14 Best Performance Cars For Less Than $50K That Will Make You Feel Like You Have Made It

13. Volkswagen Golf R – $39,375

If you think the Golf GTI is the most powerful Volkswagen’s hot hatch, think again. The Golf R is the top-of-the-line Golf with a powerful four-cylinder turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive and brutal performance for a family hatchback. The R version is the derivate of the mighty R32 Golfs from the early 2000’s, which featured 3.2-liter naturally aspirated V6 engines.

However, the latest versions feature a smaller, more powerful 2.0-liter turbo four that delivers almost 300 HP. As you can expect, the performance is quite brutal for what is basically a family compact. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph takes 4.5 seconds and it tops 155 mph. Despite being less powerful than the Focus or the BRZ, this Golf is almost as fast while still being stealthy in appearance. This makes the Golf R is perfect for surprising those drivers of expensive sports cars at traffic lights.

14. Nissan 370Z – $29,990

Available as a coupe or a roadster, the Nissan Z is a sports car legend in an affordable package. The handsome front-engine rear-wheel drive car has a potent V6 engine and limited slip differential as standard equipment. This feature makes it safe to drive hard and also makes it a favorite drift car. The enormous aftermarket support for this model means you can easily tune and customize your 370Z.

Nissan introduced it in 2008. The 370Z brought a new design and an upgraded V6 engine to the market and has remained popular since. The 300 HP engine and the sharper and agiler Nismo with 350 HP make this model a desirable yet affordable sports coupe with perfect driving dynamics. The Nismo 370Z starts at $45,000.

Most people think they need astronomical amounts of cash to get a fast muscle car, but that’s not true. For a bit more than you’d spend on a family car, you can get a street monster that is still affordable. You just may be able to live your sports car dreams, after all.