Which Sporty and Affordable Compact Car Should You Buy?
In partnership with Otogo.ca
Sport compact car enthusiasts on a more limited budget still have several options to consider if they make a move towards the pre-owned vehicle market, especially if the model year is not really an issue.
In this segment, domestic brands are underrepresented. Besides the Ford Focus ST and Focus RS, there is not much to look at. On the other side of the pond, however, one can always think of some of their German counterparts, namely the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R. These are excellent cars known for their outstanding driving dynamics. But it can be more difficult to find a good, inexpensive example.
The quest to find an affordable sports compact inevitably involves Asian brands. If you start at the bottom of the pyramid, there are various coupe models like the Honda Civic Coupe Si as well as the Kia Forte Koup SX and Hyundai Veloster Turbo. Note that the resale value of the Honda is higher and it was also available in sedan form at the time. The same goes for the Hyundai Elantra Sport.
A notch above, we find more assertive sports cars like the Toyota 86 (formerly Scion FR-S) and Subaru BRZ twins. They were developed together; hence they benefit from the same technical expertise and prove to be very fun to drive, although some drivers have mentioned they could benefit from more power.
The Mazda RX-8 is also a very unique member of this segment, but it was known to consume excess oil and gasoline.
Speaking of Mazda, have you considered the Mazdaspeed3 or even the Mazdaspeed MX-5 (Miata)? The first, a little more recent, is available sedan in hatchback format, while the second, which disappeared in 2005, took the known Japanese roadster to another level. It is also relatively affordable and reliable, but examples for sale are difficult to find, so be patient in your research.
The Subaru WRX, whose hatchback version was discontinued in 2015 leaving only the sedan, is also worthy of mention. The WRX’s explosive character and skills extend beyond paved roads. It does, however, require more maintenance and the affordable example you land on may have been abused by previous owners.
By the way, whichever model you choose, try to avoid ones with numerous past owners, let alone ones that have been in accidents. As much as your budget allows, choose a car with low mileage, one that hasn't been beaten on the track, which has been carefully maintained and has a clean history.
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