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Many hardcore gearheads love to swear by RWD cars, and if you're one of them, here are some which are thrilling to drive.
There's no point getting into a debate over what driving setup is the best among AWD, RWD, or FWD. At the heart of the matter is a love for cars, and that's the only thing that must always continue to be encouraged. While AWD powertrains have brought about a sea change in the industry through safer driving and phenomenal launch speeds, there's a certain thrill one gets behind the wheel of a rear-wheel-drive car that a huge segment of gearheads continues to swear by. Cars with a rear-wheel-drive setup deliver the engine's power to the rear wheels, propelling the car forward while the front wheels are free to move around quite freely, which is what makes the car so much fun to drive. There's also the added benefit of a more balanced car since the vehicle's weight happens to be spread around a lot more evenly in RWD cars.
Over the years, however, rear-wheel drive has been a steadily declining trend, and one now gets to see the drivetrain only in premium vehicles, which does make the thrill of RWD driving a bit more exclusive than it used to be. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of cars that you can bring home used, which host an RWD setup, are mighty fun to drive around, and most importantly, can be bought on a budget. If you can't get the image of yourself swinging out your car's rear end as you power through the corner and don't wish to spend an arm and a leg on the latest, premium RWD sports cars, here are some great (and fast!) RWD cars that can scratch that itch for you on a budget.
The Chevy Corvette has always had a history of bringing together high-end performance with breathtaking aesthetics, and it has always upheld its legacy of taking on the best sports cars out there. On a budget, if you're looking to have some Chevy RWD thrills in a Corvette and don't care about anything other than performance and the experience, you could easily go for a 2010 Chevy Corvette 1LT.
Over a decade old, the car still boasts phenomenal power, thanks to its 6.2-liter V8 engine which produced 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft of torque, and even propels the car from naught to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. For around $27,000, the 2010 Corvette 1LT is a great car you could invest in.
The Honda S2000 is a car that is loved all over the world, and for good reason. After all, it's a car that delivers the fun of two vehicles in one. If you choose to go easy on the gas pedal, you'd be driving a Miata, cruising along, and enjoying the ride. If you pushed the pedal to the metal, however, you'd find yourself clinging onto the wheel of a superb sports car that can lock heads with the best of them.
After a decade of production and over two decades of being loved by the community, the Honda S2000 continues to boast fantastic handling, great acceleration, and build quality that could put fairly more recent cars to shame. Plus, the rear-wheel-drive setup ensures that you will always have the opportunity to go swinging out of your driveway every time you take the car out. This is a great car and a piece of history to bring home for just $25,000.
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The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is a greatly-revered vehicle among muscle car lovers because this is a car that gets the job done. Of course, by today's standards, if you don't feel like getting a car that isn't technologically loaded, you might want to give this one a miss. But if you're looking for a pure, unadulterated muscle car for some rear-wheel-drive fun, this is the car to get.
The Boss 302's 5.0-liter V8 engine churns out 444 horsepower, sitting comfortably between the Mustang GT's 412 hp and the Shelby GT500's 550 horses. A used Boss 302 is a car you can even bring home for around $25,000, which is a great deal for the massive engine and legendary nameplate.
The second Chevy on this list, it's clear that the American car-maker knows how to make stylish, fast, and powerful cars that remain aesthetically pleasing years after they exit the assembly line. 2016 saw the Camaro's sixth generation come out, and it defied expectations, cementing itself as one of the best muscle cars.
With its remarkable blending of phenomenal V8 power and eager handling, there is no denying that a Camaro is one of the most capable performance cars that you can bring home from the pre-owned market for cheap. The SS variant of the 2016 Camaro truly made it a great sports car, with a 4-second 0-60 time and 455 horses running with 455 lb-ft of torque. For just over $30,000, this is a car that looks modern and turns heads even today, and of course, with the massive power it houses under the hood, there's also going to be a lot of fun to have for RWD purists.
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Over its long history, German automaking giant BMW has given the world some great roadsters. Over that same time, the brand has also had some uninspired two-seat roadsters, but the 2015 BMW Z4 is not one of them.
A sporty, fast, and sharp roadster that is eager to go fast and superb to handle, the BMW Z4 sDrive35i runs on a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbocharged power unit that delivered 300 horsepower to the rear wheels. Capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in just about 5 seconds, this phenomenal RWD roadster can be yours for just around $29,000, a fine price for the RWD thrills of it, along with the assurance the fine German engineering brings.
There aren't a lot of cars out there that are capable of outclassing a 2013 BMW 1 Series car. These cars were fast but were also able to maintain that speed through turns and corners, handled superbly, and then there was, of course, the exterior, which appealed to anyone who had a working set of eyes.
When it comes to the top-tier 135i models of the 2013 BMW 1 Series, it came equipped with a powerful turbocharged engine, sporty front seats, and a sport-inclined steering wheel, complete with paddle shifters. Plus, for that entire package, you would only have to shell out around $15,000 today, which makes it the most phenomenal bargain on this list.
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The Nissan 370Z has, for years, been a beloved car all over the world, thanks to JDM culture reaching every single automotive community out there. This is a car that has always had its fair share of die-hard fans who revere it, and for good reason.
A 3.7-liter V6 engine sent all of its 332 horses to the rear wheels, and the car shot forward like a rocket, completing the quarter-mile in just 13.3 seconds, the speedometer reaching the 60 mph mark in just 5.1 seconds. Today, for a 2009 370Z car, you would be set back by around $16,000, which makes it a superb bargain.
A Hyundai might not have been a car you expected to see on this list, but the 2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe has more than earned its place here. Housing a powerful V6 power unit underneath which sent 348 horsepower to the rear wheels, this was a Hyundai that took you by surprise by both its acceleration and its exhaust note.
The Korean car-makers also did a great job with the car's suspension, which ensured that the Genesis Coupe handled eagerly and sharply while delivering a comfortable ride throughout. The car remains a practical, well-refined vehicle that has a luxury feel to it for its price range. Its performance and driving experience make it a deserving addition to the list of cars that are an absolute thrill to drive.
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Another example of German excellence mated to sheer driving pleasure, the 2013 Audi RS 5 came with a 4.2-liter V8 engine that churned out a staggering 450 horsepower, along with 317 lb-ft of torque. These power figures helped the car shoot to the 60 mph mark in a mere 4 seconds. Furthermore, it handled superbly well, which is to be expected out of a German car.
For the RWD enthusiasts, the RS 5 managed to deliver incredible spin, since the superior traction ensured that the front end would never let go of the tarmac. The Audi RS 5 also had the sport rear differential as standard, which threw the outer side of the rear tires into overdrive, while braking the inner sides of the front wheels, which ensured that the car could rotate through corners with agility unlike any other. While it's the most expensive car on this list, the Audi RS 5 is worth it.
A fine example of excellence, the Porsche Boxster was always a car meant to be pushed. The Germans removed all features they deemed unnecessary, ensuring nothing could take away from the sheer joy of hopping into your Boxster, dropping the top, and racing through the road with the wind in your hair.
In fact, if you're willing to splurge just a bit more, you could even go for the 2008 Boxster S option which offered heated seats. Of course, what was standard and not at all optional, was the fantastic level of comfort the car delivered through all corners, and this RWD beauty is a great buy for its $23,000 asking price.
If it has wheels and an engine, Samarveer Singh is going to be obsessed with it. He is a budding Indian motorcycle racer, competing at the national level in his country in his very first year, chasing his dream around every corner of the racetrack. A touring enthusiast, Samarveer is forever stuck between the urge to constantly redline his bike, or save its clutch plates for longer.