Here Are 6 Overlooked Manual Sports Car Bargains

TL;DR

Doug DeMuro lists six underrated manual sports cars worth buying, deliberately excluding obvious picks like the Miata, S2000, and Corvette.

Key Points

• 1.BMW M3/M4 convertibles are unfairly dismissed by enthusiasts. The E46, E93, and F83 M4 drop-tops all offer manual transmissions, and the chassis rigidity criticism is overblown for real-world canyon driving — plus they're cheaper to buy than coupes.
• 2.The 4th-gen Camaro and Firebird (1992–2002) are underrated muscle car bargains. The WS6 Trans Am produced 320–330 hp from a big NA V8, sounds great, and offers a retro alternative to the now-ubiquitous Dodge Challenger with plentiful GM parts.
• 3.The Jaguar F-Type with a manual is a stunning, underappreciated sports car. The inline-6 manual version makes ~340–380 hp, handles sharply unlike typical Jags, looks world-class, and can be bought today for around $30,000.
• 4.The Nissan 350Z (Z33, 2003–2008) sells for shockingly little given its capability. Good manual examples regularly sell on Cars and Bids for $9,000–$15,000 despite offering 290 hp, rear-wheel drive, and genuine sports car dynamics in a purpose-built two-seat package.
• 5.The Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Redline pack 260 turbocharged hp for Miata money. Both use the same 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, are typically well-preserved low-mileage third cars, and are available for $8,000–$13,000 — delivering S2000-level power at a bargain price.
• 6.The Toyota MR2 Spyder (2000–2005) is overlooked because it followed two more focused MR2 generations. It's a lightweight, mid-engine, highly communicative sports car that drives better than its reputation suggests, available for $6,000–$14,000 with Toyota reliability and strong parts availability.
• 7.The common thread across all six cars is that stigma or comparison to predecessors suppresses their market value. Whether it's the 'convertible penalty' on M3s, VQ street-racer associations on the 350Z, or GM brand skepticism on the Solstice, emotional bias creates buying opportunities for rational enthusiasts.