Honda S2000

Used, 2000 to 2009 model years in the US A 9,000 rpm engine in the early cars and a reputation as one of the most durable sports cars around make this the used roadster for drivers who want every outing to feel like an event. It rewards a canyon road more than a cruise, and it is now a car you buy carefully rather than cheaply: a good early car starts around $22,000 and a good later one sells for $25,000 to $35,000. Ownership needs attention, too. These engines burn oil at a high rate for a modern car, so check the level often, and timing chain tensioners should be replaced every 40,000 miles. The later 2.2-liter cars trade some top-end rev for more usable torque.