If you’re looking for the ultimate driving thrills, look no further than our list of the best 10 driver’s cars under £10,000.
Do you love sheer driving pleasure? Do you love to feel like you and your car are as one, perfectly connected and in sync? If that’s what you’re looking for, then you need a real driver’s car in your life. We’re talking cars that make every journey a joy, that make you want to go out for a drive, and cars that offer levels of excitement you didn’t think were possible.
Whatever your budget, you can buy yourself a sensational machine, and we’ve picked a fantastic selection and each one is a winner. All of these have been chosen for the very fact that they leave you smiling after driving them. They make you feel involved in the driving process. Here’s are the best driver’s cars under £10,000.
Mazda MX-5 NA/NB
From: $2000/£2000
Kicking off our list of the 10 best driver’s cars under £10,000 is the Mazda MX-5. The MX-5 has become such an integral part of the landscape in the automotive world that it’s easy to forget how brilliant it is. The model’s now in its fourth generation and has been a global smash since 1989, and if you want the best driving experience, it’s the first-gen NA and second-gen NB that you want. Many owners consider the NB to be more of a facelift of the NA rather than a completely new model, and the two are very similar.
The NA is lighter, has slightly better steering, a little more room inside and offers a more raw and pure driving experience; the NB is a fraction heavier but also has a tiny bit more power, is stiffer, and is a little more cramped inside. The other big difference is finding one – there are far fewer NAs available than NBs, so you have far more choice with the newer car, and the NA is definitely becoming something of a collector’s car, and values are rising for the best examples. Truth be told, the driving experience of the two aren’t too dissimlar, I prefer the older looks of the Mk1 NA with the pop-up lights so that would be my choice. Also, do yourself a favor and go for the 1.8-liter engine. It’s far more responsive.
Whichever you choose, all MX-5’s are a delight to drive. Perfect steering, a fantastic gear shift, a superb driving position, and a playful but very controllable rear end make it a dream, and it absolutely lives up to the hype.
Make sure you check out our MX-5 NA buyer’s guide for tips on finding the perfect car.
RenaultSport Clio 172/182
From £3000
Renault has a history of producing some exceptional hot hatches that deliver driving thrills as few other cars can, which meant we had to include one on our list of the best 10 drivers’ cars under £10,000, but it also made choosing one very difficult. You’ve got the excellent Clio 197, the Megane RS 225, and the 250/265 Cup, but, for sheer driving thrills, that raw, white-knuckle ride you experience, it’s the Clio 172 and 182 duo that simply have to make it onto this list.
Yes, they are a little old now, yes, the driving position is bad, believe me, and yes, they can be a little flaky, but these two are cars that beg to be driven hard, and you just won’t be able to get enough. There’s a reason values are holding so well, and you’ll find them up for the same money as the later 197 model. It’s old school feel in a not-so-old-school body. Fun, fast and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
In terms of performance, there’s little to choose between the 172 and 182, but the latter has revised styling and twin exhausts, a wider track, some suspension tweaks, and more equipment, making it the one to want, but you’ll have a blast with either car. There’s a reason these two were forever popping up in best driver’s cars group tests against far more formidable machinery, and they always held their own. Simply put, the 172 and 182 are an absolute riot and everything you want in a driver’s car.
VW Golf GTI MK5
From £3000
The MK5 Golf GTI is both a superb driver’s car and an exceptional bargain and deserves its place on our list of the best 10 driver’s cars under £10,000. After the lackluster MK4, it single-handedly revived the Golf GTI, and even today it’s still a great car to own and drive and a bargain to boot. The turbocharged 2.0-litre TFSI offered a healthy 200hp along with 206lb ft of torque that gave the GTI a decent turn of speed and effortless in-gear punch and impressive cross-country pace.
It looked good and has aged very well, it features some very nice sports seats that hold you in all the right places, and beneath you sits a superb chassis that makes driving the MK5 GTI an absolute pleasure.
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to modding options, too, and the MK5 will take it all in its stride. It’s such a hugely entertaining all-rounder, the kind of car you can happily take by the scruff of its neck and have so much fun with, and it’s hard to believe you can pick these for so little money. It’s an absolute bargain and a fantastic driver’s car, and you need a MK5 GTI in your life.
