The base Toyota Camry LE has an MSRP of $29,100; however, after taxes and fees, that price tag goes to well over $30,000. This is not a terrible price considering how great of a daily driver the Camry is. However, one major shortcoming of the Camry is fun. It's a model designed to be as dull and as inoffensive as possible to appeal to the largest possible customer base, a perfectly acceptable position for a mainstream mid-size sedan. However, there are many enthusiast buyers that seek a bit more of a thrill from their cars, a sports car with a loud engine, manual transmission and perhaps an open-top. For them a new Camry is simply not an option.There are, unfortunately, no brand new sports cars for the same price as a base Camry. However, on the second-hand market, $30.000 has a lot of buying power, with some true performance bargains available in the price range, ranging from mid-engined cars to exotic brands. The following list highlights some of the incredible enthusiast sports cars that cost the same or less than a base Toyota Camry. Mercedes-Benz SLK Average Price: $11,325 Via: Mercedes-Benz Group MediaThe Mercedes-Benz SLK is often overlooked in the conversation about Mercedes convertibles, with more people favoring its bigger brother, the SL. However, the SLK has its own set of benefits over the SL; it's small, cheaper, and less complicated, meaning it's more reliable. $30,000 can easily find a top-of-the-range 55 AMG model featuring a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 engine making 355 hp and 376 lb-ft.Mercedes-BenzThe second-gen SLK made between 2004 and 2011 is the one to opt for, as these are more common and cheaper. The SLK may not come with a manual gearbox, but its combination of a metal folding hardtop and grumbling V8 makes it an excellent cruiser, or even a daily driver. BMW Z4M Average Price: $16,425 Cars & BidsBMW’s Z4 sports car has kind of slipped under the radar, not quite achieving the same cult status as some of the brand's other models. From 2006 to 2008, BMW produced an M version of the Z4 featuring an S54 engine from the BMW M3. In the Z4M, the naturally aspirated 3.2-liter engine produces 330 hp and 262 lb-ft, with power sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.Bring a TrailerThe Z4M is also relatively lightweight, weighing in at just 3,197 lbs, making it a fast and tossable little roadster. For those who want the BMW M experience at a low, pretty affordable price, the Z4 M is a compelling yet underrated option. Honda S2000 Average Price: $19,375 HondaThe Honda S2000 is one of the most praised sports cars of the past 20 years, and with good reason. Honda hasn’t made a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive car since the S2000 ceased production, and as a result, S2000 prices have remained consistently high, often fetching more than the car’s MSRP 20 years ago. $30,000 is the middling price point for the S2000, as some pristine examples have sold for double that.HondaThe S2000 features a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine making 240 hp and revving up to an immense 8,300 rpm. The S2000 only came with a six-speed manual gearbox, sending power only to the rear. It's also pretty lightweight, with all models weighing around 2,800 lbs, making the S2000 a very engaging little sports car. The design of the S2000 has also aged really well, with its clean, minimalist design looking just as sharp 20 years on. Audi TT RS Average Price: $25,250 Via: AudiThe Audi TT often flies under the radar when thinking about sports cars. Regular versions of the TT can be rather underwhelming, with many critics dismissing the TT as a rebodied Volkswagen Golf, as the two share many of the same components, including engines. However, the same cannot be said for the top-of-the-line TT RS. Unfortunately, the most recent TT RS model is still relatively expensive; however, go a generation back, and you still get a truly special little car.Via: AudiThe TT RS features a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder. This is an engine never offered in the Golf, and in the TT RS produces 335 hp in models made between 2009 and 2011, and 355 hp for models between 2012 and 2014. These often came equipped with a six-speed manual, sending power to all four wheels, making the TT RS a very compelling and exciting package. Porsche Boxster Average Price: $28,150 Via Bring a TrailerStarting off with a strong contender, the Porsche Boxster offers a lot of experience at a relatively low cost. The best bank for buck is the second-generation 987 Boxster made between 2005 and 2012. These models can be easily found for under $30,000. There are both manual and automatic options, but there is a clear choice. There are both five-speed and six-speed manuals available, with the engine mounted in the middle of the car, making for a very balanced and engaging experience.PorscheThe engine depends on which model you opt for, base or S. Pre facelift 987.1 had a 2.7-liter flat-six as the base option, producing between 240 hp and 