24 Midlife Crisis Cars on a Budget

Unless something unfortunate befalls you, reaching middle age doesn’t take a lot of effort. Making a ton of money is a bit harder. Psychologist Elliott Jaques coined the term ‘Midlife Crisis’ back in 1965 to describe a period in an adult’s life when they contemplate their mortality and the remaining years left to enjoy life.

Wow. Depressing stuff. No wonder car enthusiasts buy something shiny and fast to make the most of those last few years. That type of mechanical medicine is great if you can afford it, but what about those of us who haven’t been able to save up for our midlife crisis motor?

The good news is that plenty of excellent midlife crisis cars are available on a very tight budget. We have selected 25 of the best ones for $15,000 or less.

Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce

The Alfa Romeo Spider was built between 1966 and 1994, spanning four generations. Early models have already reached valuable classic car status, but the third and fourth-generation models can be found for $10,000-$15,000.

Ignore the jokes about catastrophic rust and incurable leaks; all those naysayers will wish they were you as you cruise around the neighborhood in your stunning drop-top Alfa.

Audi A4 Cabriolet

Audis tend to follow an evolutionary design process. This means that even older models tend to look pretty darned good. They tend to be pretty robust, too, an important consideration when we are looking at 15-year-old vehicles.

The second-generation B6 models were available in a variety of body styles, including a soft-top convertible. These cabriolet versions were available in 3.0-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 versions, and a decent example can be had for as little as $5,000.

Audi TT

If you don’t need to carry the kids around, the two-seater Audi TT is a great option. The original model was sold between 1998 and 2006, and a facelift was carried out in 2003. The 1.8-liter turbocharged engine had outputs ranging from 148 to 237 horsepower, and AWD was optional.

$6,000 will get you behind the wheel of a 2000-2003 example with a little over 100,000 miles on the clock.

BMW Z3

Around the same time as the Audi TT was introduced, the BMW Z3 also arrived on the scene. Its styling was a curious mix of modern and retro, making it look like nothing else.

You can find an early 1.9-liter four-cylinder model for under $5,000, but spend a little more and get one with one of the smooth inline-six engines. They’re all great to drive, and prices are unlikely to go any lower.

BMW E36 M3

The BMW M3 has been the benchmark in its class since the original E30 version arrived on the scene. The third-generation E46 models are often considered to be among the best sports cars BMW’s M division has ever produced.

Mint ones already cost a mint (think $50,000), but higher-mileage convertibles are still available for between $10,000 and $15,000. Servicing costs can’t get expensive, but these cars are superb to drive, and the depreciation should be minimal.

BMW Z4

If the retro Z3 doesn’t quite suit your style, the Z4 that came after is worth a look. The Chris Bangle design language was controversial then, but it has aged well, and good ones start at just $6,000.

Once again, stick to the sonorous straight-six engines, preferably a 3.0-liter, and pick the manual transmission for the best experience.

Chevrolet Camaro

Fourth-generation Camaros are starting to look cooler by the day, especially fruiter models like the Z28. You can have one of these 5.7-liter V8 pony cars for as little as $8,000 or spend a bit more and get an early fifth-generation car.

You may need to spend more than $10,000 if you want a V8 under the hood, but the 3.6-liter V6 that was fitted to the base model is fine. It will also be cheaper to maintain.

Chevrolet Corvette

The Europeans have the 911 as their default midlife crisis car; in the US, it’s undoubtedly the Corvette. The fourth-generation models still look fantastic, and decent ones can be found for well under $10,000.

They were sold between 1984 and 1996, and the later models had meaningful updates to the interior and engine range. From 1992 on, the LT1 V8 replaced the aging L98, and the quality of the dashboard on newer cars was also much improved.

Dodge Challenger

The third-generation Challenger was in production from 2008 to 2023. It received a pretty comprehensive update in 2015, but the visual differences are minor to the casual observer.

That’s great news for our paltry budget, as early 5.7-liter V8 R/T models cost less than $12,000. 3.6-liter SXTs can be found for even less.

Ford Mustang

The Mustang has been around since 1965. Some early models are now selling for astronomical prices at auctions. A 1965 Shelby GT350R currently holds the record at $3.85 million!

We need to dial down our aspirations to the fourth-gen Fox body models, which start at a somewhat more palatable $4,500. Although we’d stretch to a few thousand on top of that to minimize the chances of a smokey under-hood explosion, you can also look at some early fifth-gen Mustangs, which start at around $8,000.

Jaguar XK

A classic Jaguar is like a fine wine. To ensure you aren’t buying vinegar, look for one that has been well cared for and stored in a cool, dry place. These cars were built between 1996 and 2014, with the first generation called the XK8 and the post-2006 second-generation models being referred to simply as the XK.

