7 Sports Cars For Beginner Drivers (With Pictures)

The best professional drivers got their driving experience by driving regularly and consistently, as this is the only assured way of becoming a pro.

However, there are some other factors that hasten up the process. Some individuals will support the claim that you need good racing knowledge and determination to become an expert, while others will agree that coaching and funds are necessary means to your goal.

Not to invalidate their claims, but amongst all these options, you most probably need an entry-level car to start with. Entry-level cars are basic cars with no serious complexity.

This article has therefore compiled a list of these sports cars for learning how to drive like a pro.

Check also: 250 best names for fast sports cars.

1. Subaru/Toyota BRZ/FRS/86

If you’ve been a fan of our articles, you would have noticed that these cars are always put in the same category. This is simply because they are the same. Starting from the same factory down to the same engines.

The FRS is quite expensive, but the Subaru and Toyota are still affordable for a beginner. These cars also produce the same range of torque.

The Toyota 86 produces 232 horsepower with 184 lb-ft of torque, while the BRZ has an output of 228 horsepower with 184 lb-ft of torque. This output is not really great or gusto, but then it is an advantage to those who are just starting to drive.

Added to their simplicity is a low center of gravity. A lower center of gravity for a car reduces the risk of flipping over.

A low center of gravity is especially needed for race cars because not only does the weight act through it, but so do all the acceleration, cornering and braking forces. A lower center of gravity also increases the stance and stability of the car.

These cars come with a stick shift, so you have more control over the transmission and also get a more grounded feel of the car.

The Toyota and Subaru do not also have wide tires. One good thing about narrow tires is that they offer more traction in slippery conditions.

If you use an iPhone, make sure to check for sports cars with Apple CarPlay so you can sync your phone with the car’s infotainment system.

Check also: 279 GREAT name ideas for race cars.

2. Porsche 718 Cayman

This car is not exactly cheap, as the base model starts at $60,000 but it is worth the money. With this model, you are sure to get 300 horsepower that can move from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds.

This output is great but controllable for a beginner. It also comes equipped with a rear-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drives allow drivers to have more fun while moving in dry conditions because the rear wheels help the car accelerate while the front wheels maneuver and steer the vehicle.

A car is also significantly lighter and more malleable with a rear-wheel drive. The driving position and visibility of the Porsche 718 are designed perfectly, as it is suitably low and the dash layout is curated properly.

You can easily get access to the high-mounted gear level and the rev counter. If you want up your game, you can speed an extra $10,000- $20,000 or more to get the 728 Porsche Cayman S. It gives a more detailed handling, power and responsive brakes.

If you love spending time on the racetrack or driving long distance in a sports car, the Cayman is an excellent sports car with extra legroom.

3. Honda Civic Type R

This model comes with a front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission. With the 2022 model, you will get around 315 horsepower.

It is much easier to control this model regardless of its racing ability and high-revving Honda engine because of its standard rear-wheel drive. This is something that any racer or professional driver would kill for.

Additionally, the manual transmission comes as a good bonus as it sets you apart from other cars with the transmission., it makes you become a better driver because you get to handle the car more precisely.

To be factual, the Honda Civic has a lot of racing speed but with the presence of the manual transmission, it is less likely to oversteer once you have mastered the basic knowledge.

Luckily, you would almost never be spending money on engine maintenance, because the engines are built to last. The Honda Civic can literally take your driving level from zero level to the top.

Judging by its compact size and exceptional controls, we believe this car will make a great sports car for 16, 17, and 18-year-olds.

4. Mini Cooper

One major thing that makes a car easy and relaxing to drive is when it delivers power at low revs. Revs is simply the shortened or alternative name of RPM (Revolution per minute).

The Mini Cooper is a perfect sports car that delivers just the adequate horsepower needed for a beginner. The Mini Cooper delivers 134hp at 4500 pm and 162 lb-ft at 1480rpm. 

Additionally, the Mini Cooper weighs under 3,000 pounds, which makes it a lightweight vehicle. This kind of vehicle is much easier to maneuver and control for beginner drivers.

Another guarantee that the Mini Cooper is a good choice for beginners is that it is a subdivision of the BMW company and they share a lot of car features, starting from good performance to remarkable handling and fuel economy

Since sports cars have better aerodynamics, you may also want to explore the most affordable cars with active aero features.

5. Subaru WRX STI

The Subaru WRZ STI doesn’t have a top game when you compare it to other high-performance race cars. However, this is not to completely invalidate its performance and called it underpowered. 

Most folks will rather call it a balanced and adequate car for a beginner. It produced 305 hp and 290 lb-ft. The Subaru WRZ STI would not shake you with its power, but it will overcome obstacles and hard floors conveniently.

It does perfectly well for any kind of racing except for drifting and hard cornering and it gives very intuitive driving and feedback with its all-wheel drive.

The major complaint about this model is the gasket head blowing off, but luckily, they have remedied the problem, starting with models produced after 2015.

All you need to do to eradicate this problem is simply buy any model produced after 2015 and experience the raw and quality driving the Subaru provides.

You might want to check out the best and worst years for the Subaru WRX.

6. Ford Focus ST

Like the Type R, the Ford Focus comes equipped with a front-wheel drive and a manual transmission. This is almost a clear proof it is a great car. Its engine produces 252 horsepower.

This is really adequate for a beginner who intends to turn into a daily driver. If you have mastered the basics of driving, you can definitely boost it up to meet your driving taste.

Here are the demographics of sports car owners.

7. Mazda Miata MX 5

The older Mazda Maitas are unreasonably overpriced or overvalued. They came with a basic rear-wheel drive with poor horsepower, although they were light weighted.

They became very expensive because many individuals considered them a perfect example of beginner race cars.

Going forward to the newer versions, the performance, output and handling have been significantly improved and they are also very affordable. The basic price starts from $21,000 according to CarGurus.

The Miata is a perfect example of an adequately underpowered sports car. It lets you enjoy the experience and fun of driving a race car while still giving you the opportunity to learn at it. It is really a balanced car.

The rear-wheel drive gives the vehicle better acceleration and whenever you break traction, and allows the car to accelerate out of corners while retaining its balance.

The gas pedal becomes a way to help control a car with finesse. The Miata basically teaches you how to steer the car to your advantage.

Many of the cars here are also popular sports cars for girls.

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