The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is a beast of a machine, but costs a pretty penny. If you want to save some money, here six alternatives to consider.
The eighth-generation Corvette is an extremely appealing sports car. In my 15+ years as an automotive writer, I’ve driven multiple versions of the standard C8, both on the street and on the racetrack. They’ve all been excellent. I can personally attest to their high handling limits, astonishing straight-line performance, and thoroughly livable daily-driving characteristics. The big power from the standard 6.2-liter V8 gives it plenty of gusto and the available Z06 and ZR1 models, with even-bigger horsepower ratings, lend new meaning to the word speed. But for all that performance, there’s a pretty high price.
A base-model 2025 Corvette Stingray 1LT is a relative performance bargain for its class, but it starts at a hefty $69,995 (including $1,695 destination fee). The hybrid-powered Corvette E-Ray starts at $108,595 and getting a Corvette powered by the screaming 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 under the hood of the Z06 will set you back 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. Comparatively, 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 $70-200k range. So, with those numbers in mind, let’s look at some lively, engaging vehicles that could give you a piece of the Corvette experience without such a hefty price tag — whether they’re new or used.Mid-engine performance via the Porsche Cayman
The current 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman has a base MSRP of $74,795 (including $1,995 destination fee), which is slightly more than the base trim level of the C8 Corvette. So, a new one isn’t exactly an affordable alternative. Thankfully, many previous versions of the Cayman are available on the used marketplace for significantly less money. The first Cayman launched in 2006, so used models go back quite a way and have impressive performance across multiple variants.
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 sports car powered by rear-wheel drive — so consider those boxes ticked. On auction websites like Cars and Bids, early Caymans (known as the 987.1) in decent condition range in price from around $15,000 to $20,000. Later models like the 987.2 (2009-2012) and the 981 (2014-2016) sell for a bit more, but they still offer impressive performance for the money, ranging from $20,000-$50,000 for one in good condition. Power and performance varies depending on which year of the Cayman you go with, but there’s a lot to like, including some excellent six-cylinder engine choices and a few spicy four-cylinder powerplants.Muscle car vibes from the sixth-generation Camaro
For the time being, Chevy has killed off the Camaro, but that doesn’t mean all the used ones have been snatched up. The sixth-generation Camaro lasted from 2016 to 2024 and there were a lot of good models to choose from in that time period, many of which were powered by big, burly V8s. Base power came from turbocharged four-cylinder engines and a V6, but the available V8 was the best fit for the Camaro’s personality.
