Everything newer has about a billion computers, more complicated emissions systems, complicated drivetrains, and weigh more.
98-02 also has the ls1, the one that started it all. 93-97 has the lt1 which still makes around 300hp, but you can’t really do much with them short of stroking to 383 or boost/nitrous. Very reliable cars either way.
For mustangs specifically, you're looking at the V6 s550 or an s197 V8 and if you want sporty you have to go with the S550. The s197 GTs are many things, but sporty is not one of the things that I would describe them as. They 're fast in a straight line and that's it.
Plus one. Just bought a low mileage V6 Stang for my soon to be 16 year old daughter. She’s the responsible one of my two daughters.
The older sister shredded my 328 coupe, and nearly tore down a gas station with a JEEP PATRIOT. How do you even do that?
Anyway, plus one for V6 Mustang. Been driving it myself a good bit, and even though I’d rather the 8, this isn’t my car (Nevermind that it was my checking account that coughed up the money, and will continue to do so for insurance.)
Thank you for validating my decision to not have kids. Yikes!
Re: the v6 mustang. I had a 2013 and it was a great car. Manual transmission, exhaust. Tons of fun. Plenty fast. I upgraded to a GT after and while it was faster and sounded better( in my opinion), it wasn’t that much better than the V6 in terms of performance and fun factor on the street. That 3.7 cyclone v6 is a slept on engine !
Childless friend: you’re doing good. I love my 2 daughters. They make this father proud. They are independent thinkers, and that’s EXACTLY how their mother and I raised them. Because that’s what we are. I want them to know their worth beyond the fading benefits of their youths.
No complaints so far about the V6 Mustang. Well, I guess one: it needs new windshield wiper fluid nozzles. Just ordered some right now!
Funny enough, the only issue I had in my 4 years if ownership was a windshield wiper motor braking. Other than that, just oil changes and tires. Most reliable car I’ve owned actually
Personal question: why’s one the responsible one? What does the other one do to be not mustang responsible? I feel like there’s some good stories somewhere.
C4-5 vette, Pontiac trans am, or camero ss, older ford mustangs. The cameros and trans ams had great engine choices, the 5.7 ls1, or the 3800 series 2, both fairly bulletproof, and easy to work on.
+1 on the B8.5. the 3.0 supercharged V6 is like the most reliable engine Audi makes, and the gen2 7-spd longitudinal DSG is actually fairly reliable unlike the gen 1 in the B8. Also the motor can handle like 600hp on un-opened internals
But yeah, not really a sports car but they're still quick as.
Not really a sports car though, and he's gonna have trouble finding one with less than 100k miles in his budget. I agree that these cars are awesome though, and for a very reasonable amount of money you can get a lot more performance out of them.
A dude racing in Spec C5, basically glorified stock weight stock engine C5s with coilovers and brakes, ran a 1:54 at Buttonwillow 13CW near me. That's faster than virtually anything out there other than 911 GT3s, high trim McLarens, or other heavily modified vettes all driven by extremely talented drivers. Save your car knowledge for forza lobbies no offense.
No, no. We all knew what you were implying, you just got corrected. Because a C5 can take a corner, relative to most cars it does it quite well too. It’s a Corvette not a Challenger.
Potential, but there are hundreds if not thousands of garage queens (and I mean the owners not the cars) who believe they have the perfect specimen of x or y options with that custom color. The market is full of these cars and guys that love them more than their customers. So don’t buy them as an investment.
Nope. Just normal maintenance like any other car. It’s a 5.7L LS engine; pretty simple to work on. Only downside I found for them is the Corvette tax when it comes to parts other than the engine.
Lol no. I bought my C5 as owner 10 with 51k miles 2 1/2 years ago. It’ll nickel and dime you a little bit considering they’re 21 years old now at the newest. But I’m rolling over 105k miles and my 2nd year of 10+ track days a season and just do basic maintenance and consumables. Buy a clean one (nice ones for $20k easily) and enjoy.
