Got the 2023 Corvette Z06 Blues? Here Are Some Cheaper Sports Cars to Scratch that Itch
The Corvette has always been special for its relatively low price point. Even the 2022 Corvette C8 still starts under $100k, but the new Z06 will start at $106,395. Look, that is not to say that we think the Corvette isn’t still a monster bargain, but it’s more than many people expected. Despite its value, $100k is a huge chunk of cash. Here are five cheaper sports cars cheaper than the new 2023 Corvette Z06.
Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0: $90,300
It’s weird when a Porsche is the cheaper option, but in this case, that’s the way it is. Now, it’s important to note that Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 isn’t nearly as extreme as the Z06. The Porsche has a more conservative look and far less power. However, that isn’t to say that the Cayman is a shlub.
The Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 is a mid-engined sports coupe with a 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated boxer-six making 394 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque. It also comes with Porsche’s incredible dual-clutch gearbox. The Cayman can’t hang with Z06 in a straight line, but its handling offers something the Z06 can’t quite match.
BMW M2 (2016-2021): $70,000
Let this BMW M2 option be a reminder of how good of a value the C8 Corvettes truly are. We have to look at used sports cars to find a comparable value.
Even as a used model, the BMW M2 is one hell of a car. Many people, including CarBuzz, believe that the M2 is the finest M car the germans have made in at least a decade. The M2 shares little in common with the Corvette Z06 besides being a very exciting rear-wheel-drive sports car. The M2 gets power from a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder making 405 hp.
While the Corvette is more striking than some European supercars, the M2 has a much more grown-up look about it. It also has back seats. Again, these two cars aren’t really comparable, but seeing as how you can get a 2021 M2 for under $70,000, I’d say it’s worth a look.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: $79,420
The Mustang is a bit closer in spirit, at least, to the Corvette Z06 than the Porsche and BMW. That said, it is still a pretty different bird. As noted by CarBuzz, Ford does really have a competitor that can step to the Corvette, but the Mustang has all the power to show up alongside the Z06.
The Shelby GT500’s deep well of power draws from the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 making 760 hp, much more than the Corvette’s 670 hp. And although the Shelby is very much a muscle car, unlike some other sleds, the Mustang can actually go around a corner.
Dodge Viper (2013-2017): 92,000
Now, the Dodge Viper is a bit of a departure from the other cars on this list because it is the only one that can match the Corvette Z06 in pure madness. The last model year of the Viper came with a monstrous 8.4-liter V10 engine making 645 hp and 600 lb-ft. All that power allows for a 3.5-second 0-60 mph sprint and quite the handful.
Also, unlike the other cars on this list, the Viper came with a true six-speed manual transmission. This car is one of the last truly analog cars with very little between the car and the driver.
Although it isn’t objectively as good as the Corvette Z06, it is equally, if not more, extreme. And as far as icons are concerned, you’d be hard-pressed to find many sports cars under $100k as iconic as the Dodge Viper.
