You do not necessarily have to break the bank to drive a nice sports car in the UAE. Thanks to relatively lower car, petrol and insurance costs in the country, as compared to other parts of the world, the UAE is the best place to experience driving a fancy car under the sun.
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Here are three models that will definitely give you an adrenaline rush within a reasonable budget:
The Audi TT
Definitely a precursor in the category of affordable sports cars, since its first launch in 1998, the TT has experienced a huge success worldwide ever since. Mixing aggressive looks and German engineering, the TT is probably one of the best options you can choose from. A convertible version is also available for the rooftop-down amateurs. If you really want to go wild, you could consider the top of the range 355hp TT RS. The new generation of TT has just been launched in the UAE and is available starting AED185,000 at all Audi showrooms. You can find recent second hand models on the market for less than AED100,000.
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The Nissan 370Z
If you are more the “Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift” fan type, then the 370Z is made for you. Considered as one of the favorite cars of “drifters” (racing discipline where the pilot makes his car progress side-ways along the track), it is also a serious candidate in our quest of affordable sports-cars. Below the TT in terms of interior quality and finishing, it however comes with a strong argument: its price. The Nissan 370Z is available starting AED139,000 for the coupe version and also proposes a convertible version. You can get good deals on 2-3years old second hand models for around AED70,000.
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Ford Mustang
With one contender from Europe and one from Asia, we had in all fairness to see what the American continent has to offer to complete our ranking. The obvious choice was the legendary Ford Mustang. Starting at around AED130,000 brand new, you can simply own a piece of history in the pure tradition of American muscle cars. With the 5.0l version reaching 435hp, you will need to show serious skills to handle the wild horse on the road. The Mustang also comes in a convertible version. You can easily find a 2-3 year old second hand model for between AED60,000 and 80,000 on the market.
[Related:Buying a car in the UAE? Where to start]
We could have easily added more models to our ranking of affordable sports/convertible cars, like the Volkswagen Scirocco, BMW Z4, Mercedes SLK, Subaru BRZ,… Don’t hesitate to visit the showrooms and ask for test drives. It’s the best way to know if you are meant to spend some quality time on the roads of the UAE together !
