10 Proper German Sports Cars That Are Surprisingly Cheap To Own And Maintain

Not only are these German sports cars quite affordable to acquire, but living with them is also easy on the wallet.

Sometimes getting behind the wheel of a dream car turns out to be easier than a gearhead may think. Cars that once seemed out of reach, reveal themselves as viable options. Thanks to depreciation, or market factors, getting that desirable vehicle on the driveway becomes achievable, and waking up to find a Chevrolet C5 Corvette waiting to be daily driven, is no longer a fantasy.

Updated February 2023: We all love sports cars, but the hassle of keeping them well-oiled and in proper working order can be a tedious and expensive task. Luckily for us enthusiasts, the Germans thought of this and created sports cars that are about as difficult to run as a normal family sedan. These cars offer all the performance one would ever need, all while keeping the servicing and maintenance costs nice and low.

In a lot of cases though, it’s simpler to leave a dream car up there in the clouds. As any secondhand Maserati owner can testify to, what seems like a wonderful slice of exciting motoring, a supposed bona fide investment, may lead to financial ruin. So, buying an affordable dream car can appear to be something of a balancing act. Yet, it doesn’t have to be.

Out there are several tempting German sports cars on the used car market that tick the dream car box. Rip-snorting stars that will bring joy into a gearhead’s life, without causing them financial pain. Here are 10 proper German sports cars that are surprisingly cheap to own and maintain.

10

2009 Porsche Cayman S

source:Porsche

The Porsche Cayman has proven itself to be worthy of its nose badge. A compact, precise sports car that brings joy back into driving. Best experienced on twisting mountain passes, the Porsche Cayman hooks itself to sweeping roads with skill, and it’s quite breathtaking. The Cayman isn’t just the ‘poor man’s 911’, rather it is a cheaper way to experience the precise engineering behind the Porsche badge.

The original Cayman S version gets a tasty 3.4-liter engine. It is making 291 hp, blitzing to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Light on its toes, the Cayman S encourages a gearhead to explore its full potential. Supplying ample feedback through the steering wheel, it’s simply a great Porsche.

9

2009 Audi TTS

Via Audi

The often-forgotten Audi TTS remains a performance bargain. Its tried and tested 2.0-liter engine has gained a power bump over the VW Golf GTI’s regular performance. Now producing 272 hp, the 1st gen TTS – made with the second-generation TT – will hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Its turbo-fed acceleration is best felt in the engine’s mid-range.

Underpinned by the fantastic Quattro all-wheel drive system, road holding is superb in all weathers. Beautifully finished inside, the Audi TTS is a comfortable place to spend time behind the wheel, punishing a favorite rad, or simply tackling the daily commute.

Related: Here’s How Much It Would Cost To Maintain An Audi A4 From The Early 2000s

8

2008 BMW 650i Coupe

source: BMW

Sometimes mistaken for a lazy grand tourer, the BMW 6-series is a sports car at heart, especially when equipped with the mighty 4.8-liter V8. Pressing the throttle uncorks 362 hp and 361 lb-ft of thrust going to the rear wheels, this equates to a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds and a limited 155 mph v-max.

It may present itself as too civilized, being lavishly equipped with sumptuous leather seating and a raft of impressive electronics. However, push the 650i, and it will deliver. Quickly falling into a wonderful point and squirt rhythm of driving. What it lacks in agility it makes up for in pure grunt.

7

2004 Opel Monaro VXR/Pontiac GTO

source:Vauxhall Motors

The Vauxhall Monaro may have been born in Australia, but it reached its peak in Europe. The Monaro and GTO are technically Holdens from the Outback, but this just adds a ‘cool’ factor to the car. Multiple suspension revisions allow the LS2 powerplant to make the most of the chassis. All t6.0-literr’s power surges to the rear tires, but this only equates to a calmer throttle use.

Being too heavy with the throttle will see 397 hp torch some rubber. However, the secret is to be gentle and learn to ride the huge tidal wave of power. Then progress becomes effortless. The Monaro wants to dance, skip, and slid into a gearhead’s heart, where it will stay forever. Thanks to the simplistic engineering – massive engine, manual transmission, and rear-wheel-drive – the Monaro is easy to fix and maintain.

