10 Fast Sports Cars That Are Good For Beginners
How do you become an expert driver or gain driving skills on par with the best professional drivers out there? As always, experience is the best teacher, which comes from driving regularly and consistently until you become a pro or an expert driver.
Some will tell you the surest way to move from beginner to expert-level driving is to get a coach (and the money involved) who will provide you with a sufficient dose of racing knowledge to make you a pro. As gearheads, we zealously disagree. Driving schools and coaching are excellent solutions, but hands-on experience remains the best teacher.
For the beginner, that experience can get gained with a less-complex, entry-level sports car to start with. For example, the Miata MX-5 often makes a good cheap sports car. Below, we’ve compiled a list of actually fast sports cars that are the easiest to drive and great for regular, consistent driving, and therefore perfect for a starter to learn how to drive like a pro.
10 2022 Mazda Miata MX 5 RF Club: 0–60 – 5.9 Sec
The Miata is one of the most popular lightweight sports cars on the market. We particularly chose the RF variant because it adds a unique spin to the sporty 2-door coupe. The term “RF” stands for “Retractable Fastback,” denoting how the regular soft-top MX-5 now features an electrically operated retractable metallic roof.
This provides extra sound insulation, improving the refinement and daily-driving suitability. Remember, you need consistent, regular driving to become a pro driver quicker, and the soft-top or convertible nature of the regular MX-5 may stand in the way of that.
With the roofing issue out of the way, you’d find the Miata is an excellent depiction of a well-balanced but adequately underpowered sports car perfect for learners. It offers learners a race car experience. If you thought some older models are unreasonably overpriced or overvalued, that’s because many drivers around the world have discovered the RWD Miata a perfect example of a beginner race car. They’re popular with girls too.
9 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i: 0–60 – 5.6 Sec
The Z4 and the i8 are the only two bonafide sports cars in BMW’s portfolio, with the Z4 as the entry-level model. For the 2012 model year, the Bimmer swapped the previous year’s 3.0-liter straight-six engine with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four in the base trim known as the sDrive28i.
The new engine produces 240 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque from 1,250 to 4,800 rpm – all sent to the rear wheels via a choice of 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. Similar to the Miata, the Z4 sDrive28i features a folding hardtop, making it perfect for daily driving and weekend open-top rides.
8 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited: 0–60 – 5.6 Sec
The Scion FRS, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota 86; they’re basically the same, down to the engines. Both generate the same range of torque and come with a purse-friendly price tag to entice beginner drivers.
Remember, you’re looking for a less-complex sports car and the Subaru BRZ is a great example, complete with narrow tires for improved traction and a low center of gravity that greatly minimizes the risk of flipping the car while autocrossing. The BRZ makes 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, which is in the same range as the Toyota 86 with 232 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
7 2016 Audi TT Roadster: 0–60 – 5.4 Sec
Some might argue that the TT is more of a GT than a bonafide sports car. Technically, it could go either way. Audi’s sports car lineup includes the TT, TTS, and the mid-engined R8, with the TT as the most affordable of the three.
The Audi TT relies on a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 211 horsepower and 258 ft-lbs of torque. That power travels to the TT’s AWD system via a 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.
6 2013 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec Coupe: 0–60 – 5.2 Sec
As with the Audi TT, some might hesitate to associate Hyundai with the term “sports car.” In any case, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a rear-wheel drive sports coupe from the Hyundai Motor Company. It first hit the Korean market on October 13, 2008.
The Genesis Coupe loves the track. With the optional V6 mill, the coupe can go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Nissan 370Z. The Coupe’s RWD system makes it great for beginners due to the improved sports car-like balance. It’s an excellent pick to break into the world of serious racing.
5 2014 Jaguar F-Type Coupe: 0–60 – 5.0 Sec
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Jaguar introduced the new F-Type Coupe as its new entry-level sports car for the 2015 model year. The 2015 F-Type Coupe is, in our opinion, the first true Jaguar sports car since the E-Type (also known as XK-E) finished production in 1975.
It relies on a 3.0-liter V6 engine with 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The F-Type’s comparatively expensive starting price pays for a potpourri of gorgeous looks, marvelous sound, and an extremely thrilling driving experience.
4 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS: 0–60 – 4.0 Sec
You know it as a muscle car because the marketing department at Chevy said so. Those who’ve driven or own a Camaro know this. Your idea of the Camaro as no more than a muscle car might change when you actually drive one. It’s no less a sports car than any other on this list, thanks to the fine work of GM’s suspension engineers and the Camaro’s RWD platform that provides a natural balance unlike what you experience in muscle-car competitors.
The Camaro got a redesign in 2016, leaving it smaller, lighter, and a lot more agile. We chose the 2SS trim because it adds comfort amenities to the base 1SS. The 2019 Camaro 2SS uses a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine producing 455 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 455 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. What is the coolest cheap car? Find a bargain Camaro from outlets like TrueCar and you may have found the coolest cheap car around.
3 2020 Toyota GR Supra: 0–60 – 3.7 Sec
The Supra took a 17-year break after the 2002 model year. After a 17-year-long hiatus, the Supra returned for its fifth generation in March 2019 as the GR Supra, with the Supra now part of Toyota’s Gazoo Racing family of performance cars.
If you don’t mind the $45,500 to $78,999 price tag for a used 2020 GR Supra, then the new Supra’s low repair costs, comfortable daily driving use, driver-aid features, and high-performance engine makes it an ideal sports car especially for beginners interested in serious advanced driving. Toyota developed the new Supra in partnership with BMW, which explains the shared platform and many parts with the BMW Z4 (G29), including the BMW-derived 4- and 6-cylinder turbocharged engines.
2 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: 0–60 – 3.7 Sec
We assure you; just patriotism didn’t lead us down this road. The Corvette is on this list simply because it’s been a world-class sports car, at least from the last two previous generations. It has many features to support a beginner driver’s quest for racing expertise, not the least the electronic stability control (ESC) system that helps prevent the driver from losing control of the car.
Additionally, the driver can use the Corvette’s performance modes to check the ESC’s control of the car as he/she grows more confident. The 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray uses the same powerplant and has the same output as the 2019 Camaro 2SS.
1 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4: 0–60 – 3.3 Sec
Surprised to see Porsche’s name mentioned at the table of upstarts? Well, the Cayman isn’t a 911. The Porsche Cayman and Boxster coupe and convertible versions of the car we know as the 718 are great for beginners because they use a mid-engine layout that improves weight balance, unlike the rear-engined 911. The rear-engine layout has its benefits, though, particularly when the rear end loses traction.
The Cayman is significantly lighter, and its RWD system is more malleable. You’d also find the driving position and visibility more suitable for drivers with minimal experience. Another reason the Cayman is a great pick for beginners is that it’s a bargain sports car by Porsche standards, especially if you can find a mildly-optioned model in the used car.
Sources: Zeroto60Times