Early problem cars can be bought for $4,000, but twice that will get you a clean XK8 with decent mileage and a good service history. For just under $15,000, you can find a clean second-gen car that should meet any midlife crisis needs very nicely.

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is your ride if you live by the coast or plan to do some midlife crisis off-roading. A rough-and-ready 20-year-old TJ Wrangler is yours for between $5,000 and $7,000.

A more modern JK Wrangler Sport will cost around $15,000. Both are great ways to add a lot more fun to your weekends.

Lexus SC 430

The second-generation Lexus SC is an often-overlooked convertible that offers a lot of comfort, refinement, and luxury for around $13,000.

It has the same smooth 4.3-liter V8 as the LS sedans, and the hardtop folding roof makes it almost as quiet at highway speeds. It should also be reliable and relatively affordable to maintain.

Lexus IS 350C

If you prefer your Lexus convertible to be smaller and more modern, then the IS350C is worth a look.

The second-generation IS models are great daily drivers, and the convertible top adds a bit of flair for the man or woman trying to make the most of their midlife crisis on a budget. Higher mileage models can be found from $10,000.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

The MX-5 is the world’s best-selling roadster. That means there are plenty of options, and you can choose from new or old models with prices ranging from $6,000 to $15,000.

The NC third-generation versions offer a good combination of modern convenience and sporty driving dynamics; just make sure to pick a Sport model with a manual gearbox (it has a Limited-Slip Diff).

Mercedes SLK

The SLK was introduced alongside the BMW Z3, Porsche Boxster, and Audi TT in the mid-’90s when the roadster market was booming. It was more luxury-focused than its rivals, so most are fitted with automatic transmissions.

$9,000 will secure a good second-generation example with decent mileage and one of the larger V6 engines. Some earlier first-gen cars can be found for under $6,000.

Mercedes SL

The R129 generation SL is considered one of the best modern classic Mercedes. Built from 1989 to 2002, it is still great to drive, and decent examples can be found for between $10,000 and $15,000.

The wafty 5.0-liter V8s are a great option, and the entire range was updated in 1994, so try to find one of those. Don’t be tempted by $5,000 clunkers; it won’t end well.

Mercedes CLK Cabriolet

If the SLK is a bit small and the SL a bit too big, Mercedes has yet another convertible to offer. The CLK fits between these two models and offers a soft-top convertible roof as well as seating for four.

If prices for the first-gen models get any lower, they’ll pay you to take them. $5,000 will get you a 5.0-liter V8! You can find some decent second-gen models for under $15,000 with V6 and V8 engine options.

Mini

When you buy a Mini, it is practically guaranteed to put a smile on your face. If you live in a colder climate, stick to the hardtop, but the convertible is the only way to go for those in sunnier areas.

Prices start at just $4,000 for a zippy first-generation supercharged S model. And even though they are small enough to fit on the load bed of a Ford F-150, they all have seating for four.

Porsche 944

The Porsche 911 is the go-to midlife crisis car for Europeans with a bit of cash in the bank. While we certainly can’t splash out on one of those, we can still get an ’80s Porsche 944 for less than $15,000.

They have a cool retro design that still turns heads, and as long as you service them regularly, running costs shouldn’t be excessive.

Porsche 928

The Porsche 928 was developed as a replacement for the 911. That clearly didn’t happen, but the 928 was a very impressive long-distance grand tourer with far more tech and luxury than the 911 of its era.

Neglected ones can cost a fortune to fix, but some decent examples are around $10,000 and $15,000. Early 4.5-liter engines could be troublesome, so look for the newest model year you can afford.

Porsche Boxster

The Boxster is one of the last truly affordable Porsches you can buy. The first-gen 986 model has those weird fried-egg headlights, but they are great to drive and can be found for as little as $8,000.

The more powerful 3.2-liter S models are closer to $12,000 but a little quicker. Just avoid the automatics and walk away if the service history is patchy.

Scion FR-S

The Scion FR-S was a cool little sports coupe that may not have had much power, but it drove and handled very well. It was a Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ clone, but that’s no bad thing, and it is more affordable as a second-hand buy.

Prices are still around $12,000 for earlier 2012-2014 models, which shows these little cars’ popularity.

Toyota MR2

The third-generation MR2 was Toyota’s answer to the all-conquering Mazda MX-5. However, unlike the MX-5, the MR2 had its engine in the middle, technically giving it better handling. It was fun to drive, although the froggy styling wasn’t to everyone’s taste.

If you can see past that, there is a truly entertaining little sports car. Good examples are getting hard to find, and you can pay up to $12,000 for a low-mileage car.