6

2001 Porsche 911 996

Via Porsche

Often referred to as the unwanted Porsche 911, the outcast, the 911 996 was the first of the family to adopt a water-cooled engine. To some, it was a disgusting upstart, others view it as a visionary – much in the same way the current electrically-assisted steering caused panic. Thankfully, the secondhand market still flags it up as the cheapest way into a 911.

Being cheap doesn’t mean it’s nasty. Everything that fans love about the Porsche 911 is here – the fine handling and the subtle hint that the car wants to be driven hard across challenging roads. A base 996 Carerra also gets 296 hp and hits 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, which is plenty fast enough for any occasion. The 911 even makes for an excellent daily driver.

Related: Here’s Why The Porsche 996 Is One Of The Best Modern Classics You Can Buy

5

2007 Volkswagen Eos VR6

source:VW

The Volkswagen Eos was a fashion purchase back when hard-top convertibles were all the rage. It came in a range of different engine flavors, but the best is the one with the VR6, as that unit got pinched from the Golf R32, giving the quirky VW EOS plenty of get-up-and-go.

A feisty growler, the 3.2-liter engine generates 250 hp – enough to propel the front-wheel drive Eos to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds. Its handling feels controlled, rather than sharp – like so many VW products – but it is still a rewarding sports car to drive fast, especially with the gutsy soundtrack on offer. The Eos is just one of the many different variants VW has created from the Golf.

4

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

source:flickr

Still looking aggressively elegant, the Mercedes-Benz SL63 delivers plenty of German speed with a suitable amount of glamour. Under its rakish hood lurks a 6.2-liter V8 – a Bavarian brute that spits out 518 hp combined with 464 lb-ft of torque. Those used to be supercar numbers not too long ago.

Top-down, hit the throttle, listen to the intoxicating roar, then watch as the speedometer hits 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, before engaging another gear and reaching heights of speed that would warrant a night in the slammer. On the move, the SL63 never feels ungainly. It hides its mass, with surprising amounts of agility. Drop-dead gorgeous, and very exciting, an SL63 won’t ever get tiresome. Not with that engine at least.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Roadster

3

2010 Audi RS5 Coupe

source:Audi

The Audi S5 is a sports car aimed at more sophisticated gearheads. Boasting all the usual Audi refinements, like sure-footed Quattro all-wheel drive, a luxurious interior, brimming with equipment, and subtle, yet sexy looks. It also hides its best feature, a potent and fiery engine.

A tidal wave of power is on offer in the RS5. As its 4.2-liter V8 spools out 444 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, a clever central-differential funnels this to where it needs to. Meaning, the RS5 hits 60 mph in a ballistic 4.6 seconds. Mature yet offers great fun. It’s an accomplished vehicle that easily makes one of the best V8 sounds of any car in history.

2

2005 BMW Z4

source:flickr

You don’t need a big engine in a BMW Z4 to have a good time. And that is all thanks to the car’s wonderfully balanced handling. Every car hugs the road looks fantastic, and delivers enormous pleasure when driven. The performance on offer rises from strong to breathtaking.

Opting for the 3.0-liter straight-six engine gives the driver access to 231 hp. That’s enough to punt the little BMW Z4 from a standstill to 60mph in 5.8 seconds. Traditional BMW tail-out action and some lift-off oversteer are just a throttle press away. Bucket loads of fun crammed into a neat and tidy package that would take a long time to get old – if ever.

Related: Here’s Why BMW Boss Encourages Keeping Older Cars Running Instead Of Buying New

1

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

source:Mercedes-Benz

It makes gearhead sense. Take one of the smallest cars and introduce it to one of your largest engines, then watch the magic happen. So, when AMG stuffed a 5.5-liter V8 under the hood of the Mercedes-Benz SLK, a little monster was born. A gorgeously overpowered behemoth with the roar of a dragon.

The sharp looking German now found itself to have 354 hp on tap. It would rocket to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and top out at an electronically-limited 155 mph. Capable of bullying roads into submission, the SLK55 AMG was a miniature supercar for those that loved to look good while humiliating any other car in its class in proper AMG fashion.

Sources: Porsche, Audi, BMW, VW, Mercedes-Benz, ConsumerReports