Why drive a dreary econo-box when you could be rolling around in a nice sleek sports car? From a Porsche to a Honda, here are five coupés that won’t cost you a fortune to buy or maintain.

Small cars have never been better. Take it from me, you really can’t go wrong with any one of the cheap and cheerful offerings that have landed on our shores over the last few years. Well except for anything Chinese that is. Questionably built at the best of times and about as soulful as a mortuary on a cold morning, I would be more inclined to stick wheels on a takeout box. But that’s another story for another day. No, what I’m getting at here is that for R200k you can garage yourself a really sweet ride for getting from A-B. But, and this is a super, Adele-sized but, what if you want something more than that?

What if you want something that punches through to that dark, slightly devious corner of your personality? A car that – if it were human – would duly crack open the caramel vodka bottle and take you clubbing until the very wee hours of the morning. Indeed, what if you really hanker after a slinky coupé or roadster instead of just another mundane hatchback?

The problem, I hear you mumbling into your laptop screen, is that such an automotive libertine simply can’t be had for honest-to-good Micra or Yaris money. Well that’s where you’re wrong because if you do a little delving, some cruising through the classifieds, you’ll find a whole bunch of pre-owned sports cars that can be yours for less than a box-fresh Ford Fiesta. Don’t believe me? Well check out this buyer’s guide and see just how easy it is to get rolling in style on a shoestring budget.

1: BMW Z4 2.0i

Who should buy it?

Enthusiasts to whom speed isn’t everything but handling and quality is

What’s the deal?

While the old Z3 was something of a hairdresser’s car, the previous generation Z4 proved that BMW could make a roadster that appealed to the meaner sex. Still something of a looker after all of these years, this two-litre model is definitely the one to throw your dough at because it has a smaller – and thus cheaper to run – four-cylinder engine bolted beneath its long shark-like bonnet. Granted it’s not the quickest of the bunch, but stellar dynamics make it a real joy to pilot in anger. It also has a surprisingly suave interior; one that’ll help to charm whoever is sat next to you in that ultra low-slung passenger seat.

How much will it cost?

A 2007 model with about 70 000km on the clock can be yours for R200 000. A minor service at a BMW dealership cashes in at R1500 with a major commanding anything between R2500 – 3000. Four new Continental tyres will set you back a cool R8381.

2: Mazda RX-8 Hi-Power

Who should buy it?

Young speed demons that get off on the Fast and Furious movie franchise

What’s the deal?

Though a relatively underrated entity here in South Africa, the Mazda RX-8 wowed the world when it debuted back in 2003. In fact this edgy Japanese sports car made such an impression that it soon bagged itself a cameo roll in Britney Spears’s ‘Me Against The Music’ music video. A pop culture phenomenon, the RX-8 remains a brilliant driving tool today thanks to its manic, high-revving 1.3 rotary engine and classic rear-wheel-drive layout. It’s also surprisingly practical too, packing four doors and a trunk that’s capable of swallowing all kinds of junk. Just be sure to look for an unmolested example.

How much will it cost?

A 2007 model with around 80 000km on the clock can be had for a whisker under R200 000. Subtract R15k for a 2006 car with similar mileage. Servicing isn’t cheap however, with Fury Auto quoting in the region of R2300 for a minor service and a hefty R6200 for a major. Fresh Hankook rubber on all four corners adds up to an eye-watering R9887.

3: Porsche 944 Coupé

Who should buy it?

Retro aficionados with a soft spot for the unremembered ‘80s

What’s the deal?

The decade that gave us synth-pop, big hair and Top Gun also birthed a smorgasbord of exotic high performance machinery. And one of the finest was the sleek Porsche 944 with its big glass hatch and period-cool pop-up headlights. Fans of the purist 911 are quick to diss this Porsche’s wedge-like looks but the fact remains that it is an exceedingly good sports car. Beautifully balanced and endowed with more than enough horsepower to get you into trouble with Mr. Metro and his fun-sucking pals, the best thing about the 944 is that it can be snapped up for next to nothing due to its less-than-mainstream appeal.

How much will it cost?

A smart 1990 S2 shouldn’t cost you more than R160 000. Walk away if it doesn’t have a well documented service history though. A minor service at a reputable Porsche specialist is R1500, R2000 – 3000 for a major. Four new Michelin tyres tip the scales at R9473.

4: Audi TT 1.8T Coupé

Who should buy it?

Urban trendsters who want speed, image and safety in equal amount

What’s the deal?

You can say what you want but I think that the original Audi TT was one of the greatest innovators in the history of modern car design. A faultless bit of metal work, not only did it take the retro design ethic to a whole new level but it injected some much-needed sex appeal into an era that was renowned for being particulalry staid and boring. Thanks to a near silent engine and that idiot-proof Quattro all-wheel drive system it’s not the most exciting machine you’ll ever drive but with styling that still looks wicked 13-years after the fact, who really cares? Ignore the haters; this one is destined to be a future classic.

How much will it cost?

R180 000 should garage you a nice 2005 model with less than 100 000km on the clock. A minor service will steal R1500 from your wallet. Bank on no less than R7500 for a major. Four shiny new Continental tyres are yours for R5676 ­– the cheapest quote of the lot.

5: Honda S2000 Roadster

Who should buy it?

Hardcore enthusiasts who like their milk full fat, meat rare and cigarettes unfiltered

What’s the deal?

Unleashed in 1999, the S2000 is the complete antithesis to the TT. For whereas the Audi wants nothing more than to be your BFF, the Honda will happily bite your fingers off should you not show it the respect it rightfully deserves. A bare-to-the-bones roadster designed for pure petrolheads, this is a car that requires old-fashioned balls and bravado to wring the most out of it: that 9000rpm VTEC engine commanding every shred of your attention. A cramped cockpit, Spartan features list and reputation for snap oversteer don’t help matters either but, if you can tame it, the edgy S2000 is the most visceral beast here.

How much will it cost?

You should be able to find a tidy 2004 model with 90 000km on the clock for R190 000. Expect to cough-up R2118 for a minor service, with a major commanding in the region of R6328. Don’t be too hard on those tyres because a new set of Continentals costs R7723.