13 Sports Cars You Have To Drive Before You Die

Every gearhead has an automotive bucket list they would love to tick off. But with so many awesome cars to choose from, it can often be daunting just to get the ball rolling.

To help you get started or add a few more to your list, we have selected 13 sports cars you must drive. These vehicles defined their segments, provided a driving experience like no other, or moved the game on in a way that left the competition gasping.

Listing a selection of multi-million-dollar sports cars would have been the easy way out, but we’ve picked models most mortals can access. So, whether you plan to put one in your garage or are just looking for a quick drive to tick the box, these are the cars you must consider seriously.

1980 – 1987 Alfa Romeo GTV6

Alfa Romeo has a fantastic history that stretches back 113 years. Over that period, it built some superb driver’s cars. The rear-wheel drive GTV6 models built between 1980 and 1987 delivered great performance and handling for their time while retaining that old-school Alfa charm.

The 2.5-liter V6 engine delivered a potent 158 horsepower, and even though it isn’t quick by today’s standards, the driving experience is still awesome.

2006 – 2024 Audi R8

Audis are fast, stunning, well-built, and reliable. But most aren’t particularly exciting to drive. Well, that was the general consensus among car enthusiasts until the arrival of the sensational Audi R8 in 2006. Instead of hanging the engine ahead of the front axle like in previous fast Audis, the R8 had a mid-mounted high-revving 414 horsepower 4.2-liter V8.

It looked great, handled like a true sports car, and was as quick (if not quicker) than any contemporary BMW M car. Try to find an early car with a manual transmission, but if not, the later first-generation V10s are fantastic, too. They are even quicker and share much of their running gear with the Lamborghini Gallardo.

2000 – 2006 BMW E46 M3

BMW’s Motorsport division has produced some amazing road cars over the years. To understand the pure essence of an M car, there can be no better starting point than the E46 BMW M3.

The 338-horsepower 3.2-liter inline-six engine was an absolute masterpiece. Still, it was the way this BMW M3 handled that made it a true icon. Good ones are becoming pricey, but there are still good deals if you look hard enough. For the best experience, stick to the coupes with manual transmissions.

1984 – 1996 Chevrolet Corvette C4

The fourth-generation Corvette arrived in 1984, bringing with it some significant changes. A new chassis, upgraded engines, and new tech made it a far more complete package than the older C3. Few designs have aged as well as the C4, and it looks as good as it sounds.

The C4 was in production from 1984 to 1996, and we’d suggest the 1992-on cars with the upgraded LT1 V8 engines for the best experience. These cars made 300 horsepower, and still feel quick today.

1991 – 2017 Dodge Viper

The Dodge Viper was designed partly to recreate a modern-day AC Cobra and partly to show the Europeans what fast meant. The resultant 400 horsepower 8.0-liter V10 certainly delivered the required performance, and later, American Club Racing (ACR) models were Porsche quick around a race track.

You need to experience the raw original. Its truck-based underpinnings are tough and relatively crude, but not much can compare with its awesome exhaust note and madly spinning rear wheels at every prod of the throttle.

1980 – 1993 Ferrari Mondial

This may seem like a strange one, but it remains one of the more attainable Ferraris out there that still drives like a classic Ferrari should. Its odd proportions have always kept it in the shadow of the 308 and 328 sold alongside it. But it was fitted with the same V8 engine and running gear as these stunning two-seaters and drove just as well.

Depending on the model year, power outputs ranged from 214 to 300 horsepower, as the engine capacity gradually increased from 2.9 to 3.4 liters. It may look a little odd, but the Mondial has seating for four, and the convertible is still the world’s only four-seater, mid-engined drop-top.

Prices are still relatively reasonable, and what could be more fun than taking a few friends out on a weekend in your manual transmission Ferrari?

2005 – 2014 Ford Mustang

This iconic sports car should be a must-drive for anyone looking to experience what an American sports car is all about. But which one should you try? Decent early cars are expensive and hard to find. And most are better suited at boulevard cruising, rather than canyon carving.

That’s why the fifth-gen models are a great way to experience the Mustang for the first time. They are still new enough to deliver a fun drive, look the part, and work just as well with a manual or automatic transmission. Stick to the V8s, though.

1999 – 2009 Honda S2000

The Honda S2000 was a back-to-basics roadster that made the most of its RWD layout and impressive 237-horsepower 2.0-liter VTEC motor. It revved all the way to 9,000-rpm, and you had to keep the engine above the 6,000-rpm point for truly rapid progress.

The 2005 facelift introduced some chassis tweaks, and the U.S. market also got a torquier 2.2-liter motor, but any S2000 is a riot to drive and should be on your shortlist.

1989 – Present Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5/Miata models always appear on lists like this, but they are just such great cars to drive that omitting them would seem like a gross oversight. The original 1989 NA models are the purest and lightest, but finding one in good condition can be challenging.

The next best thing is the current-generation ND car. It is quick, nimble, and offers the kind of back-to-basics driving experience that is missing from so many modern sports cars.

2002 – 2008 Nissan 350Z

Nissan’s Z models have always been a lot of car for the money, especially after a few years of depreciation. The 350Z arrived at a time when rivals were moving to smaller turbocharged engines, and its brawny 3.5-liter V6 and hefty controls were a throwback to a simpler time.

Many were modded and tuned to deliver massive power, but a standard model is still a great drive, and provides a real raw RWD driving experience at a very affordable price point. Look for one from 2006-on, as these got a upgraded engines.

1989 – 1994 Porsche 964

This one may be a tad pricier than the rest, but whether or not you can afford it, a 964-generation Porsche 911 is undoubtedly a must drive. It was the second-last air-cooled 911, and the last one that could trace its development all the way back to the original 911 way back in 1964.

It perfectly intersects the period when the 911 transitioned from an old-school sports car to a modern machine. Turbo models are still rapid by today’s standards, but a standard Carrera 2 with a manual transmission is one of the most immersive classic driving experiences around.

2005-2012 Porsche Boxster 987

The current generation Porsche Boxster is a class-leading sports car that offers strong performance and superb handling. It was much the same with the original car that was launched in 1996. Any version will deliver a great driving experience, and a 987 second-generation model is a superb modern classic.

All of these came with flat-six engines and no turbos. We’d avoid the early cars with Tiptronic automatic transmissions, but otherwise its hard to go wrong here.

2022- Present Toyota GR86

Manual transmissions, RWD, and naturally aspirated engines are the ideal formula for the purist car enthusiast. This recipe is particularly rare these days, and Toyota’s GR86 is one of the very few that still offer it.

The earlier GT86 always needed a bit more power, and the GR86 sorted that problem out with its larger 232-horsepower 2.4-liter boxer engine. It is a perfectly balanced sports car that also works great as a daily driver.