Most of us need a car at some point in our lives, but not all of us want it to be boring. Even on a restricted budget, it’s possible to find a ride that’s plenty fun, powerful, and fast, provided you’re willing to make a few compromises.
Much of what you’ll read about buying a sporty car for less than $10,000 is based on the U.S. market. That budget threshold doesn’t go quite as far here in Canada, and as a result there are a few marques missing from this list that appear on others, such as Audi, BMW, Porsche, AMG models from Mercedes-Benz, supercars like Ferrari, or even cars like the original Toyota Supra. That said, it’s not impossible to navigate the market at this price point with a bit of time and patience.
To that end, here’s our list of 10 fast cars to consider for a $10,000 budget. These aren’t necessarily the fastest cars you can buy at that price, but they are the best cars to get bang for your buck in every sense, from top speed to outright power and response when you hit the throttle.
Availability of each of these cars at this price point was verified with CarGurus used vehicle listings at the time of writing, but the status or price of a given vehicle may change without notice. Before you sign on the dotted line, check out our tips for the steps you should take to protect yourself when buying a used car.
The Best Cheap Fast Cars in Canada 2024
- Infiniti G35 Coupe
- Ford Mustang
- Mazda MX-5
- Hyundai Genesis Coupe
- Subaru Impreza WRX
- Honda Civic Si
- Dodge Charger
- Fiat 500 Abarth
- Nissan 350Z
- Mazda RX-8
- Volkswagen GTI
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Chevrolet Camaro
Infiniti G35 Coupe
Through the mid-2000s, the Nissan Skyline performance car was rebadged and sold in the United States and Canada as the Infiniti G35 sedan and coupe. The front-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupe got an extra hit of power – 280 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque from the 3.5-litre V6 to be exact – and a little more for those with a manual transmission. This is a sleeper hit, and there are plenty of examples on the CarGurus used vehicle listings priced below $10,000. You may also find some used Infiniti G37 sedans or coupes kicking around, which have a slightly larger 3.7-litre V6 engine generating up to 330 hp.
Research the Infiniti G35 Coupe
Ford Mustang
America’s original muscle car hardly needs an introduction, though the idea that one could be had for a steal may take some buyers by surprise. Hone your search on the fifth-generation model from model years 2005 to 2014, and you can bag one with a V6 engine and horsepower in the low 200s for less than $10,000 without much hassle. Dig a little further, and you might even find a fourth-generation Ford Mustang GT fitted with the 4.6-litre V8 engine in the same financial ballpark.
Mazda MX-5
This darling of the affordable two-seat roadsters remains attainable on the used car market, where examples of the first three generations can be found for less than $10,000 across Canada. Although it’s never been a horsepower tour de force, the MX-5’s small and light profile makes it the very definition of a fun and sporty car. Employ the search term Miata for best results; Mazda doesn’t officially use the term in Canada for new models anymore, but it’s still common in the U.S. and on the used vehicle market.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Long before Hyundai gave its luxury car division the Genesis name, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe was winning over a group of devotees. A variety of trims levels were offered with this rear-wheel-drive sports coupe, along with a pair of engines – initially a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.8-litre V6 with 306 hp and 266 lb-ft. Later models received some significant power bumps, too. Most of the Genesis Coupes you’ll find on the used market today are high in kilometres, but these owners know what they have. The vast majority are priced at what CarGurus identifies as fair market value – roughly $8,000 to $10,000.
Subaru Impreza WRX
If your sports car tastes lean more toward the all-wheel drive (AWD) and rally side of things, then you’ll naturally head for a Subaru Impreza WRX. Truly, an encyclopedia could be written about these, both in the differences in model years you’re likely to come across and the lists of potential points of upkeep you should expect for your investment. We could never cover it all here, so it’s worth taking the time to do your research. That said, there isn’t a vast selection of the Subaru WRX on the Canadian used market, but we were able to track down several examples priced at less than $10k, nearly all with more than 200,000 kilometres on the odometer.
