Everything is getting more expensive these days. From houses and fuel, to your weekly grocery shop. As for the world of cars, it’s no different. Even something as modest as a new hot hatch now comes with a price tag that would’ve seemed absurd not that long ago. As a result, the idea of a “cheap performance car” now feels like affordable housing. It may sound great in theory, but it doesn't exist much in reality.Well, that’s unless you’re willing to broaden your options or know where to look. Because while most things have crept steadily upwards in price, a very specific kind of performance has quietly gone the other way. One of the most promising examples of such depreciation comes from an American legend from Detroit, and it makes just over 500 horsepower. It was discontinued back in 2013, but remains an impossible proposition to ignore today. 500 Horsepower Used To Be Supercar Territory, Not Used-Car Reality Mecum Auctions Not that long ago, cars producing 500 horsepower were rarely seen on the used market for sensible money. When they did appear, they sat firmly in supercar pricing territory instead, and almost always came from exotic brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini. A serious performer just simply wasn’t something you would associate with affordability. Like talent, and Brooklyn Beckham.But as performance figures climb, and the almost inevitable depreciation occurs, that once-exclusive threshold has quietly filtered down into a very different and more accessible part of the market.Despite featuring a V8 and a six-speed manual, it still never managed to hold onto its value as much as its more revered European rivals, but it’s that depreciation that's actually now worked in its favor. It's a dramatic American supercar with looks to match, but now without the supercar price tag. The Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 Delivers Supercar Performance For Muscle Car Money Mecum When it was new, the Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 started at $65,800 in 2006, making it a costly but still relatively attainable option that could still keep up with much more expensive exotics from Europe. Fast forward to today, and depreciation has made an already attainable supercar into a performance bargain, and clean examples can now be found in the mid-$30,000s to low-$50,000s, depending on mileage and condition.The Z06 version is the higher performance variant of the base C6, and is lighter, wider and more powerful. But where is all that added power coming from? Well, under the Z06's long, carbon fiber-reinforced hood sits a 7.0-liter LS7 V8 which makes 505 horsepower, 470 pound-feet of torque, and a stratospheric redline of 7,000 RPM. It’s also naturally aspirated - a nostalgic change from all those turbos and electric motors we get today. Instead, it's raw, immediate, and unfiltered. This high-displacement V8 is also powerful enough to launch the Z06 from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds - putting it firmly in contemporary supercar territory when it was new.Paired with a heavy-duty six-speed manual gearbox and a chassis that uses lightweight composite panels, the C6 Z06 feels more like a weapon for the track than a grand tourer, while the upgraded suspension setup compared to the standard C6 features stiffer front springs and monotube shocks, plus bigger anti-roll bars for a more agile ride.The brakes are larger than the C6 too, measuring 14.0-inches up front, which are clamped down by six-piston calipers, while four-piston 13.4-inch rotors can be found at the rear. Overall weight, meanwhile, comes in at 3,130 pounds, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of just 6.2 pounds per horsepower - enough to edge out the more powerful Ford GT.In addition to the above, it also lacks the digital intervention compared to most modern performance cars, but makes up for it by being more…simple. With fewer onboard safety nets, the Z06 represents a time when supercars were more analogue, and demanded much more from you from behind the wheel. Corvette C6 Base Vs Z06 Performance Comparison Used Market Prices Make This One Of The Most Accessible 500-hp Cars Today Mecum What makes the Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 so compelling today isn't just its performance, but also how accessible it has become on the used market. Recent auctions show the average resale price for a C6 Z06 at the time of writing over the past year is $47,263, with the lowest sale being $30,600, and $82,500 at the top end. The latter figure, however, reflects a top-spec 3LZ example. These were even more extreme versions, and came equipped with the rare Z07 Performance Package, which added carbon ceramic brakes, track-focused tires, and upgraded suspension components. Impressive pieces of kit, but not really the focus here.Mecum As with any car, mileage, age, and condition dictate how much these less extreme C6 Z06s go for, and looking at recent listings reflects this trend. One example sold for $47,000 only a few months ago on Bring A Trailer, having done just 9,000 miles on the clock. It also looked mint inside too. Meanwhile, a higher mileage example exchanged hands for $43,000, having done 23,000 miles.To put these figures into perspective, you’d be lucky to get anything less than 50k for a new hot hatch from Japan, and as for anything from Affalterbac or Ingolstadt, forget it. Granted, those cars may still be cheaper to run and easier to live with, but none of them can claim to have once rubbed shoulders with Ferraris and Lamborghinis of its generation back in its day, and that's before you remember all the theatrics that come with a naturally aspirated V8. Ownership Brings Real-world Compromises Alongside Performance chevrolet-corvette-z06-coupe-5 Like going off to live in another country, it can seem exciting at first, but will inevitably come with some challenges when you get there, and buying a used V8 Corvette is no different.This is still a high-performance machine built around a large-displacement V8 after all, and with that comes the kind of running costs you’d expect. Fuel economy is firmly in the "don't ask" category when the wife asks and when driven as intended. Average consumption is around 15 to 16 MPG - roughly 10 MPG in the city, and 24 to 26 MPG on the highway. Then there are consumables like tires and brakes which can add up quickly too, especially given the car’s performance on tap.Mecum Like any aging performance car, the C6 Z06 comes with a few quirks too. Early cars had a habit of the roof panel adhesive giving up over time, which is hardly ideal when it’s quite literally above your head. Meanwhile, some owners have reported fuel system problems, from the occasional pump failure to inaccurate fuel gauges that can be… optimistic at best.Then there are the usual electrical gremlins like warning lights and temperamental windows. Just odd hiccups here and there that can keep things interesting. Even the manual gearbox isn’t entirely immune, with some cars reported to have shown synchronizer wear if driven hard, especially during aggressive downshifts. Of course, none of these things are catastrophic, but it is a reminder that while the performance might feel supercar-level, the ownership experience can still have a bit of old-school character mixed in. European and Japanese Rivals Offer Alternatives, But Not The Same Value For Power and Looks BMW The closest German alternative to the C6 Z06 is perhaps the BMW M3 E92, a car that delivers its thrills in a very different way. It's powered by a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 that loves to rev, producing around 414 horsepower and a soundtrack that's a real treat to the eardrums. While it’s engaging and beautifully balanced, and is far more playful to drive than a comparable fast Audi, it still can’t quite match the raw, straight-line punch of the Corvette, or the wide, head-tearing looks of a supercar. Once you factor in those maintenance costs as well, and perhaps it becomes less of a tempting proposition.Nissan The Nissan GT-R R35, meanwhile, is the obvious benchmark when it comes to outright performance. Early examples have become pretty attainable now, especially higher-mileage examples, and with over 480 horsepower and all-wheel drive, it's devastatingly quick too. But these capabilities come from dual-clutch transmissions and advanced electronics. While these features are great for making much of the GT-R's power more accessible—even in the wettest of conditions—it still gives a less engaging driving experience compared to the more analog Z06. Corvette C6 Z06: Spec sheets compared to rivals The Corvette C6 Z06 Proves That 500 HP Can Still Be Affordable Mecum The Corvette C6 Z06 is at a rare intersection, where serious performance and supercar design meet accessibility. And at a time when cars are becoming more digital, more complex, and often more expensive, it represents a much simpler time of big displacement, natural aspiration, and manual gearboxes. Despite the caveats that can come with them, the Z06 gives not just nostalgia and speed, but engagement, character, and a formula that’s now almost disappeared completely.