13 Cool Alternatives to the BMW M4 That Won’t Break the Bank

The BMW M4 is a direct descendant of the legendary M3, and one of the best high-performance vehicles money can buy.

Packing a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six available in three levels of tune, even the base version of the M4 coupe has a whopping 473-hp. Unfortunately, it also has a steep price tag.

We have some good news, though, as there are plenty of cheaper alternatives available. While they may not have all the M4’s excellent qualities, they certainly provide 80% of the fun for a fraction of the cost.

1st-Gen Audi S5 Quattro Coupe — $14,000

Audi is another German carmaker and one of BMW’s fiercest competitors. In true Audi fashion, the first-gen S5 has a Quattro AWD system, which helps put power to the ground, and the S5 certainly has a lot of power.

With a 4.2-liter engine under the hood, the Audi sends 350-hp to the wheels via a 6-speed transmission. You can buy one of these beasts for under $15,000. Spending a bit more gets you a facelifted car, which still looks modern and stylish today.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio — $30,000

Offering two more doors than the M4, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is one of the most beautiful sports sedans you can buy today. In fact, we think it looks better than the Bimmer. With the Giulia Quadrifoglio, you can take the kids to school, drive like a madman on your favorite road, and show up for your meeting looking classy.

The Giulia Quadrifoglio has a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 505-hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Getting to 60 mph only takes 3.8 seconds, and the top speed is a whopping 191 mph.

5th-Gen Ford Mustang GT — $12,000

The Ford Mustang is an American icon that’s been around for 60 years now, which means there are plenty of cars to choose from. Base model fifth-generation Stangs only have a V6 engine, so we’ll want the GT trim with its 300-hp 4.6-liter V8, and you can find them for sale for as little as $12,000.

There’s no doubt that the S197 Mustang GT is a proper performance car bargain, but it’s possible to tease out even more ponies by spending some money on aftermarket parts.

C5 Chevrolet Corvette — $15,000

There are many reasons to love the 5th-gen Chevrolet Corvette. It’s a proper sports car with a front-mounted V8 engine, a manual transmission, great looks, and pop-up headlights — one of the coolest car features ever!

Even if you buy a base model C5 Vette, you still get 350 athletic horses to play with, and with just a few aftermarket parts, it’ll embarrass supercars from its era.

987 Porsche Cayman — $20,000

Those who’ve paid attention to the classic Porsche market have noticed that prices have gone through the roof during the last decade. However, as cool as those old models are, they’re nowhere near as good as the Cayman.

With a mid-engine layout, the Cayman has impeccable handling, and while it’s not a supercar, the base model’s 2.7-liter boxer unit produces around 240-hp. Its tin-top construction makes it stiffer and more agile than the Boxster, making it the perfect choice for track days or spirited driving sessions. It’s also near-bulletproof as long as it’s properly serviced and maintained.

1st-Gen Jaguar F-Type — $25,000

Jaguar introduced the stunning F-Type two-seater sports car as a spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type in 2014.

Buyers could order the F-Type with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a supercharged V6, or a supercharged V8 in its top trim version. There are no prizes for guessing that we’d prefer the V6 or V8 unit. The V8 F-Type produces between 444 and 575-hp, depending on spec, and it sounds like a howling banshee armed with a machine gun.

Lexus RC F — $32,000

The standard Lexus RC 350 is no slouch, but it’s nothing compared to the high-performance F model that was introduced in 2015.

Powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine, the Lexus RC F sends 470-hp to the wheels via an 8-speed transmission. At around $30,000, it’s not exactly cheap, but that still less than half the price of an M4, and you also get the famous Lexus reliability.

Lexus IS F — $25,000

If you want a fast Lexus but don’t want to spend over $30,000, there’s another option — the IS F. It’s the sporty version of the Lexus IS, and features lowered suspension, a more aggressive appearance, and a 5.0-liter V8 engine.

It sends 420-hp to the wheels via an 8-speed transmission that can be operated via paddles, and that’s enough to give it a top speed of 168 mph — faster than the M4, which is electronically limited to 155 mph.

Cadillac CTS-V — $15,000

Gearheads often refer to the Cadillac CTS-V as a four-door Corvette because it’s powered by the C7 ‘Vette Z06’s supercharged LT4 V8. In the Cadillac, this engine produces 640-hp and 630 lb-ft of torque.

Unlike Cadillac land yachts of the past, the CTS-V is agile and nimble, which has led to praise from both automotive journalists and professional racers.

5th-Gen Chevrolet Camaro — $15,000

If you want an American-made BMW M4 slayer, the fifth-gen Chevy Camaro has plenty of potential.

What’s important is what’s hiding under the hood. In SS guise with a manual transmission, the Camaro packs a 426-hp 6.2-liter LS3 V8. The LS unit has become famous for its tunability, so extracting more power shouldn’t be a problem. Upgrade the suspension and brakes, and it’ll keep up with the Europeans in the twisty sections, too.

E92 BMW M3 — $20,000

That’s right. One of the best alternatives to the new M4 is its ancestor, the E92 M3, the only M3 fitted with a V8 engine straight from the factory. Since it’s unique in that regard, chances are it’ll eventually become sought after by collectors.

The 4.0-liter unit produces 414-hp, which sends it to 62 mph from a standstill in 4.6 seconds with the DCT transmission, or 4.8 seconds with the manual — less than a second slower than the new M4.

W204 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C63 AMG — $20,000

The W204 C63 AMG was the first AMG-Mercedes designed from the ground up, as its predecessors relied on bolt-on modifications. For that reason, it handles better than C-Class AMG models before it.

Under the hood, it had a detuned version of the 6.2-liter V8 found in other AMG models from that time, but with 450-hp, it was still more powerful than its rivals and could reach 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Mercedes also offered a Performance Package Plus option, which boosted power to 480-hp.

Nissan 370Z — $15,000

Ever since the original Datsun 240Z, Nissan has remained faithful to the traditional sports car setup — front engine, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive. That’s also the case with the 370Z.

It may look like a facelifted 350Z, but in reality, it’s a whole new car. It’s smaller, lighter, and more powerful than the 350Z. The 3.7-liter V6 engine produces north of 330-hp. There’s practically no performance difference between the 7-speed automatic with paddle shifters and the 6-speed manual, so go with your personal preference.