more power and torque than the Audi, but this German machine has way more grip and is about 800 pounds lighter than the Bentley. This makes both cars evenly matched, except at high triple-digit speeds where the Bentley's massive power and torque take over, but the Audi remains right on its heels. 2017-2022 Chevy Camaro SS 1LE 455 HP Rival: Lotus Evora GT ChevroletAt this point, the Chevrolet Camaro is not really a muscle car anymore but a true sports with a big American V8 under the hood, adding the 1LE package transforms it into a track car. Before it was discontinued, the sixth-gen Camaro was one of the best handling cars on the market with the same sophisticated alpha chassis that now underpins the Cadillac Blackwings. The Camaro SS 1LE package adds magnetic suspension, huge Brembo brakes, an electronic limited-slip differential, and sticky tires. All of these give the Camaro the ability to match most exotic cars on the racetrack.The challenger here is theLotus Evora GT, which makes this a perfect matchup. In a straight line, the Evora will take off first, but the Camaro's big engine and torque will easily take the win, but that isn't the focus of these cars. Both cars are praised specifically for their sublime steering feel, driver feedback, and cornering ability. While the Lotus is an exotic mid-engine V6-powered featherweight, the Camaro is a big V8-powered machine that offers the same driver engagement with a better soundtrack for way less money. 2015-2024 Ford Mustang GT (S550) - 480 HP Rival: Lexus LC 500 Via: Bring a TrailerThe Mustang is an American icon and the Coyote V8 is one of the main reasons you buy one. For decades, the Mustang was a straight-line hero with poor suspension and a crowd magnet but the S550 Mustang changed everything. In 2015, the Mustang finally got an independent rear suspension, turning it into a proper sports coupe, but unfortunately failed to solve the issue of bad drivers. Despite its reputation, the Mustang is a fantastic car and a great sports car bargain. The 5.0-liter Coyote V8 is a gem and a very characteristic engine, it revs like a sophisticated European engine but still has the torque of a muscle car.The Lexus LC 500 also has an engine with so much character, this is a grand tourer similar to a Bentley but has the raw engine note similar to the Mustang. The Lexus has a beautiful exterior design, a luxurious interior, and perhaps the best-sounding naturally-aspirated V8 produced today. But it also costs three times as much as the Mustang, but both are great everyday V8 grand tourers. While the Lexus wins on beauty and sophistication, the S550 Mustang will beat it on almost any road. 2015-2021 Mercedes-AMG C63 - 503 HP Rival: Aston Martin DB11 Mercedes-BenzThe W205-generation C63 S is an important vehicle. It was the moment AMG proved they could move to turbocharging without losing the mad personality that made them famous, It was a tough shoe to fill coming from the W204. The most powerful version of the twin turbo V8 makes a staggering 503 hp, and unlike its modern 4-cylinder successor, this one has the deep, rumbly V8 bark that AMGs are known for. Its rival is the Aston Martin DB11. Both use the same AMG twin turbo V8 with similar power. While the Aston Martin is a piece of rolling art, the C63 S provides a more aggressive and visceral driving experience with superior performance, all while offering enough room for four adults and a much lower entry price. It is also available as a coupe. 2006-2009 Chevy Corvette Z06 (C6) - 505 HP Rival: Ferrari F430 Via: General MotorsWhen the C6 Z06 arrived, is considered one of the best bargain sports cars of the mid 2000s. This wasn’t just a faster Corvette; it was a completely different animal. Chevrolet changed a lot with this car to make it a better performance vehicle: it had a dedicated aluminum chassis, a dry-sump oil system, and a monster 7.0-liter (427-cubic-inch) LS7 V8 making 505 hp. It was a racecar disguised as a sports car. We’re pairing this legendary "bruiser" against the Ferrari F430which had a bit more finesse than the vette.The Ferrari had the F1 heritage, the scream of a flat-plane-crank V8, and a refined cabin. The Z06 had raw, unadulterated power and was a better car on track. Today, the Z06 is widely considered the superior track weapon of its era, and you can have it for a third of the F430's price. But both cars have one thing in common: they're currently appreciating in value. 2014-2016 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG - 577 HP Rival: Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II Mercedes-BenzIn 2012, AMG replaced its massive naturally-aspirated engine in the E63 with a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 (M157). The result was monstrous vehicle with 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. In 2014, they added AWD (4Matic) to contain all that power. The result is a discrete, comfortable executive sedan that can outrun a supercar to 100 mph. It is a vehicle that can hang with some of the best sports cars in drag race and still take you to board meetings in style.At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Rolls-Royce Ghost which represents the pinnacle of opulence and excess in a sedan. A Rolls-Royce Ghost is designed for infinite smooth motion, while the E63 AMG is designed for explosive performance. Both have big powerful engines but the Mercedes has the aura and performance befitting an AMG product. It is more powerful and way faster than the Rolls-Royce for a fraction of the price. 2015-2017 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe - 577 HP Rival: Rolls-Royce Wraith Bring A TrailerThe S-Class is the pinnacle of luxury for the Mercedes brand, but when you pair that with a big powerful engine and a coupe body, you create one of the best luxury coupes on the market. Mercedes made a coupe version of the S-class, and it is a beauty. This car looks like it's supposed to be part of a beauty contest, but under the hood of the S63 coupe is a powerful 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 making 577 hp and a massive 664 lb-ft of torque, providing effortless power to this beast.The perfect rival would be the Rolls-Royce Wraith which has the same philosophy, a big luxury coupe with lots of power. Both cars are designed to transport their passengers in complete luxury and comfort from one place to another. But in terms of performance, the S63 is the more aggressive coupe and if there was a race, the S63 would always be ahead. While the Rolls-Royce still cost well into the six figures, the S63 offers all that performance and luxury for a relatively affordable price.Sources: JD Power, Carbuzz, Carsforsale.