Buying your first car is extremely exciting, but there are some considerations worth thinking about before you buy your first car. Furthermore, a sports car is not necessarily the number one choice when it comes to safety either.
But, a sports car offers an exhilarating driving experience, and the Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ offers an amazing performance to value ratio. The same story goes for the legendary Mazda MX-5 Miata or the Fiat 124 Spyder.
If you are willing to spend a little bit more money, an Audi TT or a BMW 2-series do seem like a perfect compromise between sportiness and luxury. A Ford Mustang is also a fairly popular sports car first option, but if you want the best for your money, go for a Porsche 911.
No matter which car you end up choosing, make sure that it’s the one you want. Test driving a sports car is a necessity, and you have to make sure you are not making the wrong decision. But you are hardly making a wrong decision with any of these cars.
Sports car considerations
Before you go out and buy yourself a sports car as your first car, make sure you are well acquainted with all the compromises you will be making by opting for one of these cars. Sports cars are indeed amazing, but they are usually compact, not all that efficient, and a bit more expensive to maintain compared to more regular cars.
For example, every model listed here is compromised when it comes to interior and cargo space, but that’s an inherent drawback of the sports car platform. Some models like Miata or the 124 Spyder offer great driving characteristics, but they are not made to fit tall people.
Sports cars are usually compact, and every car listed here besides the Mustang is indeed compact. This could be viewed as a positive and a negative. But since it’s your first car, a smaller car is always a good idea. Just make sure to take them out for a test drive until you are ready to buy.
Always do all the inspections if you are buying used, and try to consult with an experienced person you trust before opting for any car, and especially so if you never bought a car at all.
Great coupe sports cars as your first car
A coupe sports car is probably the right car segment for you. Even though convertibles are fun to drive a few times per year, a coupe sports car is usually the sportier one. Coupes are usually lighter and offer a more rigid chassis with less body flex, which makes them more athletic in the corners.
And the Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ is just that. These two are incredibly popular with a younger audience due to an affordable entry price, and lots of customization and tuning abilities. If you pair that with great reliability and characterful engines, these two seem like a great first car.
The BMW 2-series and the Audi TT are a bit more expensive and luxurious, but they don’t suffer when it comes to a sports car experience, especially if you opt for the top-of-the-line TT R or M2 versions. The appeal of premium-badged sports cars is obvious and needs no further introduction.
If you want a superior sports car, the 911 or the Mustang are the ones to buy. The 911 has been on sale for decades, and with every newer iteration, the 911 is getting better and better, which means that every used 911 is a great option. A Mustang is more or less the same story, but the Mustang can be bought with a N/A V8.
Great convertible sports cars as your first car
If you want a sporty, yet equally relaxing experience, a sporty convertible might just be the perfect car. And the Mazda MX-5 Miata is likely the most famous compact sports car convertible in existence, and it is easy to see why.
The MX-5 does not cost a lot of money to buy, run, or repair. With the ability to take the roof down, the MX-5 is probably the best affordable sports convertible out there. You should also check out the Fiat 124 Spyder while you are at it, cause the 124 is fairly competitive with the Miata.
The 124 Spyder is a little bit more restrained and arguably better looking. The regular Fiat version is mostly a coastal cruiser type of car, but the tuned Abarth Spyder version is aimed at performance, so it’s fairly close between the Miata and the Abarth 124.
FAQ Section
Is a sports car a good first car proposition?
Well, it depends on your usage scenario. Sports cars are compact, but they do offer a driving experience that can not be replicated by any other type of car except supercars which cost 10 times the money. If your lifestyle fits a sports car, then it 100% is worth buying.
Sports cars/supercars are arguably two of only a few car types that can create an emotional bond between the driver and the machine. This is partly why sports and supercar owners tend to take care of their cars that bit better compared to a regular Prius owner.
Do sports cars appreciate?
Some of them do, but this is not something you should be worrying about. If you want to retain as much of the value of the car, or even sell it for more than what you originally paid for it, you would hardly ever enjoy the car.
Some sports cars like the Cayman GT4 or Boxter Spyder are the ones that demand a higher resale price, but these are not your typical first car type of sports cars because this two cost more than a brand new 911 does.
How does my age affect care-associated costs?
Your age plays a major role primarily when considering insurance rates. Drivers aged between 16/18-24 are the ones that usually pay the highest insurance premium due to increased risk that is backed by loads of statistics.
After you turn 25/26, your insurance premiums should drop if you were a careful driver. Typically, drivers in their 50s and 40s are the ones that pay the lowest insurance premiums due to a lower risk of accidents.