The LS3 manual Camaro. Do not get the automatic, the automatic has a L99. The 2011-14 Mustangs are a little bit more expensive. It's slower in the curves but better in a straightline. Dodge Challengers are kind of like the only reliable product from Dodge. Challengers are slower than Mustangs and Camaros but you have more room also you can get a V6 all-wheel drive Challenger. Nissan 350 and 370Zs can easily be found under 20K possibly under 10k. The Infiniti G35 and G37 are just a Nissan Z wearing a suit and are in a similar price range.
Great choice as long as OP is aware they'll need to set aside another few grand (at least!) for the inevitable maintenance/repairs. Sure, Boxsters are cheaper now, but it's a Porsche; the service cost sure as hell hasn't depreciated.
These are straight inline 6 not v6, but shhh don’t tell anyone I love a nice 335xi or 340i xdrive, and the older 330i ZHP, who could forget the 540i with the 4.4L v8!??!!!
"Normies" wasn't a derogatory term. I view my obsession with cars as a necessity (too poor to go to a mechanic) turned into a life long addiction. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. But I sometimes wish I never got past the "it's not a v4" phase.
It was more a comment on how your acting like knowing the difference between a inline 6 and a v6 is some deep knowledge that your average person doesn’t know. I’m far from a car guy but that is pretty basic info. Are there people who have no idea/no care about it, sure. But as a self labeled normie it ain’t that complicated.
I dno I still see plenty of used car lots listing bmws as v6's. It's not inherent car knowledge that most drivers have any idea about. I'd say you're undervaluing your knowledge. It's not like knowing the difference puts you into any upper echelon of car tech, it just shows you've taken the time to understand more than "right pedal fast, left pedal stop" (which is where I'd classify most "normal" understanding of cars falls off).
I'd wager the OP doesn't really know the difference. No real reason to ask for a v6 sports car, at all, considering how many straight 6 options are available and in most cases hands down better than a v.
Fair enough. The knowledge I possess on cars is just what I learned in the process of buying one. I’m no enthusiast, just a guy who wanted a truck that would reliably go from a to b. I get what your saying and maybe your right.
It was more a comment on how your acting like knowing the difference between a inline 6 and a v6 is some deep knowledge that your average person doesn’t know. I’m far from a car guy but that is pretty basic info. Are there people who have no idea/no care about it, sure. But as a self labeled normie it ain’t that complicated.
Meh, that are honestly pretty cheap as long as you account for the initial labor. My 996 has gone 30k miles and maybe cost me 4k for IMS+ 1k in regular stuff. Not bad at all for the performance.
You can pick up some Cadillac ATS-V/CTS V-Sports for under 20K. TT V6, 420HP stock, easily tunable for over 500WHP without doing anything other than tune/ethanol mix.
I drive a jag xk8 but for that budget you could afford its big brother, the xkr which has a supercharged v8. Not the fastest or snappiest, and it doesn’t have a manual, but the xk8 has been a joy to drive since day one. Make sure you do a comprehensive inspection at the dealership and ask about any problems. It’s a jag so it will probably have a couple minor electrical issues (mine does) but they haven’t really limited the driving experience any. Had to replace the fuel sensor and chain tensioner, but that isn’t as much a problem with the xkr from what I’ve heard. Since then, it has driven great!
You can try and see if you can get a 2018 Infiniti Q60, not a really the definition of full blown sport cars but with few mods it can handle very well, and get over 500hp at the engine very easily with breaking the bank.
Just make sure that when you tuned it to eliminate the oil pressure solenoid (disconnect it). Find some cheap used pure turbos and add the low and high fuel pressure and with 93 octane you can be making close to 600hp. Enough for the street. Add some race fuel and tune for 700hp.
Like, I expect that you’re from ‘murica, car prices are all over the place globally.
And what’s a sportscar for you? Just something big that looks sporty or do you want a high pitch v6-8 climbing and sliding up Mont Ventoux? (Which is one or the funnest drives around, together with a TT lap on Man)
The Tundra 5.7L V8 with the right pipes is one of the greatest sounding engines I have ever heard. Do a little light modifications or hunt down a Supercharger and you are now neck and neck with a C5 Corvette
If you want something that just sounds SICK sitting at a red light, and even better lightly accelerating 0-30 or 30-60. OMFG. So good.