245 hp, depending on the model year. Meanwhile, S models had either a 3.2-liter or 3.4-liter engine, outputting either 280 hp or 295 hp. Facelift 987.2 models made after 2009 saw the base engine upgraded to a 2.9-liter, making 255 hp, while the S model retained a 3.4-liter, now producing 310 hp. These may be one of the cheapest Porsches around the second-hand market, but that's definitely a good thing. Mazda MX-5 Average Price: $28,500 David Alpert / HotCars / ValnetNo list about affordable sports cars would be complete without the Mazda MX-5. A brand-new 2026 model starts at $30,430, making it ever so slightly more expensive than the Toyota Camry. However, models just a few years old can be purchased within budget and offer the exact same performance figures as new models.Cnet.comThe MX-5 is not designed for speed, but experience. The combination of a very low curb weight, excellent weight distribution, and a manual transmission makes the MX-5 an excellent car to enjoy at regular speeds. Models that are one to three years old can be found around the low to mid $20,000 range. These feature a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder making just 181 hp, enough to enjoy a car weighing just 2,201 lbs. Toyota GR86 Average Price: $28,950 David Alpert / HotCars / ValnetA brand new base Toyota GR86 is slightly more expensive than a base Camry, with a starting price of $31,200. However, if you shop on the secondhand market its easy to find GR86 models that are a year or two old in the mid-$20,000 range. The performance and the design of these older models is exactly the same as new models, and come with pretty much the same tech.source: wsupercarsThese feature a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engine producing 228 hp with power being sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, making it an excellent, affordable, modern little sports car that won’t break the bank when it comes to maintenance and fuel. Jaguar F-Type Average Price: $32,800 JaguarBuying a used Jaguar is a scary proposition; the brand is known for its very poor reliability. However, this negative yet somewhat true reputation makes some used Jags an absolute bargain, in particular the gorgeous F-Type. The F-Type is still relatively modern, being just over a decade old, meaning these will still feature plenty of modern conveniences. One benefit of the F-Type is the engine options, as both offer great power and an excellent sound.JaguarThe cheaper and more common option is the supercharged V6 producing 335 hp in the base trim and 375 in the S trim. Some F-Type R models are also available in budget, which feature a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 making 542 hp and 502 lb-ft. These are big performance numbers, even 10 years on. One of the real perks of the F-Type is its looks, as it's one of the most beautifully designed and well-proportioned sports cars of the 21st century. C7 Chevy Corvette Average Price: $35,500 Via: General MotorsThe Chevrolet Corvette is a relatively affordable sports car; over 70 years, thousands of them were produced, keeping the secondhand market full of affordable Corvettes. The car’s formula has remained relatively simple: a small car, a big engine equals big fun. Seventh-generation Corvette models made between 2014 and 2019 are now entering the sub-$30,000 price point and are a more compelling choice to consider.Mecum AuctionsThese look far more modern than the C6 and have a much nicer interior, with more modern features. $30,000 is the bottom of the barrel for the seventh-gen, as you can only find early base models at this price point. These models offer impressive performance, featuring a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 that produces 460 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, with power sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed manual transmission. Not to mention the C7 is probably one of the best-looking Corvette generations to date. 1st-Gen Dodge Viper Average Price: $45,000 MecumShockingly, you can find a Dodge Viper for under $30,000. There is something truly special about the Dodge Viper: in the world of American muscle cars, it always stood out as a little different and a little crazier. The first-gen viper was produced between 1992 and 2002, and has plenty of presence on the road. The Vipers staple is, of course, its engine, one of the largest production engines ever made, an 8.0-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine, making between 400 hp and 450 hp depending on the year.ChryslerThe sub $30,000 range is the very bottom-end of Viper prices; these models are not complete beaters. First-gen Vipers are very simple cars, lacking almost any tech; this means that there is less to go wrong. The Viper was designed to be a reinterpretation of the Shelby Cobra, a big engine, rear-drive car with nothing to hold it back.The most expensive trim of the Camry can go for around $43,000, so really, you could still get a decent Dodge Viper for cheaper than a brand-new car.