When You Want to be Fast; but Not Look Fast

The cars on the market that are made to perform differently than what you might expect are often called sleepers. These cars will jump up and surprise you with their performance and power as they become the car you want them to be even though they don’t look the part. As you move through the years some cars come back around as great used vehicles and with that in mind we are ready to look at several sleeper cars that you can buy for under $20,000 on the used market.

Chevrolet Cobalt SS – While the base model of the Cobalt wasn’t much to look at or drive the SS model offers you a 260 horsepower engine to drive this lightweight car that was typically sold as the next small coupe from Chevrolet. This car was certainly quick around corners and made you gasp as it drove by. You should be able to find one for less than $7,000 and enjoy the ride.

Chrysler 300C – This is an aggressive looking car that offers you the V8 that puts the six-cylinder to shame. This car can really get up and go and will make you smile while you work to peel yourself from the driver’s seat. This is a ca that could have been a muscle car if it wasn’t meant to be something a bit classier than most of us feel we should drive.

Mazdaspeed 3 – Here is a car that looks like a small hatchback and not much more. What this car actually has been is the direct completion for the Volkswagen GTI. Carrying a 263 horsepower engine and the lightweight quickness that seems to be a staple of the Mazda family this car could turn you around and take off before you ever saw it coming. You can find these for less than $10,000 and have a great time twisting and turning this little beauty.

Dodge Neon SRT4 – The Neon has never made us feel like it was a car worth our attention, but much like the Cobalt SS, the SRT4 version of the Neon is worth your time. This car carries in a 230 horsepower turbocharged engine and rides on a great chassis to give you a car that is quick and active. This is a noisy car that will let you know it means business and for a little less than $7,500 you can find out why this car is so much fun.

Buick Regal Grand National – This car isn’t really a huge surprise on this list because of what it has to offer. This was one car that was able to have a wonderful going away car in the GNX version. For the 1980s this car had a lot of power at 200 horses galloping in the 3.8-liter V6. Add the active chassis and you have a classic car that can really haul around any track in a way you wouldn’t expect from this car.

Ford Taurus SHO – The Taurus has had a bad rap as of late, but there was a time when this was one of our favorite large sedans and with the SHO name on it this is a car that brings in the V8 power to give you the drive you want to enjoy. As an active and fun sedan your friends won’t know what to think when you open up this car and let it have a ride.

Subaru Legacy GT – The GT came in either sedan or wagon form and the wagon form certainly hides the fact that his car has 265 horsepower and AWD. Not only does it have the power but this car is able to tear up the curves with confidence to give you a car that looks like a mild mannered family car but for a little less than $8,000 offers you the fun and performance you want.

Volvo 850R/V70R – This is the equivalent of a station wagon sports car and as it pushed 240 horses out of the turbocharged five-cylinder engine. When the new name of the V70R came about so did 56 more horsepower to make this a car with some serious power.