And WAY more room and utility. And being a toyota... A daily driver muscle car that will outlive you.
averagemaleuser86@reddit
Easily gotta be a early teens 5.0 Mustang. You can pick them up for under $20k... 400hp. It's a no brainer.
Vidson05@reddit
4th gen Camaro/firebird. Last of the dinosaurs.
Everything newer has about a billion computers, more complicated emissions systems, complicated drivetrains, and weigh more.
98-02 also has the ls1, the one that started it all. 93-97 has the lt1 which still makes around 300hp, but you can’t really do much with them short of stroking to 383 or boost/nitrous. Very reliable cars either way.
PhotographStrong562@reddit
Mustang v6. Camaro v6. Genesis coupe. Nissan z’s.
mordolycka@reddit
you can get a v8 mustang or camaro for under 20k. why get a v6 lmao
KillerKittenwMittens@reddit
For mustangs specifically, you're looking at the V6 s550 or an s197 V8 and if you want sporty you have to go with the S550. The s197 GTs are many things, but sporty is not one of the things that I would describe them as. They 're fast in a straight line and that's it.
Sunny1-5@reddit
Plus one. Just bought a low mileage V6 Stang for my soon to be 16 year old daughter. She’s the responsible one of my two daughters.
The older sister shredded my 328 coupe, and nearly tore down a gas station with a JEEP PATRIOT. How do you even do that?
Anyway, plus one for V6 Mustang. Been driving it myself a good bit, and even though I’d rather the 8, this isn’t my car (Nevermind that it was my checking account that coughed up the money, and will continue to do so for insurance.)
No-Patience4715@reddit
Thank you for validating my decision to not have kids. Yikes!
Re: the v6 mustang. I had a 2013 and it was a great car. Manual transmission, exhaust. Tons of fun. Plenty fast. I upgraded to a GT after and while it was faster and sounded better( in my opinion), it wasn’t that much better than the V6 in terms of performance and fun factor on the street. That 3.7 cyclone v6 is a slept on engine !
Sunny1-5@reddit
Childless friend: you’re doing good. I love my 2 daughters. They make this father proud. They are independent thinkers, and that’s EXACTLY how their mother and I raised them. Because that’s what we are. I want them to know their worth beyond the fading benefits of their youths.
No complaints so far about the V6 Mustang. Well, I guess one: it needs new windshield wiper fluid nozzles. Just ordered some right now!
No-Patience4715@reddit
Great answer. You’re a good parent 🙏🏻
Funny enough, the only issue I had in my 4 years if ownership was a windshield wiper motor braking. Other than that, just oil changes and tires. Most reliable car I’ve owned actually
PhotographStrong562@reddit
Personal question: why’s one the responsible one? What does the other one do to be not mustang responsible? I feel like there’s some good stories somewhere.
bigsithenergy99@reddit
No v6 muscle :(
rmannyconda78@reddit
C4-5 vette, Pontiac trans am, or camero ss, older ford mustangs. The cameros and trans ams had great engine choices, the 5.7 ls1, or the 3800 series 2, both fairly bulletproof, and easy to work on.
J-Rag-@reddit
Bi-turbo S4!
PsychicGamingFTW@reddit
350/370Z
2222014@reddit
B8.5 s4s really reliable and punch way above what their power ratings would lead you to believe.
PsychicGamingFTW@reddit
+1 on the B8.5. the 3.0 supercharged V6 is like the most reliable engine Audi makes, and the gen2 7-spd longitudinal DSG is actually fairly reliable unlike the gen 1 in the B8. Also the motor can handle like 600hp on un-opened internals
But yeah, not really a sports car but they're still quick as.
DJFisticuffs@reddit
Not really a sports car though, and he's gonna have trouble finding one with less than 100k miles in his budget. I agree that these cars are awesome though, and for a very reasonable amount of money you can get a lot more performance out of them.
General-Winter547@reddit
C5
NumberOneBacon@reddit
Not a single C5 Corvette mention yet so bing bang boom easy peasy.
Substantial_Hold2847@reddit
Yeah, but what if you want to take a corner?
