Unless money is no object, car buying is about research, compromise, and careful selection for a typical buyer. Granted, if money actually is no object for you, congratulations. Enjoy your mill about the Porsche dealership as you fall in love with your favorite spec of 911 Turbo. But for the rest of us, a luxury sports car purchase is wrought with risk, and yes, compromise. If your budget is on the lighter side, your options are severely limited. And if your options are too limited, there’s a chance you’ll be settling for less thrill than you wanted.
Sad, I know. It’s enough to sink you into a sports car-related depression. But before you pull out your tiny violin, there are thoroughbred sports car options out there that promise to deliver without breaking the bank. Better yet, there’s at least one posh luxury sports car with Porsche-challenging pantomime and pedigree to spare. If that wasn’t enough, you can get one for the price of a new Toyota Camry.
Not Everyone Has Porsche Money
The Porsche 911, arguably the gold standard of the everyday drivable performance car, has spent the last six decades evolving from a little air-cooled sports car into an icon. Alas, it’s also spent that time becoming more than expensive; it’s straight-up prohibitive for many. The base-model 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera now starts at $137,850. Want the purist-focused Carrera T? That’ll be $150,350 for the hardtop and $154,150 for the cabriolet. Then there’s the obscenely fast Porsche 911 Turbo S. Both the coupe and the convertible demand north of a quarter of a million dollars.
Even the Porsche 718 family of sports cars is spectacularly spendy, depending on the trim level. The razor-sharp 2025 Porsche 718 GT4 RS, for example, started at $172,095, although even pre-owned models are currently listed for $200,000 or more. Even used Porsches maintain their value. According to some of the latest depreciation data from iSeeCars, the 911 and 718 Cayman are the number-two and number-one least-depreciating cars on the market, respectively.
An Affordable Alternative
So, if you want a more affordable alternative to a modern Porsche 911, you’ll have to look elsewhere than in the Zuffenhausen automaker’s sports car lineup. You could look at a previous 911 generation, like the 997 or 991. However, getting your hands on a low-mileage, well-kept version of those cars will cost you more than new Toyota sedan money. After all, the average sales price for a 2012-model 991 last year was $70,720. That said, there are alternatives from other tenured sports car makers. But one British two-seater promises a Porsche-esque driving experience without the big price tag. And depending on the year, trim, mileage, and condition, you can get one for less than a new Toyota Camry.
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The Jaguar F-Type Delivers Sports Car Thrills For Less
Jaguar closed the book on the svelte, two-door F-TYPE sports car following the 2024 model year, and on time for the brand’s disastrous attempt to reinvent itself. That does mean, however, there are plenty of used models between the final Jaguar F-TYPE and its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show over 13 years ago. And why wouldn’t you? Jaguar billed the sporty two-seater as “a continuation of a sporting bloodline that stretches back more than 75 years and encompasses some of the most beautiful, thrilling and desirable sports cars ever built.” Braggy? Sure. But not necessarily wrong.
The F-TYPE’s lineage goes all the way back to poster-worthy cars like the iconic E-Type (XKE in the North American market), a car so beautiful that Enzo Ferrari reportedly loved it. Still, don’t think that you’ll be able to rush out and buy a late-model example like a 2024 Jaguar F-TYPE R75, which we reviewed back in late 2023, without spending some serious money. As of this writing, the typical listing price for a 2024 Jaguar F-TYPE P575 R75 sits at around $80,570. Shrewd shoppers can, however, find a pre-facelift F-TYPE for family sedan money.
You Can Get One For Around $25,000
Jaguar updated the F-TYPE for the 2021 model year, giving it a new look and lease on life in the sports car segment. To find a solid F-TYPE bargain, though, you’ll have to look back at the pre-facelift models. It’s not too tricky a task, really, when you consider the pre-facelift car’s looks and engine options. At the mention of engine offerings, consider sticking to the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine option for an even better deal.
2015 Jaguar F-TYPE S Specs
|
Engine |
Supercharged 3.0-Liter V6 |
|
Transmission |
8-Speed Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
380 HP At 6,500 RPM |
|
Torque |
339 LB-FT At 3,500-5,500 RPM |
|
Curb Weight |
3,514 LBS |
For instance, a V6-powered 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE S, depending on factors like mileage, location, and condition, has a typical listing price of $25,370. Jumping to the volcanic F-TYPE R and its 550-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8 swells the average listing price to $37,030. On the other hand, a new, range-topping 2026 Toyota Camry XSE starts at $36,895. That means you can, in fact, get a sultry used luxury sports car for less than a new Toyota Camry.
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A Library Of Engines
Want variety? Take your pick. The latest Jaguar F-TYPE models consolidated into a solitary option: a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with two different configurations. However, depending on the model year, the pre-facelift F-TYPE is available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, a supercharged 3.0-liter V6, and a supercharged 5.0-liter V8. Although car buyers looking for Porsche thrills may want to stick with the V6 or V8 offerings. Better yet, budget-minded luxury sports car shoppers will find the 380-horsepower output in the F-TYPE S plenty thrust-happy without demanding F-TYPE R or SVR prices.
Ear Candy
I can hear the reservations already. “But, wait! What about the flat-six soundtrack?” True, you don’t get the same sonorous report from a V6 or V8 F-TYPE that you do from a high-revving flat six. That doesn’t mean the F-TYPE is lacking in the sound department. Jaguar offered the F-TYPE with a Switchable Active Exhaust that clears the Brit’s throat, prompting the F-TYPE to bark, shout, and sing with the best of them. To get the F-TYPE to drown out your neighbor’s Porsche or Mustang, all you need to do is thumb the sinister little active exhaust button resembling a set of cartoonish tailpipes.
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So, Should You Buy One?
Sure, you can get a used, pre-facelift Jaguar F-TYPE for less than a new Toyota Camry XSE. Just don’t expect a 10-year-old Jaguar sports car to be as reliable as a Toyota sedan. In some cases, owners complain of pricey headlight replacements. In others, owners cite leaks, sensor failures, and rattling noises related to the supercharger. Still, a V6-powered Jaguar F-TYPE or F-TYPE S is a unique luxury sports car bargain in today’s market. And just look at it.
Sources: Jaguar, Porsche, Toyota, Classic.com, iSeeCars, Kelley Blue Book