A new Toyota Corolla runs between $22,725 and $28,940, and it earns that reputation as the dependable daily driver. But for less than the price of a base Corolla, you can step into a forgotten Italian sports car powered by a real Ferrari-built 3.0-liter V8. When it launched, this exotic carried an $80,000 sticker, yet today clean examples trade hands for under $20,000.That puts a car with Ferrari noise, styling, and pedigree directly against Toyota’s most practical sedan. It’s a matchup few buyers expect, but it shows how deep value hides in the used carmarket. Let’s look at why this obscure supercar remains one of the best bargains enthusiasts can score today. Which Used Supercar Packs Ferrari V8 Power For Less Than A Corolla? Via: Bring a Trailer The Maserati Coupé built between 2002 and 2007 is the answer. Styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign, this grand tourer hides one of the best bargains in the used market. Under the hood sits the Ferrari F136 V8, a 4.2-liter engine co-developed by Ferrari and Maserati. The 390 hp and 7,000 rpm redline, gives the car performance credentials you rarely find in a vehicle that now trades for Corolla money.Via: Bring a TrailerAccording to Classic.com, the average used price of a Maserati Coupé is $16,069. The lowest recorded sale was just $7,309, while the cleanest, low-mileage examples peak at just $27,000.Via: Toyota Compare that to Toyota’s latest Corolla, priced between $22,725 for a base LE Sedan and $28,940 for the Hybrid XLE, and the numbers speak clearly. In a direct Maserati Coupé vs Toyota Corolla comparison, the economy car is more expensive to acquire no matter how you look at it.Via: Bring a Trailer To understand how wild this is, consider the 2009-2012 Ferrari California with the same F136 V8. The average used price for a Ferrari California sits at $91,986, about six times more than the Maserati. The same core engine also powered the Ferrari F430, the 458 Italia, and even the Alfa Romeo 8C, cars with values that remain firmly in supercar territory.Calling the Maserati Coupé the cheapest Ferrari V8-powered supercar isn’t a stretch. You’re looking at a forgotten Italian grand tourer that delivers Ferrari engine pedigree, a manual transmission option, and design credit from Giugiaro, all for less than a new Corolla. For enthusiasts willing to dig deeper than brand names, this Maserati is the overlooked door into Ferrari performance. What Makes The Ferrari F136 V8 Under The Maserati’s Hood Special? Via: Bring a Trailer The F136 is the last naturally aspirated Ferrari V8 engine. In the Maserati Coupé, it arrived as a 4.2-liter unit producing 390 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque, paired to either a six-speed manual or the electro-hydraulic Cambiocorsa gearbox. The V8 was co-developed by Ferrari and Maserati, with assembly handled in Ferrari’s Maranello plant. The engine didn’t just give the Maserati bragging rights; it gave it a character that feels closer to Maranello than Modena.The F136 engine family has won a total of eight International Engine of the Year awards over the course of production from 2001-2020. The V8 powered nearly every Maserati sports car and the four-door Quattroporte in various configurations.Via: Bring a Trailer Ferrari employed the engine in its cars between 2004-2015. The Ferrari California was the only front-engine model from Maranello to use a 4.3-liter version of the same F136 architecture. With 453 hp, the California used a different intake, exhaust, and ECU mapping, but the building blocks were shared.But importantly, the Ferraris used a 180-degree flat-plane crankshaft, while all Maseratis with the same engine use a 90-degree cross-plane design.The F136 family is a who’s-who of modern Italian performance. Along with the California, it powered the Ferrari F430, the 458 families in mid-engine layout, and even the limited-production Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Each variant had unique tuning, but the DNA was the same. Maserati’s version leaned toward flexibility and daily usability, with a wider torque curve and slightly softer delivery.Via: Bring a Trailer It is significant to note that the Maserati Coupé's Ferrari engine isn’t some leftover. It belongs to the same bloodline as some of the greatest modern Ferraris. For enthusiasts, that makes the car more than just an affordable grand tourer. It’s a rare chance to access Ferrari engineering without Ferrari pricing. Among options in the early 2000s luxury segment, very few combined this level of performance pedigree with genuine usability. That’s why this Ferrari F136 V8-powered Maserati Coupé still stands out today. What Do You Get Inside A $16K Maserati That A Corolla Can’t Match? Via: Bring a Trailer Step inside a Maserati Coupé and you immediately see where the money went. The interior was designed by Enrico Fumia from Pininfarina, and the cabin carries the same sense of Italian flair as Giugiaro body lines. Soft Poltrona Frau leather wraps the seats and dash, while real aluminum and wood trim remind you this was built as a luxury grand tourer, not an economy commuter. Even twenty years on, a well-kept example still feels special in many ways.The biggest highlight is the drivetrain. Buyers had the option of a six-speed manual, a rarity in modern grand tourers. Pair that with the Ferrari-derived 4.2-liter V8, and the Coupé offers something no Corolla can replicate: the thrill of 390 hp delivered with a cross-plane crank soundtrack.Via: Bring a TrailerPracticality wasn’t ignored either. Unlike mid-engine Ferraris of the same era, the Coupé was a true 2+2 with the rear seats best suited for kids, and a trunk large enough for weekend bags. This gave it a blend of performance and usability that rivals like the Porsche 911 of the time also chased, but with a more exotic badge.Via: Bring a Trailer In contrast, the Toyota Corolla focuses on durability, efficiency, and general practicality. Cloth seats, simple plastics, and CVTs define the experience. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s a car built for sensible commuting. When you weigh a Maserati Coupé vs Toyota Corolla, the comparison highlights two entirely different philosophies: one engineered to excite, the other to drive as a daily for a family on a budget.That’s what makes the Maserati Coupé such an intriguing purchase today. For the price of Toyota’s most rational sedan, you can own a Ferrari-powered Italian luxury machine designed to stir emotions. However, sometimes those emotions can be tears thanks to several reliability concerns with the Maserati. Why Did Maserati Coupés Get So Cheap, And Should You Worry About Reliability? Via: Bring a Trailer When new, the Maserati Coupé carried an MSRP above $80,000. Two decades later, average sales hover around $16,069, with some dipping below $8,000. That steep curve reflects typical Maserati depreciation: limited brand recognition compared to Ferrari, combined with higher-than-average maintenance costs. It’s the classic "used luxury car" problem, and prices fall quickly once warranty coverage ends. This brings us to the biggest challenge of ownership: reliability. Maserati Coupé Reliability Concerns To Keep In Mind Via: Bring a TrailerAccording to discussions on forums like Maserati Life, owners report that reliability is the sticking point. The Ferrari F136 V8 itself is stout when serviced properly, but supporting systems can add headaches. The Cambiocorsa automated manual is notorious for clutch wear, often needing replacement every 30,000 miles. Electrical gremlins, sticky interior plastics, and occasional suspension bushing failures are also common. These issues don’t make the car undrivable, but they do mean ownership costs sit far higher than a Toyota Corolla.That said, enthusiasts willing to budget for upkeep get access to one of the cheapest Ferrari V8 supercars ever sold. With values already bottomed out, well-maintained examples may see appreciation as collectors recognize the Coupé’s unique place in Maserati history. For buyers who understand the risks, the reward is a Ferrari-powered grand tourer that still turns heads, and it costs less than a brand-new economy sedan. It even costs less than a new $18,000 Nissan Versa, which is the cheapest sedan on sale in the US!Sources: Classic, Maserati Forum, Bring a Trailer, Kelly Blue Book