PCho222@reddit
A dude racing in Spec C5, basically glorified stock weight stock engine C5s with coilovers and brakes, ran a 1:54 at Buttonwillow 13CW near me. That's faster than virtually anything out there other than 911 GT3s, high trim McLarens, or other heavily modified vettes all driven by extremely talented drivers. Save your car knowledge for forza lobbies no offense.
Substantial_Hold2847@reddit
A car built for racing is good at racing, you don't say?
PCho222@reddit
If you call putting $6k into coilovers, swaybar and some cheap 200TW tires a "car built for racing" then sure.
NumberOneBacon@reddit
… turn the steering wheel?
Substantial_Hold2847@reddit
Any more dense and you're brain will turn into a black hole.
Pahlevun@reddit
No, no. We all knew what you were implying, you just got corrected. Because a C5 can take a corner, relative to most cars it does it quite well too. It’s a Corvette not a Challenger.
No-Patience4715@reddit
Exactly. People just assume American and it can’t handle. Throw some modern tires and it will handle like a dream
groundbnb@reddit
Yes c5 vette was my first though
Category63@reddit
Potential, but there are hundreds if not thousands of garage queens (and I mean the owners not the cars) who believe they have the perfect specimen of x or y options with that custom color. The market is full of these cars and guys that love them more than their customers. So don’t buy them as an investment.
DistributionLow8301@reddit (OP)
dont they require a lot of repair and maintenence
CWO_of_Coffee@reddit
Nope. Just normal maintenance like any other car. It’s a 5.7L LS engine; pretty simple to work on. Only downside I found for them is the Corvette tax when it comes to parts other than the engine.
KeldyPlays@reddit
Cries in used XLR headlights
NumberOneBacon@reddit
Lol no. I bought my C5 as owner 10 with 51k miles 2 1/2 years ago. It’ll nickel and dime you a little bit considering they’re 21 years old now at the newest. But I’m rolling over 105k miles and my 2nd year of 10+ track days a season and just do basic maintenance and consumables. Buy a clean one (nice ones for $20k easily) and enjoy.
Murky-Weather-8960@reddit
Great point! I adore those cars
kungfu01@reddit
Vette or Stang. Whatever style you prefer.
kilertree@reddit
The LS3 manual Camaro. Do not get the automatic, the automatic has a L99. The 2011-14 Mustangs are a little bit more expensive. It's slower in the curves but better in a straightline. Dodge Challengers are kind of like the only reliable product from Dodge. Challengers are slower than Mustangs and Camaros but you have more room also you can get a V6 all-wheel drive Challenger. Nissan 350 and 370Zs can easily be found under 20K possibly under 10k. The Infiniti G35 and G37 are just a Nissan Z wearing a suit and are in a similar price range.
Mavs757@reddit
E90 or E92 M3. Can not beat it.
Chinaski420@reddit
987.1 base 5 speed Boxster
Sea-Composer-6499@reddit
Great choice as long as OP is aware they'll need to set aside another few grand (at least!) for the inevitable maintenance/repairs. Sure, Boxsters are cheaper now, but it's a Porsche; the service cost sure as hell hasn't depreciated.
RunninOnMT@reddit
OP specifies they want a V6 or a V8 though!
(Yes I’m being pedantic)
JamesIry@reddit
180 degree V6
Chinaski420@reddit
ha ha fair!
Powerful_Bad_6413@reddit
so underrated
Murky-Weather-8960@reddit
Grab an s197. Most are fairly cheap
numbersev@reddit
If you get a 2011+ v6 they have 300hp.
Murky-Weather-8960@reddit
Oh fr?
Salty-Put554@reddit
Yes in 2011 they released the Coyote V8 with 400hp for the GT and upgraded the V6 from the old 4.0 to the new DOHC 3.7.
I feel really bad for anybody who bought a 2010 mustang GT brand new, the car got another 100 horsepower the very next year
Murky-Weather-8960@reddit
Yeah that would suck lol
Salty-Put554@reddit
I mean they had brand new mustang money they arent going to go to bed hungry but still
Murky-Weather-8960@reddit
It would be unfortunate for them one way or another
thestreaker@reddit
335i/340i
onyxbird45@reddit
These are straight inline 6 not v6, but shhh don’t tell anyone I love a nice 335xi or 340i xdrive, and the older 330i ZHP, who could forget the 540i with the 4.4L v8!??!!!
