Great sports cars for less than £2k

A few TVR Tasmins are appearing under our two grand marker

TVR Tasmin 280i

Bet you didn’t think something as unusual and desirable as a TVR could be bought for less than £2,000. A few TVR Tasmins are appearing under our two grand marker, and for which you’ll get wedgy styling, a Ford-derived 2.8 V6 engine and a soundtrack to wake the dead.

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Nissan 200SX

The Nissan 200SX has reached cult status in Japan thanks to its sweet handling and the success of heavily modified versions in the Japanese Drifting scene. A turbocharged engine and rear-wheel drive make for entertaining driving, but sadly the interior is starting to date, and there are plenty with crash damage or dodgy modifications.

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Toyota MR2

The second generation Toyota MR2 was launched in 1990 and features a mid-mounted engine behind the driver and passenger, rear-wheel drive and sports tuned suspension. In standard form the engine makes it brisk with 0-60mph coming in 8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 130mph. Its styling still turns heads and it is reliable too.

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Porsche 944

The 1980s entry level Porsche 944 still looks good today, and with a perfect 50/50 weight distribution it still corners well. It was initially introduced with a 2.5-litre engine producing just 165bhp, but this was then turbocharged to produce a more sporting 220bhp. Later a 2.7-litre turbo engine boosted power to 250bhp and gave a 6 second 0-60mph dash. The 944 can be used everyday thanks to its comfort and robust mechanicals.

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Mazda MX-5

The original Mazda MX-5 re-invented the sports car and its success worldwide. It was simple, fun, great looking and affordable new, and now you can snap one up for less than £2k. With either a 1.6 or 1.8-litre engine the MX-5 is not the fastest roadster, but its power is perfectly balanced to its fun handling and narrow tyres.

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Subaru Impreza turbo estate

The Subaru Impreza turbo has always been a performance bargain, and now you can drive this cult car for less than £2k. Insurance costs and performance are both high so it’s not for the young driver. The slightly less desirable sport wagon model is even cheaper, and some prefer its looks and versatility to the saloon. Either way, expect 0-60mph in less than six seconds and a lovely noise from its 2-litre ‘boxer’ engine.

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Alfa Romeo GTV

The Alfa Romeo GTV has gorgeous lines which haven’t aged and still shout Italian flair. It is fun to drive with its front-wheel drive setup, but practicality isn’t great with dinky rear seats and a small boot. Reliability can be poor so look for a GTV with good service history and regularly checked oil level.

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Hyundai Coupe

Some may argue the Hyundai Coupe is not a sports car, but it certainly has exotic looks and is available for bargain prices. Handling is good too, being developed partly by Porsche. The 2-litre petrol has 137bhp giving a 0-60mph sprint of 8.6 seconds. The biggest drawback is the plastic fantastic interior, but for this money it is easily forgiven.

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Vauxhall Astra SRi

The last generation Vauxhall Astra is still be a common sight on our roads. But the SRi is the one to beat for those seeking a fun drive. It has an attractive styling kit and provides thrills with its 2-litre 134bhp petrol engine giving it a top speed of 129mph. Its suspension was developed by Lotus and it has good handling and ride comfort.

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MGF

The MGF is popular thanks to its great handling and a classy image. It rekindled the MG badge and followed in the footsteps of the Mazda MX-5s success. Early examples do have some faults, but at this price the risk of breaking the bank is smaller.

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Happy Hunting! While these are all great and interesting cars at bargain prices Auto Trader recommend you carry out all the relevant checks and precautions found in our advice section before buying a car.