10 of the Best Supercars for Under £50K

What are the first things that pop to your mind when you hear the term “supercars”? High-performance, low silhouette sports cars with a big wing in the back, right? What is the second? Unfortunately, extremely high price tags and horror stories about expensive maintenance. Yes, the most prestigious sports cars require significant investments. However, through the magic of depreciation, there is still a way to enjoy all that performance and dynamics at a more moderate price. Today, we will tell you more about ten supercars you can get for (or around) 50,000 pounds.

Nissan GT-R R35

The brand new GT-R will set you back £85k + but used, and well-cared examples of this insanely fast supercar are available from £35k. With a powerful 3.8L, twin-turbo V6 engine with 480 to 570 hp (depending on the model year), extremely capable all-wheel-drive system, the GT-R is brutally efficient in real-life conditions. It also has four seats and a usable trunk, which provides it with almost daily-driver potential for most dedicated drivers.

Lamborghini Gallardo

During its 10-years production run, Gallardo became the most successful Lamborghini model in terms of sales. It is no surprise since it was well-constructed, entirely usable, but still flamboyantly-styled supercar with glorious 5.0 or 5.2L V10 behind the driver. With 500 to 570 hp, all-wheel-drive on most versions, and a fast-shifting gearbox, Gallardo is capable of sublime acceleration times and a top speed of close to 200 mph. The prices for early models are slightly higher than our £50k limit, but they are still obtainable.

Porsche 911 Turbo (996)

The 996 generation was a very controversial model when it was released in the late ‘90s. Porsche purists had many complaints, but now, we can indeed say that it was a true 911 and helped Porsche further establish its dominance in the sports cars segment. Powered by a 3.8L, flat-six turbo engine delivering 420 hp to all four wheels, 996 Turbo has 0 to 60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph. The best part? The prices for early 2000s models start below 30,000 pounds.

Lotus Esprit V8

In 1996, Lotus finally gave Esprit the engine it deserved from the beginning. The bespoke 3.5L V8 with two turbochargers delivered 355 hp, but it had the potential to produce close to 500 hp with simple mods. With such powerplant, classic good looks, and wedge shape, the Esprit V8 version was the swan song of this model and stayed in production until 2002. Today, solid examples can be found for around £40k and are worth every penny.

Dodge Viper

Loud, obnoxious, extremely dangerous to drive, and insanely thirsty, the Viper is typically an American take on the supercar formula with all the right ingredients. Regardless of the model year, there is always a massive 8.0 or 8.2L V10 in the front with generous amounts of power and torque. The only available transmission is a classic six-speed manual, and the noise and driving dynamics are intoxicating. However, the Dodge Viper was never the most stable supercar, and driving it on the wet is properly frightening. But, for around 30,000 pounds for early models, you won’t find a more exciting car with a unique character and design.

Audi R8

Introduced in 2005, the R8 was the first supercar from Audi. Mechanically very similar to the Lamborghini Gallardo, the R8 had a unique design, interior, and option of the 4.2L V8 engine. Compared to some other cars in this segment, R8 was always a driver’s favourite since it was well-built and usable but still provided thrilling performance and supercar looks. The good news is that examples from 2005/6 can be found for just over 30,000 pounds. If we were in the market for such a car, we would look for a 4.2L with a six-speed manual since it provides an unmatched driving experience and feel.

Honda NSX

It is no secret that companies like Ferrari or Porsche were very nervous when Honda introduced NSX in 1990. It was a car that matches the looks and the performance at a fraction of the cost and with dependability that Italian supercars can only dream of. Although the classic NSX has only 270 to 290 hp and performance of a modern hot hatch, it still looks gorgeous and has that supercar stance and feel. You can get well-preserved examples for less than 50,000 pounds, and this car is a sound investment.

Alfa Romeo 4C

People tend to dismiss 4C as a sub-supercar due to the fact it only has 245 hp and a 1.75L turbocharged four-cylinder. However, it is also incredibly light, has carbon chassis, race-tuned suspension, and 0 to 60 mph of just 4.5 seconds. Not to mention it looks like an Italian supercar should and will get you more looks per mile than some much more expensive and faster cars. The 4C production stopped recently, but you can pick one up for less than 50,000 pounds. It will not be the best everyday car, but it will be a fantastic track machine.

Lotus Exige

Combining the well-known lightweight philosophy of Lotus founder, late Collin Chapman, with modern technology and a reliable Toyota 3.5L V6 engine, Exige is an extremely accomplished supercar. Delivering 350 hp and launching this little coupe from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, supercharged V6 is usable on the street as well as on the track. Since the Lotus will not produce any more ICE models and is turning to the EV market, it is now the time to buy the Exige, and prices start around £35k.

Ferrari 360

No list of supercars would be complete without at least one Ferrari, right? Finding a road-worthy, relatively modern, and usable Ferrari for around 50,000 pounds might be a challenge, but for a few grand more, you are in 360 territory, and this is a model you should consider. Here you will find screaming 3.6L V8 with almost 400 hp sent to rear wheels through F1-style automatic transmission. The good thing about the Ferrari 360 is the fact that it is significantly more dependable than its predecessors, which should make the ownership experience more enjoyable.

There you have it, 10 supercars you can buy with roughly a £50K budget! For more awesome car-related content be sure to subscribe to our blog and follow us on social media.

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