Imaginary-Emu8089@reddit
Lexus GS430 with the smoothest V8 ever produced. Most are well under $10k
Kinggambit90@reddit
V6 gs350 awd
csamsh@reddit
The best Corvette you can find
Cannoli72@reddit
Corvette or Miata. Yes youcan get a Porsche but it will cost you way more in repairs. Mustangs and Camaro are just cars not sports cars
Bongswee@reddit
Pre facelift w204 c63. You get an insane amount of car for around 15k and if you know how to wrench they’re a breeze to own
Thatguy7242@reddit
Slk350 6 speed or early high mileage SLK55
Glad-Lawyer6128@reddit
I’ll sell you a 2005 mustang gt manual, black on black with 45k miles for 13k. It purrs and roars lol
Glad-Lawyer6128@reddit
Under 20k is clearly a budget for a v8 why tf would you get a v6
braincovey32@reddit
2003-2005 Ford Mustang Cobra
ChuckoRuckus@reddit
You aren’t getting a Terminator Cobra for under $20k today unless it’s beat to hell
North-Zucchini-9112@reddit
Go with a straight 6, not v😉
GoGreenD@reddit
Most "normies" don't know the difference
Urinehere4275@reddit
Wow your so knowledgeable about cars! I hope to be like you one day and not one of these normies 😂😂
GoGreenD@reddit
"Normies" wasn't a derogatory term. I view my obsession with cars as a necessity (too poor to go to a mechanic) turned into a life long addiction. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. But I sometimes wish I never got past the "it's not a v4" phase.
Urinehere4275@reddit
It was more a comment on how your acting like knowing the difference between a inline 6 and a v6 is some deep knowledge that your average person doesn’t know. I’m far from a car guy but that is pretty basic info. Are there people who have no idea/no care about it, sure. But as a self labeled normie it ain’t that complicated.
GoGreenD@reddit
I dno I still see plenty of used car lots listing bmws as v6's. It's not inherent car knowledge that most drivers have any idea about. I'd say you're undervaluing your knowledge. It's not like knowing the difference puts you into any upper echelon of car tech, it just shows you've taken the time to understand more than "right pedal fast, left pedal stop" (which is where I'd classify most "normal" understanding of cars falls off).
I'd wager the OP doesn't really know the difference. No real reason to ask for a v6 sports car, at all, considering how many straight 6 options are available and in most cases hands down better than a v.
Urinehere4275@reddit
Fair enough. The knowledge I possess on cars is just what I learned in the process of buying one. I’m no enthusiast, just a guy who wanted a truck that would reliably go from a to b. I get what your saying and maybe your right.
Urinehere4275@reddit
It was more a comment on how your acting like knowing the difference between a inline 6 and a v6 is some deep knowledge that your average person doesn’t know. I’m far from a car guy but that is pretty basic info. Are there people who have no idea/no care about it, sure. But as a self labeled normie it ain’t that complicated.
Urinehere4275@reddit
Wow your so knowledgeable about cars! I hope to be like you one day and not one of these normies 😂😂
dubsaxs@reddit
987.1 cayman S Porsche
mordolycka@reddit
where the hell are you finding one of those for less than 20k
dubsaxs@reddit
06 models with higher mileage, look around.
OrganizationWeird295@reddit
He means 06 models with IMS bearing issues and bore scoring.
Donr1458@reddit
There’s nothing more expensive than a cheap German car…
Old_Acanthaceae5198@reddit
Meh, that are honestly pretty cheap as long as you account for the initial labor. My 996 has gone 30k miles and maybe cost me 4k for IMS+ 1k in regular stuff. Not bad at all for the performance.
suboptimus_maximus@reddit
The real ones know there is no substitute.
Haulnazz15@reddit
You can pick up some Cadillac ATS-V/CTS V-Sports for under 20K. TT V6, 420HP stock, easily tunable for over 500WHP without doing anything other than tune/ethanol mix.
