Cheap sports cars for 2021 | Six of the Best for under £20k

zagatoes30

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20,759
Interesting list but my 20K sportscar would be a manual Cayman S, I still think they give one of the best driving experience per buck. Leggy ones seem to start about 15k but under 20k will get you a sensible mileage version with the IMS bearing done. The Boxster S is a couple of grand less like for like, still a great car
 

GeoffCapes

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14,000
Who is the idiot who posted that the Gransport isn't a sports car? :confused:

Unless he thought it was a supercar???
 

Chimaera500

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189
Who is the idiot who posted that the Gransport isn't a sports car? :confused:

Unless he thought it was a supercar???
Haven't posted on PH for ages but felt obliged to stick up for the GS after seeing that comment. I'm guessing its someone that may not have a driving license as yet!!!
 

Corranga

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1,219
Who is the idiot who posted that the Gransport isn't a sports car? :confused:

Unless he thought it was a supercar???

It is an odd comment, I guess they might be meaning it's a GT car perhaps?
Either way, sticking cars into genre style boxes really doesn't work.

As much as I'd advocate for it being there normally, the VX220 shouldn't be on a list of cheap sports cars. They are incredibly rare, and while they won't ruin you in normal use, any clam damage, or perhaps even a cracked light could well see it being written off due to the fragile hens teeth parts (worse than the Maserati in that respect). The red VXR pictured would not be had for <£20k too.
That being said, a list of 'cheap' sports cars shouldn't have a ceiling as high as £20k either, and the 4200 should be there instead of the GranSport due to being 95% of the same car for a good amount of wedge less...
I've never spent as much as £20k on a car ;)

An MX5 is not a sport’s car, it’s a hairdressers car.

Even ignoring the misogyny, the 2 aren't mutually exclusive :p
 

outrun

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5,017
What a lot of utter nonsense in the comments from people scared of the BMW Z4M. I had one for years, and my buddy Matt had his for over 10 years. Thay are fabulous cars. Might be cabrio owners as the steering and spring rates are different to compensate for chopping the roof off, it's also why the coupe is worth 20% more like for like.

But yes, nice to see the GS being mentioned, and the MX-5, although a lot of fun, isn't really comparable to the other choices. They'd have been better with an S2000 there.
 

Nayf

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2,734
What a lot of utter nonsense in the comments from people scared of the BMW Z4M. I had one for years, and my buddy Matt had his for over 10 years. Thay are fabulous cars. Might be cabrio owners as the steering and spring rates are different to compensate for chopping the roof off, it's also why the coupe is worth 20% more like for like.

But yes, nice to see the GS being mentioned, and the MX-5, although a lot of fun, isn't really comparable to the other choices. They'd have been better with an S2000 there.
I was biting my tongue about the Z4M comments. It’s one of the most invigorating, intoxicating and addictive driving experiences you can get for £20k. To the point if someone gave me a choice of a normal GranSport or a Z4M I’d struggle to pick a side.
No, it’s not as dynamically pure as a Boxster/Cayman. But it is a whole lot more exciting as a result…
 

Ewan

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6,757
I see that the GS they pick isn’t actually available at £20k any more. In fact there are no GS advertised at below £20k on Pistonheads currently. (That’s not to say it’s impossible to buy a GS at below £20k - but it might well not be the wisest choice!)
 

zagatoes30

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20,759
I see that the GS they pick isn’t actually available at £20k any more. In fact there are no GS advertised at below £20k on Pistonheads currently. (That’s not to say it’s impossible to buy a GS at below £20k - but it might well not be the wisest choice!)

There's a green one being tarted around at he moment a bit of a haggle and you might get it down to £20k ;)
 

Ewan

Member
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6,757
Well, you could get it down to something starting with a 2.
Then another 2, then another, then another and another!

There, I’ve given it away. My true price is £22,222.:)
 

rs48635

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3,181
these days yes.
Maybe the jealous older brother of the more successful pretty younger sister forced here to go out old school. He just wrapped her in his old (124 spider) coat and suddenly the price went up 35%. Olde blokes are a sucker for new coat.
 

montravia

Member
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1,619
these days yes.
Maybe the jealous older brother of the more successful pretty younger sister forced here to go out old school. He just wrapped her in his old (124 spider) coat and suddenly the price went up 35%. Olde blokes are a sucker for new coat.
Just out of interest , what is the criteria for a sports car
Does this count
View attachment 90532
Well I don't care. Mine is a replacement for the 500 runaround that I had. I loved my cr@ppy little 500, girly, light, nimble and chuckable and pretty. Always loved little FIATS. They are good at making engaging willing cheap chuckable cars, wind 'em up, just as the French are good at making cheap practical cars. Build and reliability aside.
My blue spider(spyder? Speeder Fuff) is an equally pleasing cr@ppy little runaround. Surprisingly as with the Granturismo, people approach and remark on its prettiness, but acknowledge most here detest it. Odd people.
Yup, it's a reminiscence of the 60/70s 124 spyder, but with advantage of relatively modern running gear.
Would I prefer an original 124. Nah.
Just as I loved the original little straight 6 Marcos Volvo before they became Ford and bloated, would I have one now. Nah, not even if I could afford one. I drove one down in Wiltshire. We forget. Hard work.

Yup, an MX5 floorpan, the rest of the running gear is FIAT. Assembled in Japan. Best of all worlds.
(Just discovered that replacing the stock rear tyres with Michelin Super sport 4's is £125 a leg, cheeky s0ds).