10 Fast And Fun Cars For $7,000

This is the non-S version of the Mini Cooper two-door hatch and it's all the better for it. Sans turbocharger, it produces 115 hp and a lot fewer problems. The spirited naturally-aspirated engine only has to power 2,535 lbs of Mini, which means even without a turbo this little hatch can hit 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. It tops out at 125 mph.

TheCooper Sis faster, but we still maintain that this is more fun. You can drive it harder more often without breaking the law (too much). Besides, Minis have always been about handling more than anything else. These cars are just so eager to turn in and play around when you switch all the nannies off.

They don't, we repeat, don't handle like go-karts. Never have, and never will. The whole Mini go-kart thing is one of the biggest marketing cliches to ever haunt the automotive world. Aused Mini Cooper Coupeis a lot of fun for just $7,000, however.

This E46 BMW 325 Ci Coupe is in mint condition and built on what might just possibly be the last properly engaging 3 Series platform. The E90 3 Series went a bit soft and lost some of its edge.

The 2.5-liter inline-six only produces 190 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, but it only weighs around 3,000 lbs. The current3 Seriesweighs 3,560 lbs in the base specification. This particularBMW 325Ci Coupe for saleis a five-speed automatic, but it's worth digging further for a six-speed manual. The automatic is perfectly fine, but if you're going to have fun you might as well have a manual.

Fit a louder exhaust to let that 6-cylinder roar a bit more and you've got yourself a lovely RWD toy.

Like the BMW above, the Infiniti also offers a large naturally aspirated engine up front, sending all the power to the rear wheels. The BMW's styling is more elegant, but we prefer the wilder looks of theG35．

The G35 is also based on a better platform. It's built on the bones of theNissan 350Z, though Infiniti tuned the setup for comfort rather than track times. Still, enough of the 350Z playful characteristics were carried over to make the G35 a fun machine.

Early models like thisused Infiniti G35 Coupeproduced 260 hp and 260lb-ft of torque from a naturally aspirated V6. Get a later model, and those figures increase to 280 hp and 270 lb-ft. Either way, you're looking at a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 157 mph.

Being a tuner favorite, loads of modifications are available for the G35. You can get better brakes, suspension, ECU upgrades, exhaust kits, and forced induction kits.

The first-generation Audi A5 is one of the best designs ever. Walter de Silva called it the most beautiful car he ever made. Other cars on his resume include theAlfa Romeo 156, Audi R8, Volkswagen Scirocco, andLamborghini Egoista．这是足够的理由对它感兴趣．It's also the top option to consider if you live in a cold-weather state, thanks to Audi's renowned quattro AWD system.

The 3.2-liter V6 was a mid-grade engine globally. Not as brutal as the RS5, but fun nevertheless. The RS5 isn't particularly good at being a BMW M3 imitator anyway, and to us, the A5 always feels better with a lighter engine under the hood.

Audi's 3.2-liter V6 produces 261 hp at 6,500 rpm, and it sounds lovely. You can make it even more resonant with an aftermarket exhaust kit. Thanks to the additional grip, it can sprint to 60 mph in roughly six seconds, and it tops out at 155 mph. When shopping around, look for aused Audi A5 3.2 quattrowith a few extras. This particular model is equipped with a full leather interior, navigation, and a panoramic sunroof.

TheCrossfirewas a bit of a joke when it came out, and as a driving tool, it still is. The thing does look more incredible than ever these days, however. Chrysler sourced the vast majority of the Crossfire's parts from the first-generation SLK, which, to be brutally honest, was a poor place to start.

The Crossfire's Mercedes-sourced 3.2-liter V6 is asthmatic, producing only 215 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. It gets to 60 mph in roughly eight seconds when equipped with an automatic. The manual transmission is hateful and provides zero joy, so you might as well stick with the self-shifter.

So, why is it here? The 3.2-liter engine is quite robust and can easily handle a supercharger. Mercedes-AMG used an Eaton M45 supercharger to build theSRT6 engine, which you can easily find on eBay for $600. That bumps the power to 330 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The result is a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds and a 155 mph top speed. Aused Chrysler Crossfirewill handle like a pig, but it will be fast in a straight line.

Okay, so this one is a little over budget, but it's an excellent price for aused Nissan 350Z Touring．And the 350Z is generally a robust car with the proper preventative maintenance. For the 2007 model year, Nissan changed the whole engine (80%), pushing the power output up to 300 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque.

The upmarket Touring specification was only available with an automatic gearbox, but it came with leather, heated seats, and nicer 18-inch wheels. Even with the slushbox, the Z retains most of the characteristics that kept it in production for 12 years. The turn-in is precise, it has loads of mechanical grip, and the car is more than happy to slide if you drive like a loon.

The 350Z remains fast, even by today's standards. It completes the 0-60 mph sprint in 5.5 seconds and tops out at 155 mph. Prices of Z cars seem to be increasing at the moment, so now might be a good time to invest in one. Because the 350Z was such a smash hit, there are loads ofaftermarket kitsavailable as well.

Like the Mini, the second-generationHyundai Tiburonis an unlikely candidate. Looking at the specification sheet, everything seems to be wrong. It has a 2.7-liter V6 that only produces 172 hp, sending that power to the front wheels. At least it has a six-speed manual gearbox.

As a result of the underwhelming engine, the Tiburon takes a leisurely 8.2 seconds to get to 60 mph, and it tops out at 137 mph. The engine does provide an excellent soundtrack, however. We recommendbuying a used Hyundai Tiburonbecause it's a genuinely good driver's car with traditional coupe styling. The Tiburon's secret is its chassis and steering. It provides loads of feedback and inspires confidence. The six-speed gearbox is on the heavy side, but it lets you get the most out of the V6 engine. Before you laugh, go out and try one. This is one of the most underappreciated cars of all time.

This list wouldn't be complete without at least one 'Stang. Unfortunately, at this price level, you can only get the most basicused Ford Mustangdating back to the first model year of the fifth-generation Mustang. The car was recalled ten times during its first year on sale.

Base Mustangs of this vintage arepowered by a 4.0-liter V6 producing 210 hp．Mind you; the 4.6-liter V8 is not much better. At least the power is sent to the rear wheels, and the fifth-gen Mustang still looks pretty excellent.

4.0野马需要悠闲的7秒hit 60 mph, and you'll need quite some time and a long open space to get it to 124 mph. The secret to this car is the sheer number of aftermarket parts available. There's a kit for improving every aspect of the vehicle, right down the brakes and suspension. In terms of power, you can go the turbocharging or supercharging route. Think of this Mustang as a blank canvas that you can slowly complete over time.

TheAccord Coupeonly lasted one generation for obvious reasons. While it has interesting coupe styling, it's still based on the humble Honda Accord. It's decent to drive for what it is, but still quite far from being truly sporty.

We do think the design aged well, and because it's essentially an Accord, it will keep on going forever. You can also make some tweaks to the underpinnings to make it more engaging, but the Accord Coupe is better as a grand touring machine.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine is powerful, even by today's standard. In this car, it produces 272 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque. It's more fun mated to a six-speed manual, butgood luck finding one．Thanks to this trouble-free V6, the Accord Coupe can get to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. Honda never claimed a top speed, but we don't doubt that even in aused Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V6, you'll be able to do more than 124 mph.