Building a supercar is easy.
Just throw a few million dollars at the problem, charge a king’s ransom to recoup that money, and build so few that no two examples will ever occupy the same time zone. It’s that easy.Building a lot of cars that are both fun to drive and relatively affordable, though, is a challenge. Carmakers can’t rely on exotic materials and 1,000 horsepower engines, so the fundamentals have to shine. Since these cars are marketed to people that use them as daily drivers, they have to be (somewhat) practical as well. We call them “performance cars.”Luckily, several carmakers have taken up the challenge, producing some great affordable performance cars that are fast, fun, and don’t require a lobbyist’s salary to buy. Here they are, ordered by base price from least expensive to most expensive.
Fiat 500 Abarth
The Fiat 500 may look like a cute Italian fashion accessory, but look! This one has a scorpion on it!The scorpion is the symbol of Abarth, legendary performance tuner of all things Fiat.This particular example has had its turbocharged 1.4-liter “MultiAir” four-cylinder engine massaged to produce 160 hp and 170 lb-ft. That’s a lot of power for a car that looks like it has the wheelbase of a bar stool.However, the Abarth isn’t really fast in a straight line; it takes about seven seconds to reach 60 mph. The fun factor comes from flinging this car into corners, revving the MultiAir like there’s no tomorrow, and generally treating the Abarth like it’s a go-kart for grown-ups. The bonus is you can drive it every day and it actually gets pretty good mileage as a commuter.
Ford Mustang
The Mustang is one of the original performance cars, and the formula still sounds good today: rear-wheel drive, powerful engines and classic good looks.For slightly less than most hot hatchbacks, Mustang buyers can get a 3.7-liter V6 with 305 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque that brings a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.2 seconds. Buyers looking for the full muscle car experience can upgrade to the GT’s 5.0-liter V8, which has 420 hp, 390 lb-ft, and a 0 to 60 time of 4.5 seconds.Plus, it’s a Mustang. That means you’ll get more thumbs up and nods of approval than Jon Hamm in a burning Ferrari.
Honda Civic Si
Thanks to its connection with a certain bald street racer, the sporty version of the Honda Civic has become a hipster’s delight: like Pabst Blue Ribbon, it’s so obvious that it’s fashionable.Some argue that the Civic Si has been watered down over the years, but there is still plenty to like about it. The 2.4-liter inline-four, with 201 hp and 170 pound-feet of torque, is a rare naturally aspirated motivator in a forest of turbochargers.That gives the Si smoother power delivery than fellow four-bangers, while still being decently quick: 0 to 60 mph takes 6.3 seconds. Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system also allows it to rev to a screaming 7,000 rpm. And it looks pretty sharp, too.
Mini Cooper S
The original Mini dominated the World Rally Championship, and much of that DNA has been reconstituted in this New Millennium re-imagining.As the Mini lineup has evolved with more body styles (convertible, Clubman, Countryman, Coupe, Roadster) and models (John Cooper Works), the basic “Hardtop” S has actually moved to the bottom of the brand’s performance hierarchy, but it’s still a performance car proposition.Under the bonnet is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four, with 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to get it to 60 mph in a respectable 6.6 seconds. As with the Fiat, though, the main attraction is a low curb weight and short wheelbase, which allow for go-kart style handling and Italian Job-style antics… if there are no cops around.
Ford Focus ST
Ford didn’t invent the hot hatchback (see the next entry on this list) but the Focus ST has reinvigorated the segment. Just look at that body kit, and that whale’s mouth grille.Behind that grille is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Ford’s EcoBoost line. It produces 252 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The sprint to 60 mph takes 5.7 seconds.Keeping that power under control is a Torque Vectoring Control system, which uses the front brakes to modulate power and lessen the “torque steer” that often plagues powerful front-wheel drive cars.However, the ST is still a Ford Focus, so when you’re done using the local backroads as a rally stage, you’ll be able to take it to the grocery store and haul the kids around.
Fiat 500 AbarthThe Fiat 500 may look like a cute Italian fashion accessory, but look! This one has a scorpion on it!The scorpion is the symbol of Abarth, legendary performance tuner of all things Fiat.This particular example has had its turbocharged 1.4-liter “MultiAir” four-cylinder engine massaged to produce 160 hp and 170 lb-ft. That’s a lot of power for a car that looks like it has the wheelbase of a bar stool.However, the Abarth isn’t really fast in a straight line; it takes about seven seconds to reach 60 mph. The fun factor comes from flinging this car into corners, revving the MultiAir like there’s no tomorrow, and generally treating the Abarth like it’s a go-kart for grown-ups. The bonus is you can drive it every day and it actually gets pretty good mileage as a commuter.
The Mustang is one of the original performance cars, and the formula still sounds good today: rear-wheel drive, powerful engines and classic good looks.For slightly less than most hot hatchbacks, Mustang buyers can get a 3.7-liter V6 with 305 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque that brings a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.2 seconds. Buyers looking for the full muscle car experience can upgrade to the GT’s 5.0-liter V8, which has 420 hp, 390 lb-ft, and a 0 to 60 time of 4.5 seconds.Plus, it’s a Mustang. That means you’ll get more thumbs up and nods of approval than Jon Hamm in a burning Ferrari.
Thanks to its connection with a certain bald street racer, the sporty version of the Honda Civic has become a hipster’s delight: like Pabst Blue Ribbon, it’s so obvious that it’s fashionable.Some argue that the Civic Si has been watered down over the years, but there is still plenty to like about it. The 2.4-liter inline-four, with 201 hp and 170 pound-feet of torque, is a rare naturally aspirated motivator in a forest of turbochargers.That gives the Si smoother power delivery than fellow four-bangers, while still being decently quick: 0 to 60 mph takes 6.3 seconds. Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system also allows it to rev to a screaming 7,000 rpm. And it looks pretty sharp, too.
The original Mini dominated the World Rally Championship, and much of that DNA has been reconstituted in this New Millennium re-imagining.As the Mini lineup has evolved with more body styles (convertible, Clubman, Countryman, Coupe, Roadster) and models (John Cooper Works), the basic “Hardtop” S has actually moved to the bottom of the brand’s performance hierarchy, but it’s still a performance car proposition.Under the bonnet is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four, with 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to get it to 60 mph in a respectable 6.6 seconds. As with the Fiat, though, the main attraction is a low curb weight and short wheelbase, which allow for go-kart style handling and Italian Job-style antics… if there are no cops around.
Ford didn’t invent the hot hatchback (see the next entry on this list) but the Focus ST has reinvigorated the segment. Just look at that body kit, and that whale’s mouth grille.Behind that grille is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Ford’s EcoBoost line. It produces 252 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The sprint to 60 mph takes 5.7 seconds.Keeping that power under control is a Torque Vectoring Control system, which uses the front brakes to modulate power and lessen the “torque steer” that often plagues powerful front-wheel drive cars.However, the ST is still a Ford Focus, so when you’re done using the local backroads as a rally stage, you’ll be able to take it to the grocery store and haul the kids around.
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