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10 Affordable Cars That Will Take You to 150 MPH

Vukasin Herbez February 23, 2025

We all know that speed costs money and if you want to go fast, be prepared to pay the price. However, if you look for genuine 150 mph cars and you are willing to buy a used vehicle, you can find some real bargains and get yourself a potent set of wheels for an inexpensive price. Today, we will tell you about 10 fast cars you can get for $10,000 or less which can reach 150 mph with ease. Of course, do not drive that fast on public roads but it is cool to know that you can travel almost twice the speed limit if you want to.

1. Infinity G35 Coupe

Arguably the best looking Infinity coupe up to date is 2003 to 2007 G35 Coupe which was a very composed and well-engineered two-door model based on G35 sedan`s architecture. With a 3.5-liter V6 engine under the hood and 280 hp on tap, the G35 Coupe was a more mature and more luxurious version of Nissan`s 350Z which is not a bad thing.

This means that G35 possessed the same sharp handling, great driving dynamics and good performance only in a more upscale package. The 0 to 60 mph took just below 6 seconds and its top speed was close to 160 mph. Decent examples with full-service history and nice equipment could be had for less than $10,000 and maintenance shouldn`t be a problem.

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2. Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

The third-generation F-Body was GM`s favorite muscle car offering from the early `90s to 2003 when Camaro and its twin brother Pontiac Firebird were discontinued. The Z28 Camaro was introduced in 1996 and it featured a powerful 5.7-liter V8 with 325 hp which was enough to launch it just from 0 to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds and propelled it to 160 mph top speed.

The third-generation Camaro was a fairly simple car, easy to maintain and work on and it featured live rear axle, strong gearbox, and tough chassis. This was the perfect modern muscle car. Tough, durable and reasonably fast with a big aftermarket offering of spare parts and go-fast components. In contrast to other more sophisticated cars on this list, this Z28 is a red-blooded American performance machine that you can get for under $10,000. Of course, always look for stock examples that haven’t been modified.

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3. Jaguar XJR

If you are, like us, a sucker for everlasting Jaguar XJR`s style and looks, you will be pleased to know that you can pick one of those beautiful but problematic machines for under $10,000. Introduced in 1998 and discontinued in 2002, this generation of Jaguar XJR featured a supercharged version of their venerable 4.0-liter V8 engine, powering rear wheels through an automatic transmission and delivering 375 hp.

The sleek and sexy Jaguar XJR could accelerate to 60 mph in just 5 seconds and top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph. Of course, if you remove the limiter, you could reach almost 170 mph. Despite the looks, luxury appointments, driving dynamics and sheer power of a blown 4.0-liter V8, the XJR was problematic and not the most reliable car in the world. Maintenance could be expensive so keep that in mind before you go looking for this gorgeous sedan.

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4. Chevrolet Corvette C5

The fifth generation of Chevrolet`s sports car, the Corvette was introduced in 1996 and stayed on the market until 2005, selling in big numbers and becoming a popular choice of sports car fans all over the world. The layout of this car is very competent and you have a 350 hp 5.7-liter V8 in the front, gearbox and rear suspension together (transaxle system), which gives the C5 perfect weight distribution for sharp handling and all of that topped with the lightweight and aerodynamically efficient body.

The C5 was capable of getting to 60 mph in just under 5 seconds and reaching 175 mph. Also, it is good to know that the maintenance costs are lower than on similar imports sports cars so if you are looking for a fast and cheap to run a car, this is a perfect choice. The prices for decent examples start at around $10,000 but they can go higher depending on condition and version. In any case, for 10 grand you should be able to find a decent Corvette C5 in coupe or convertible form.

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5. Pontiac GTO

The last generation of Pontiac GTO was one of the biggest examples of a misunderstood car. The Holden-built and LS-powered GTO was a proper muscle car, with a powerful engine, sleek design, modern suspension, and brutal performance.

Unfortunately, it never reached the sales numbers or success that Pontiac hoped for despite the qualities, 350 and 400 hp engines and great performance. The 2004 to 2006 GTO could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds and reach 175 mph which is fast for a muscle car.

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6. BMW 540i E39

The E39 generation of BMW`s 5-Series was on the market from 1995 to 2003 and it still is widely regarded as one of the best executive and performance sedans ever made. The best and most respected model is, of course, sublimely good M5 with a 4.9-liter V8 engine and 400 hp but there is more to E39 5-Series than just M5. Next in line is almost as good and fast, the 540i sedan.

Looking almost identical and featuring a 4.4-liter V8 engine, the 540i delivered 291 hp and pretty quick 0 to 60 mph times of around 6 seconds. The top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph so this was a pretty fast sedan for its day. While the prices of M5 are slowly going through the roof, the price for 540i is surprisingly low.

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7. Dodge Neon SRT-4

Nobody ever considered Neon SRT-4 to be a high-speed car but the little Neon can top 153 mph driven flat out. Introduced in 2003, Neon SRT4 was one of the best and the cheapest performance cars in America at the time.

The compact, inexpensive and boring Neon was turned into a pocket rocket with 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 230 HP which propelled Neon to 5.4 seconds 0 to 60 mph time and top speed high enough to get featured on our list.

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8. Audi S4 B6

Audi S4 was always considered a pretty special car in the compact performance sedan class. Not only it featured powerful engines and elegant styling but because it had the famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard. Introduced in 2003 and sold through 2005, the B6 generation of the S4 was highly praised and quite an accomplished car.

Under the hood was the 4.2-liter V8 with 340 HP which sounded great and revved up to 7000 rpm. The performance was equally impressive with 0 to 60 mph in just 5 seconds and its top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph.

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9. Porsche Boxster

Power comes from 2.5, 2.7 and 3.2-liter flat-six engines mounted centrally just behind the passengers, which ensures perfect road holding and weight distribution. When it was launched, car magazines praised the Boxster for its handling and precise steering, the qualities that still stand today.

With the power output ranging from 204 to 260 hp and 0 to 60 mph times in less than 7 seconds and a top speed of 160 mph, the Boxster is pretty capable and with two trunks, one in the back and one in the front, this roadster is practical, too. Who needs an expensive 911 when you can have a first-generation Boxster built from 1997 to 2004 that drives just as nice and has the same driving feel for less than $10,000 in pristine condition?

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10. Chrysler 300C SRT-8

A competitor to BMW M5 or Mercedes E-Class AMG, the SRT-8 was the performance version of the 300C sedan. Equipped with a 6.1-liter V8 Hemi engine pumping out 425 hp and glorious soundtrack through twin tailpipes, the SRT-8 was a really fast and capable sedan. The 0 to 60 mph sprint took around 4.9 seconds and top speed was over 170 mph.

Unfortunately for Chrysler, the recession that shocked the car industry in 2010 killed the SRT-8 and lots of other performance models, but fortunately for car enthusiasts looking for good deals, SRT-8 can be had for around $10,000 today, which is a steal. Not only you will get a classic American muscle sedan with all modern luxury features, but you will also get timeless styling, legendary Hemi V8 and 425 galloping horses at your disposal.

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