The best affordable sports cars of the 2010s

Our dearly departed sister magazine, MOTOR, ran an annual performance car championship called ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ (or BFYB for short), comprehensively testing, assessing, and crowning the best affordable performance cars on the Australian market each year.

By the virtue of time, however, some of the competition’s winners have become renowned as genuinely excellent (but not-so affordable) driver’s cars, while some that didn’t find BFYB glory have come into their own as good secondhand ownership prospects.

Of course, any list like this will have an element of subjectivity to it, so if you think there’s anything that should’ve been included, hit us up in the comments at the end of the article!

Nevertheless, according to the passionate teams of yore, near countless hot laps, shredded tyres and years of dedicated testing, these were the best affordable performance cars available during the 2010s.

Any Holden VF/VFII Commodore SS

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• New: $44k (manual ute) to $64k (auto Motorsport Edition)
• Now: $30k (2013 models, around 200,000kms) to $120k (Redline Editions, under>100,000kms)

BFYB results

Standard SS ute took 1st place in $0-50k and SS-V Redline ute took 2nd place $50-100k in 2017. SS-V Redline sedan 2nd outright in 2016, while SS ute took 1st for $0-50k.

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Why?

After the demise of the local car industry, and subsequent car collecting craze that peaked during Covid lockdowns, the once-humble SS has transcended far beyond a cheap and cheerful used performance buy.

Tired old cars that used to cost $15k now begin at $30k, but access to that V8 (the 6.0-litre in the VF is great, but the VFII’s 6.2-litre LS3 is a beautiful thing) is an experience you can buy fewer and fewer of these days.

At the pointy end of the market, there are a lot of dreamers who clearly bought last-run cars, have kept them wrapped in cotton and are waiting to cash in. With all this talk of rising interest rates and recession, buy the best one you can - but be wary over overcapitalising.

Ford Fiesta ST (2013–2018)

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• New: $27,500 (in 2017)
• Now: $12k to $30k

BFYB results

Outright winner in both 2014 and 2015. Returned in 2016 to take 5th in the $0-50K category.

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Why?

Ford's pint-sized Fiesta ST has always remained one of MOTOR's perennially favourite cars, especially the old WZ-generation which bundled a punchy 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with cool three-door styling, and a tremendously playful - if spiky, at times - chassis that delivered big bags of fun at virtually any speed.

It's sub-$30k asking price (when new) saw the featherweight punching well above its weight.

Toyota 86 or Subaru BRZ

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2017 Subaru BRZ

• New: $31.5k (manual GT) to $39k (auto GTS)
• Now: $18K (early manual with high KMs) to 50K (near-new auto GTS)

BFYB results

Took 5th in 2017; 14th in 2018 as a $39,400 GTS Performance Pack. Judges always rated it highly.

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Why?

Okay, so the BFYB numbers aren’t really in the 86’s favour, but that mostly comes down to the fact it’s just not a very fast car. What it is, however, is incredibly fun. So much that one judge gave it a podium vote both years it competed, and the others had it 4th or 5th.

It's a car that had earned a significant place in every conversation about ‘fun’ cars in the old MOTOR office, and for good reason. Get yourself the basest, cheapest one you can (in good condition) and give it a decent set of rubber, and maybe some more aggressive brake pads, and you've got one of the best entry-level track cars for the money.

Renault Clio IV RS

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• New: $29,290 (RS200, 2015); $39,990 (Trophy, 2016); $30,990 $32,490 (Cup, 2019)
• Now: $14K (Sport) to $24K (Trophy)

BFYB results

1st place in $0-50K and 2nd overall in 2015 as RS200. 5th place in $0-50K as more expensive Trophy in 2016.

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Why?

The Renault Clio RS wasn't a particularly expensive car but it was relatively quick and huge fun on a twisty road or on a race track. Brutal BFYB algorithms liked the Clio RS. We like the Clio RS.

Okay, when it was new, some did think it to be a tad pricey for the car you get (a small hatch with very basic features) but, as a used buy, there's simply not much you can get for under $20k any more that delivers a driving experience with this much polish and poise.

Peugeot 208 GTi (2012-2018)

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• New: $29,990 (2015) or $35,990 (30th Anniversary, 2016)
• Now: $12-18K (standard) or $40,000 (30th Anniversary, one example found)

BFYB results

5th in $0-50K category, 2015. 2nd place in $0-50K category in 2016 as 30th Anniversary Edition.

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Why?

Much like the Clio, the low-cost, high-fun 208 GTi provided a convenient but stylish little package to both live with and thrash on the weekend.

There are a handful of candidates on the used market, with a very affordable buy-in at the lower end – but you'll have to stretch to a 30th Anniversary Edition to get the neat two-tone paint. The more recent ‘Edition Definitive’ (above) also supplies the same upgrades but will set you back more for being newer.

BMW M135i

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• New: $62,900 (2016)
• Now: $23K to $55K

BFYB results?

First place in $0-50K in 2015, 9th in that category in 2016.

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Why?

Get yourself a hot hatch you can drift! Yep, while the AWD heroes like the Mercedes-AMG A45 and Focus RS look to drift modes to help slide, BMW’s almost-M hot hatches let you do it with your steering wheel and your right foot regardless.

Secondhand values for the M135i, and later M140i, have been creeping upwards over the recently buoyant used car market, but they remain an attractive used buy regardless.

Mazda ND MX-5

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• New: $36,090 (manual 1.5-litre) to $51,120 (auto RF GT Black Roof)
• Now: $22K (generally over 100,000km) to $55K (new brand new 2022 RF GT )

BFYB results

7th in $0-50K 2017, but 5th overall in 2019.

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Why? 

The MX-5 has endured as one of the all-time great sports cars for the last 30 years, and the ND generation is true to the NA’s simplicity while managing to remain relevant in a modern market.

If you want unfiltered fun, this is up there with the Toyota 86. Though it’s not as sharp a handler (primarily due to softer suspension), it’s really no less involving, has got a more linear engine and comes with the added option of dropping the top.

2016-18 Ford Mustang GT

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• New: $57,490 (2016 manual) to $59,990 (2016 auto)
• Now: $39K to $100k+ (many have been upgraded and modified)

BFYB results

8th in 2016, sub-$50K category.

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Why?

Tonnes of people bought new Mustangs in the first years of its on-sale time in Australia, which means that tonnes of them have since been released onto the used market, as vehicle leases ran out, or initial buyers have simply since upgraded.

Early 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost cars open the market at around $40k, with the most affordable 5.0-litre V8s appearing around the $45k mark.

At the pointy end of the market, there are many pre-update (a significant update occurred for 2018) vehicles asking well over six-figures, mainly due to significant aftermarket work.

Volkswagen Polo GTI (Mk5)

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• New: $27,490 (manual, 2017) to $29,990 (DSG, 2017)
• Now: $10K (early models, 150,000km+) to $32K (~2016, sub-100,000km)

BFYB results

3rd $0-50K in 2015, outright winner in 2016, 2nd place $0-50K in 2017, 4th overall in 2019.

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Why?

The Polo has consistently proven it’s ability to balance the line between pragmatic commuting and driving dynamics for half a decade of BFYB attendance, bar one year.

It’s almost always been on the podium, and now that you can pick up a well-loved car for just north of the $10K mark, it's a relatively small price to pay for a recent class standout.

What do you think were the best affordable performance buys of the 2010s? Shout out in the comments below!