How to make racing just a little bit more affordable.
Volvo 1 of 27 1984-1992 Volvo 740
There’s a reason you see so many Volvo 740 rally cars in YouTube videos. It’s a sturdy, reliable car that can take a beating. And because it’s rear-wheel drive, there’s plenty of sideways action to be had.
“” 2 of 27 1982-1991 Porsche 944
If you’re looking for a cheap way to break into the Porsche racing scene, consider the 944. It’s one of the cheapest Porsches you can buy, but still provides tons of performance with the right mods (and a skilled driver).
Subaru 3 of 27 1998-2001 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS
Look at entry lists for any rally in America, and you’ll see most of the competitors are driving Subarus. Of those Subarus, most of them are 2.5RSs. Why? Well, they’re cheap to own, well-balanced, and easy to fix. Parts are everywhere, and if you know what you’re doing, you can take podiums.
Mazda 4 of 27 1978-2002 Mazda RX-7
The RX-7’s simple layout and lightweight construction make it an obvious choice for racers on a budget. While rotary engines aren’t known for being reliable, they provide plenty of excitement, which is exactly what you’re looking for in a cheap race car.
Honda 5 of 27 2001-2005 Honda Civic Si
While some older Civic Sis are actually starting to go up in value, the hatchback version we got here in the U.S. in the early 2000s remains a great used buy. Sure, it might not be the most desirable Civic Si out there, but it’s still a fun, tossable package you can take to the track.
Toyota 6 of 27 1984-1999 Toyota MR2
The MR2 is mid-engined, which means it’s inherently more balanced than most cars out there, making it perfect for track duty. We’d recommend finding a fixed-roof model for optimal structural rigidity.
Subaru 7 of 27 1992-2023 Subaru Impreza WRX
While we wouldn’t recommend taking an old WRX endurance racing for hours on end, they make perfect rallycross cars or ice-racing entires. Its all-wheel drive combined with a low-end turbo grunt means you’ll be pulling yourself out of low-traction corners time and time again.
Volkswagen 8 of 27 1975-2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI
No matter what your price range is, there’s likely a suitable GTI out there you can take racing. Mk5 and Mk6 cars are very cheap right now, and if you want something newer and more reliable, Mk7 cars can be had for reasonable money too. Want the purest-possible driving experience? Finding a Mk1 or Mk2 that’s been converted into a race car shouldn’t be too difficult.
R&T 9 of 27 2000-2008 Honda S2000
The S2000 is one of Honda’s greatest road cars of all time, but it also makes for a solid competition machine. It’s light on its feet, powerful, and being a Honda, incredibly reliable.
Porsche 10 of 27 1999-2005 Porsche 911
The 996-generation 911 may not be the most loved 911 out there, but it’s certainly good enough to race. It’s still a Porsche, which means it’ll be right at home on track, and with the right mods, reliable enough to beat on for hours on-end.
Ford 11 of 27 2011-2019 Ford Fiesta
With a roll cage and some suspension mods, the Fiesta can be turned from an everyday economy car into one of the most fun and accessible rally cars out there. Teams across America use it to compete, and since parts are easily available, we have a feeling it’ll be sticking around in the race world for a while.
Brian Silvestro 12 of 27 2017-2023 Toyota 86/GR86
The 86 is the most fun to drive out of the “Toyobaru” twins. Early examples are starting to get reasonably affordable, and with more aftermarket support than ever, it makes for a tempting racing companion.
Subaru 13 of 27 2013-2023 Subaru BRZ
The BRZ is no slouch either, of course. It has that same inherent balance and lightweight nature, plus, like the Toyota, it comes with a limited-slip differential as standard—perfect for getting traction out of corners.
Toyota 14 of 27 2013-2016 Scion FR-S
The FR-S is essentially the same as the first-gen 86 underneath, save for a few small changes. Mechanically it’s all the same, and used prices are the lowest of the trio, meaning it holds the best value.
