Sports Car & Convertible Buying Guide

Sedans
Several luxury automakers offer high-performance versions of their regular sedans, with more power, tauter suspension, improved brakes, and distinct styling inside and out. They distinguish these special cars with exclusive trim names, as seen with Acura (Type S), Audi (RS), BMW (M), Cadillac (V-Series), Lexus (F), and Mercedes-Benz (AMG).

A major benefit to choosing a sports sedan over a coupe is that the four-door configuration allows transport for four or five passengers and provides cargo space in the trunk. It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Sizes vary widely, from small models such as the Honda Civic Si and Subaru WRX to larger and high-performance machines like the Audi RS 7 and BMW M3. And for all-season use, many are offered with all-wheel drive.

What you’ll spend: This runs the gamut, from the relatively low-priced Civic Si at around $30,000 to premium European models that easily top $100,000.

Convertibles and roadsters
Convertibles are cars with either a folding cloth or retractable hardtop, enabling them to transform from a closed car to an open one. Some convertibles have “2+2” seating, providing a back seat that is, at best, suited for occasional use by small children (and, at worst, unfit for human occupancy).

Roadsters are two-seat convertibles. These tend to be even more targeted at driving purists and consequently can be less practical. In either configuration, we recommend outfitting a convertible with heated seats to extend the top-down driving season.

Technically, there are convertible SUVs, such as the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. Learn more about those on their model pages and in the SUV buying guide. 

What you’ll spend: The least expensive model—and maybe most fun—is the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which starts under $30,000. The range-topping models from premium brands can soar well past six figures.

Coupes
Two-door coupes often have sleek styling and a lower ride height than some equivalent sedans. The coupe group ranges from small, low-priced models, like the Subaru BRZ and similar Toyota GR86, to the more sophisticated Audi A5 to hardcore sports cars such as the Nissan Z and Toyota Supra. Only a single muscle car lives on with the redesigned Ford Mustang, offered as a coupe and convertible, with powertrains ranging from mild to wild. (The Dodge Charger will return as a coupe and sedan in both electric and turbo six formats.)

With short wheelbases and sweeping body lines, sporty coupes often provide compromised rear accommodations, if they have any at all. They’re also a challenge for the driver to get in and out of. The best advice is to try before you buy.

What you’ll spend: The BRZ and GR86 come in at around $30,000, which is a steal considering just how much fun is included. The Corvette—given its prodigious performance—is almost a bargain at about $70,000. From there, prices rapidly climb with power and exclusivity, with the Lexus LC starting at $100,000 and top Porsche 911s clocking in at over $200,000. 

Hatchbacks
Sporty hatchbacks bring the most practicality. With a large rear liftgate and folding rear seatback, these vehicles provide surprising cargo-toting versatility. Plus, sporty hatchbacks are often on the less expensive end of the spectrum. “Hot hatches” have long been a favorite in Europe and Japan, where the combination of flexibility, entertaining driving dynamics, and miserly fuel economy has special appeal. The Honda Civic Type R, Mini Cooper S, and Toyota GR Corolla are good examples.

What you’ll spend: Before loading up with options, the Cooper S checks in at around $30,000, while the more extreme GR Corolla is priced in the high $30,000s and the Civic Type R starts in the mid-$40,000s.

Seating and Access
Clearly, choosing just about any model from this genre will usually net reasonable seating comfort for only two. A few of the sporty sedans and convertibles will accommodate rear passengers, but this is not what they’re known for.

Low-slung sports cars, especially roadsters, can be challenging to enter and exit. Low, heavily bolstered seats, short doors, and arched rooflines favor youthful, athletic drivers. It can be hard to access the rear seat if there is one. Some models have a convenient one-hand operation for scooting the front seats far forward. With all body styles, consider access issues and how they will affect you in the years to come. Generally, sedans and hatchbacks are more accommodating, but even then, roof design, door size, ride height, and seat style can still bring compromises over a traditional family sedan or hatch.

Engines and Fuel Economy
Power is the name of the game, and sports cars offer a ton of playful options. Four-cylinder engines (with or without turbocharging), V6s (ditto), and thumping V8s are all available. Many of the most entertaining sports cars we’ve tested were also accompanied by almost symphonic exhaust notes, with some sounding so sweet that we’d roll the windows down even in winter to hear the burble. But music for some might be considered noise to others, so make sure you know what you’re getting into before signing up.

Naturally, a light car with a small engine is likely to yield the best fuel economy. Once again, here’s where the Mazda MX-5 Miata shines; it returned 34 mpg in our tests. There are other reasonably efficient models, such as the Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR86 twins at 28 mpg and the much more ferocious Toyota Supra six-cylinder at a decent 27 mpg.

Keep in mind that most sports cars require premium fuel.

Pairing the right engine with the best transmission is another reason many buyers love sports cars. Enthusiasts often prefer a manual transmission because a stick shift gives the driver more control and involvement. But if you often sit in traffic or plan to commute in the car, a manual transmission may become tiresome. Modern-day automatic transmissions have become more engaging than their predecessors, often providing “sport” modes with more aggressive shifting under heavy acceleration and the provision for manual gear selection via the shifter or paddles. Plus, they may even accelerate quicker.

Some sports cars use a type of automatic transmission called a dual clutch pedal, which uses internals similar to a manual transmission and provides a similar directly connected feel. Sports cars with dual clutch transmissions can usually accelerate quicker and can even be more fuel-efficient than those with manuals, thanks to their ability to provide almost instant gear changes. Some models may be less smooth than a traditional automatic when driving at very low speeds or accelerating from a stoplight. Audi, Hyundai, Porsche, and Volkswagen make extensive use of dual clutch transmissions in their performance cars.

When buying some used models, choosing a manual transmission may mean forgoing active driving assist features like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.

