Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today
Neither parents nor insurance companies want teens to drive performance cars, but there are some that might be acceptable.
When we're young we love to experience adrenaline. The rush. Freedom. When we get our first cars as motoring enthusiasts we want to have the coolest car out there. Something fun and fast, like a sports car. Yet parents and insurance says no.
Luckily there is a way to get away round this quite easily as there are plenty of performance cars out there that are perfect for teen drivers. They're fast enough, while still being practical, too. These cars are bound to keep everyone happy, whether it's the parents, insurance companies, your wallet, or the teen.
A happy friendly little sports car, the Mazda MX5 NA is a perfect little performance car that is perfect for teen drivers. It's lightweight, easily tunable, and most of all fun. Admittedly, all of the 4-cylinder engine options never produced crazy horsepower but as a new driver, it's so easy to handle. The slowest model is the 1.6 with the fastest being the 133hp 1.8 model.
It's so easy to tune as well. Mods are pretty cheap, which is perfect for car enthusiasts. It is by far one of the best drivers cars of the 1980s. The Miata is lightweight, easy to repair, easy to drive, and cheap to buy with some even below $1000 depending on condition. A perfect starter car for car enthusiasts.
The Dodge Neon SRT-4 is a completely underrated car. It is easily one of the fastest FWD cars out there and what makes it even more special is how affordable it is. You can pick up a good one for under $4000. The standard Neon admittedly was woeful, yet the SRT4 was amazing. It has racecar looks, a punchy 2.4-liter 4-cylinder pushing out between 213-230hp depending on the model year, and would hit 60 between 5.6 to 5.3 seconds. Max speed was 153 mph.
It is one fast car that can catch most sports cars' stock. The Neon SRT4 is by far an awesome starter car that is so easy to mod. The one to have is the 2004 and 2005 models since they have more power stock. An insanely fast sedan that packs a huge punch.
Quite an unknown hot-hatch, Mazdaspeed 3 (Axela) is a powerful hot hatch produced by Mazda between 2007 and 2013. Underneath the hood is a 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder pushing over 260hp and 280 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels. This thing is a true rocket, accelerating to 60 in under 6 seconds (5.2 on the second-gen).
It is one crazy hatchback that shames other sports cars and hot hatches. They are quite cheap to buy as you can easily find one for under $10,000. They are also so easy to mod with a wide variety of parts available. A perfect 5 seater family car with a lot of punch.
Related: 10 Of The Most Competent Production 4x4s Ever Put On The Market
The Chevrolet Cobalt SS is an awesome, punchy coupe. Chevrolet's first step into the tuner market and things went well. Choose from a range of 4-cylinder engines. Naturally aspirated, supercharged, or turbocharged; GM had it all. It's easily an affordable FWD car that will take on anything. The ultimate answer to the SRT4 it's a car that puts smiles on many faces.
These cars are also pretty cheap. You can get one under $6000, and they're so cheap to run and mod. The top turbo model actually produces a crazy 260hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The Cobalt SS is an absolute rocket that looks absolutely epic.
A snarling beauty, the Genesis coupe is an insane car from Hyundai and an answer to the Infiniti G37, it didn't disappoint at all. Under the hood, you can have a 2.0L inline-4 or go to the extreme with 3.8-liter V6 options. The looks of this car are crazy it one-hundred percent looks a lot more expensive than it actually is.
The best models to get are the ones after 2013 since there was a large power upgrade. The 2013-15 4-cylinder models push out 271hp whilst the 6-cylinder pushes out 348hp. A fast car that can easily catch a V6 Mustang or Camaro. An interesting car that should 100% be looked into.
Related: The 10 Cars Every Gearhead Should Drive At Least Once In Their Life
The MK 5 Golf GTI is an insane car for the money. This punchy hot hatch is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged inline 4 unit pushing out 197hp. What makes this car so special though is the revolutionary DSG gearbox which includes launch control. Sure a 6-speed manual is fun, but no launch control, and it's slower.
The MK5 GTI is quite a subtle car. It doesn't really have any outlandish designs which other hot hatches like the Type R Civic have. It really is a true icon not only in the Golf lineup but also in the hot-hatch world.
A mid-engined mini Ferrari is a perfect choice for a starter car. Its sporty, stylish, and fun. The MR2 was Japan's first-ever mid-engined production car and it was produced across three generations from 1984 to 2007. What makes this car so special is the way it drives. It's balanced, soulful, and light which is everything you need really.
The MR2 is pretty cheap now. Any generation model can be purchased for under $10,000 and running costs are pretty cheap. The first-gen is also one of the best drivers cars from the 1980s which is an ultimate bonus. They also look amazing and the roof comes off, making it perfect for those late evening drives.
Call them "ricers" but we secretly love them. Fast, fun, and definitely affordable. Choose from an array of body styles and engines. The vtec engines are the greatest, with high rev limits meaning an absolute symphony. The Civic is also pretty light, making it a great drivers' car plus the engine is also easily tunable.
The best models for teens are the Si Coupe and the EG hatch. They're cheap and pretty easy to live with. If you're an amateur mechanic's enthusiast this car is perfect for you since it is pretty easy to work on and have fun with. These cars are also quite practical and pretty good on gas too.
The final car is a motorsport legend. From the "blob eye" to the current WRX STI, there is surely one to fit your budget. The Impreza is a likable car with a boxer 4-cylinder motor making one of the most distinctive noises in the car world. Colin McRae won the 1995 WRC championship in one, there is so much pedigree.
The best Impreza for teens is the WRX model. Not too fast or slow and pretty cheap to run. You can of course decide to buy an STI model instead or check out the naturally aspirated RS models instead. You can choose from wagon, sedan, or hatch, and each one is pretty reliable. The WRX and WRX STI variants are quick cars that can outpace some sports cars. They are dependable spacious cars with 5 seats and a big trunk.
Next: 5 Modified Lambos People Can't Stop Staring At (5 Modified Ferraris We'd Rather Own)
Arran Mehtam, is a reader, blog writer, content creator, and car enthusiast based in Birmingham, UK. He's had his own e-commerce businesses, his own car blogs, his own Etsy stores, and now he writes for Hotcars. Arran is a passionate petrolhead, who appreciates all car genres. Arran is currently studying in the UK.