We love a good deal here at CarBuzz, and seeing what interesting exotics you can get for the price of the sensible BMW 3 Series sounds like our perfect evening. In fact, depreciation has hit so hard that some of the most famous sporting brands in the world, like Ferrari, Aston Martin, or Bentley, have come within the reach of ordinary people, and we think these cars are a little more interesting than a German sedan.
So what happens when you’re given the same $65,000 to buy a V8, V10, or V12-engined poster car instead of a moderately specified rear-wheel-drive M340i with 386 horsepower? You get this wholly desirable list. We can’t apologize for any big service bills coming your way if you get any of these exotics, as we can only assume you’d be grinning from ear to ear when you reach for the keys.
2005 Aston Martin DB9
An M340i makes you look like a sensible office worker on your commute, while the Aston Martin DB9 makes you feel like James Bond. This two-door British icon is powered by a 5.9L V12 that produces 450 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, powering you effortlessly across the continent. You won’t want a manual transmission with this car, as the six-speed automatic matches its laid-back nature, especially in convertible form.
Prices vary widely, with some examples under $30,000 and others maxing out at $65k and up. We’d look for cars with lower miles and a stack of paperwork, since you don’t want to gamble when there are 12 cylinders to take care of. This is a heavy car, so check for suspension wear or any tire and brake replacements. You’ll look stylish, whichever one you go for.
2019 Maserati GranTurismo Sport Convertible
It’s hard to ignore the woeful reliability of the Maserati GranTurismo. These cars are affordable for a reason, gaining a reputation for losing value with every foot driven and almost everything going wrong at every moment. But you can almost forget all that when your sight and hearing are engaged — look at how it would fit perfectly on the shores of Lake Como, and how intense it sounds.
The 4.7L Ferrari-derived V8 engine has one of Italy’s best soundtracks, producing a growl at the low end and a roar at the top. It produces 454 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, propelling you to 60 mph in under 5.0 seconds. The blue dials, the Italian leather, and the open top. It’s hard to imagine this costs the same as BMW’s compact premium sedan. Could they be the perfect two-car solution?
1980 Ferrari 308 GTS
We know it might not be a 458 or even an F355, but that Ferrari badge carries some weight, which is why it’s impressive that you can get anything with the Prancing Horse on the hood for this price. The Pininfarina-designed wedge body of the 308, pop-up headlights, and classic Speedline wheels make this Italian Stallion a brilliant remedy for all the tech-filled cars of 2026. Plus, there’s the indelible connection with Tom Selleck and Magnum, P.I. The GTS even comes with a removable roof panel to make summer even more enjoyable.
The 1980 models get Bosch fuel injection, while the earlier ones are carbureted. Even though it has slightly less power at around 220 hp, its light mass and driving position mean it’ll feel much more enjoyable to drive than newer electronics-filled sports coupes.
2003 Bentley Continental GT
The 2003 Continental GT was the Bentley that started the company’s modern arc. As the first all-new model since 1931, it was based on the Audi A8 chassis and showed that even under VW ownership, it could still be an opulent British grand tourer. It was fitted with the oh-so-Bentley W12 engine, producing 552 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. This high-displacement 6.0L unit gave it that effortless cruising attitude.
While you can find newer versions in our 3-Series budget, the first generation is pure 2000s bliss and the cheapest of the lot. You can get a well-maintained example for under $20,000, which is what you’ll want when you’re paying Bentley maintenance prices. It’s a heavy car built for highways, so just check that the suspension isn’t weeping and the many electrics work.
2015 Jaguar F-Type R
If the United Kingdom made a modern muscle car, it’d probably look something like the Jaguar F-Type R. A supercharged 5.0L V8 makes a healthy 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque, and you’ll want to rev it all the way out to 6,600 rpm thanks to that throaty exhaust note. Power only goes to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic and an electronic limited-slip differential.
Other than the engine, it’s a fantastic daily driver. This sports coupe has a Meridian sound system, heated seats, and keyless entry, and you can find a decent example for less than $45,000. If you don’t need the rear seats, we wouldn’t look past something like this, and now that Jaguar is going all-electric, owning it feels like a sure way to get some of your money back when it’s time to sell.
2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG
A “sleeper” car may be an overused term, but remove the badges adorning the back of the Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG, and no one will know that you have a twin-turbocharged 6.0L V12 making 621 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. That latter figure is why this car has only five gears because at any point in the rev range, there’s plenty of torque to carry you down the highway. Even when you’re on uneven ground, the car stays composed thanks to active body control.
Being a three-pointed 2010s car, you get lots of creature comforts. That includes adaptive cruise control, a Harman Kardon sound system, as well as Night View Assist. This is certainly a car for people who like to recline and be massaged on the way to the mechanic, as when it works, it’s an incredibly calming experience, but if it doesn’t, you’ll be reaching very deeply into your pockets.
2012 Audi R8 V10 Spyder
You can just about squeeze into a V10-powered Audi R8 Spyder for the same price as the BMW 3 Series, and we think it’s worth removing the rear seats. The 5.2L naturally aspirated V10 is the same one used in the Lamborghini Gallardo, and it wails with a delightful tone all the way to 8,700 rpm. You may not get a manual for this price, but we don’t care with this drop-top sports car.
The car makes 525 hp, and even though torque is “only” rated at 391 lb-ft, you’ll be so high up in the rev range listening to the engine that it’ll feel quicker. Compared to the Gallardo, it’s a subtle design that has aged extremely well, and it’s actually a decently reliable engine compared to some rivals. Advertised as a Porsche 911 rival, it can easily serve as a daily driver, with plenty of creature comforts and a decent frunk.
2001 Dodge Viper RT/10
The BMW M340i and 2000s Dodge Viper could not be more different. The 8.0L V10 engine with 450 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque makes every journey an experience, and all that power is routed through a reliable six-speed Tremec manual. We’d look at cars made after 2001, as this was the year that Dodge added ABS, an important addition for when there’s this much power going through the rear wheels.
Dodge positioned this car as a driver-centric coupe that focused on the experience, meaning many creature comforts that you’ll find on the BMW aren’t available. Used examples include air-conditioning, a CD stereo, and even power windows, though. You might get called crazy for choosing a V10 Viper over a sensible German sedan, but who cares when it looks this good?
2014 BMW i8
This is a love-it-or-hate-it car, but we’re on the love side. Framed as a look into the future of BMW sports cars, the i8 was a clever piece of engineering and an iconic design we wish the company had continued. The mid-mounted turbocharged three-cylinder (from a Mini Cooper) mates with an electric motor to produce 357 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. People thought of this as a sports car, but it was more of a rolling test bed.
If you’re a car tech nerd, this is worth the price. The whole car is made of two modules called the Drive and Life modules. The former houses the battery in the middle of the car, and its design makes the aluminum battery a structural component, creating a stiff yet light structure. The Life module is a carbon fiber composite, which offsets the weight of the battery and is half the weight of traditional steel.
Sources: Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati, Dodge, Jaguar, BringATrailer