Handling
In addition to the power delivery and sound qualities, a key to a fun car is its handling: how it reacts to the road and the driver. Minimal body lean, quick steering response, communicative feedback through the steering wheel, and the ability to hold the road when pushed and to run predictably are the ingredients that separate poseurs from real sports cars. These qualities can’t be taken for granted and have nothing to do with style, number of doors, or engine size. It takes more than a simple test drive around the block to assess whether the handling meets your expectations.

Hardtop or Soft Top?
Because top-down driving is the whole point of a convertible, the ease of deploying the top is crucial. Where available, choose a power top with a latch-free design. If the top does have manual latches, be sure to try them out at the dealership; some latch designs are more challenging than others to use. And keep in mind that manual latches paired with a fabric roof can be difficult to open and close in cold weather. Some power tops can be raised and lowered when the car is moving at low speeds, a very useful feature, especially if it starts raining while you’re driving. Among the few models with a manual top, some let you undo a latch or two and toss the roof back from the driver’s seat, while others make you get out of the car and fiddle with the folded roof. Simpler tops are better.

Most convertibles come with fabric tops, but a few models, including the Chevrolet Corvette and Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, come with a retractable hardtop. The hardtop approach usually yields a slightly quieter cabin when cruising with the top up.

Cargo
Trunks, especially for convertibles, tend to be tiny. It’s not uncommon for a convertible top to occupy much of the already limited trunk space when it’s folded down. A few hatchback models, however, can haul a decent amount of cargo with the rear seat folded. Needless to say, if carrying cargo is a top priority, you’d better have another car on hand.

Drive Wheels
Sports cars are typically associated with rear-wheel drive, but some of the earliest applications of mainstream all-wheel drive (AWD) systems debuted on sports cars, such as the classic Audi Coupe Quattro and the original Subaru WRX. Now almost all offer all-weather traction. For those looking to keep it simple, front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive are also available. Just a friendly reminder: AWD won’t be very effective if you’re trying to drive in winter conditions running summer performance tires.

Towing
Forget it. This is simply not the right tool for that job.

Consumer Reports’ safety ratings include assessments of crash-avoidance capabilities and crash-test results based on tests performed by the federal government and insurance industry. Further, our road tests detail issues regarding child car seat installation and headlight performance.

Forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, and blind spot warning (BSW) are crash-avoidance technologies that CR says should be standard on all vehicles. These should be on the next new or used model you buy.

FCW technology provides a visual, audible, and/or tactile alert to warn the driver of an impending collision with a car or an object directly in its path. AEB responds to an imminent collision, braking if the driver doesn’t react in time. BSW monitors a vehicle’s flanks, warning the driver that another vehicle is alongside, where it may be difficult to see.

Other modern safety advances include telematics systems that can alert emergency personnel if an airbag deploys, such as GM’s OnStar service; lane departure warning systems that sound an alert if the driver changes lanes without signaling; lane keeping assist to maintain the vehicle’s position in the lane if the driver starts to drift; and rear cross traffic alert, which monitors the sides of the vehicle when the driver is backing out of a parking spot and can even apply the brakes if needed. (Learn more about car safety.)

These driver assistance systems tend to be optional or sometimes left out altogether on sports cars and high-performance versions of regular models, so be mindful when shopping.

As with any type of car, the first decision to make is choosing the right model. Will you buy a new or used one?

Buying a brand-new sports car certainly has its benefits. New cars have the very latest safety gear and engineering improvements, not to mention a bumper-to-bumper factory warranty. With a new vehicle, you know what you’re getting; you don’t have to worry about potential service problems, concealed collision damage, or wear from abusive driving. Further, you can have your choice of color, trim line, and option level. And financing rates are typically lower than for a used vehicle.

The key drawback to buying a new sports car is how quickly it depreciates. They’ve been known to shed half their value in the first two to three years. But the depreciation picture can change a lot from year to year, depending on competitive forces, fuel prices, new model introductions, and other factors. Financing a new vehicle with a small down payment can easily make buyers “upside down” on the loan, where they owe more than their car is worth.

Buying a used sports car can save money up front and over the long haul. Plus, the U.S. used-car market is about three times the size of the new-car market, so there are plenty of choices. One of the best strategies is to find a car you like that’s only 2 to 3 years old—probably a vehicle that has been returned from a lease. Such a vehicle has already taken its biggest depreciation hit and should have a majority of its useful life ahead of it. Modern vehicles, if soundly maintained, can stay on the road for 200,000 miles or longer. Moreover, checking CR’s reliability data can help you zero in on a model that might give you fewer headaches down the road.

But considering that some sports cars are driven hard, special care should be taken when buying used. We strongly recommend taking any used sports car to a trusted mechanic for a thorough inspection. Check carefully for excessive wear to the clutch, brakes, and tires (brand-new tires on only one axle may be an attempt to cover up abuse), or signs of collision damage repair. For convertibles, pay close attention to their operation, making sure that they move smoothly and the mechanisms are aligned. If possible, check for leaks with a high-pressure hose or a car wash. 

Moreover, be careful with any car that has been extensively customized; some owner-added mods can void any remaining factory warranty. Modifications such as power-enhancing computer chips, bolt-on superchargers or turbochargers, lowered suspension components, and different wheels and tires can enhance a car’s performance if they’re installed properly, but they can also cause big problems, particularly with emissions testing. Even if you plan to customize the car, it’s always best to buy an unmodified example.

Again, focus on reliability when selecting a good new or used car, even if the vehicle is still covered by its original factory warranty. Check with Consumer Reports to find those that have top-notch reliability scores. (See our guide to car reliability.)

Whether buying new or used, it’s important to do a little homework to choose a good model and to follow that up with effective negotiation.

Browse the Consumer Reports Used Car Marketplace.