6 alternatives to the Chevrolet Corvette C8 that you can actually afford

The eighth-generation Corvette is an extremely appealing sports car. In my more than 15 years as an automotive writer, I’ve driven several versions of the standard C8, both on the street and on the track. They were all excellent. I can personally attest to their high handling qualities, amazing straight line performance and very livable daily driving qualities. The high power of the standard 6.2-liter V8 gives it plenty of enthusiasm, and the available Z06 and ZR1 models, with even greater horsepower, give new meaning to the word speed. But all that performance comes at a pretty high price.

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A base model 2025 Corvette Stingray 1LT is a relative performance bargain for its class, but starts at a hefty $69,995 (including $1,695 destination charge). The hybrid-powered Corvette E-Ray starts at $108,595 and if you get a Corvette powered by the screaming 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 under the hood of the Z06, it will cost you at least $116,795. The expected price for the new ZR1 is well into the six figures, with some estimates as high as $200,000. By comparison, as of July 2024, the average price of a new vehicle in the United States was just over $48,000. That’s a far cry from the $70-200,000 range. With these numbers in mind, let’s take a look at some vibrant, engaging vehicles that can give you a piece of the Corvette experience without such a high price tag – whether new or used.

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The current 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman has a base MSRP of $74,795 (including $1,995 destination charge), which is slightly more than the base trim level of the C8 Corvette. So a new one is not exactly an affordable alternative. Fortunately, many earlier versions of the Cayman are available on the used market for considerably less money. The first Cayman was launched in 2006, so used models go back a long way and deliver impressive performance in multiple variants.

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Based on the Porsche Boxster convertible, the Cayman was the hardtop version of the two-seater sports car. Like the current C8 Corvette, the Cayman is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car – so consider those boxes checked. On auction websites such as Cars and Bids, prices for early Caymans (known as the 987.1) in good condition range from around $15,000 to $20,000. Later models such as the 987.2 (2009-2012) and the 981 (2014-2016) sell for slightly more, but they still offer impressive performance for the money, ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 for one in good condition. Power and performance will vary depending on the year of Cayman you travel with, but there’s a lot to like, including some excellent six-cylinder engine choices and some punchy four-cylinder powerplants.

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For the time being, Chevy has taken the Camaro off the market, but that doesn’t mean all used ones have been taken away. The sixth-generation Camaro lasted from 2016 to 2024, and there were plenty of good models to choose from during that time, many of which were powered by big, burly V8 engines. Base power came from turbocharged four-cylinder engines and a V6, but the available V8 best suited the Camaro’s personality. The 2016 SS models received a 6.2-liter V8 with an output of 455 hp and 455 Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. Eventually, even more powerful versions of the Camaro would be launched, including the 1LE performance package and the ZL1, raising the bar considerably.

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The ZL1 used a supercharged version of the 6.2-liter V8, which produced a menacing 640 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque – that’s more than 200 hp more than the standard C8 Corvette, and almost as much as the 670 horses of the Z06. Unlike the Corvette, the Camaro is a 2+2 muscle car that offers the benefit of a rear seat, but functionally I’ve found it’s best to treat it as a two-seater. The rear seat should basically be regarded as extra luggage space or, in the worst case, as an emergency seat. Prices for used sixth-generation Camaros range from $15,000 to $80,000 for unique models, but relatively low-mileage ZL1s have recently sold in the $50,000 to $60,000 price range, while Camaro SS sold for even less.

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With the Camaro and Challenger no longer available, the current Ford Mustang is the only muscle car left of the Big Three (Chevy, Dodge and Ford). But even if it weren’t in a class of one, the Mustang would still be an excellent choice. Prices for new Mustangs range from about $32,000 to $70,000, but there’s a sweet spot in the middle, and that’s the GT. The 2025 Mustang GT starts at $45,560 (plus $1,595 destination charge) and for that you get a 5.0-liter V8 under the hood, a standard six-speed manual transmission, a limited-slip differential and some excellent handling characteristics. The V8 produces 486 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque – enough to satisfy most enthusiasts – and the Mustang’s V8 exhaust note is quite iconic.

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My grandfather was a service manager at Chevrolet for decades, and he fondly said he passed it on to my father: “There’s a four-letter word that starts with an ‘F’ that you don’t say in front of your mother: it is Ford.” Would my grandfather consider it sacrilege if I recommended a Ford Mustang as an affordable alternative to the Corvette? Probably. Am I even going to do it? You bet. The current Mustang feels agile and sporty, but is comfortable enough for daily driving or even long road trips. It’s an excellent and versatile car, but also super fun to drive fast – a set of features it shares with the Corvette.

If you just want some Corvette power, but also a little luxury and space, the Cadillac CTS-V should be one of your first stops. Over the years, the CTS-V has been available in a number of different configurations, including a two-door coupe, a sedan and a station wagon. However, the second generation of the CTS-V is the best choice as an affordable C8 alternative. Third-generation models are desirable and have more horsepower, but they are still quite pricey, ranging from $50,000 to $75,000.

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The second generation CTS-V was available from 2009 to 2015 and depending on their condition they cost between €30,000 and €50,000 – much more affordable. Under the hood, the second-generation CTS-V used a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 known as the LSA – essentially a modified version of the LS9 engine that powered the Corvette ZR1 at the time. The big, blown V8 that powered this souped-up Caddy produced 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. Despite being under the hood of a luxury car, it came standard with a six-speed manual transmission. While I personally don’t love some of the user interfaces that showed up in Cadillacs of this era, I think it’s a small price to pay for such big V8 power in a luxury package.

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Previous-generation Corvettes are an excellent choice because of their performance value. The C7 is perhaps the closest to the C8, with plenty of modern touches in the interior and plenty of performance from the available engines. Like the current Corvette, the C7 has nothing but V8 power. The base C7 LT1 V8 produced 460 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque in 2014, just below the figures of the current base Stingray. Prices for used C7 Corvettes are downright reasonable right now, with several models recently selling on cars bidding between $25,000 and $35,000. Low mileage examples are in the $40,000 to $50,000 range, which is still an impressive bang for your buck.

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Having driven and tested a number of C7 Corvettes over the years, I can attest to their comfort, performance and high fun factor. They also feel like a pretty big part of Corvette history, being the last model produced with a front-engine, rear-wheel drive setup. Fun fact: The emblem on the nose of the C8 Corvette bears ties that date all the way back to the emblem placed on the original Vette in 1953. The fleur-de-lis disappeared from the Corvette emblem for a few years during the fourth generation, but it returned on the C5, and it remains on the car today. And C7 Corvettes have that decal too, so they’ll be a good fit at your local Corvette meet.

There’s no tower of V8 power here, but the Toyota GR Supra does offer serious performance and an engaging driving experience for a price tag considerably smaller than a C8 Corvette. Under the hood of the 2025 GR Supra is a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that produces 382 hp and 368 Nm of torque – big numbers for such a small car. Previous model years of the GR Supra also offered a four-cylinder engine, but that’s not the powertrain we’d recommend as a replacement for a Corvette experience.

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There are many highlights you can experience behind the wheel of the GR Supra. For starters, it’s easy to drive it fast. The available six-speed manual transmission shifts easily and feels great in the hand. The steering is responsive and engaging, with a real sense of where you place the wheels along the best line of a winding road. During my time with the GR Supra it always felt special. Every time I walked up to it in a parking lot, there was something new to admire about the design. Prices for a new GR Supra range between $56,250 and $59,400 (plus destination and fees), which isn’t exactly cheap, but if you can get a used model it will likely save you a lot of money compared to a C8.

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