5 Fun Cars You Can Still Buy For Under $35,000

The Value of Money

$35,000 used to get you a lot of car for the money. For those old enough to remember, you can get a fairly serious sports car or luxury car for that amount, but those days are long gone. With wage stagnation and inflation, buying power is weaker as the average price of cars keeps creeping up, which explains why more people are willing to take 84-month loans for a new set of wheels.

It's also harder for automakers to build inexpensive cars. The lower the price, the slimmer the margins, and for those in the market for a reasonably-priced fun car, that's bad news. Frankly, there's not much volume or profit to be had there, so there's not much incentive to even try.

Still, at least there are a few automakers providing reasonably-priced thrills. So, with that, here are some fast cars for $35k that you can still buy brand new. Mind you, some expectations have to be managed here, but these are fun car rides nonetheless.

Mazda MX-5

We'll arrange this list in ascending price order, and immediately, some of you will say that the first car here is the best sports car for 35k or less. The Mazda MX-5 currently carries a base price of $30,430, and if we're talking smiles-to-price ratio here, the little roadster is hard to beat.

Powered by a 2.0-liter, 181-hp engine with 151 lb-ft of torque, it's not a fast car on paper, but its weight and balance more than make up for it. There's a good reason it's still a common sight at any motorsport event. It's built for purpose, and that purpose is to provide maximum joy for not much cash. It also explains why developing the next-generation model has been proving a bit of a challenge, too.

Toyota GR86

Sometimes, the Miata isn't always the answer. So, the next car here is another common entry in 'best sports cars for under 35k' lists, so it's no surprise to see the Toyota's boxer-engined coupe here, too. The GR86 starts at $31,400, which is within $1,000 of the MX-5. Both are front-engined, rear-drive, and come standard with a manual transmission, but the Toyota does provide a more daily-friendly proposition.

That said, the extra power from its 2.4-liter engine is welcome, as its 228 hp and 184 lb-ft don't need to be worked hard to move the relatively lightweight body. Kids will call it slow, but a sub-6.5-second 0-60 mph run is quick enough, we say. Besides, not everything needs 600 hp.

Honda Civic Si

Up next, the Honda Civic Si, ringing in with a base price of $31,495. Admittedly, its stats don't sound too impressive. It has a 1.5-liter turbo with 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, so it can actually be dusted off by the more pedestrian-looking hybrid model without trying too hard. So, why is this warm Civic still worth mentioning?

Unless you're willing to spend nearly $50,000 for a Type R, this is the quickest Civic you can get with a stick shift for under $35,000. Also, the manual is the only transmission choice, and it gets a proper suspension upgrade to go along with it. Yes, the hybrid will be quicker on a straight line, but the Si is more athletic around the bends. We also have to say the chassis of the current Civic is good, so this can still be pretty fun.

Subaru WRX

But if front-wheel drive isn't your cup of tea, the $32,495 Subaru WRX with its all-wheel drive might be of interest. Now that Subaru has brought pricing back to more reasonable levels, we can actually include the WRX in this kind of list again. Even better is that you can choose between two trims and still be under the $35,000 threshold, even if you factor in handling and destination.

So, how much sport sedan do you get for that money? Aside from standard all-wheel drive, you get a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, a standard manual transmission, drive modes, and more. We'd gladly recommend going for the manual.

Ford Mustang EcoBoost

We can already see the comments section has a thing or two to say about the four-cylinder Mustang. The thing is, V8 power starts north of $45,000, but the EcoBoost starts at $32,995. Okay, it won't sound as nice, but if you look at the stats, the 'basic' 'Stang has more than enough punch.

The 2.3-liter turbocharged engine produces 315 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the close ratios of the ten-speed automatic, this so-called 'slow' Mustang can still reach 60 mph in under 5 seconds. For under 35 grand, that's a lot of performance right out of the box.

Honorable Mentions

Sadly, the Hyundai Elantra N doesn't make the cut as it has a base MSRP of $35,100. You might have noticed there are no VWs on the list either, and the Golf GTI and Jetta GLI start under $35,000. So, what gives? If you factor in destination and handling, it pushes both cars over our set limit. Still, if you can afford to stretch the budget a little, the three honorable mentions are worth a test drive.

Choices for affordable performance cars are getting slimmer as the years go by, but it doesn't mean there aren't good choices out there. Turns out, you can still get sports cars under 35k, along with a pair of capable sport sedans. There's still hope for reasonably priced sporty cars, and automakers will keep churning them out for as long as there are enough buyers.

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This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 10:15 AM.