4 Less Expensive Alternatives To Iconic Cars

I love cars, but I also love getting the most for my money. In the eyes of some I suppose that makes me frugal, but that mindset has let me own over 30 cars in the last 15 years without losing a bunch of money. That’s not to say I’ve never splurged for something awesome, nor does it mean expensive cars aren’t worth it. Well, some expensive cars aren’t worth it. Sorry Dodge, I’m not going to ever plunk down $70,000 just because you bolted a supercharger to a Challenger.

For that fact, you’ll never see me in a late-model Shelby anything, which are actually Ford-built with Ford parts then topped with a Shelby badge and a massively inflated price. But now I’m getting off-topic.

I know there are lots of enthusiasts out there who have big dreams, and hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. It can be discouraging though, seeing the car you want priced into the stratosphere while you’re trying to justify spending a few quid to go to the movies. I’m here to say it doesn’t have to be that way.

Keep working hard towards the goal of owning your dream car, whatever it might be. In the meantime, take note of the wide variety of performance vehicles that are in your grasp. Whether you’re wanting classic American muscle, Japanese tech, Italian styling or European sophistication, there are some impressive alternatives that often slip under the radar. If you open your mind a bit more, you can open your pocketbook a bit less and still have a great time behind the wheel. Here are just a few examples of what’s out there.

1969 Dodge Charger Alternative: 1971-1972 Dodge Demon

The classic Charger was lusted after long before Dominic Toretto began using them to fight international crime lords (and occasionally race against Supras). If you’re in the United States, buying a nice 1969 Charger with a 440 cubic-inch (7.2-litre) V8 will cost nearly $100,000 and if you want a hemi, the price doubles. Meanwhile, in 1971 Dodge unveiled a sick-looking performance variant of the Dodge Dart called Demon.

These were never too popular back in the day; there was quite a bit of controversy from religious types over the name but they were actually quite good performers. The top engine was a 340 cubic-inch (5.6-litre) V8 making 275bhp; not quite as robust as the big blocks in the Charger, but still easily tweakable to make considerably more power. More importantly, the Demon only weighed 1450kg, had better suspension, and it looked properly aggressive. You can find one fully restored in the States for about $35,000.

A80 Supra Alternative: 1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX

The Supra’s final generation was a hit when it came out, then grew to become a legend due in no small part to the Fast and Furious franchise. The 2JZ is a wicked engine capable of monster power, and there’s no denying the A80’s sexy styling and jet-fighter interior. But if you want a proper twin-turbo Supra, you’re looking at a minimum of $30,000 for something halfway decent, and prices quickly go up from there.

Meanwhile, Nissan 300ZX fans are like “hey, this car is fast, has two turbos and it turns corners.” The Z32 didn’t necessarily go under the radar; most people know about its twin-turbo 300bhp V6, exceptional suspension tuning with rear steering, and its drop-dead gorgeous ‘90’s aero styling. It’s just that the Supra got more glory, never mind the 300’s own stable-mate, the god-like Skyline GT-R. That’s why you can buy a very nice Z32 300ZX twin-turbo in the United States for just $15,000.

BMW M3 Alternative: BMW 3-Series

Ironically enough, in my recent piece on Focus RS alternatives I listed the E92 M3 as a viable option. Now, I’m presenting an alternative to the, ah, alternative. Sometimes the best alternative is to just step down a notch. And in this case, it’s not like you’re stepping down to a stripped-out base model with all the power of a busted vacuum.

The 335i coupe equipped with the M sport package is among the best non-M Bimmers ever built. It still has all the poise and balance enthusiasts expect from a German brand. It still has the luxury and understated styling. It’s available with a proper manual transmission. And it’s not exactly slow - the turbocharged inline-six makes 302bhp and sends the 335i to 60mph in under five seconds. For this, you’ll spend roughly $20,000 in America, almost half the going rate of the E92 M3. And yes, to satisfy all the BMW purists, I’ll also bring light to the fact that an E46 M3 with 333bhp from its inline-six is even cheaper yet.

Ferrari 430/458 Alternative: Maserati Coupe

My disclaimer for this section is that I’m not taking any kind of maintenance costs into consideration. Realistically, anyone looking to score something exotic and Italian should be expecting to either wrench it themselves, or have a proper bailout fund set aside. At least with the Maserati you can start far, far lower on the debt scale. How much lower?

A Ferrari 430 will set you back $110,000, while a 458 is significantly higher still . Meanwhile, an early 2000s Maserati Coupe GT - with more or less the same F136 engine used in the Ferraris - can be had for as little as $20,000. Wait, what?

Yes, there are differences in the Maserati’s engine. The Coupe GT makes 390bhp and is slightly smaller, 4.2 litres versus 4.3 for the 430 and 4.5 for the 458. It also uses a cross-plane crank as opposed to a flat-plane. But you still can choose between a manual or a paddle-shift gearbox, and winding out the gears is as much an aural delight as you get in either Ferrari. Add in excellent handling characteristics, comfortable accommodations and suave Italian styling, and yes, you can have a Ferrari-like experience for the same price as a well-optioned Vauxhall Astra.