Ok-Beach-9654@reddit
G8 gt
A-work-in-progress-@reddit
I drive a jag xk8 but for that budget you could afford its big brother, the xkr which has a supercharged v8. Not the fastest or snappiest, and it doesn’t have a manual, but the xk8 has been a joy to drive since day one. Make sure you do a comprehensive inspection at the dealership and ask about any problems. It’s a jag so it will probably have a couple minor electrical issues (mine does) but they haven’t really limited the driving experience any. Had to replace the fuel sensor and chain tensioner, but that isn’t as much a problem with the xkr from what I’ve heard. Since then, it has driven great!
TopPhotograph6071@reddit
3 valve mustang
Smooth-Apartment-856@reddit
1997-2005 Jaguar XK8/XKR.
SausageRoll61@reddit
2006 Pontiac GTO
TriforceMac@reddit
Haven’t had mine in some years, but on the FB GTO page a clean one can go for 10-15k. Highly recommend grabbing the 6 speed.
SausageRoll61@reddit
I bought my ‘04 for $8k about a decade ago and it is great. A little work to the LS1 paired with the 6 speed makes it so much fun
CompetitivePop2026@reddit
G35, G37, 350/370Z would be my choices
Flat-Mountain1936@reddit
Lexus SC
bigsithenergy99@reddit
Don't get a v6 muscle :(
TucsonTank@reddit
My 370z was less than 20k with 45k miles.
LQuco@reddit
You can try and see if you can get a 2018 Infiniti Q60, not a really the definition of full blown sport cars but with few mods it can handle very well, and get over 500hp at the engine very easily with breaking the bank.
Just make sure that when you tuned it to eliminate the oil pressure solenoid (disconnect it). Find some cheap used pure turbos and add the low and high fuel pressure and with 93 octane you can be making close to 600hp. Enough for the street. Add some race fuel and tune for 700hp.
jolle75@reddit
Like, I expect that you’re from ‘murica, car prices are all over the place globally.
And what’s a sportscar for you? Just something big that looks sporty or do you want a high pitch v6-8 climbing and sliding up Mont Ventoux? (Which is one or the funnest drives around, together with a TT lap on Man)
Total-Improvement535@reddit
Mustang, Miata, BRZ/FRS - year models and mileage is gonna vary for under $20k
MaximumDerpification@reddit
Only one of those fits his criteria of 6/8cyl
xAugie@reddit
It would make more sense if dude was looking for a 4/8cyl anyhow, V6 is dog shit in most cars OP would likely buy
That_Gopnik@reddit
BRZ with an EZ30, problem solved
Total-Improvement535@reddit
oh you sure right
krombopulousnathan@reddit
5th gen Camaro or SN197 Mustang
xAugie@reddit
Fr you could get a 5th gen SS with not crazy miles for that price
suboptimus_maximus@reddit
It’s not a V but a first or second generation Boxster or Cayman.
JesusTriplets@reddit
MUSTANG
Extra_Programmer_970@reddit
Clapped out Challenger
Sense_Conscious@reddit
A 5 speed Toyota Camry
jsilva298@reddit
More fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow 😂😂
CafeTeo@reddit
Depending on what you are after in a Muscle car.
Don't sleep some of the Pickup Trucks.
The Tundra 5.7L V8 with the right pipes is one of the greatest sounding engines I have ever heard. Do a little light modifications or hunt down a Supercharger and you are now neck and neck with a C5 Corvette
If you want something that just sounds SICK sitting at a red light, and even better lightly accelerating 0-30 or 30-60. OMFG. So good.
And WAY more room and utility. And being a toyota... A daily driver muscle car that will outlive you.
The Tundra is Toyota's first and only Muscle car.
Hot-Gap-7553@reddit
6 speed v6 accord. comfortable, reliable, easy to work on and you can run circles around most NA v6’s (mustangs, chargers, challengers etc)
antidavid@reddit
Pry a vette or a 370z would be my choices.
Intelligent_Safe1971@reddit
Im going to say it again sorry.
Fiero, you can find them with v8's also. Custom jobs. Very fast and super light weight.
Amagol@reddit
Used sxt/gt challenger/charger. The gts in your area may be gt awd which are nice to drive.
elonrocks@reddit
corvette