These Are The Best Mid-Engine Sports Cars For Under $50k

Sports cars come in all shapes and sizes these days. Whether you want V8-powered sedans, hot hatches and, of course, the wide variety of coupes and convertibles we know and love. However, a quintessential aspect of some of the most fun sports cars is a mid-mounted engine. Manufacturers like Porsche and Lotus make some of the best mid-engine cars, but there are other options you may have forgotten about. Moving the engine behind the seats, or between the axles, by definition, helps distribute the car’s weight more evenly. Some cars are too front-heavy to achieve the quickest lap times.

Balancing the car’s weight over each axle in a mid-engine sports car helps control the traction on all four tires – it also makes cornering quicker and more agile. Most new mid-engine cars aren’t exactly budget-friendly, so here are ten used mid-engine sports cars under $50,000.

10

2017 (982) Porsche Cayman

Average Used Price: $45,000

While some examples get closer to our budget of $50,000 than others, you should be able to find a 2017 Porsche Cayman base model for about $45k. 2017 marked the beginning of the fourth generation, which then received a facelift for the 2019 model year to become what we see in dealers today. The early 982s had two engine choices, but only those with the 2.0-liter turbo flat-four have reliably stayed around $45,000 on the used market over the last couple of years. These rear-wheel-drive sports cars handle well, which can be expected of nearly all mid-engine models, and are made even more engaging with the optional six-speed manual transmission. For a quicker 0-60 time, find one with the PDK.

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9

2011 Lotus Elise

Average Used Price: $40,000

The Lotus Elise might be aging, but it’s holding its value exceptionally well for a few reasons. Firstly, its powertrain is a Toyota-derived 1.8-liter four-cylinder. It’s not particularly powerful, but it’s reliable. You don’t need a ton of power when the whole car only weighs about 1,984 pounds. Lotus’ methodology for making fun, fast cars doesn’t come from massive amounts of horsepower from V8s or even larger engines, instead opting for the lightest construction possible. Interior features are somewhat minimal, since Lotus prioritizes the driving experience and connection to the road over frivolous luxuries.

8

2011 Lotus Evora

Average Used Price: $39,000

Another option from the same era of Lotus that sits around the same used price today is the 2011 Evora. This model came with a larger engine – a 3.5-liter with two additional cylinders that helped produce 276 horsepower in the base model. The Evora’s exterior is less extreme than the Elise, but still small and streamlined with swooping lines and a happy-looking front fascia. Its larger engine and more power lend to this model’s quicker sprint to 60 mph and a top speed of 159 mph when equipped with an automatic transmission. For those of you who want to row through your own gears, a six-speed manual is available.

7

2012 (987.2) Porsche Boxster S

Average Used Price: $30,000

We’ll get around to the first-gen Porsche Boxster later on, but the second generation is beloved for a turn away from the droopy headlights and overall better styling. Earlier second-gens (the 987.1 models) had somewhat troublesome engines that suffered from a few serious reliability issues. Model years from 2009 to 2012 were revised with more reliable powertrains, an upgraded interior, and Porsche’s PDK transmission, which was brand-new at the time. The 2012 Boxster S was particularly fun, since it came with more power. They’re becoming increasingly affordable lately, so you can find a 2012 model in good condition for around the $30k mark.

6

1976 Porsche 914/6

Average Used Price: $29,000

For the classic car fans reading this, here’s an option that should pique your interest. The Porsche 914 had a mid-engine layout with either four or six cylinders, pop-up headlights, and funky styling. The 914/6 is the one to get, though, since it was equipped with a 2.0-liter flat-six that made 110 horsepower. Later model years saw an increase in power to 125 hp and 131 lb-ft. The 914/6 was only sold for a few years, though, and just 3,300 units left dealer lots. While uncommon, the 914 can make for a fun vintage example of a mid-engine sports car.

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5

2009 (987.2) Porsche Cayman

Average Used Price: $22,000

In keeping with the Porsche trend for this article, the revised version of the first-generation Porsche Cayman, dubbed the 987.2, is an absolute bargain for a mid-engine sports car. Its solid roof makes its chassis more rigid, therefore leading to better handling over the 987 Boxster. While you might not get the same open-top experience, this version of the Cayman is approaching the 20k mark in most of the country. The 2009 model year began the Cayman’s refreshed first-gen look, which came with larger, more powerful engines and updated interiors. There are plenty of examples of higher trim levels with those larger engines for under 50k, but the base models from ’09 are most likely to reach around $22k.

4

2000 (986) Porsche Boxster

Average Used Price: $12,500

The last Porsche on this list is the first-gen Boxster, known as the 986. Examples in good condition with low miles are selling for Miata money right now, which is insane to imagine, let alone snag one for yourself. The first-generation Boxster is getting old – it can really feel its age inside, but the driving experience is still something to behold for only about $12,500. Powering the rear wheels of the base model is a 2.7-liter flat-six, which was later ditched for a four-cylinder in newer base models. It’s not all that powerful, but its curb weight sits at just 2,778 pounds.

3

1988 Pontiac Fiero

Average Used Price: $12,500

America might not have as big of an impact with mid-engine layouts, but General Motors once decided to try its hand in the mid to late 1980s at a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive, mid-engine sports car. The Pontiac Fiero doesn’t have a great reputation for a few reasons. Its development was off to a rough start to begin with, having only a fraction of the budget GM would normally give new models. Designers had to make do with pre-existing engines and sub-par parts. It was intended to be canceled three times by board members, only to be kept alive by the then Pontiac manager. In the end, we were left with an under-powered commuter car that looked a lot cooler than it was – and don’t get us started on its poor “Iron Duke” powertrain.

2

1996 Honda Beat

Average Used Price: $9,000

For a change in pace, one of the best cheap mid-engine cars happens to also be exceptionally slow. With that being said, it’s one of the most fun slow cars you can buy. The Honda Beat was never officially sold in the United States when new, but it’s not too difficult to find recently imported units for under $10,000. Since it’s classified as a Kei car for the Japanese market, it had to comply with their standards. That means it only made 63 horsepower and 44 lb-ft of torque with its tiny 656-cc three-cylinder engine. The Beat might be under-powered, but it’s rear-wheel-drive and comes with a five-speed manual transmission.

1

2000 Toyota MR2

Average Used Price: $7,500

Everybody loves the earlier generations of the Toyota MR2. The first- and second-gen styling helps them hold higher values over time than the third, but that’s part of why we chose the beginning of the third-gen as our favorite. Sure, all of them fall under $50k, but why spend more when you can find good examples of a 2000 model year MR2 for well under 10k in most of the country? The last generation weighs just 2,200 pounds, and, with a five-speed manual transmission, can sprint from 0-60 in about 6.8 seconds. You can find them with a “sequential manual transmission,” but those are considerably slower. Only 27,941 Spyder units were sold in the United States, so they’re fairly rare.

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Sources: Porsche, Lotus, Honda, Pontiac, Toyota, Kelley Blue Book, Cars & Bids, Classic.com, Bring a Trailer