Honda Civic Si
Speaking of cars with enough history to warrant a book, Canadians will need no introduction to the Honda Civic. This compact car has been among the models built at Honda of Canada Mfg. in Alliston, Ont., since 1988. The Civic Si and its predecessors, frequently sought out by those seeking a sporty car on a budget, come with a long list of generations and specifications. The Civic Si is sold to this day exclusively with a manual transmission, which in today’s new cars is a six-speed manual. Provided you’ve got the motivation and can drive stick, you should be able to find a handful of examples a decade or so old for just under $10,000, and possibly even one or two older ones for less.
Dodge Charger
Here’s a way to own a key piece of Canadian automotive history and get a pile of power while doing it. The Dodge Charger American muscle car, Dodge Challenger two-door coupe, and Chrysler 300 sedan have been built in Brampton, Ontario, from their outset. Those cars are being discontinued in their current form to make room for EVs, so if you want one powered by gas, now’s the time to shop. Challengers and SRT variants still almost never dip below a $10,000 asking price, but other Charger models do frequently. You’re more likely to get a mid-2000s car with a V6 at this price, though the occasional unit with a Hemi V8 makes an appearance on the CarGurus.ca used car listings.
Fiat 500 Abarth
The Fiat 500 hasn’t gotten a lot of love in Canada. Most of us want something a little (or a lot) bigger, and the 500 hatchback hadn’t been around for long when it was discontinued in 2019. But there are a few floating around, which means you could score an extremely fun and offbeat little performance car in the form of a used 500 Abarth. Its original turbo 1.4-litre engine produces 133 hp and up to 152 lb-ft of torque, while later versions saw some power increases. You’ll need to do some digging to find one of these front-wheel-drive hot hatches on a budget, but the occasional one drops below $10,000.
Nissan 350Z
The Z legacy is a rarified one, and it’s not easy to find used examples of this car on a budget. But if you can hold out, it may be worth the wait. The styling on this Japanese two-door two-seater is nothing short of timeless. Two different 3.5-litre V6 engines were tucked beneath its hood at various points in its life cycle, with horsepower landing in the high-200 to low-300 range and torque ranging from 260 to 274 pound-feet. It was also available with a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission.
Mazda RX-8
Here’s the thing about the Mazda RX-8: yes, you can find a few for less than $10,000 in Canada, and yes, you’ll be owning a piece of automotive history if you buy one. Mazda’s rotary engines ranged from 192 to 232 horsepower and 146 to 159 pound-feet of torque throughout the more than a decade when this rear-wheel drive four-seater was produced. However, the internet is rife with reports of these engines getting expensive to maintain as they age, so caveat emptor. We’re not out here trying to discourage enthusiasts, just be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Volkswagen GTI
The original German hot hatch has won itself fans all over the world, the positive side effect of which is that there tend to be plenty of them floating around. The most common on the Canadian used market during our research were late-model Mk5s from model years 2004 to 2009 (interestingly, that was the only generation sold in Canada with GTI as a standalone badge and without the Golf name). Plus, prices on some Mk6 Golf GTIs on the market from model years 2010 to 2014 are now starting to dip into our $10,000 budget.
Chevrolet Corvette
It’s rare, but not impossible, to find a Chevy Corvette for less than $10,000 on the used market in Canada. When it does happen, it’s likely to be a roughly 30-year-old car with more than 200,000 kilometres on the odometer and plenty of upgrades needed. But if you have a passion for Vettes and are looking for a project, this could be a great way to dive into the wonderful world of classic Corvette ownership.
Chevrolet Camaro
Speaking of the Bowtie, you may also be able to pick up a Chevrolet Camaro muscle car for less than $10,000. You’ll almost certainly need to settle for a V6 in this price bracket, but there’s a chance you’ll pick up a reasonably priced piece of Canadian automotive history. Our search on the CarGurus.ca used car listings turned up examples from the fourth generation, which ran from 1993 to 2002 and was built at GM’s now-defunct Ste-Thérèse Assembly Plant in Quebec alongside the Pontiac Firebird, as well as the fifth-gen Camaro produced for model years 2010 to 2015 at GM’s Oshawa Assembly in Ontario.