Best Used Sports Cars Available in NZ

You can spend a lot of time browsing Trade Me looking for the best used sports cars in NZ. Even if you limit yourself to a budget of around $30,000, there are still plenty to choose from. A search of sports cars under $30k will throw up a variety of sporty numbers, and more still should you cast your net further to include convertibles as well.  

That will list cars as varied as the MG B, various Corvettes and Jaguar coupes, along with a slew of Japanese and German cars. After a couple of decades, German coupes and convertibles that once sold new for hundreds of thousand can be had for a fraction of that initial cost. But beware, catastrophically expensive repair bills will quickly sour your ownership of these machines.

A better bet for the second hand buyer are those Japanese offerings that tend to be more reliable, and when they do break, the fix won’t bleed you dry. Thanks to the flow of imports from Japan, there are many to choose from. 

Here are a few of our top used sports car picks for the Kiwi enthusiast on a budget.  

The Mazda MX-5 has been entertaining owners for the past 35 years. Its back to basics formula proved a hit when it originally launched in 1989, and is still working well today. It’s lightweight and well-balanced which enhances its agility and handling. An effort to hone the drive means it steers sweetly and the open-top experience enhances the fun factor. 

Its small four cylinder gives it lively performance and while it’s not something that will break speed records neither will running it break the bank. You can get ones with an auto, and a retractable hardtop, but really, the manual roadster is what you should aspire to.

Buyers in the used market have many options to choose from. Early NA models either have lots of miles on them and are cheap (but in need of care and attention) while the lower mileage examples have been lovingly looked after and are now asking a premium. It’s much the same with the second generation NB model, while tidy, moderate milage examples of the third gen NC can be had for $15k. There are many of the fourth gen ND MX-5s in the $20k-$30k band, good buying given this model is still on sale, now costing $60k brand new.

The 86, and its twin, the Subaru BRZ, was a car Toyota wanted to make in order to inject some excitement into its range. For too long the brand had built boring cars, and the 86 helped change those perceptions. Developed with help from Subaru, its rear-wheel-drive layout and low center of gravity (thanks to its flat four engine) provide entertaining driving dynamics. It’s a relative lightweight too, which always enhances a car’s agility. 

It didn’t cost the earth when new, and it’s now super affordable. Its 2.0-litre four cylinder means it’s not a guzzler, and it’s reliable, like most Japanese cars. There is the choice of a six-speed auto for those that like the look but want commuter car convenience while the enthusiast will like rowing through the ratios of the six-speed manual. The autos tend to be cheaper while a decent manual model can be had for around the $20k-$25k mark.

If you are after something with a little more power, try the Nissan Z. Both the 350Z and later 370Z have a lively V6 under their long bonnet delivering the sort of power and torque for more soul-stirring performance. It’s a drivers car, the ride and handling of the sporty variety with meaty steering and strong brakes. It still looks good too. 

Finding a decent one without high kays is the challenge, though Nissan’s V6 is generally strong and reliable when given regular maintenance. The two seat, rear driver can be had as a convertible, and with an auto trans. The last of the 350Zs, with the more powerful 3.5-litre V6 are worth seeking out, and with the six-speed manual too. 

The M235i coupe has a great example of BMW’s best engine format, the straight six. This turbocharged version is particularly sweet, delivering strong acceleration with its impressive spread of torque and power. 

On its short wheelbase, the M235i delivers a typically well-balanced BMW drive experience. Well specified examples also offer adaptive dampers to balance the ride when you want to cruise and the handling when the corners arrive.  

The stylish coupe design blends sporty aesthetics with practicality, the M235i with a reasonably useful back seat and boot. It’s more luxurious inside than others listed here too, it being a premium model. It’s worth seeking out a lower mileage example, and ensuring you keep up regular maintenance.