A 2015 Volkswagen Golf R, a cheap fast used car, blasts down a back road while it shows off its blue paintwork.

Cheap Fast Cars: Used Cars to Go 0-60 MPH In Under 5 Seconds!

Unsurprisingly, the Chevy Corvette Z06 has a spot among the cheap fast used cars to hit 60 in under 5 seconds. However, unlikely cars do it, too.

by Erik Sherman

Published on February 21, 2023 8:11 pm

2 min read

Fast cars don’t have to be prohibitively expensive. Instead, shrewd sports and muscle car shoppers can find a cheap, fast car that will hit 60 mph in less than five seconds. Check out a few of your best launch-happy options, like the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R and 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

Which is the cheapest and fastest car?

While there are many cheap and fast cars, these used sports and muscle car models have neck-snapping thrust without a hefty price tag:

S550 Ford Mustang GT
2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
2016 BMW 340i
2015 Volkswagen Golf R
2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack

Is the S550 Ford Mustang GT a cheap fast car?

The S550 Ford Mustang GT carried over the powerful 5.0L Coyote V8 but ditched the live rear axle in favor of fully independent rear suspension. As a result, the grand tourer-esque Mustang model could sprint to 60 in four and a half seconds or less.

Moreover, the automatic-equipped 2018 model could make the run in under four seconds flat. However, the cheapest S550 models will be the pre-facelift examples, like a 2015 Mustang GT. According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), fans can snag a used 2015 Ford Mustang GT with average mileage for around $22,000.

How much is a C5 Z06 worth?

A Chevrolet Corvette Z06 from the C5 generation might be one of the market’s finest cheap fast car bargains. According to KBB, the 405-horsepower Plastic Fantastic has a fair value of around $21,503.

A 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 drives around a lot while it shows off its cheap fast sports car styling and black paintwork. — Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | Albert L. Ortega, WireImage

Also, with a standard six-speed manual transmission and enough thrust to hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, the Z06 is fast and fun by today’s standards.

How much is a 2011 Shelby GT500?

While the Shelby badge is usually a pricey acquisition, the 2011 Shelby GT500 is still a tire-shredding bargain. The GT500’s fair used car value of $23,855 and 0 to 60 time of just 4.1 seconds make it a super-performing steal of a cheap fast car.

Is a 2016 BMW 340i a cheap fast car?

The 2016 BMW 340i, with its 320-horsepower B58 inline six-cylinder engine, can hit 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. Moreover, the 340i has a fair value of around $22,180, making it a cheap fast car with a more practical four-door platform than a coupe like the Corvette Z06.

How fast is a 2015 Golf R?

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R is fast enough to hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds on its way to a 13.2-second quarter mile. Like many comparable vehicles, the Golf R features a governor, which limits the hot hatch to 153 mph.

Better yet, with a fair purchase price of around $20,013, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R is a complete performance bargain with practicality to spare. Of course, that value reflects a model with average mileage; a lower-mileage example would drive the price up.

Is the R/T Scat Pack fast?

The 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is the most powerful car on this list, with 485 tire-vaporizing horses on tap. As a result, the hulking coupe is quite fast; it will hit 60 mph in around 4.2 seconds, with a quarter mile in less than 13 seconds.

What’s your go-to high-speed savings machine? Tell us your thoughts on cheap fast cars in the comments below!

Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).