Be sure to check out our MK5 GTI buyer’s guide and tuning tips.
Honda Civic Type R EP3
From £4000
If you’re talking about exceptional driver’s cars, you’ve got to have something from the Honda Type R stable, and at this price, it’s got to be the EP3 Civic. You can pick up an FN2 for the same sort of money, but despite its spaceship looks and futuristic interior, it’s the second-gen EP3 that’s considered to be the better car by owners and enthusiasts.
Affectionately known as the breadvan, the EP3 serves up serious driving thrills thanks to its absolutely electrifying chassis. Then you’ve got that slick-shifting close-ratio six-speed gearbox with that high-mounted gear knob, and of course, there’s a frantic VTEC lump under the bonnet, with the Euro-spec K20A2 delivering 200hp at a heady 7400rpm. I love these revvy engines, yes you struggle with torque low down, but rev them out all the way to the redline and you’ll be rewarded with plenty of punch and a screaming engine note. Sidenote, these things handle incredibly well, especially when you treat them to some upgrades.
Best of all, it’s a Honda, and that means that even though it’s a Type R, it’s a solid car that will last a long time if properly cared for. The base EP3 is an absolute bargain, but we’d spend a little more to find a 30th Anniversary or Premier Edition, worth it for those sexy red Recaros alone. This CTR is an epic hot hatch and an incredible driver’s car.
Read our EP3 Type R buying guide here.
Ford Fiesta ST MK7
From £6000
The MK7 Fiesta ST won pretty much every award that it was eligible for. From 2013 right up to 2017 it was hooking silverware with plaques saying ‘Best Hot Hatch’, ‘Car of the Year’, you name it. And deservedly so, as Ford managed to deftly pull off the 205 GTI trick of taking a mundane hatchback, shoving in a hot engine, and doing incredibly surprising things to the chassis. No wonder everyone loves the ST, it’s so universally lovable.
The intelligent little 1.6-litre EcoBoost motor delivers 180hp (200hp on overboost), and, while it’s as quiet as a church mouse around town, it roars like a lion when you’re approaching the red line. The nimble chassis responds to every input instantaneously, and it’s incredibly involving and makes every drive special – it’s just so much fun, and Ford really pulled a blinder with this little car. I owned the previous generation Fiesta ST, the Mk6 (ST 150 in Ford speak) and drove this Mk7 back to back with my own car. The improvements Ford made to the Mk7 over the 6 were night and day. The engine was far more powerful, particularly thanks to the forced induction torque. But the chassis was also greatly improved, while the Mk6 was fun, the Mk7 is both fun and very agile.
It looks good too, with aggressive styling that really makes it stand out, and the cabin features some lovely chunky Recaros that are comfy and supportive. With strong performance, lots of modding potential and a simply sublime chassis, the ST MK7 is an absolute winner.
Check out our ST MK7 buyer’s guide and tuning guide.
Porsche 986 Boxster S
From $7000 / £5000
There are a few Porsche models you can pick up for under £10,000, but the best of the bunch is arguably the 986 Boxster, specifically the S. You can find later 987 models and fixed-roof Caymans, but there’s not a lot of choice, and you’ll be able to pick up a better 986 for your money. The original 986-generation Boxster is, without a doubt one of the best cars the company has ever built.
The 3.2-litre Boxster S serves up 250hp (258hp from 2003) and came with a six-speed manual (swerve the disappointing Tiptronic auto), red calipers with vented cross-drilled discs, stiffer anti-roll bars and springs, leather seats, white gauges and climate control.
The 986 Boxster S is an absolute blast to drive – the handling really is supernaturally good, and it pulls off the improbable trick of being precise without being overly firm; it’s frantically eager but comfortable too, making it an exceptional all-rounder that’s also exceptional to drive. The 986 is not without its faults, so do your homework before you get too excited, but buy a good one, and you will have one of the best Porsches ever made, and at this price, it’s an astonishing bargain.
Mini R58 Coupé JCW
From £6000
When it comes to sheer driving fun, very few cars out there come close to any of BMW’s spicier Mini offerings, and within this price range, you are spoilt for choice. The supercharged first-gen R53 is an incredible bargain and an absolute riot to drive, but we’re going to opt for the more-rounded second-gen offering in Coupé form. Why? Well, it might be a bit more grown up, but the R56 is a big step up over the R53 in terms of interior quality. It’s a nicer car to spend time in and a better all-round car that you can enjoy driving even when you’re not in the mood for madness.
