Some people prioritize speed, some people prioritize luxury, and some people prioritize practicality and affordability. Regardless of what category you belong to, it’s guaranteed that today’s automotive market will has something to offer you.
There are brands dedicated to putting out the most outrageously luxurious cars out there, and there are brands that produce the fastest, and there are mixes of both on a long spectrum. And then there are brands that make cars for the sole purpose of making your day to day life easier and come at a reasonable price.
But if you’re not willing to pay 6 digit figures or even 7 digit figures for such high end cars, who said you are destined to drive slow cars only? The beauty of this industry is in its versatility and flexibility, as well as the variety of its offerings. Are you tempted to discover the speeds you can reach within your budget? Read on to learn about the 15 affordable cars that can reach speeds of 150 mph.
15. 1996 BMW 750il ($3,800)
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The BMW 750il was produced from 1995 to 2001, and although its original price was more than $90,000, it can be found for sale now at a fraction of its original price. The 750il packs a strong V12 engine that produces a horsepower of 322 and gets it to a top speed of 155 mph.
14. 1999 Mitsubishi 3000 GT ($8,900)
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One of the most capable sports cars of the 1990s was the Mitsubishi 3000 GT. It has a cool, vintage sports look, and a 3-liter twin turbocharged V6 engine that produces 300 horsepower and a top speed of 160 mph. It also has all-wheel drive which makes it even more fun to drive.
13. 1999 Mercedes E55 AMG ($6,989)
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In production since 1998, the Mercedes E55 AMG was released as AMG’s version of the standard E-Class model. Although they looked different, the E55 AMG was far more impressive. It had a 5.4-liter supercharged engine with 349 horsepower, a top speed of 160 mph, and a 0-to-60 of just 5.4 seconds.
12. 1989 Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR1 ($27,700)
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Back in 1989, the Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR1 was the fastest Corvette ever built. Next to its superior looks, the C4 ZR1 had a V8 engine that produces 375 horsepower, which was later upped to 400 horsepower. It can gallop from nil to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and reaches top speeds of 180 mph.
11. 2002 Audi S8 ($14,995)
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The Audi S8 is still in production to this day, but if you want to get your hands on one for much fewer dollars, the early 2000s is the answer. Back then, the S8 had a fully aluminum body, all-wheel drive, and a strong 4.2-liter V8 engine, and a top speed of 155 mph.
10. 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe ($3,998)
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The Infiniti G35 Coupe is a very good looking car, and its looks are only complemented by the reliability of its performance. It has a 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 280 horsepower. Plus, it gets the G35 from 0 to 60 mph in under 6 seconds and on to a top speed of 160 mph.
9. 1998-2002 Jaguar XJR ($5,998)
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Produced from 1998 to 2002, this generation of the Jaguar XJR was fitted with a 4-liter supercharged V8 engine paired with automatic transmission to the rear wheels. It had a power output of 375 horsepower, and could cross the distance from 0 to 60 mph in just 5 seconds. Its top speed was 155 mph.
8. 1997 Chevrolet Corvette C5 ($9,995)
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The 5th generation of the Chevrolet Corvette was first introduced in 1996 and had a satisfactory run in the stores before it was replaced in 2005. The Corvette had a 5.7-liter V8 engine with 350 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 mph in just below 5 seconds.
7. 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO ($7,995)
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The low sales from the 2004 to 2006 Pontiac GTO might come as a surprise when you learn how actually great that car is. It does have a bit of a boring look, but its engines produced 350 and 400 horsepower across its trims, and it has a top speed of 175 mph.
6. 2012 Chrysler 300C SRT-8 (est. $20,000)
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The Chrysler 300C SRT-8 was a more performance oriented 300C sedan, and it entered the market to compete with the BMW M5 and the Mercedes E-Class AMG. It had a strong 6.1-liter V8 Hemi engine, with an output of 425 horsepower and a top speed of more than 170 mph.
5. 1997 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 ($5,299)
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After the Pontiac Firebird was discontinued in 1996, the Camaro Z28 came to replace it, and did a pretty good job. It had a 5.7-liter V8 engine that produced 325 horsepower, propelling the Z28 from 0 to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds and on to a top speed of 160 mph.
4. 1995 Mercedes Benz S600 ($10,000)
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When the S600 first came out, its sticker price was more than $100,000. Today, however, you can get your hands on one for as little as $10,000. It’s quite the bargain, considering that it has a 6-liter V12 engine that produces 391 horsepower and a top speed of 155 mph.
3. 1995-2003 BMW 540i E39 ($4,900)
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Even though it was on the market between 1995 to 2003, many people believe the 540i E39 is one of the most capable performance sedans from BMW. It has a 4.4-liter V8 engine that delivered 291 horsepower, and its top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph, although it can achieve more without the limiter.
2. 1994 Nissan 300ZX ($7,500)
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Nissan has a great line of sports coupes with Z nameplates, and the 300ZX is definitely one of the best. Produced between 1990 and 1996, the 300ZX has a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 300 horsepower, and a 0-to-60 acceleration of just 5.5 seconds, in addition to its top speed of 150 mph.
1. 2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4 ($7,500)
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At the time of its release, the Neon SRT-4 from Dodge was considered one of the most affordable performance cars in the domestic market. It came with a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 230 horsepower and a top speed of 153 mph. It could also go from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds.
