Used Sports Cars For Sale

Sports cars for sale with heycar

Anyone with a passion for driving will have considered the purchase of a sports car at some point. And while the motoring world is changing, with big engines on their way out and electric motors on their way in, the sports car market is alive and well. There are all sorts of used sports cars available on the market, at a wide range of budgets and to suit different requirements.

The exact definition of a sports car varies depending on who you ask. Some say it should be low to the ground, others that it should seat two at most. Others will say a sports car is any car with a performance focus. But all the best sports cars have one thing in common – they’re fun to drive. Some are practical enough to use as everyday family transport, while others sacrifice almost every creature comfort in the pursuit of performance. Whatever used sports car you opt for, you can be sure that it’ll put a smile on your face. And you’ll be even happier that someone else took the initial hit of depreciation for you, too.

Why buy a sports car?

You’ll want to buy a sports car because you want to have fun when you’re driving. That said, you may just want a car that looks dynamic and exciting, and that’s fine, too – the form of sports cars tends to follow function, and they often look dramatic.

If we take the loosest definition of sports cars then there’s loads of choice, from classic two-seat, rear-wheel drive options like the Mazda MX-5, Toyota GT86 and Porsche 718 Cayman, through hot hatches like the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type R, muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and high-performance saloons and coupes such as the BMW M2, M3 and M4.

All these cars have been designed and built to focus on performance, with varying levels of comfort and practicality added in, depending on exactly what kind of car you’re looking at.

What are the best makes and models of sports cars?

The question of what the best sports cars are depends very much on your priorities. For example, a Lotus Elise is an amazing sports car, but no good if you need to carry passengers and cargo. At the most focused end, classic sports cars we’d recommend include the Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster, the Alpine A110 and, at a lower budget, the Mazda MX-5. Toyota’s GT86 and its replacement, the GR86, both offer fantastic fun and engagement at a relatively affordable price.

For a classic American muscle feel, check out the Ford Mustang (the coupe, rather than the Mustang Mach-E SUV), while if the practicality of a hot hatch appeals then look at the Honda Civic Type R, Ford Focus ST, Volkswagen Golf GTI and Hyundai i30N.

Want to go electric? The Cupra Born is one of the first battery powered hot hatches, while at the more expensive end of the market is the Porsche Taycan, Audi RS E-tron GT and BMW i4, all of which will deliver thrills with no need for petrol. Speaking of BMW, the M range of coupes and saloons – the M2, M3, M4, M5 and M6 – are great fun to drive, and there are equivalents from Mercedes (look for cars with an AMG badge) and Audi (cars with S or RS in their names).

As you can probably tell, there’s a lot of choice.

What should I look for when buying a sports car?

One thing that we’d really recommend you watch out for when buying a sports car is its history. With performance comes a tendency to drive the car harder than a regular vehicle, and sports cars may even have been put through their paces on a track. This means that regular servicing and maintenance is even more important, so look for a full service history, and check cars you’re looking at for signs of misuse. Things like badly worn tyres or a slipping clutch could all suggest a car hasn’t been looked after as well as it could have been.

That aside, you’ll want to think about how potential purchases will fit in with your life. Sports cars can come with higher running costs than regular cars, due to extra fuel consumption from tuned engines and upgraded parts that cost more to repair or replace. They may also need servicing more often than normal cars, and insurance costs will likely be higher too. Think about where you’ll be driving the car and for how long, and consider what levels of practicality and comfort you might need. And perhaps more than any other type of car, it’s worth taking a test drive to make sure you feel an emotional connection with the particular you’re looking at.

If you're not sure if a sports car is quite right for you, we've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.