Crucially, though, it’s still incredibly fun, and it’s the more focused Coupé in 211hp JCW form that would be our choice because it’s that little bit sharper than the hatch, though if you need rear seats, the hatch is still fantastic. The torquey turbo motor makes for effortless performance, and riding that wave of mid-range thrust is seriously addictive, but it also loves to rev and delivers an addictive top end.
This is a car you can really grab throw down the road, and it makes you feel like an absolute hero thanks to its absolutely sensational chassis. The R58 JCW is a car that will never fail to make you smile, and it’s so much fun it should be illegal.
Don’t want a Coupé? Why not check out the brilliant R56 Mini Cooper S.
BMW E82 135i Coupé
From $7000 / £7000
We did toy with the idea of putting the E46 M3 convertible in this list, as you can pick some up just under £10,000. But our choice at this budget is the E82 135i Coupé. Normally, whenever there’s any sort of list where it qualifies, we’d throw an E9x 335i in there, but the smaller, lighter 1 Series Coupé offers that extra bit of involvement and outright driving fun, which is why it’s on our list of the 10 best driver’s cars under £10,000.
Not only have you got a keen RWD chassis to enjoy, but you’ve also got 306 turbocharged horses to put through it courtesy of the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six N54 under the bonnet, and when paired with the snappy six-speed manual, it’ll hit 62mph in just 5.3 seconds. Best of all, more power is easy and affordable to achieve, and 400hp is just a handful of mods away. Throw an LSD on your shopping list, and you’ll be able to experience the 135i at its peak, and it’s a sensational sports car. The N54 is a little problematic, 1 Series build quality is a little flaky, and you won’t be spoilt for choice when shopping for a car within this price range, but it’ll all be worth it because this baby BM is big on driver pleasure.
Check out our tuning guide to the N54 and N55 here.
Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ / Scion FR-S
From $11,000 / £10,000
Just barely squeaking into our budget, we couldn’t put together a list of the best 10 driver’s cars under £10,000 and not include the Toyota GT86. Built in partnership with Subaru, which produced the identical BRZ, the aim with the GT86 was to create a simple, lightweight car designed purely with driving enjoyment in mind, and it ticked all those boxes.
Weighing just over 1200kg, the GT86 is extremely light by modern standards, and it’s powered by a 2.0-litre NA four-cylinder boxer engine courtesy of Subaru, which produces 200hp at 7000rpm. That might not seem like a lot in a world where 300hp turbo hot hatches are commonplace, but the GT86 was all about handling and fun, rather than outright performance.
The engine needs to be revved to get the most out of it, but that just means you get to spend more time with your foot flat to the floor. The chassis is an absolute delight and delivers sensational handling, the steering is direct and communicative, and the whole experience is just so old-school in its simplicity. If you’re looking for massive power and performance, you won’t find it here, but if you’re looking for good old-fashioned driving fun, you’ve come to the right place.
Looking to buy one? Check out our Subaru BRZ buying guide.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI GRB
From £10,000
The Subaru Impreza is a legendary machine, and this 4WD turbo rally monster had to be part of our list. But which to choose? There are more Impreza variations out there than you can shake a stick at, and it can be a bit overwhelming, but given the popularity increase, prices have been on the up. While once we’d recommend you look at a “Blobeye” generation car, now prices for those are creeping closer to £15,000. Thankfully, another Impreza WRX STI does slip under our budget.
Admittedly, it’s considered the ugly duckling, and it’s 2.5-litre engine can be problematic, but the GRB generation Impreza WRX STI is not to be snubbed at. It offers a powerful 300bhp and plenty of torque alongside it. The famous AWD system makes a return, and on the whole, it’s an impressive car to drive. Fast, agile, and enough room for the kids and a trunk full of shopping. Result.
I’ve become quite fond of the GRB hatchback. Perhaps it’s related to its poorer reviews, but in truth it’s the brilliance of older Subarus that has molded this unfavorable view of the GRB. Besides, Paul Walker managed to build an epic GRB in the fourth Fast and Furious movie…
For more advice on buying one, check out our Impreza WRX STI GRB buying guide.