Nissan 15 of 27 2002-2009 Nissan 350Z
If you’ve kept your eye on the Nissan Z market lately, you’ll know early 350Zs are getting cheap. For very little cash, you can pick up a rear-wheel-drive, V-6-powered coupe good reliability and lots of aftermarket support.
DW Burnett/PUPPYKNUCKLES 16 of 27 1990-2000 BMW 3-Series (E36)
With the beloved E30 3-Series now a bonafide collector’s item, it’s successor, the E36, has become the car of choice for grassroots racers. Tons of people race them in spec classes, they’re easy to modify, and their straight-sixes are stout and powerful.
BMW 17 of 27 1998-2005 BMW 3-Series (E46)
Yes, the E36 is lighter and simpler, but have you seen E46 prices lately? They’re about the same as E36s, with more power and a more sophisticated suspension. Race series like Spec E46 has ballooned in popularity lately, marking the E46-generation 3-Series as yet another cheap BMW worthy of track work.
Rick FloresFlickr 18 of 27 1990-2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Surely many of you reading this are groaning at the obviousness of a Miata on this list, but the fact of the matter is that Miatas are still affordable, and perfectly suited for amateur racing. There’s a reason why you see at least five at every race track.
Grant CFlickr 19 of 27 1993-2005 Dodge Neon
Think of the Neon as the front-wheel-drive companion to the Miata. Seriously. These cars are a genuine force to be reckoned with on road courses, and their beater status means the price of entry is very low.
Ford 20 of 27 1979-1993 Ford Mustang (Fox-Body)
Thanks to a huge aftermarket, you can do pretty much anything you want with a Fox Mustang. Drag car? Easy. Road course car? Less easy, but still totally doable. Rally car? Probably, and you’d be a hero if you tried.
Acura 21 of 27 1985-2006 Acura Integra
There are any number of Honda and Acura products from the 1990s we could put on this list, but we chose the sporty Integra for its superlative handling. No, you won’t be able to find a Type R on the cheap, but even a lowly base model is more than adequate to do the job.
Ford 22 of 27 2002-2004 Ford Focus SVT
The Ford Focus SVT is the hot hatch everyone sort of forgets about. We’re not really sure why that’s the case, but it’s an excellent car, so use its obscurity to your advantage. Pick one up cheap, learn how to left-foot brake, find some knobby tires, and get thee to a rallycross course.
Jack Milton/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images 23 of 27 1989-1998 Nissan 240SX
Want to build a drift car? Just get a Nissan 240SX. It’s not the most unique choice, but it’s easily the most sensible one. In stock form it has an excellent chassis, but an SR20 swap will really unlock its potential. If you’re really feeling like raising some hell, drop an LS in it and smoke everyone.
DW Burnett/PUPPYKNUCKLES 24 of 27 1997-2004 Porsche Boxster (986)
Want to know a secret? The first-generation Boxster is the Porsche you should buy right now. Purists are still turning their noses up at these, overlooking a fantastic, mid-engine sports car. It’s one of the more expensive cars on the list, but hey, it’s a Porsche.
DW Burnett/PUPPYKNUCKLES 25 of 27 1989-2006 Toyota Celica
We’ve already missed the boat on the Supra, but the front-wheel-drive Toyota Celica can be picked up for a song and raced. You get Toyota’s famous reliability, and if you can find an all-wheel-drive GT-Four, a genuine rally pedigree.
DW Burnett/PUPPYKNUCKLES 26 of 27 2005-2013 Chevrolet Corvette (C6)
This is easily the most expensive car on the list, but the C6 is arguably the only one that can hang with the big boys. It’s not as luxurious as a 911, but it can easily keep up in terms of speed. Their engines–the LS2 in the first years of production, than the LS3 starting in 2008–are virtually bulletproof and very powerful.
Chevrolet 27 of 27 1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette (C5)
The C5 might not be as capable or as technologically advanced as the C6 out of the box, but its lower price point and even larger aftermarket arguably makes it the better choice between the two. Plus, how can you say no to pop-up headlights?
Keyword: The Best Cheap Cars to Take Racing